Middle East and North Africa
Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa are affected by ongoing or protracted conflicts and by climate change. Sida's work in the region aims to create conditions for peace and stability, strengthen environmental and climate work, democracy, respect for human rights, trade and economic development and strengthen capacities to manage migration and enable return migration. Sida's cooperation in Yemen focuses on peaceful development.
Sida’s regional cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa 2024
Why do Sida work in Middle East and North Africa?
The world’s most conflict-ridden region
Armed and protracted conflicts in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Palestine and Yemen have worsened people’s lives and deepened poverty. A large number of people are displaced for long periods of time without the possibility of returning to their country of origin or to their homes.
The decline of democracy
Authoritarian forms of governance have increased over the last decade. This has led to people having less influence in politics and less ability to influence their lives and communities. Repression has become more common. Civil society has become more difficult to operate and freedom of expression for activists and journalists continues to be restricted. The region is the least gender equal in the world. Corruption is widespread.
Rising temperatures and drought
The Middle East and North Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate change. Rising temperatures, sandstorms, droughts and floods are major problems that negatively affect people’s access to food, energy and water. This increases the risk of tensions and conflicts in the region.
Challenges remain
Several armed conflicts
Relatively recent ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen have resulted in a return to political systems characterised by authoritarian, patriarchal and totalitarian methods, with little and generally dwindling political freedom and limited political participation, particularly on the part of women. The scope of civil society is decreasing, making it more difficult for people to exert influence over their country’s development. The region is also struggling with a long-term refugee crisis and large streams of migrants, leaving people vulnerable to human rights violations.
The Middle East and North Africa is among the most vulnerable regions on the planet to rising temperatures and increased drought. Climate change is having a negative impact on the supply of food, water and energy, leading to increased regional tensions and conflicts.
The region has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world. This contributes to conflicts and presents a major obstacle to development. Women and young people in particular are subjected to discrimination and are the groups most likely to be employed in workplaces with poor working conditions.
Regional Cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa
Sida development cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) covers 12 countries with significant differences between them, but with some common conditions.
Common to the region is that the countries have more or less authoritarian regimes, limited human rights and large numbers of people that have been forced to flee. The Middle East and North Africa is the most unequal region in the world.
Many countries in the region are severely affected by economic crisis, conflict and drought and an increasing number of people living in poverty. Women are particularly affected. The pandemic has further exacerbated this situation. Societal developments are politically and economically unstable.
Unemployment in the region is high, which particularly affects young people. A large proportion of women in the region are university graduates, yet women’s participation in the labour market and in political decision-making is very low. Women and young people are discriminated against in the labour market and often work in workplaces with poor conditions and lower wages.
In many countries in the region, the human rights situation is problematic. The political opposition and civil society find it difficult to make their voices heard. This hits hardest the people who are already vulnerable, those living in exclusion and poverty. Corruption is widespread.
Women and young people are less able to contribute to societal development due to patriarchal norms and lack of inclusion in political and economic life.
Women and girls have less access to livelihoods, land, healthcare and legal support, and many lack the ability to influence their own lives. Women are exposed to gender-related violence and discrimination.
Sida particularly prioritises strengthening the voice and influence of women. Sida supports programmes and projects that increase the participation of both young people and women in the labour market and in civil society. Sida strengthens the independent media’s ability to operate and thereby contribute to increasing respect for human rights.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Freedom of media and expression and access to independent information is limited in many places in the region. Sida contributes to strengthening access to independent information and source criticism through International Media Support (IMS). They work with investigative journalism in the Arab world, including through Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ). ARIJ fact-check news to prevent the spread of false information and disinformation. This strengthens journalistic work and content in terms of diversity, press ethics, objectivity and gender equality. The organisation also provides protection for journalists.
About the media programme on the Media Support (IMS) website
35 percent of women in the region who are or have been in a relationship have experienced gender-based violence.8 Through UN Women, Sida supports civil society organisations and institutions that engage men and boys in gender equality in Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Jordan and Tunisia. By challenging traditional gender roles, the programme has led to noticeable differences in the attitudes and behaviours of men and boys. It contributed to three countries adopting laws that increase the availability of parental leave for fathers. While this is far from the international standard, it is a step in the right direction.
Trade between countries in the region is the lowest in the world. Trade is poorly developed, countries’ sources of income are few and institutions are weak. It is difficult for companies to offer jobs with decent conditions, resulting in many people working in the informal sector – often with poor conditions and low pay.
The ongoing economic downturn affects those working in the informal sector, especially young people, women and people that have been forced to flee. The situation hinders sustainable economic development and equality and gender equality.
