Using company size as a moderator, this article examines the MENA region’s gender balance on boards and how it influences capital structure. The study uses the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimate technique to analyze data from a sample of 556 non-financial organizations across 10 MENA countries from 2010 to 2023. The results show that a lower debt ratio is connected with a higher percentage of female board members. Further steps towards debt reduction include increasing the number of independent female board members and decreasing the board’s overall size. The opposite is true for larger enterprises, more profitability, more expansion opportunities, and macroeconomic variables like inflation and GDP growth, which tend to raise the debt ratio. Capital structure decisions in the MENA area are influenced by gender diversity on boards and business characteristics. Therefore, Companies in the MENA area would do well to support initiatives that increase the representation of women on corporate boards. One way to achieve this goal is to establish gender diversity targets or launch programs to increase the number of women serving on boards of directors, particularly in positions of power.

The discourse on advocacy planning involving actors has not explicitly addressed the question of who the actor advocate planner is and how an actor can become an advocate planner. This paper attempts to exploring the actor advocate planner in the context of Regional Splits as, employing social network analysis as a research tool. This research employs an exploratory, mixed-methods approach, predominantly qualitative in nature. The initial phase entailed the investigation and examination of qualitative data through the acquisition of information from interviews with key stakeholders involved in Regional Splits, including communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governmental entities, and political parties. The subsequent phase utilized quantitative techniques derived from the findings of the qualitative analysis, which were then analysis into the Gephi application. The findings indicate that the Regional Splits the Presidium Community represents civil society and political parties serve as crucial advocate planners, facilitating connections between disparate actors and promoting Regional Splits through political parties.

Climate change has adverse effects on ecosystems and several socio-economic sectors including health. Indeed, infrastructure, continuity of medical services, and the hospital environment are all directly affected by the effects of climate-related risks. This study aims to describe the observations of the effects of climate change risks on health systems in the Greater Lomé health region of Togo. We used an interview guide and a questionnaire to collect information. The observations allowed us to assess the effects caused by climate risks. According to the results, 84.62% of respondents attest that health centers experience flooding during rainy periods and damage caused by strong winds is noticeable among 76.92% of respondents. More than 25.40% and 61.86% respectively of respondents mention that droughts and floods have effects on health systems. The results of this study will allow health system managers to become aware of how to plan useful actions to facilitate the management of climate-related risks in health facilities in the Greater Lomé health region. In view of all these results, it is necessary that measures be taken to strengthen the resilience of health systems through awareness campaigns and training of actors throughout the health pyramid.

The study intends to identify the existing implementation bottlenecks that hamper the effectiveness of the Ethiopian forest policy and laws in regional states by focusing on the Oromia Regional State. It attempts to address the question, “What are the challenges for the effective implementation of the federal forest policy and law in Ethiopia in general and Oromia Regional State in particular?”. The study followed a qualitative research approach, and the relevant data was collected through in-depth interviews from 11 leaders and experts of the policy, who were purposively selected. Furthermore, relevant documents such as the constitutions, forest policies and laws, and government documents were carefully reviewed. Based on this, the study found that there is the dichotomy between the provision of the constitution regarding the forest policy and lawmaking and the constitutional amendment on one hand and the push for genuine decentralization in the Ethiopian federal state on the other. To elaborate, the constitution is rigid for amendment, and it has given the power of forest policy and lawmaking to the federal government. On the other hand, the quest for genuine decentralization requires these powers to be devolved to the regional states. As the constitution is rigid, this may continue to be the major future challenge of the forest policy and lawmaking of the state. This demonstrates a conflict of interests between the two layers of governments, i.e., the federal and regional (Oromia Regional State) governments. Respecting and practicing the constitution may be the immediate solution to this pressing problem.

Water scarcity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, is a critical issue affecting forest management. This study investigates the effects of drought stress on the water requirement and morphological characteristics of two important tree species Turkish pine and Chinaberry. Using a factorial design, the study examines the impact of three age stages (one-year-old, three-year-old, and five-year-old plants) and three levels of drought stress on these species. Microlysimeters of varying sizes were employed to simulate different drought conditions. Soil moisture was monitored to show the effect of the various irrigation schedules. The study also calculated reference crop evapotranspiration (ET₀) using the PMF-56 method and developed plant coefficients (Kc) for the species. Results showed that evapotranspiration increased with soil moisture, peaking during summer and decreasing in winter. Turkish pine exhibited higher plant ET than Chinaberry, particularly among one-year-old seedlings. Drought stress significantly reduced evapotranspiration and water uses for both species, highlighting the importance of efficient water management in afforestation projects. The findings underscore the necessity of selecting drought-resistant species and optimizing irrigation practices to enhance the sustainability of green spaces in arid regions. These insights are crucial for improving urban forestry management and mitigating the impacts of water scarcity in Iran and similar climates globally.