ESCWA ANNUAL REPORT 2012

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ESCWA 2012ANNUAL REPORT

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CONTENTS

FOREWORD

ESCWA AT A GLANCE

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESFOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

INTEGRATED SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYFOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION

STATISTICS FOR EVIDENCE-BASED POLICYMAKING

ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

CONFLICT MITIGATION AND DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING, PARTNERSHIP AND TECHNICALCOOPERATION

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS


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Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary, 2012. Source: ESCWA.

2012 was a year of contrast in the Arabregion. The light of hope contrasted with thedarkness of conflict and occupation.

Continued transition, socio-economicchallenges, occupation and conflict and theirramifications were the dominant featuresof the year. Despite significant progressin meeting the Millennium DevelopmentGoals in areas of gender parity in primary,secondary and tertiary education and adultliteracy, the Arab region continued to suffer

from persistent poverty and inequality,high levels of unemployment, particularlyamong youth and women, governancedeficits and the erosion of human welfaredue to the destabilizing impact of conflict andoccupation.

The rallying call of tens of millions Arabsfor freedom, dignity and social justice mustbe heard and answered through human

Foreword

development, better living standards andopportunities for all people. We at theEconomic and Social Commission for WesterAsia (ESCWA) heard their call and realignedour programmes and priorities to providethe best support for new realities in thedevelopment of the Arab region.

To that end, I am proud that ESCWA is nowbetter positioned to respond to the callsfor technical assistance from our membercountries, to support them in delivering the

economic, political and social developmentthat the citizens of the region rightly demand

Throughout 2012, countries in transitionbenefited from ESCWA activ ities designedto strengthen State institutions, advancecitizen engagement, support national dialoguprocesses and increase transparency in themanagement of public services.


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ESCWA ANNUAL REPORT 2012

In light of the critical role of women andyoung people, not only in the transition of theregion but also in shaping its future, ESCWAcontinues to ensure that women and youngpeople are at the forefront of our mandate and

activities. ESCWA has undertaken significantactivities in member countries to promotepolicies and services to overcome gender-based violence, encourage the politicalparticipation of women and youth, promoteeducation and identify and remove barriers totheir economic participation.

In order to meet economic challenges inthe region, our activities have focused onfinancing for development, understandingfiscal space in the aftermath of transition,reducing poverty and promoting foreign directinvestment, trade and regional integration.

We at ESCWA have actively sought to buildon our existing partnerships and to forgenew ones in order to provide the mostrelevant, timely and efficient assistance forthe development of the Arab region, workingclosely and collaboratively with regionalinstitutions. We are working in a spirit ofopenness and cooperation to improve thelives of Arab people. Our priority is to sharpenand deepen cooperation to ensure that we are

ready and able to meet and overcome currentchallenges on the road to a better, moreprosperous future.

Against that backdrop, we welcomed threenew member countries to the Commissionin 2012: Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. As weexpand our outreach to cover the whole Arabregion, we will enhance regional cooperationand integration between the Maghreb andWestern Asia. The increased membership ofESCWA will strengthen the capacity of ArabStates to harmonize goals, programmes and

priorities and will foster closer alignmentwith other regional organizations.

2012 was a historic year for Palestinians.The achievement of non-member observerstatus in the General Assembly has givenPalestinians greater legitimacy to achievestatehood and end the occupation. During

2012, ESCWA published reports that callattention to the detrimental impact ofthe Israeli occupation on Palestine andPalestinian women. Our commitment tohelping the State of Palestine strengthenits fledgling national institutions remainssteadfast and undiminished. Now, more thaever, we must support the Palestinians intheir legitimate pursuit of statehood.

We recognize the importance of promotingsustainable development in the Arab regionand ensuring that the Arab voice is heard athe global level as the world plans for futurdevelopment goals. In collaboration withregional partners, ESCWA ensured that thevoice of the Arab region was heard at theUnited Nations Conference on SustainableDevelopment (Rio+20). Efforts leadingup to Rio+20 resulted in the adoption andendorsement of a regional declaration, andthe active participation of the Arab region ithe formulation of the outcome document athe Conference.

The Arab region continues to be a dynamicand challenging environment that commanglobal attention. We commend ESCWA stafmembers for their resilience, determinatioand courage in what at times has been achallenging year in the region. We embracethe opportunity to serve our membercountries and continue to deliver as one.


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ESCWAAT A GLANCE

The United Nations House, 2012. Source: Ahmad Azak


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ESCWA AT A GLAN8

The efforts of the Commission aimed to

support countries in transition throughappropriate responses to the economic,political and social challenges of the region.

In response to significant changes that beganin 2011, ESCWA collaborated with the fiveregional commissions to provide a forumfor leaders from the Arab region and otherparts of the world to exchange experiencesand discuss the challenges of transitionalperiods. In 2012, ESCWA launched a seriesof High-Level Meetings to foster dialoguebetween leaders of Arab countries intransition and leaders of countries who havebeen through those challenges in the past.The first meeting on Reform and Transition toDemocracy was held in Beirut, 15-16 January2012. Prominent speakers included Mr. BanKi-moon, Secretary-General of the UnitedNations and Mr. Najib Mikati, Prime Minister

Reform and transition to democracy

of Lebanon, in addition to Government

ministers, members of parliaments andformer heads of State. Some of the mainthemes included the Arab uprisings and theirprospects, the multidimensional aspects oftransition to democracy and the occupationof Palestine and its significance for region-wide political transition. The meetinghighlighted the importance of justice andclear mechanisms of governance, the needto rethink the relationship between the Stateand citizens, the importance of civil societyin strengthening democratic institutions andthe political, economic and social rights ofwomen.

