Resource information
The report focuses on the two decades
of the World Bank - Global Environment Facility (GEF)
partnership with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
countries. This partnership has had a global environmental
impact by working both at the local and national level and
engaging all relevant partners and stakeholders. In
addition, many GEF financed operations stand as examples of
what a more holistic approach can achieve in terms of
innovation and catalyzing greater investment. These
operations have also delivered important social benefits
such as job creation, enhanced economic and social
inclusion, and strengthened governance capabilities.
Presently the region s most pressing environmental
challenges stem from rapid urbanization and its resulting
infrastructure needs, industrial pollution, overexploitation
of scarce water resources, the unsustainable management of
fragile ecosystem resources and vulnerability to climate
variability and climate change. Decision makers working to
address these problems also face many tightly linked and
urgent social issues. These issues include meeting the
aspirations of a quickly growing urban youth population;
giving voice to gender and women s issues; finding ways to
spur job growth; and reversing the poor provision of basic
services. This publication also points to opportunities for
further World Bank - GEF cooperation in support of green growth.
