ERF 31st Annual Conference: Youth, Demographic Dividend and Migration in MENA
FromApr 27, 2025 To Apr 29, 2025
Hybrid Event
The Economic Research Forum’s (ERF) Annual Conference, a tradition maintained since 1995, has become the premier event for economists of the Middle East; where new ideas are created and disseminated, where the community of researchers meet, and where excellence is celebrated. This year’s conference marks the 31st anniversary of ERF, which was established in 1993 to lead and support the production of independent, high quality economic research, and to disseminate research output to a wide and diverse audience.
This year’s conference is held under the theme of Youth, Demographic Dividend and Migration in MENA: Challenges and Opportunities in Uncertain Times. It will be held 27 – 29 April, 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. This is a timely topic in light of the significant political, social, and economic challenges witnessed in the region.
The plenary sessions aim to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities related to youth, migration, and economic development in the MENA region. They will feature distinguished economists and thought leaders to provide valuable, thought-provoking ideas and viewpoints to take forward the region’s agenda towards economic growth and sustainable development.
This year, the conference is designed to also include one policy dialogue, two keynote speeches, two special panels, and 22 parallel sessions. The parallel sessions will feature 66 diverse papers across cross-cutting critical themes selected on the basis of rigorous refereeing process in response to an open call for papers. The closing plenary will celebrate the winners of what has become a regional certificate of excellence: The Best Paper Award. ERF Annual Conferences also provide the opportunity for ERF Research Fellows to convene their annual meeting.
ERF gratefully acknowledges support from French Development Agency (AFD) and International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada.
Agenda
Opening Ceremony & Keynote Speeches
Date
27/04/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 9:00 am To 10:30 am
Youth and the Desire of Individuals for Control over their Own Lives: Human Development in the Arab Region
The keynote speech will explore the potential link between human development and emigration, framed within the broader context of the demographic dividend in the Arab region. When a substantial proportion of young individuals consider emigration, the potential benefits of the demographic dividend are undermined. This trend suggests that limitations in human development, particularly in autonomy, education, and income sufficiency, may play a critical role in these decisions.
Migration and Displacement: Challenges and Opportunities
The keynote speech will explore the complexities surrounding labor migration in the MENA region, specifically examining the challenges and opportunities from the perspective of countries of origin. It will explore the relationship between human capital, the labor market, and migration, shedding light on how these factors shape outcomes for both migrants and their home countries. Additionally, the speech will address the profound implications of forced migration and displacement within the region, highlighting the impact on human capital investment. In particular, it will focus on how these migration flows influence the labor market prospects and economic integration of young individuals in host countries. The discussion will provide a nuanced understanding of how migration—both voluntary and forced—affects the development of human development in the MENA region.
Speakers
Speakers
Hania Sholkamy
Associate Research Professor, Social Research Centre, The...
Research Fellows
Paul Makdissi
Professor of Economics, University of Ottawa
Research Fellows
Jackline Wahba
Professor of Economics and Director of Research,...
Research Fellows
Ragui Assaad
Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...
Speakers
Wessam El Beih
Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa,...
Speakers
Clémence Vidal de la Blache
AFD, Egypt Country Director
Special Panel A: Recent Trends in the Egyptian Labor Market: Employment, Earnings, Digitalization, and the Green Transition
Date
27/04/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 4:00 pm To 5:30 pm
In late 2023, ERF implemented the fifth wave of the Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey (ELMPS 2023). This session will highlight some of the most notable results of this rich longitudinal survey. The results highlighted will focus on developments in the structure and quality of employment, earnings and earnings inequality, the use of information and communication technology at work, and a mapping of green jobs in the Egyptian economy.
Speakers
Research Fellows
Ragui Assaad
Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...
Authors
Mona El-Sayed
Assistant Lecturer, Economics Department, Faculty of Economics...
Authors
Rawane Yasser
Researcher, Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
Authors
Mona Amer
Cairo University
Research Fellows
Mona Said
Professor of Economics, Economics Department, The American...
Agenda
Special Panel B: Global Value Chains and Sustainable Development
Date
28/04/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 4:00 pm To 5:30 pm
This session will examine an important and policy relevant issue for the MENA region, namely, Global Value Chains from a sustainable development perspective. Three papers will be presented addressing Sustainable Global Development in different ways. First, from an industrial and macroeconomic perspective (SDG9), the first paper examines the role of undervaluation in promoting GVC. Second, in line with SDG7 and SDG13, the second paper analyzes the impact of environmental stringency on firm’s participation in GVCs. Finally, in line with SDG16, the third paper examines how political connections affect GVC participation using firm level data.
Speakers
Research Fellows
Chahir Zaki
Chaired Professor of Economics, University of Orléans
Authors
Mariz Abdou
CERDI-Université Clermont Auvergne
Authors
Nada Hazem
Assistant Lecturer of Economics at the Faculty...
Research Associates
Nora Aboushady
Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Political...
Agenda
Policy Dialogue on Renewable Energy in Promoting Growth, Food Security, and Climate Resilience
Date
29/04/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 4:00 pm To 5:30 pm
The nexus of water, food, and energy is critical to achieving sustainable development. Renewable energy plays a pivotal role in this nexus by providing clean and reliable energy solutions that support water management and agricultural productivity. Organized in partnership with IDRC, this session will explore how integrated policy approaches can harness the potential of renewable energy to drive economic growth, ensure food security, and enhance climate resilience. Two case studies supported by IDRC will be highlighted. One related to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and solar-powered desalination for irrigation. The session aims to share latest research recommendations to senior policymakers from Egypt and Morocco.
Speakers
Speakers
Wessam El Beih
Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa,...
Research Fellows
Rania Al-Mashat
Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International...
Speakers
Khalid Ghozlani
Senior Program Officer, International Development Research Center...
Speakers
Mary Mathews
Manager, UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge
Speakers
Tayeb Amegroud
Energy Specialist, OCP Policy Center Fellow, Morocco
Celebrating Excellence and Closing
Date
29/04/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 5:30 pm To 6:00 pm