As the region progresses towards democracyESCWA remains committed to fosteringdialogue in regional and global forums toassist and support member countries inachieving the outcomes they desire.

High-Level Meetingsfoster dialoguebetween leaders ofArab countries intransition and leadersof countries who havebeen through thosechallenges in the past

The High-Level Meeting on Reform and Transition to Democracy, 2012. Source: ESCWA.


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The twenty-seventh session of the

Commission* (Beirut, 7-10 May 2012) wascharacterized by sustained engagementof Ministers in substantive discussionswhich delivered ambitious and challengingproposals and recommendations for theCommission.

The debate at the session confirmed thatthe ESCWA approach of boldly addressingquestions, even those that may be seen aspolitical, results in sharper socioeconomicanalysis and greater relevance to theconcerns of the region.

Furthermore, the Arab ministers expressedtheir support for the continued efforts ofthe Commission to improve its performancethrough monitoring and evaluation, job auditsand a review of its internal structure toachieve the highest standards of effectivenessand efficiency.

In addition to adopting amendments to theESCWA programme of work for the biennium2012-2013 and the strategic framework for the

Through Resolution 2012/1, the Economicand Social and Council approved the decisionof the twenty-seventh session of ESCWA toadmit Libya, Morocco and Tunisia as new

members. On 19 September 2012, ESCWAheld a formal flag-raising ceremony at theUnited Nations House in Beirut to welcomeLibya, Morocco and Tunisia as the fifteenth,sixteenth, and seventeenth members of theCommission.

The twenty-seventh session

Libya, Morocco and Tunisia formally join ESCWA

biennium 2014-2015, a number of resolutiowere adopted, including the following: Enhancing macroeconomic policy in

ESCWA member countries; The role of participation and social

justice in achieving sustainabledevelopment;

Sustainable development in the regionand follow-up and implementation of thedecisions of the Rio+20 Conference;

Development of the Arab InternetGovernance Forum process andsustaining efforts in the Arabic domainnames field;

Support for the Palestinian people;The regional dimension of development.

The twenty-eighth session is scheduled totake place in May, 2014.

The accession of the new member countriesignifies the commitment of ESCWA topromoting greater integration in the Arabregion and the sense of shared responsibil

and ownership in its future development anprosperity.

Senior representatives from the new membcountries attended the ceremony along witmembers of the diplomatic community inLebanon.

*In its role as theregional arm ofthe United Nationsand the voice of itsmember countriesin the internationalcommunity, ESCWAholds biennial sessionsduring which theproposed activities,initiatives and directionof the Commissionare agreed upon andestablished. Thesession highlights therole of the Commissionas a forum for the

Governments ofmember countries,governmental andnon-governmentalorganizations andexperts to discusscurrent and emergingissues of concern forthe Arab region.

During the session, the 14 member countries of

ESCWA were asked to consider the requests of LibMorocco and Tunisia to join the Commission. Themember countries voted in the affirmative andrecommended that the Economic and Social Counaccept the requests.


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ESCWA AT A GLAN12

CHART 1: Distribution of ESCWA 2012-2013 regularbudget resources by functional area(Total: US$65.38 million)

CHART 2: Distribution of ESCWA 2012-2013 resources bysubstantive area of work (Total: US$32.62 million)

6%

50%

$3.94 M

$3.39 M

$25.43 M

$32.62 M

39%

5%

Policymaking Organ and Executive Direction and Management Sustainable Development and Productivity

Programme of Work Social Development

Programme Planning and Technical Cooperation Economic Development and Globalization

Administrative Services Information and Communication Technology

Statistics

Advancement of Women

Emerging and Conflict-Related Issues

16%

18%

23%

14%

12%

8%

9%

$5.11 M

$5.72 M

$7.67 M

$4.52 M

$3.99 M

$2.75 M

$2.86 M

CHART 3: Distribution of resources under the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation(Total: US$5.18 million)

$0.75 M

$0.87 M

17%14%

12%

16%

12%14%

11%

4%

Integrated management of natural resources for sustainabledevelopment

Integrated social development

Economic development and integration

Information and communication technology forregional integration

Statistics for evidence-based policymaking

Advancement of women

Conflict mitigation and development

Secreterial assistance

$0.71 M

$0.62 M

$0.81 M

$0.64 M

$0.58 M

$0.19 M


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NAME OF PROJECT START YEAR END YEAR TOTAL

BUDGETEXPENDITU

Knowledge networks through information andcommunication technology access points fordisadvantaged communities

2006 2011 970,000 959,5

Strengthening national capacities inenvironment statistics, indicators and accountsin support of progress toward achieving theinternationally-agreed development goals in theESCWA and ECLAC regions

2007 2011 602,000 592,9

Participatory human development in post-conflict countries in the ESCWA region

2009 2011 500,000 480,2

Regional harmonization of cyber legislation topromote the knowledge society in the Arab world

