The long-term challenges of reconstruction in the Middle East

Reconstruction projects will not be able to rely solely on direct grants and loans. Recovering economies will have to create conditions to attract regional and international investment as well.

The Middle East and North Africa are riddled with civil and proxy wars that have broken states, devastated economies, and displaced millions. The cost of reconstruction in monetary terms alone is staggering—estimated at almost three-quarters of a trillion dollars; the political challenges in terms of ending wars, standing up functioning states, and creating the regional environment that can prevent future breakdowns and sustain reconstruction are also enormous.

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