The MENARAH network was launched on 29th of September 2020 in a virtual event, which showcased the work of MENARAH so far and discussed some of its future aims. The event featured discussions with an international expert panel representing organisations such as the United Nations International Institute on Ageing; the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN/ESCWA).
MENARAH aims to help improve the lives and wellbeing of older people and their informal carers in the region. The MENARAH team is keen to collaborate with fellow researchers and authorities, offer expert advice to stakeholders and provide a consultancy service to enable an effective response to population ageing.
The virtual launch event showcases the work of MENARAH, and feature discussions with an international expert panel including:
- Shereen Hussein, Professor of Health and Social Care Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
- Professor Hoda Rashad, Director of the Social Research Centre, American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
- Dr Sara Salman, Population Affairs, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN/ESCWA), Beirut, Lebanon
- Professor Marvin Formosa, Director of the United Nations International Institute on Ageing, Valletta, Malta
- Dr Christopher Mikton, Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
Watch A Summary Video of the Launch (4 minutes 05 seconds):
Dr Christopher Mikton, talks about the role of MENARAH in supporting the World Health Organisation healthy ageing agenda and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Watch Dr Mikton’s presentation (6 minutes 19 seconds):
Dr Sara Salman, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN/ESCWA), talks about the exciting collaborative opportunities between UN/ESCWA and the MENARAH network in addressing population ageing in the region. Watch Dr Salman keynote (3 minutes 25 seconds):
Professor Marvin Formosa, Director of the United Nations International Institute on Ageing, speakers about the complementary role of the MENARAH network in enhancing the awareness of global population ageing and building research and practice capacity. Watch Professor Formosa’s keynote (4 minutes 59 seconds):
Professor Shereen Hussein said: ‘The Middle East and North Africa region is set to experience a boom in its elderly population in the coming decades, so this is a vital time to raise awareness and advocate the need for further research and change to support healthy ageing. By launching the MENARAH network we are making partnership opportunities more accessible, to connect researchers, policymakers, older people, and their informal carers, educators, and practitioners and make a difference. We hope the visibility of the network supports bids for more research funding, to actively develop solutions.’
Watch Professor Shereen Hussein introducing the MENARAH network and its aims (5 minutes 59 seconds):
Professor Hoda Rashad talks about the synergy between MENARAH and the Social Research Centre at the American University in Cairo and the importance of working in partnership to address ageing issues in the MENA region. Watch Professor Rashad keynote (7 minutes 08 seconds):
You can also watch the recording of the full launch event (1 hour, 49 minutes and 24 seconds):
Founder and Director
Shereen Hussein is a Health and Social Care Policy professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom.
Shereen Founded the MENARAH Network in 2019, through an initial grant from the Global Challenge Research Fund, UKRI. She is a medical demographer with expertise in ageing, family dynamics, migration and long-term care systems. Shereen regularly collaborates with the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and the World Bank in policy and research focused on ageing in the Middle East and North Africa Region.
Shereen received her undergraduate degree in statistics and a postgraduate degree in computer science at Cairo University. She completed an MSc in medical demography at the London School of Hygiene and a PhD in quantitative demography and population studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom.
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