2009 2012 401,000 396,2

Strengthening capacities in the ESCWA region to

negotiate bilateral investment treaties2010 2014 502,200 241,8

Strengthening capacities in the ESCWA region toformulate national youth policies and plans of action:Responding to the World Programme of Action forYouth (WPAY)

2011 2013 379,000 81,4

Capacity building on climate change mitigation forpoverty alleviation in western asia

2011 2013 547,200 168,3

Regional project for strengthening statisticalcapacity for the ESCWA countries in energy statisticsand energy balance

2011 2014 509,000 135,1

Strengthening national capacities in ESCWA region indeveloping green production sector

2012 2013 491,000 191,1

Total 4,901,400 3,246,8

TABLE 2: Current Development Account projects with budget and expenditure as of 31 Dec 2012 (US$)

Note: Reported expenditure as of 1 March 2013, unofficial and unaudited.


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ESCWA AT A GLAN14

TABLE 3: Voluntary contributions, 2008-2012 (US$)

Organization

ARAB FUND FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ARAB GULF PROGRAMME FOR UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

AWQAF AND MINORS AFFAIRS FOUNDATION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF DUBAI

EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO LEBANON

GERMAN AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

HIGHER COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE

KING KHALED FOUNDATION

MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (JORDAN)

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT OF YEMEN

NORWEGIAN EMBASSY, BEIRUT

OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

ROYAL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY OF JORDAN

SALAHADDIN UNIVERSITY

SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AGENCY

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK IRAQ

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR WOMEN

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT GROUP IRAQ TRUST FUND

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

UNITED NATIONS ENTITY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND

WORLD BANK

WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

OTHERS

Total


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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

544,929

35,000 60,000 60,000

125,000

19,210

239,606

125,473

99,758 74,723

139,486

116,613

249,648

19,983

49,408

11,000

99,948

53,084

1,225,954 2,591,625 1,061,471

25,000

677,608

35,000

1,448,695 455,175

747,478 827,144 844,068 783,577 54,240

57,000 67,800 52,521

131,586

161,250 26,750

200,000 300,000

321,247

53,127 51,667

1,136,888 1,078,004 3,835,717 4,934,535 3,337,706


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ESCWA AT A GLAN16

UNITED NATIONS

ECA ECLAC ESCWA ESCAP ECE

RegionalCommissions

SecurityCouncil

GeneralAssembly

TrusteeshipCouncil

InternationalCourt of justice

Secretariat Economic andSocial Council


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ESCWA

Secretary of theCommission

Deputy

ExecutiveSecretary

Executive Secretary

Emerging and Conflict-Related Issues Division(ECRI)

- Conflict, Occupation andDevelopment

- Governance and Statebuilding

ESCWA Centre forWomen (ECW)

- Women Empowerment- Gender Mainstreaming

- Programme Planning- Technical Cooperation- Millennium Development Goals(including LDCs)

ProgrammePlanning and TechnicalCooperation Division(PPTCD)

AdministrativeServicesDivision (ASD)

- Budget and Finance- Human Resources Management- General Services- Information and

Communications Systems- Conference Services- Joint Medical Services

StatisticDivision (SD)

- Social Statistics- Economic Statistics

SustainableDevelopment andProductivity Division(SPDP)

- Energy- Water Resources- Productive Sectors

Social DevelopmentDivision (SDD)

- Social Policy- Population and Social Development- Social Participatory Development

Economic Developmentand GlobalizationDivision (EDGD)

- Regional Integration- Globalization and Financing for

Development- Economic Analysis- Development Policy

Information andCommunicationTechnology Division(ICTD)

- ICT Policies- ICT Applications- ESCWA Technology Centre


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INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMEN18

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES FORSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Dead Sea, 2009. Source: Marc Haerin


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Figure II. Renewable energy capacity in the Arabregion (2012)

frameworks, projects, plans, emissionsreduction scenarios and the potential tomanufacture renewable energy equipmentin the Arab region. In addition, it will explorethe potential for regional cooperation, takingrelevant international and regional initiativesinto consideration (figure II).

GREEN ECONOMYIn cooperation with the Organisation forEconomic Co-operation and Development,ESCWA is developing a publication onMonitoring the Transition to Green Economyin Arab Countries: The Perspective of Smalland Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which willreview the progress Arab countries havemade and assess the role of private sector inspearheading the transition.

RIO+20The highlight of 2012 was Rio+20 andESCWA led the regional preparation effortsin collaboration with the League of ArabStates and the United Nations EnvironmentalProgramme, among others, to harmonize theArab position towards the major issues to betackled during the Conference. Accordingly,

ESCWA organized various consultativemeetings on those issues, including theconceptual framework for a green economyand its expected benefits and a review of goodpractice. The preparatory process resultedin the development of the Arab MinisterialDeclaration on Sustainable Development thatwas presented at Rio+20.

Source: ESCWA calculationsNote: megawatt (MW); photovoltaics (PV); and concentratingsolar power (CSP).

