Introduction

The Arab Planning Institute's consulting and institutional support activity is part of its 9th five-year plan for the years 2020-2025, which aims to advance the consulting activity and become a recognized Arab expert center in the Arab consulting market.  It focuses on planning, development, and developmental policies which targets the development of Arab economies and provides practical solutions to all the challenges faced by Arab countries through the use of the latest scientific methods and quantitative models.

The API’s efforts are reflected through the increase in the number of consultations it provides to member states, at an exceptionally high level of quality.  Numerous studies have been completed by the Institute for the benefit of various Arab institutions on various topics of planning and development.  Advisory and institutional support services are primarily based on requests by various parties in the member states, and the institute utilizes the resources it has available to meet these requests in accordance with the rules that are in place.

API Consultancy Projects

"The Investment Map” 

The objective of the investment map study was to enhance the country’s vision by channeling and facilitating productive investment to targeted sectors to further diversify the economy and achieve the vision’s development goals. The investment map was developed following the methodology adopted by the Arab Planning Institute, which identifies missing and weak activities that are part of a value chains of products and services. The investment opportunities are also chosen to enhance backward and forward linkages between the value chain activities and the rest of the economy. The study identified many promising investment opportunities in different priority sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, education, health, logistics, in addition to the possibility of developing free trade zones. 

"A Model for Structural Reform of the Public Education System” 

The consultation study proposed a comprehensive structural model for policy-based education reforms. The model aims to raise the level of quality of education, enhance its competitiveness, and make a qualitative shift from a teacher-centered educational process to a student-centered educational process through the following axes:

1. Developing and improving the educational process.

2. Improving the governance of the sector's management.

3. Controlling the growing costs of education and identifying multiple patterns of financing education.

4. Linking education to developmental and societal needs and labor market requirements. 

The study addressed these themes in an integrated and interactive framework calling to achieve the desired comprehensive reform of the educational system and maximize its developmental returns.


"Impact of financial and non-financing services" 

The consultancy study aimed to examine how the financial and non-financial services provided by the Fund impacted beneficiaries, their families, and the local community. The study provided an analysis and measurement of the Fund's lending practices and performance, evaluated the distribution and quality of services offered, determined the impact of the Fund's services on the economy and society at various levels, determined the satisfaction of beneficiaries with these services, and determined how to build a strategic plan and developed a work mechanism for the Fund. The study revealed that the Fund deeply supported economic development efforts and social empowerment of women and youth, however within the limits of its technical, administrative, and financial capabilities.


"Enhancing the competitiveness and the economic performance” 

The consultancy study aimed to suggest policies to enhance competitiveness and improve the socio-economic development.  A comprehensive assessment of the national competitiveness was conducted based on current economic situation, as well as highlighting the multiple challenges hindering the economic development process, which resulted in the inability of observed economic growth to raise citizens' economic and social welfare levels.  As a result, macroeconomic imbalances worsened, and youth unemployment rates increased to unsustainable levels. The primary focus of this study was on the analysis of structural and institutional aspects of competitiveness, due to its direct relation to exports to foreign markets, and on capturing higher percentages of value chains, and attracting domestic and foreign investment.  This in turn will help to increase economic growth and improve individual income through increased employment, higher real wages, and technological advancement.

“A Model for Transforming the Public Administration to a Developmental Administration”

The study suggested a policy-based model for restructuring public administration to improve service delivery and reduce its size in the future, mainly by reforming employment policies and redirecting employment to non-governmental institutions through more dynamic labor market policies. Additionally, structural economic policies need to be implemented to shift public sector model, which is currently financed by oil revenues, to a market economy-based model and driven by private sector initiatives to sustain economic growth and create high value jobs to the youth entering the labor market.

"National Guide to Public Policies"

This “National Guide to Public Policies" aimed to provide a comprehensive and procedural roadmap for policymaking in the field of development and economics, at all stages and levels. The guide serves as a scientific and professional reference for policymaking, using established methodologies, technical tools, frameworks, and standards to ensure the effectiveness of the policy-making process. It specifically explains the steps and procedures for identifying problems that policies aim to address, defining policy priorities, presenting policy alternatives, and approving and selecting the appropriate alternative. It also covers procedures related to policy implementation, follow-up, and evaluation, using the "Policy Cycle" model which comprises six stages starting from identifying the problem and ending with the evaluation and follow-up process.  The guide aims to provide people working in the field of policymaking in various government agencies with the necessary knowledge to prepare policies in an efficient and effective manner, and to unify the technical and methodological approach to policymaking, which facilitates a comprehensive understanding of government activity and its evaluation and development process.

"The Development of economic clusters "

The significance of this study is a result of the rapid acceleration in economic, commercial and financial globalization, the significant changes in the global economy, the growing competition among companies and countries, and the need to enhance the development process to achieve transformational growth that will move the economy towards a modern economy characterized by more manufacturing and service-based production, utilizing knowledge and modern technologies, and being integrated into competitive international value chains. Achieving this type of growth requires a set of modern and smart industrial policies that form the foundation of modern development planning, which focuses on creating supportive policies, attractive incentives, and providing resources for investors and producers to positively contribute to the state's development goals, while also addressing rentier behavior that results from acquiring aid and support without achieving development goals. The study conducts a developmental analysis of the economy in terms of its production and export capabilities and identify the development challenges it faces as a starting point for developing policies for building production clusters that will help achieve the development goals of becoming a modern industrial country and not dependent on primary sectors, particularly through high-technology and knowledge-based activities..

"Charity Organization Strategy 2016-2020"

The aim of this study was to prepare a strategy for the Charity Organization to develop human capabilities and competencies, as well as to train its employees on the latest worldwide strategic tracks for charitable work.  The program included programs for charitable empowerment, social responsibility, collaboration with the private sector, the development of small and medium businesses, training and rehabilitation programs geared toward the labor market, as well as real involvement with the private sector to serve the targeted segments.

"Assessing the Economic and Social Impacts of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises "

In this study, we analyze the developmental impact of the Fund, including the impact of both financing and non-financing services provided by the Fund at the level of its beneficiaries.  The aim of this study is to analyse the Fund's experience in financing micro, small and medium enterprises, and to evaluate its role in creating employment, increasing productivity, and empowering youth and women.  

" Investment in Education"

The purpose of this study was to examine the most important financing alternatives, based on successful practices regionally and internationally as well as the realities of education in the Member States.  This assessment takes into consideration both the reality of education and investment in these countries and their future needs considering natural population increases and the renewed need for knowledge, skills, and specializations required by society and the labor market.

"The Economic and Social Return on Investment in Public Education 

The purpose of the study was to assess the economic and social return on investment in education in these countries, which plays a significant role in evaluating the outcome of the educational process and how it contributes to development.

"Reform and Financing of the Education System"

This study aimed at an in-depth analysis of the education system, as well as estimating the return on education in all its phases, using a detailed database on the levels of education and wages for citizens affiliated with the civil service sector. The study demonstrated the challenges facing the education and employment sectors and how human capital can play a role in bringing about the change needed.

"The pattern of development in the next phase: towards a balanced knowledge economy, based on skilled national labor, and serving the environment"

This study aimed to present a strategy that seeks to identify future patterns of development based on the transition towards a knowledge-based economy that reduces its dependence on depleted natural resources. The goal is to develop productive sectors with high knowledge content so that skilled national workers can be employed in these sectors as well as develop a green economy by reducing carbon consumption and encouraging environmentally friendly behaviors and sectors.