Regional Policy Conference on: Clean Energy Transition in the Middle East and North Africa and the Role of Small, Medium and Micro Firms
FromFeb 04, 2025 To Feb 05, 2025
Hybrid Event
Context
Access to energy is becoming increasingly challenging, especially for energy-importing countries in the MENA region. This makes the transition to clean energy not just crucial, but urgent. Fortunately, the region holds significant comparative advantages due to its natural endowments: abundant solar radiation throughout much of the year and powerful wind nodes. Additionally, renewable energy has emerged as the most cost-effective power option today, particularly in MENA. With the rapid decline in renewable energy technology prices—highlighted by an 85 percent drop in the cost of electricity from solar power between 2010 and 2020—the region is uniquely positioned to lead in clean energy adoption. Furthermore, affordable electricity from renewable sources could decarbonize up to 90 percent of the power sector by 2050, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and playing a pivotal role in climate change mitigation.
The significance of this energy transition in MENA lies in its potential to meet the region’s growing energy demands at affordable prices, drive inclusive and sustainable development, create new job opportunities, and support climate change resilience—all while adhering to crucial climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. In this regional context, where medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs) are economic cornerstones, understanding their potential, challenges, and opportunities in the clean energy transition—as well as their capacity for job creation, climate resilience, and the empowerment of women and youth—is essential.
To address these pressing needs, the Economic Research Forum (ERF), in collaboration with The Middle East Institute and the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies, undertook an IDRC-funded project titled “The Role of MSMEs in Fostering Inclusive and Equitable Sustainable Economic Growth in the Context of the Clean Energy Transition in MENA.” Over the past two years, this project spanned six MENA countries—Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Sudan—and engaged various research teams to deepen our understanding of MSMEs’ role in the clean energy transition. The project produced seven thematic papers, six national case studies, and thirteen policy briefs, offering a comprehensive foundation of new microdata, insights on cross-cutting issues, and an assessment of the institutional, financial, technical, and regulatory challenges faced by MSMEs in the region. Additionally, the research explored the skills needed and the impact of the energy transition on sustainable employment for youth, women, and marginalized groups, delivering essential policy recommendations to support MSMEs’ pivotal role in advancing MENA’s clean energy agenda.
Conference Objective & Format
Over two days, this hybrid conference will bring together experts and key stakeholders to present and discuss research findings and insights from the research. This event provides a platform to share insights and discuss policy recommendations focused on the role of medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs). Given that MSMEs account for the largest share of employment in the MENA economy, we will explore pathways to support their growth, with particular emphasis on green energy, youth employment, and gender inclusion across the region.
ERF acknowledges the financial support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for the project on “The Role of MSMEs in Fostering Inclusive and Equitable Sustainable Economic Growth in the Context of the Clean Energy Transition in MENA.“
Agenda
Opening Remarks and Project Overview: Key Highlights and Milestones
Date
04/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 10:00 am To 10:30 am
Speakers
Research Fellows
Ibrahim Elbadawi
Managing Director, Economic Research Forum
Speakers
Wessam El Beih
Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa,...
Speakers
Paul Salem
President and CEO, Middle East Institute
Speakers
Makram Ouaiss
Executive Director, Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
Speakers
Yasmeen Oraby
Senior Programs Officer, Economic Research Forum
Keynote Speech: Charting a Sustainable Energy Future for the MENA Region: Policies, Vision, and Strategic Insights
Date
04/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 10:30 am To 11:00 am
Speakers
Speakers
Radia Sedaoui
Chief Energy Section, Sustainable Development Policies Division,...
Transition to Renewable Energy: The Imperatives, Drivers, Barriers and the Role of MSMEs
Date
04/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 11:00 am To 12:00 pm
Speakers
Speakers
Khalid Ghozlani
Senior Program Officer, International Development Research Center...
Research Fellows
Atif Kubursi
Professor, McMaster University
Research Fellows
Ragui Assaad
Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...
Speakers
Bipasha Baruah
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global...