Energy efficiency is one of the main pillarsof the energy policies of member countriesbecause of its role in climate changemitigation. Consequently, ESCWA issuedthree technical papers covering the followin

topics: (i) Opportunities for Energy Efficiencyin Existing Buildings in the ESCWA Region; (iEffects of Climate Change on the Energy Secin the ESCWA Region; and (iii) Energy Efficiein Agriculture: Poultry Sector, which identifieindicators of energy consumption and cost.

During the Conference, ESCWA organizedside events in cooperation with otherpartners. The side events covered thefollowing topics: (i) food security and safetyfor development in a changing Arab world;(ii) advancing sustainable development inpost-conflict countries; and (iii) green growand sustainable development: regionalperspectives. In addition, ESCWA assistedin the preparation of United Nations SystemTogether for the Future We Want, a dialoguthat outlined the role of the United Nations supporting member country efforts to achisustainable development.

Maintaining the momentum of Rio+20,

ESCWA convened the first intergovernmentconsultative meeting between the Committon Water Resources and the Committee onEnergy, to discuss the water-energy nexus(Beirut, 27-28 June 2012). The officialsaddressed the interrelationship betweenwater and energy and the relevant technicaand policy options. They came to a commonprioritization of water-energy nexus issuesand examined possible mechanisms tocoordinate policy efforts.

The Commission initiated cooperation with

the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Researchdevelop three regional research programmon energy efficiency and renewable energytools, technologies and policies, thecontrolled replenishment of groundwaterand good agricultural practice. The initiativaims to consolidate existing institutionalpartnerships and build on the comparativeadvantage of each organization to enhancesustainable development in the Arab region

1200

1000

800600

400

200 33

PV CSP Wind Farms

65

1016.5

0


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CO P18 During COP18, which also served as theeighth session of the Meeting of the Partiesto the Kyoto Protocol, ESCWA co-chaireda Hikma Hours event on Climate ChangeVulnerability and Impact Assessment:Initiatives for Adaptation in the Arab Region. Itwas organized in cooperation with the Leagueof Arab States and United Nations partners topresent climate change initiatives in the Arabregion and included a presentation by ESCWAon RICCAR.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALLThe General Assembly designated 2012 as theInternational Year of Sustainable Energy forAll. To promote sustainable energy, ESCWA

participated in an awareness campaignin cooperation with the United NationsInformation Centre in Beirut, Lions ClubsInternational and the Lebanese televisionchannel MTV. The media campaign, calledChange Your Habits, Save Your Energy,concluded with a project to enhance theenergy efficiency of a shelter for streetchildren.

Building on the findings of the ESCWApublication Policies and Measures to PromotSustainable Use of Energy in the TransportSector in the ESCWA Region (2011), theLebanese petroleum import and distribution

company, IPT, organized a national campaignto reduce air pollution through more efficientenergy use in land transportation. TheLebanese Ministry of Environment, ESCWAand the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme were invited to participate. Thecampaign aimed to sensitize the Lebaneseto the effect of applying energy efficiencymeasures to reduce air pollution.

In addition, ESCWA facilitated the visit ofa delegation from the Sudanese Ministryof Irrigation and Water Resources to the

Ministry of Regional Municipalities and WaterResources in Oman in January 2012. Thedelegation learned about the structures,mandates and activities of their counterpartsgained conceptual and practical knowledgeabout water harvesting approaches andwater management and acquired hands-onexperience during field visits. The exchangevisit was beneficial for both parties and mayopen future bilateral cooperation.

Vegetable market, Agadir, Morocco. Source: Bogdan Wankowicz - www.shutterstock.com.

The General Assemblydesignated 2012 as theInternational Year ofSustainable Energy forAll. ESCWA contributedto awareness-raisingcampaigns andcapacity-buildingactivities at thenational level topromote sustainableenergy


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Contributions to technical cooperation

CONTRIBUTIONS TO TECHNICALCOOPERATIONDuring 2012, ESCWA provided technicalsupport to Bahrain, Palestine and SaudiArabia. In Bahrain, ESCWA assisted theMinistry of Works by reviewing the termsof reference and proposed approach ofa national pilot study on the injection oftreated wastewater into suitable aquifersfor intermediate storage and possiblefuture reuse in agriculture and othersectors. In Palestine, ESCWA reviewedthe organizational structure of the WaterAuthority and developed a proposal for anew structure and the establishment of awater information centre. In addition, ESCWAconducted a mapping exercise to identifyneeds and developed a proposal concerningcommunication mechanisms betweenthe Palestinian Water Authority and otherPalestinian institutions for water-relatedinformation. Finally, ESCWA prepared a draftmanual on water and environment indicatorsfor sustainable development in nationaldevelopment planning in Saudi Arabia. Themanual will be used as a guidance note for

the application of sustainable developmentindicators.

In cooperation with the League of Arab Statesand Qatar General Electricity and WaterCorporation, ESCWA organized a conferenceand a training seminar on Pollution Emissionsfrom the Electricity Sector in Arab Countries(Doha, 27-31 May 2012). The purpose of theconference and the seminar was to highlightthe need for sustainable electricity and toshowcase the negative environmental impactof electricity production and the methods to

mitigate that harm.

To support the Lebanese ecotourism sector,ESCWA and the United Nations InterimForce in Lebanon organized a workshopfor representatives of municipalities andnon-governmental organizations (Tyre,Lebanon, 29 March 2012) to raise awarenessof responsible ecotourism in the frameworkof green economies and sustainable

development. The workshop provided a

platform to deal with the challenges facingthat sector. Participants discussed optionsfor a regional action plan and the need fora strong institutional framework to developecotourism strategies and programmes anattract private investment.

DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT PROJECTSDuring 2012, ESCWA implemented activitierelated to the project on Promoting energyefficiency investments for cl imate changemitigation and sustainable development,and provided stakeholders with capacity-building materials with a special emphasison the construction sector. The expert groumeeting on Sustainable Consumption andProduction: Energy Efficiency (Tunis, 24-26September 2012) provided a platform forleading experts to share experiences anddiscuss potential opportunities to develop aregional initiative on energy efficiency in thconstruction sector.

In cooperation with other United Nationsentities, ESCWA has undertaken the projecon Capacity-building on climate changemitigation for poverty alleviation in WesternAsia to build the capacity of concernedpolicymakers, planners, executives andrepresentatives of civil society and theprivate sector to enhance energy securityand improve access to energy services inrural areas, based on renewable energytechnologies. Activities included thefollowing: a training workshop on ScalingUp the Use of Renewable Energy in RuralAreas in ESCWA Member Countries (Beirut

1-2 February 2012), in cooperation with theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization Office in Cairo andthe Regional Centre for Renewable Energyand Energy Efficiency (RCREEE); the ArabForum on Renewable Energy and EnergyEfficiency: Building Financing Partnerships(Cairo, 23-24 April 2012), in cooperation witthe League of Arab States, the EuropeanUnion and RCREEE; and a regional worksho

ESCWA is assisting

member countriesin the design andimplementation ofeffective policiesto promote greenproduction sectorsand foster renewableenergy and energyefficiency


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on Enhancing South-South Cooperation andPublic-Private Partnerships in RenewableEnergy Projects for Rural Development(Beirut, 27 November 2012), in collaborationwith the Lebanese Association for Energy

Saving and Environment.

The project entitled Strengthening nationalcapacity in the ESCWA region in developinggreen production sectors is currently beingimplemented and aims to assist membercountries in the design and implementationof effective policies. Activities undertakeninclude the following: a mapping exercise toreview and assess existing green policiesin the ESCWA region; the establishment ofgreen production help desks in Lebanon andOman in partnership with the concernedentities to support SMEs and increasetheir competitiveness; and the provision ofworkshops and online e-learning training forstakeholders.

EXTRABUDGETARY PROJECTSThrough a joint technical cooperation project,ESCWA is cooperating with the Federal

Institute for Geosciences and NaturalResources (BGR) to complete the Inventoryof Shared Water Resources in Western A sia,to be launched in early 2013. The inventorycompiles and explores shared groundwater

systems and surface water basins inWestern Asia, with emphasis on hydrology,hydrogeology, water resources developmentand use and the status of cooperation. Thetargeted beneficiaries are decision makers,Government representatives of water andother sectors, donors and internationalorganizations.

In response to the call of the Arab MinisterialWater Council to establish a regionalmechanism to provide more specificinformation on access to water supply andsanitation based on local conditions andconstraints, the League of Arab States,ESCWA and the Arab Countries Water UtilitieAssociation, with financial support fromSIDA, are undertaking the MDG+ Initiativeto institutionalize a regional mechanism formonitoring and reporting on access to watersupply and sanitation services in the Arabregion.

The Dardara Falls on the Orontes River, Lebanon, 2009. Source: Andreas Renck.


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The MDG+ Initiativewill provide morespecific information onaccess to water supplyand sanitation in the

Arab region, whichwill enhance progresstowards the MillenniumDevelopment Goals

In support of RICCAR, ESCWA is coordinatinga SIDA-funded project on the Assessmentof the impact of climate change on waterresources and socioeconomic vulnerabilityin the Arab region. Two regional workshops

were held as part of the capacity-buildingand institutional strengthening pillars of theproject. The first, Climate Change Prediction/Projection and Extreme Events Indices inthe Arab Region (Casablanca, 13-16 March2012), provided national meteorologicaloffices in Arab countries with hands-on

In the coming years ESCWA will maintainits focus on developing appropriate region-specific policy options for the transition to thegreen economy, integrated water resourcesmanagement, food security and sustainableenergy sources. Future publications willinclude the following: The Future We Want:Greening the Productive Sector; SustainableAgricultural Production and Consumptionin the Arab Region; Cooperation on Shared

Water Resources in the Arab Region;Development Trends in the Energy Sector inthe Arab Region; and Regional Cooperationfor Energy Security in addition to publicationson issues related to the water, energy andfood security nexus.

In cooperation with the League of Arab Statesand other partners, ESCWA is committed toproviding substantive and technical service atthe request of member countries to supporttheir efforts to translate the Rio+20 outcomesinto sustainable policies. The Commission

will convene regional and subregionalconsultative meetings to discuss theimplications on the sustainable development

computer-based training on climate datamanagement software, climate indices andclimate modelling tools and was implemenwith the World Meteorology Organization athe Moroccan Direction de la Météorologie

National. The second, Regional ClimateModel Applications and Analysis (Beirut, 2-July 2012), provided a forum for the exchanof experience and the review of the processestablishing the CORDEX domain for the Arregion.

