Middle East Council on Global Affairs مجلس الشرق الأوسط للشؤون الدولية

This week marks 25 years of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, a landmark framework recognizing women’s vital role in peacebuilding and development. The ME Council continues to advance this vision through the WPS Arab States Working Group. Read more in our Weekly!

In the lead-up to #COP30, the ME Council, in partnership with the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, and QatarDebate Center, convened the second edition of the UTalk event to support elevating the narrative around climate action in the Gulf. The event featured two complementary panel discussions featuring experts and youth to discuss progress, challenges, and Gulf countries' action in mitigation and adaptation. ---- في إطار التحضيرات لمؤتمر #COP30، نظم مجلس الشرق الأوسط للشؤون الدولية، بالشراكة مع مكتب اليونسكو لدول الخليج واليمن ومركز مناظرات قطر، فعالية UTalk للمساهمة في دعم السردية بشأن العمل المناخي في الدول الخليجية. ضمنت الفعالية ندوتي نقاش متكاملتين، من الخبراء والشباب، المتمرسين في قضايا المناخ، ليتبادلوا الرؤى حول التحدّيات والحلول المناخية من منظور دول الخليج.

In “MENA Food Subsidies Are Here to Stay — For Now” by Oumeyma Chelbi for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs مجلس الشرق الأوسط للشؤون الدولية, Arab Barometer 2024 data show widespread public backing for subsidies amid rising food insecurity. 🍞 ➡️ 62% in 🇯🇴 #Jordan, 54% in 🇱🇧 #Lebanon, and 39% in 🇹🇳 #Tunisia see subsidies as top spending priorities. ➡️ 32% in 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 27% in 🇯🇴 Jordan and 🇮🇶 #Iraq report often running out of food and not being able to afford more. ➡️ Trust in government is low — 39% in 🇯🇴 Jordan, 36% in 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 33% in 🇲🇦 Morocco, and just 7% in 🇱🇧 Lebanon express trust. Chelbi notes that without stronger social safety nets, large-scale subsidy reform will remain difficult. 📙 Read more via the Middle East Council on Global Affairs: https://bit.ly/4obG2RN #MENA #FoodSecurity #SubsidyReform

Issue Brief: MENA Food Subsidies Are Here to Stay — For Now by Oumeyma Chelbi This issue brief traces the historical evolution of subsidies in MENA and the persistent dilemmas around reforming them. Reflecting on the Iranian reform experience, the brief argues in favor of maintaining food subsidies and concludes by outlining a potential trajectory for reform. Read the full issue brief: https://lnkd.in/dUBjJwWA Arabic version: https://lnkd.in/d-n34B_9

"By re-engaging with #Beijing, #Jordan has signaled that it will not close the door to partners willing to finance its energy transition," writes Jesse Marks. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d-XzMsVg

Happening Tomorrow: Gulf Climate Action: Strengthening Mitigation and Adaptation Measures 🗓️ October 21 🕡 10:00 am - 01:00 pm (Doha time) 📌 InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa 🔗 Registration: https://lnkd.in/dSBaWw5F This event is hosted in partnership with the UNESCO, and QatarDebate Center. ---- Expert Panel: Anasse Bouhlal Higher Education and TVET Regional Programme Specialist, UNESCO Dhabia Al-Mohannadi Associate Professor, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University Ola Alterå Chief Executive, Swedish Climate Policy Council Talha Mirza Program Manager, Earthna Moderator Nader Kabbani Senior Fellow and Director of the Governance and Development Program, ME Council ---- Youth Panel: Hessa Al Noaimi Co-founder, Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar Meaad Aljassim Environmental Engineer, Activist, and International Climate Specialist Nisreen Elsaim Director, Youth Alliance for Local Adaptation and Peace; Former Chair, UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change Oweis A. Global Advocacy Coordinator / Founder, SDGeneration Network, Qatar Fund for Development Talal Ahmed Outreach Coordinator and R&D Officer, Arab Youth Council for Climate Change Moderator Saad Elasad Senior Debate Instructor, QatarDebate Center

Major reductions in development assistance are reshaping how countries fund and sustain essential health services, presenting both a crisis in ensuring continuity and equity of care and an opportunity to reimagine how health systems are prioritized and integrated. Read more in our Weekly!