Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Zina Nimeh

Author

Zina Nimeh
Associate Professor of Public Policy, United Nations University MERIT and Maastricht University

Dr. Zina Nimeh is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University, with over two decades of professional and academic experience in the areas of public policy, social policy, public sector reform and governance. She studied Finance at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Labor and Human Resources at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She obtained her PhD in Social Protection and Public Policy at Maastricht University through a Marie Curie Research grant. She currently is the co-coordinator of the Social Protection, Inclusive Innovation and Development research theme at UNU-MERIT. Her content area of expertise is on public policy, social protection policy and financing, social cohesion and governance. Regionally she has extensive expertise in the MENA region, as well as in the emerging markets contexts. Outside academia she has had managerial and consulting experience in the areas of human development, social policies and public sector reform with focus on employment, education and social exclusion.

Content by this Author

Social protection in Jordan: towards collaborative implementation

Jordan has an ambitious national strategy for social protection, adopted in 2019. But as this column explains, implementing it has not been easy in the context of economic challenges, the global pandemic and geopolitical instability. Achieving transformative social protection requires a new social contract, citizen engagement and effective support from the international donor community.

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Untapped talent, unrealised growth: jobs and women in the MENAAP region

Only around one in five women of working age participate in the labour markets of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As this column explains, the region can no longer afford to leave half its human capital underused. Expanding women’s labour force participation is central to growth and resilience in the face of looming demographic change.

Closing the gender gap in political participation in MENA

Women across the Middle East and North Africa participate less than men in politics – not only in political parties and elections, but also in petitions, boycotts, protests and strikes. This column reports evidence from ten countries showing that differences in education, employment and political attitudes explain part of this disparity, yet a significant gender gap remains.

Labour demand and informal employment in Egypt’s manufacturing sector

Egypt’s manufacturing sector faces a dual challenge of weak job creation and persistent informality. Drawing on survey evidence on business behaviour and labour market dynamics, this column explains why job creation is limited and informal work remains such an integral part of how firms organise production. The generation of more formal jobs requires a comprehensive policy approach, one that goes beyond enforcement of labour regulations to reshape the economic environment in which firms and workers make decisions.

Challenges of conflict and industrial policy for development

How effective is industrial policy as a tool for long-term economic growth and development? Against the backdrop of the conflict currently engulfing the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP), a new report argues that while industrial policies are widely used across the region, they can only address market failures and foster growth when they are aligned with country capabilities, implemented with accountability and backed by capable institutions.




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