Speakers
Yosra Assaker
Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank
Energy Resilience in Crises: Insights from Sudan and Lebanon
Date
04/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 12:30 pm To 1:30 pm
Speakers
Speakers
Makram Ouaiss
Executive Director, Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
Speakers
Muez Ali
Research and Policy Lead at Earthna, Center...
Speakers
Marc Ayoub
Associate Fellow, Fares Institute, American University of...
Speakers
Ahmad Diab
Energy and Development Specialist
Speakers
Rasha Akel
Junior Researcher, Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
Speakers
Yaser Saied
Ministry of Energy and Mining, Sudan
Speakers
Jessica Obeid
Founding Partner, New Energy Consult
Speakers
Amna Mahmood
Policy Economist, International Growth Centre (IGC)
Papers
The Role of MSMEs in Fostering Inclusive and Equitable Sustainable Economic Development Within the Context of the Clean Energy Transition in the MENA Region: Sudan Case Study Report
Summary The prospects for the post-conflict adoption of renewable energy in Sudan depend on various... Read More
The Energy Transition and MSMEs in Sudan: Limitations and Opportunities
In a nutshell: Sudan suffers from several political and economic distortions that have hampered growth,... Read More
دور المشروعات متناهية الصغر والصغيرة والمتوسطة في عملية التحول في الطاقة في السودان: العوائق والفرص
ملخص يعاني السودان من العديد من الاضطرابات السياسية والاقتصادية التي أدت إلى إعاقة النمو، ولا... Read More
Unlocking Employment Opportunities in MENA in the Context of Energy Transition
Date
04/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 3:15 pm To 4:30 pm
Speakers
Speakers
Bipasha Baruah
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global...
Research Fellows
Atif Kubursi
Professor, McMaster University
Research Fellows
Hala Abou-Ali
Professor of Economics and Chair of the...
Speakers
Nada Mustafa Ali
Assistant Professor, School for Global Inclusion and...
Research Fellows
Racha Ramadan
Professor, Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences,...
Speakers
Michael Renner
Head, Socioeconomics and Policy Team, Knowledge Policy...
Speakers
Kawther Lihidheb
Principal Advisor and Regional Lead-MENA Region, ECONOLER
Speakers
Samantha Constant
Senior Gender Specialist, Energy Sector Management Assistance...
Papers
Employment Generation Capacity of Renewable Energy in MENA
In a nutshell: The adoption of green energy technologies necessitates the establishment of new supporting... Read More
Potential Employment Generation Capacity of Renewable Energy in MENA
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, globally renowned for its vast reserves of... Read More
Gender Equality, Climate Change, and Clean Energy in the Middle East and North Africa
Summary Background There is growing interest in climate change and clean energy in the Middle... Read More
Agenda
Welcome and Recap of Day One
Date
05/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 10:00 am To 10:15 am
Speakers
Speakers
Yasmine Fahim
Director of Research and Programs, Economic Research...
National Pathways to Clean Energy & Sustainable Growth: Jordan and Egypt
Date
05/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 10:15 am To 11:15 am
Speakers
Speakers
Jorge Arango
Co-chair, Egyptian German Joint Committee for Renewable...
Speakers
Ahmad Awad
General Director, Phenix Center for Economic and...
Policy Affiliates
Ibrahim Saif
CEO, Jordan Strategy Forum
Research Fellows
Abeer Elshennawy
Professor of Economics, American University in Cairo
Authors
Mohammed Bouaddi
Associate Professor of Economics, American University in...
Speakers
Rasmi Hamzeh
CEO, Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency...
Speakers
Gihan Bayoumi Attia
Manager, Energy Portfolio, UNIDO
Speakers
Omar Abu Eid
Energy, Environment and Climate Change Programme Manager,...