Outlook

agenda, including the updating of the ArabInitiative for Sustainable Development.

The approach of ESCWA to sustainabledevelopment in conflict-affected developincountries will shift from emergency responto prevention. It is essential to monitor andplan for droughts in water-scarce countriesaffected by conflict. With the support ofESCWA, the United Nations Department of

Economic and Social Affairs will lead a projto strengthen national capacity of conflict-affected countries to manage water scarcitand drought, targeting relevant nationalplanners, policymakers and stakeholders iWestern Asia and North Africa.

Moreover, ESCWA will lead a project ondeveloping the capacity of Arab countriesfor climate-change adaptation by applyingintegrated water resources managementtools. The project will build on the findings the RICCAR impact assessment and propos

integrated water resource management toofor Arab Governments.


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Mr. Rafik Missaoui - Vice President Tunisian Association of Energy Conservation

Mr. Iyad Abumoghli - DirectorUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeRegional Office for West Asia

RIO+20 – THE FUTURE WE WANT AND THEPOST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDAAnticipating the importance of Rio+20 inshaping the regional agenda beyond 2015,the League of Arab States requested thesupport of ESCWA and the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) in leadingthe preparatory process by engagingGovernments and stakeholders in rounds ofdialogue and high-level policy events.

To prepare for those events, UNEP, ESCWAand the secretariat of the League of ArabStates enhanced their awareness campaignand technical support of sustainableconsumption and production; economicpolicies supporting the transition to the greeneconomy; and the international frameworkfor sustainable development. Those effortsresulted in the Arab Ministerial Declarationon Sustainable Development and othermilestone regional reports.

At Rio+20, ESCWA and UNEP continued toliaise and interact with the Arab delegations.The aim was to provide support andassistance during the final negotiations of thedraft outcome. The Commission participatedin the daily meetings of representatives of theArab region organized by the secretariat ofthe League of Arab States. The Arab regionorganized 18 side events during the Summit.

In a follow-up coordination meeting,UNEP and ESCWA agreed to continue theircollaboration in providing policy guidance andcapacity support to the League of Arab Stateson issues related to the implementation ofthe outcomes of Rio+20, particularly thereview of the Arab Initiative for SustainableDevelopment, green economy investmentopportunities, sustainable consumption andproduction and sustainable developmentindicators among others. The collaborationbetween UNEP and ESCWA is a great examplof United Nations agencies delivering as one.

Expert contributions

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLEENERGY IN THE ARAB REGIONMost ESCWA member countries will facesignificant energy supply challenges in the

coming years because of increasing energydemand. The first challenge is to ensurethe security of the energy supply, given thetrend of increasing energy dependence inthe region. Currently, the ESCWA regionconsumes about 55 per cent of the energy itproduces, up from only 35 per cent in 2000.

Moreover, the increase in electricity demandfar exceeds economic growth. Accordingly,

most member countries will face criticaleconomic and technical challenges associate

with the need for additional power plants.

The main challenge for net fuel-importingcountries is the dramatic increase in thecost of energy, which will affect economiccompetiveness. Meanwhile, most ESCWAmember countries pay large public subsidiesfor conventional energy because of ineffectivenergy tariff systems, which exceed 20 percent of the public budget of some countries.


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Member countries must change the scale inthe energy efficiency market. They shouldadopt voluntary energy efficiency andrenewable energy policies and set up therequired instruments and mechanisms fortheir implementation. That will allow them toimprove the security of their energy supply,reduce their vulnerability to energy priceshocks and enhance the sustainability of theirsocioeconomic development.

ESCWA should encourage Arab countries tdefine such policies by helping them to do tfollowing:

Develop long-term strategies for energy

efficiency and renewable energy; Strengthen institutions to scale up the

energy conservation market; Build the capacity of concerned

stakeholders on relevant technical,economic and institutional aspects.

Solar panels, Abu Dhabi, 2011. Source: www.greenprophet.com.


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INTEGRATED SOCIAL DEVELOPMEN28

INTEGRATED SOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT

Ramallah, 2012. Source: Ammar Awa


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At the World Summit for Social Developmentheld in Copenhagen in 1995, the Governmentsof member countries agreed that “socialdevelopment and social justice areindispensable for the achievement andmaintenance of peace and security withinand among our nations.” The CopenhagenProgramme of Action further emphasizedthat “human dignity, all human rights andfundamental freedoms, equality, equity andsocial justice constitute the fundamentalvalues of all societies.” Demonstrationsand subsequent transitions that have sweptseveral Arab countries over the past twoyears can be seen within that context asa struggle for rights, freedom and social

justice. Although there are dif ferentdimensions of social justice, they allemphasize the importance of equal rights andopportunities, a central pillar of the broadsocial development agenda.

In 2012, the normative and technicalcooperation activities carried out by theSocial Development Division (SDD) ofESCWA continued to respond to key regionaldevelopment challenges with a view topromoting a more inclusive, equitableand just process of social development.Those activities were designed to targetcritical social development bottlenecks thatcontributed to the popular demonstrations,such as inequality, unemployment,exclusion and the lack of socioeconomic and

political participation. In the area of socialdevelopment, ESCWA developed four mainthrusts of activity: (i) social policy and socialprotection; (ii) mainstreaming populationissues into national development policies; (iii)participatory development and democraticgovernance; and (iv) regional perspectives onthe future global development agenda.

