Regional Workshops and Webinars
Climate Change and Gender Equality
Fiscal Reforms to Support Addressing Climate Change Challenges in Algeria (14 May)
Fiscal policy instruments are powerful tools that governments can deploy to respond to climate change challenges. This webinar was based on the IMF Selected Issues Paper discussing the Algerian government’s climate strategy and presented fiscal policy options to achieve Algeria’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and build resilience against climate risks.
The webinar was attended by 84 participants. The presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session. The METAC team gives special thanks to the presenter, Mr. Mahmoud Harb from the IMF for taking the extra time to respond to all questions and engaging in the vivid discussion with the audience. Many questions focused on the proposed reform of the universal energy subsidy, which was one of the four presented reform pillars. Participants were especially interested in the reforms’ impact on household’s purchasing power, inflation, and investments in renewable energy. The debate covered topics such as (1) the need to cushion the social impact of an energy subsidy removal by an accompanying targeted cash transfer mechanism that supports vulnerable households; (2) the necessity of adequate monetary policy to respond to the supply shock; and (3) the impact of universal subsidies on the commercial viability of investments in renewables.
Budget Institutions for Effective Climate Change Action and Gender Equality in the Middle East and North Africa (9-12 June | Cairo, Egypt)
How well prepared are the budget institutions in MENA countries for implementing gender and climate reforms? And how can the budget process be adjusted to effectively incorporate gender and climate policy priorities? These were some of the questions that a regional workshop on Budget Institutions for Effective Climate Change Action and Gender Equality tried to answer. The event was jointly organized by METAC and the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The workshop included country presentations and group exercises which evoked lively discussions among the participants. Peer exchanges played a crucial role in enhancing understanding and sharing experiences and knowledge among participants.
Financial Supervision and Regulation
Bank Corporate Governance and Board Effectiveness (27-30 May | Kuwait)
The workshop was organized in collaboration with the IMF Center for Economics and Finance (CEF) in Kuwait to train participants on bank corporate governance and discuss related implementation challenges. The event was attended by 33 participants from 12 countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. It described the key principles and concepts of good governance, presented the role of board of directors and board committees, and explained the interdependencies of risk management, compliance, and internal audit in fostering a good governance infrastructure. Fit and propriety criteria of board members and key senior management were presented. Such criteria aim to ensure that bank executives possess adequate expertise, knowledge, and independence to conduct their functions effectively. Case studies trained participants on how to assess the effectiveness of corporate governance, identify weaknesses, and propose corrective measures. IMF experts presented sessions on Corporate Governance in Islamic Banks, Related Parties Exposures, and State-Owned Banks.
Public Financial Management
Macro-fiscal Planning (9-13 June | Kuwait)
PFM Advisor Yasser Sobhi led a five-day course at CEF in Kuwait, bringing together 33 participants from 13 countries (8 METAC, 4 GCC, and Somalia). Officials from ministries of finance and economy and central banks enhanced their understanding of policymaking and management processes and institutions over short to medium timeframes. During lectures, applied workshops, interactive roundtable discussions, and peer-to-peer learning, the course covered selected issues in economic policymaking, macroeconomic policy formation, and crisis resolution. Participants’ active interactions and comments revealed a high demand for such tailored trainings targeting officials working in the policymaking sphere.
Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS)
Strengthening Government Finance Statistics and Public Sector Debt Statistics (19-23 May | Amman, Jordan)
Led by Mr. Imad Khanchaoui (IMF Statistics Department) and METAC Advisor Mr. Amir Hadziomeragic, this workshop covered key concepts of the Government Finance Statistics (GFS) Manual 2014 and the and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) Guide for Compilers and Users 2011 through presentations and case studies. 25 participants from 10 countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen) learned current GFS and PSDS practices, covering data collection, compilation methods, capacities, and dissemination standards in participating countries. It was the first of its kind in years and is expected to strengthen GFS/PSDS practices across the region and pave the way for future technical assistance.
Outreach Activities
IMF-METAC Steering Committee Meeting 2024 (6 June | Cairo, Egypt)
For almost 20 years, the Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center has been assisting its member countries in advancing public policies and building stronger macroeconomic institutions for long-term development and inclusive growth. METAC’s Steering Committee met on June 6, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt, to review the Center’s capacity development (CD) activities for the past fiscal year and discuss the workplan for the period ahead. The event brought together representatives from the IMF, member countries, and development partners. Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the European Union provide financial and strategic support to the Center.
METAC had a very successful year. It delivered on its commitment to substantially expand CD services to its member countries, despite a challenging regional environment marked by fragility and conflict. Total CD delivery increased by 30 percent compared to the previous year, while CD to fragile member states rose by 40 percent. METAC added three new workstreams (tax policy, government finance statistics, and macroeconomic frameworks) to its existing portfolio. It also established two new cross-cutting work programs on climate and gender and bolstered its team of experts with three regional advisors dedicated to assisting fragile and conflict-affected states with their specific institutional challenges and capacity building needs. In the coming year, METAC will further increase its CD delivery to member countries by introducing two new workstreams on public debt management and governance & anti-corruption.
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) meetings (19-23 May | Manama, Bahrain)
The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) Secretariat granted the IMF an award for its 2023 contributions in support of its members. AML/CFT regional advisor Peter El Sharoni participated in the discussions of the Mutual Evaluation Report of Iraq and provided an overview of the IMF Legal Department’s AML/ CFT capacity development work in the MENA region. The meetings were an opportunity to inform member countries of the planned CD activities in the region, including the upcoming workshop at the IMF Center for Economics and Finance (CEF) on “Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Good Practices to Enhance Effectiveness” in September 2024. The Plenary was also a chance to coordinate with the MENAFATF and other Technical Assistance providers, such as the World Bank and the UNODC, on CD activities in the MENA region.
Sustaining Partnerships: GIZ Lebanon (12 July | Beirut, Lebanon)
METAC Director Holger Floerkemeier and METAC Economist Anastasia Janzer attended the German International Cooperation (GIZ) reception for GIZ’s new Country Director in Lebanon, Mr. Matthias Wagner. We wish Mr. Wagner and the GIZ team all the best for their successful work in Lebanon!
