Middle East and North Africa

While many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region had not yet recovered from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 brought new chal­lenges triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war and associated trade shocks. The region is par­ticularly vulnerable to shocks to world food prices and trade because of its heavy dependence on food imports. It is also subject to political insta­bility and persistent conflict, and is among the world’s regions most at risk from climate change and water scarcity. MENA countries will need to explore policy options for mitigating vulnerabil­ity to trade shocks that take account of domestic production capacities and constraints related to environmental sustainability and risk of weather shocks.