Papers
Drivers of Renewable Energy Adoption in Egypt’s SMEs
Summary Increasing the adoption of renewable energy (RE) is essential to reduce greenhouse gases and... Read More
Drivers of Renewable Energy Adoption by SMEs in Egypt
In a nutshell: Policymakers in Egypt should prioritize removing the impediments facing women entrepreneurs since... Read More
دوافع تبني الشركات الصغيرة والمتوسطة للطاقة المتجددة في مصر
رسائل أساسية يتعين على صانعي السياسات في مصر إعطاء الأولوية لإزالة العوائق أمام رائدات الأعمال،... Read More
In the Context of the Renewable Energy: Transition in MENA – The Role of MSMEs in Fostering Inclusive, Equitable, and Sustainable Economic Growth – Jordan Case Study
Summary In Jordan, micro, small, or medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up over 99 percent of... Read More
Empowering MSMEs in Jordan: Driving Sustainable Economic Growth through the Renewable Energy Transition
In a nutshell Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) constitute over 99% of Jordan’s enterprises... Read More
تمكين المشروعات متناهية الصغر والصغيرة والمتوسطة في الأردن: دفع عجلة النمو الاقتصادي المستدام من خلال التحول إلى استخدام الطاقة المتجددة
رسائل أساسية تشكل المشروعات متناهية الصغر والصغيرة والمتوسطة أكثر من 99% من إجمالي المشروعات بالأردن... Read More
National Pathways to Clean Energy & Sustainable Growth: Tunisia and Morocco
Date
05/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 11:15 am To 12:15 pm
Speakers
Policy Affiliates
Ashraf Elsayed Elaraby
President, Institute of National Planning, Egypt
Research Fellows
Adel Ben Youssef
Professor of Economics, University Côte d'Azur
Speakers
Michaël Tanchum
Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute
Speakers
Sonia Mhamdi
UNIDO
Speakers
Khalid Ghozlani
Senior Program Officer, International Development Research Center...
Speakers
Moongyung Lee
Leader, Egypt Country Programme, Clean Energy Finance...
Papers
Under Which Conditions Can Tunisian MSMES Shift to A Successful Energy Transition?
Summary Background: This case study of Tunisia places emphasis on the ongoing energy transition, underscoring... Read More
Direction of Energizing Change: The Potential of Tunisian SMEs in the Energy Transition
In a nutshell Tunisia's energy transition is delayed due to economic challenges, slow reforms, and... Read More
تحفيز التغيير في اسخدام الطاقة: إمكانات المشروعات التونسية متناهية الصغر والصغيرة والمتوسطة في مجال التحول في استخدام الطاقة
رسائل أساسية تأخر التحول في استخدام الطاقة في تونس بسبب التحديات الاقتصادية وبطء وتيرة الإصلاحات... Read More
The Energy Equation: Supply, Demand, and Regulation in MENA's Renewable Landscape
Date
05/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 12:45 pm To 2:15 pm
Speakers
Speakers
Moongyung Lee
Leader, Egypt Country Programme, Clean Energy Finance...
Speakers
Michaël Tanchum
Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute
Speakers
Karen E. Young
Non-Resident Senior Fellow and Chair of the...
Speakers
Li-Chen Sim
Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute
Authors
Adeel Malik
Globe Fellow in the Economies of Muslim...
Research Fellows
Abeer Elshennawy
Professor of Economics, American University in Cairo
Speakers
Radia Sedaoui
Chief Energy Section, Sustainable Development Policies Division,...
Speakers
Marcello Contestabile
Chief Economist, Qatar Environment and Energy Research...
Research Fellows
Héla Miniaoui
Associate Professor, Lusail University, Qatar
Shaping a Sustainable Future: Policy Strategies for MENA’s Energy Transition
Date
05/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 3:15 pm To 4:15 pm
Speakers
Speakers
Wessam El Beih
Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa,...
Speakers
Ahmed ElBeltagui
Sector Manager, European Union
Research Fellows
Atif Kubursi
Professor, McMaster University
Policy Affiliates
Ibrahim Saif
CEO, Jordan Strategy Forum
Speakers
Mahmoud Maged
Acting Executive Director & Technical Director, Regional...
Closing Remarks
Date
05/02/2025
Location
Hybrid Event
Time
From 4:15 pm To 4:30 pm
Speakers
Research Fellows
Ibrahim Elbadawi
Managing Director, Economic Research Forum
Research Fellows
Atif Kubursi
Professor, McMaster University