Almost half of the population is under the age of 24 and the region has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world; only 20% of women participate in the labour market, the lowest rate in the world.10 Many young people leave their country for economic reasons. This also contributes to frustration and tensions that can become a breeding ground for extremism.
Sida contributes to sustainable economic development by supporting the region to create more jobs and achieve a green transition with a particular focus on the most vulnerable people. Sida strengthens trade and promotes economic development that benefits all people. Sida increases opportunities for women and young people in the labour market, strengthens the private sector, counteracts trade barriers and contributes to increased export opportunities.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
Access to jobs with decent working conditions is key to improving women’s opportunities and rights in the labour market. Sida supports a collaboration between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights (UN Women) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The cooperation aims to change laws and strengthen women’s rights in the labour market.
Through the International Trade Centre (ITC), Sida supports sustainable production and trade of textiles and clothing in Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Sida contributes to increased trade and regional cooperation through the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), which has worked to establish a quality assurance body, ARAC, to ensure that products from the region meet the standards of other countries.
Countries in the region are some of the worst affected by climate change in the world and at the same time least equipped to cope with it. Warming is twice the global average. Many cities risk being uninhabitable within 80 years.
Water scarcity affects agricultural production and increases the risk of conflict. Desertification is another challenge. Biodiversity is declining as a result of environmental degradation, unsustainable land use and pollution.
Sida’s work in the climate area focuses on climate adaptation and sustainable use of water resources. Here are some examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports in the climate and environment area:
Water and natural resources are contested resources in the Middle East. Here, the organisation EcoPeace works with cross-border cooperation between Palestine, Israel and Jordan to improve the environment, cooperate on water and natural resources, and contribute to peace building.
EcoPeace trains teachers in environmental and climate education. It supports small businesses to switch to more sustainable practices in areas such as agriculture, fish and beekeeping. Projects include innovative solutions in renewable energy, such as the transfer of solar energy between Jordan, Israel and Palestine. For example, Jordan’s energy exports will provide income for trade in desalinated water from the Mediterranean.
The region suffers from water scarcity and is repeatedly exposed to extreme weather and droughts due to climate change. Sida supports the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI) and the WEPS (Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Water Efficiency/Productivity and Water Sustainability) project. They work on water resources planning and management, sustainable water allocation and sustainable water consumption.
Sida supports the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) to increase the region’s resilience to climate change. The programme focuses on sandstorms, groundwater cooperation, biodiversity, food security systems, access to clean water and renewable energy. The aim is to improve and adapt regional climate solutions.
The Middle East and North Africa is the least peaceful region in the world. Countries have limited capacity to cooperate, prevent and resolve conflicts. Armed violence and conflicts lead to increased poverty and force people to flee.
Sida supports civil society organisations that work to make it easier for women, youth and other excluded groups to engage in peacebuilding and dialogue. Here is an example of the programmes Sida supports:
Sida cooperates with the organisation Search for Common Ground, which focuses on supporting the meaningful participation of women and young people in dialogue and peacebuilding in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world and Sida works to support particularly vulnerable groups. The conflict, which has been going on since 2014, is characterised by abuses, human rights violations, attacks on civilians, disappearances and violations of children’s rights. There is no functioning justice system. Economic development has deteriorated and food and fuel prices have increased.
In addition to Sida’s humanitarian work in Yemen, the crisis in Yemen requires more long-term development cooperation and peace-building efforts.
Sida’s humanitarian work in Yemen
Here are some examples of what Sida is doing in Yemen:
Gender-based violence has increased in Yemen. Through support to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Sida works to protect and identify particularly vulnerable women and girls. Since 2017, Sida has supported work that has resulted in more vulnerable women and girls gaining access to community services.
Through a multi-year collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sida contributes to protecting children against recruitment into armed groups, but also against child marriage and child labour. This is done partly through targeted interventions for vulnerable children, but also by strengthening protection mechanisms in the school environment.
Together with the EU, Sida supports a collaboration between the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The Enhancing Rural Resilience in Yemen (ERRY III) programme increases people’s access to food through, for example, climate-smart agriculture, technical training and basic social services in the most affected areas.
The programme targets the most vulnerable people, including internally displaced persons and women. These efforts are complementary to humanitarian work.
Since 2020, Sida has supported the UN’s efforts to move oil from the derelict oil tanker (FSO Safer) off the coast of Yemen to prevent an environmental disaster. In August 2023, the oil was transferred to safe storage. Sweden has contributed a total of SEK 50 million (including SEK 30 million from Sida) to minimise the threat to the environment and people.
Updated: September 4, 2024