Powering Recovery in the Middle East

Investigating opportunities for donors to support politically- and environmentally-sustainable power infrastructure in conflict-affected settings”

When international actors build electricity infrastructure in conflict-affected environments, the location, scale, and design of what they construct necessarily has both political and economic consequences. Construction contracts create jobs and revenues, and electricity infrastructure creates long-term streams of jobs, income, and benefits.

The CSIS Middle East Program researched the interplay between international policymakers’ political goals and their efforts to reconstruct power infrastructure in conflict-affected settings. We also explored the new opportunities that more decentralized and sustainable power infrastructure provide for donors who seek to promote stability and prosperity in such environments. The project focused on Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, and Yemen as case studies and is based on over 175 interviews from donor governments, UN officials, local actors, and private sector implementers. A senior-level advisory board provided strategic guidance throughout the project. 

This project was made possible by a donation from the Embassy of Qatar in Washington, D.C.

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How Renewables Fight Corruption in Conflict-Affected States

Middle East Program senior fellow and deputy director Will Todman argues that international donors should advance renewable energy technologies in conflict-affected environments to prevent the entrenchment of vested interests that profit from the electricity crisis.

Commentary by Will Todman — May 16, 2023

Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Power Plays

Suffering from a debilitating electricity and water shortage crisis, some communities in Libya resort to "power plays" and acts of intimidation to ensure their access to basic services.

Podcast Episode — May 9, 2023

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Will Todman: Powering Recovery

Jon Alterman speaks with Will Todman about his new report on the relationship between electricity and politics in conflict-affected environments and what donors should do differently.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Will Todman, Lubna Yousef, and Caleb Harper — March 7, 2023

CSIS Babel

Advisory Board Members

Advisory board for the Powering Recovery in the Arab World project.

Newsletter — December 13, 2021