The social policy cluster included buildingknowledge and capacity on labour-marketpolicy and the provision of social servicesand social protection. The population clustedeveloped several knowledge tools andimplemented activities aimed to support thefforts of member countries to empower sukey sociodemographic groups as young meand women, who, far more urgently than evbefore, must be placed at the forefront offuture development strategies in the regionThe participation cluster addressed criticaldemocracy deficits in the region by fosterinpartnerships and promoting civic engagemin social dialogue and consensus-building.In addition, the Division spearheaded theCommission’s contribution to ongoing globaand regional debates on the future wewant for all in a world after the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs). Regionalpriorities for the United Nations developmeagenda beyond 2015 include equitablegrowth, social inclusion, social protection,employment generation, participatorydemocracy and peace and security.

During 2012, the work of ESCWA focusedon the social development needs of manyvulnerable social groups, including thepoor, the unemployed, the youth, the elderlinternational migrants, persons withdisabilities and politically disenfranchisedcitizens. Those activities took place in linewith the four broad goals of the social

development agenda of the Commission,namely: (i) to promote social development imember countries; (ii) to provide a regionaplatform for the exchange of nationalexperiences; (iii) to provide technicalassistance at the request of membercountries; and (iv) to increase interaction inthe area of social development between theArab region and other world regions.

Overview

EQUAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITY ARE A CENTRALPILLAR OF THE BROADER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA


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THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENTAGENDA BEYOND 2015 As part of its contribution to the ongoingglobal debate on the United Nationsdevelopment agenda beyond 2015, ESCWAassumed a leading role in the production of a

joint publication of the regional commissionsentitled A Regional Perspective on the Post-2015 United Nations Development Agenda.The publication, which focuses on the regionaldimension of the future development agendaof the United Nations, will be presented tothe United Nations Chief Executives Boardfor Coordination in the spring of 2013 and tothe High-Level Panel of Eminent Personsappointed by the Secretary-General, to advisehim on the development agenda beyond 2015.

The key objective of the publication is toprovide regional perspectives on globaldevelopment, rights-based approaches todevelopment, inclusiveness and equality. Itunderlines the need to adapt global goalsto regional and national specificities. Thepublication assesses the political andsocioeconomic context in which MDGs

were formulated and the challenges andopportunities of that context. With the goal oflearning from that experience, the publicationalso assesses the progress achieved as aresult of the MDG agenda and the successesand failures that characterized the processesof setting and implementing goals. Thepublication analyses regional priorities toidentify new global and regional developmentchallenges that need to be included in thepost-2015 development agenda. The finalchapter consists of recommendations andpolicy options on the way forward.

The publication highlights some of the priorityissues of the Arab region, including thefollowing: (i) equitable and inclusive growth,with a focus on poverty and inequality; (ii)social inclusion and social protection; (iii)the perspectives of women and youth; (iv)democratic governance and participation; and(v) peace and security.

Major achievements

On the global level, ESCWA was actively

involved in drafting and preparing thereport to the Secretary-General entitledRealizing the Future We Want for All, inwhich all organizations of the United Nationssystem participated, under the leadershipof the Department of Economic and SocialAffairs and the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme. It was published in June 2012,and ESCWA made a significant contribution tothe translation of the report into Arabic.

Finally, at the regional level, ESCWA willhold a special multi-stakeholder session ofthe Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM)on the post-2015 development agenda at thebeginning of 2013. The basis of the regionalconsultation will be the two publicationsmentioned above; A Regional Perspective onthe Post-2015 United Nations DevelopmentAgenda and Realizing the Future We Want forAll. The session will include a day to discussthe views of civil society organizations inthe region, covering major groups such aswomen, youth and the private sector, whichwill feed into another session composed ofkey regional institutions, such as the Leagueof Arab States and other agencies outside theUnited Nations system.

POPULATION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTPOLICIESIn October 2012, ESCWA held a regionalworkshop which focused on building acommon understanding of key issues facingArab youth, reviewing existing policies,identifying gaps and discussing possibleareas for reform, improvement and technical

assistance. That process is aligned withthe World Programme of Action for Youthand is supported by capacity-developmenttools and interventions at the national level.Knowledge-building efforts also included thepublication of the fifth issue of the Populationand Development Report, dedicated toanalysing the demographic, social andcultural factors which lead to youth exclusionin the Arab region. The main findings and

The United Nations iscurrently debating thepost-2015 developmentagenda, and ESCWAis working to ensurethat the priority issuesof the Arab region arereflected in the agendabeyond 2015


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policy options presented in that report arecurrently guiding ESCWA support for youthpolicy formulation in several Arab countries.

