Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is increasing in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Mediterranean (MENA/EM) region, and that the total number of AIDS-related deaths has risen almost sixfold since the early 1990s. Although this figure is low compared with those for Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean, low prevalence does not equal low risk. The situation can change rapidly, and even conservative estimates indicate that AIDS poses a real threat to the region's long-term growth. This book reviews the current knowledge available on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in...

Good governance in which public institutions function responsibly, transparently, and accountably is essential to reducing poverty and stimulating growth. As numerous studies have shown, weak governance translates into slower growth, less-than-effective public services, and missed opportunities for human development because of the limited participation of citizens in shaping their future. This book seeks to enhance the dialogue on good governance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. To accomplish this goal, it marshals evidence showing that good governance matters, both...

This book reviews the experience of the MENA region with poverty and human development since the mid-1980s. It finds that poverty rates did not decline by much during this period while health and education indicators improved substantially. The stagnation of poverty rates is ascribed to the stagnation of the region's economies during this period while the improvement in human indicators is likely due to several factors including improvement in the delivery of public health and education services.

The commonly held perception is that businesses owned by women in the Middle East and North Africa are small and informal, that they're less sophisticated, and that they're huddled in low-value-added sectors. In fact, as 'The Environment for Women's Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa' shows, there is very little difference between mail- and female-owned firms. Female-owned firms in the region are as well-established, productive, technologically savvy, and connected to global markets as male-owned firms. Although there are many similar characteristics and performance levels...

Despite global progress in understanding the epidemiology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), knowledge about the epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains limited and subject to much controversy. In the more than 25 years since the discovery of HIV, no scientific study has provided a comprehensive, data-driven synthesis of the spread of HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in the region. Consequently, the effectiveness of policies, programs, and resources intended to address the spread of HIV/AIDS has been compromised. This report aims to fill the knowledge...