About

This policy roundtable addressed the persistent economic challenges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Over the past decade, policymakers have grappled with issues of high inequality, stagnant growth, climate change, escalating poverty, and soaring rates of youth and female unemployment. The panelists discussed the localized strategies implemented across MENA countries to combat the economic crisis. 

Speakers

Nader Kabbani, Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. As a seasoned development researcher, Nader has over two decades of experience, having served in prominent roles at institutions like the Brookings Institution and the Syria Trust for Development. His extensive expertise covers diverse development issues in the Middle East. He is also a Research Fellow with the Economic Research Forum based in Cairo, Egypt. https://erf.org.eg/affiliates/nader-kabbani/ 

Gladys Lopez Acevedo, Lead Economist and Global Lead for the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice. With vast experience spanning multiple World Bank regions, Gladys brings a wealth of insights on issues ranging from COVID-19's distributional effects to gender equality in the MENA region.https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/g/gladys-lopez-acevedo 

Moderator

Marwa M. Shalaby, Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In Spring 2023, she was a visiting fellow at Harvard's Center for Middle East Studies (CMES). https://www.marwashalaby.com/ 

Time and Date

January 18th,  16:00 - 17:30 CET.