Within its continued effort to support member

countries in dealing with and mainstreamingmigration into the development policies,ESCWA completed a joint project with theEconomic and Social Commission for Asiaand the Pacific on Strengthening nationalcapacity to deal with international migration:maximizing development benefits andminimizing negative impacts. In addition,ESCWA worked with the American Universityin Cairo to upgrade the University’s databaseto include modules on research experts andresearch centres on migration in the Arabregion. The database will enable greaternetworking among researchers and membercountries and facilitate access to expertiseon migration issues. The project will be acornerstone to strengthen partnershipswith the League of Arab States and theInternational Organization for Migration inpreparation for the High-Level Dialogue onInternational Migration and Development in

2013. The project will enable ESCWA membcountries to maximize the benefits of theircontributions to that important global even

In 2010, the General Assembly decided toextend the Programme of Action of theInternational Conference on Population andDevelopment (ICPD) and called upon allrelevant organizations of the United Nationsystem to undertake an operational reviewof its implementation. During 2012, ESCWAplayed a central role in administrating thedata collection processes of the ICPD globa

The recent popular demonstrations acrossthe Arab region and calls for dignity andsocial justice have confirmed that many Arabcountries have an urgent need to addressyouth issues. Youth empowerment is one of

the fastest-growing focus areas at ESCWA. In2012, ESCWA launched an initiative to enhanthe capacity of policymakers to address thespecific needs of young men and womenby putting youth at the core of long-termdevelopment programmes and strategies.

Cairo. Source: Amy Nichole Harris - shutterstock.com.


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survey and extending advisory support tomember countries in the preparation ofnational population and development reports.In preparation for the regional conference tobe held in 2013, ESCWA is spearheading the

regional ICPD review process in partnershipwith the League of Arab States, UNFPA, theEconomic Commission for Africa and theAfrican Union.

KNOWLEDGE AND POLICY INFRASTRUCTUREFOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTDuring 2012, social policy research at ESCWAfocused on three areas: labour markets andemployment policies; the changing division ofresponsibilities between the State, the marketand civil society in the provision of socialservices and protection; and social integrationwith particular attention to persons withdisabilities.

Building on earlier research on labour-market policies, ESCWA provided analysis oneconomic and active labour-market policiesand their respective impact on employmentin the Arab region. A technical paper entitledActive Labour-Market Policies in ArabCountries discussed how only a limitednumber of the unemployed throughout theregion benefit from existing programmes.Women in particular have inadequate accessto such programmes. The research revealedthat there is insufficient coordination betweenvarious service providers, which ultimatelylimits their effectiveness in addressingunemployment. The role of economic policiesin fostering employment creation and theexperiences of ESCWA member countrieswere analysed in the study of EconomicPolicy in the ESCWA Region and its Impact onEmployment. The study identified continuingstructural weaknesses in many economies

which are still characterized by low-wage,low-productivity growth and inadequate job creation. Public spending often distortsincentives and prices, leading to a mismatchin the labour market between demand andsupply. As distortions of the labour marketcontinue to be among the key concerns inthe region, ESCWA will continue to work onlabour-market policies in the future.

To explore and deepen knowledge on thechanging division of responsibilities betweenthe State, the market and civil society inthe provision of social services, ESCWA, incooperation with other international and

regional organizations, organized an Arabforum entitled Towards a New Welfare Mix:Rethinking the Roles of the State, Market andCivil Society in the Provision of Basic SocialServices (Beirut, 19-20 December 2012).The forum brought together experts fromGovernments, civil society and academiaand raised awareness on the gaps in socialservices provided by the public sector. Itdiscussed how those gaps are bridged byvarious actors from the private sector, faith-based organizations or political parties.The forum addressed the achievements ofvarious actors with regard to equity of accesscoverage and quality. The findings of theforum will feed into the Integrated SocialPolicy Report V, Towards a New Welfare Mix:The Roles and Responsibilities of Public,Private and Civil Society Actors in theProvision of Social Services, to be publishedin 2013.

Persons with disabilities in the Arab regioncontinue to face numerous political, social,

economic and environmental barriers thatarise from insufficient awareness, data andinformation. ESCWA has provided technicalassistance to improve the situation of personswith disabilities.

In October 2012, ESCWA carried out a missioto assist the Higher Council for Affairs ofPersons with Disabilities and the Departmentof Statistics in Jordan in devising a strategyto improve the collection and production of

data on disability. The assistance enhancedpartnerships between the Government andcivil society organizations for designing,implementing and monitoring developmentpolicies. There are synergies betweenthe mission and an upcoming projecton strengthening knowledge and policyinfrastructure for the implementationin the Arab region of the United Nations


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Convention on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities. Lessons learned from thetechnical cooperation activity will feed intothe implementation of that project.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN POLICYFORMULATION AND DECISION-MAKINGResponding to the Arab transitions, ESCWAinitiated a regional project to operationalizea participatory approach in public policyprocesses. To advance the objectives of theproject, ESCWA developed a manual andtoolkit to guide users through a step-by-stepparticipatory procedure towards achievingdemocratic governance. The manual wasvetted by representatives of Governmentinstitutions, civil society organizations,academic and media institutions, andUnited Nations agencies in a subregionalworkshop (Beirut, 16-19 April 2012). In thesame context, an earlier ESCWA project onparticipatory human development in post-conflict countries continued to yield positiveresults. In 2012, with the assistance ofESCWA, project beneficiaries established anIraq-based non-governmental organizationcalled Dar Al-Khibrah and created theArab Network for Social Development thatchannels knowledge and lessons learned

to address development challenges inIraq and the region. The positive impactof the project was further verified by the

replication of six workshops, one seminarand one research paper based on ESCWAparticipatory development programmesthat benefited some 200 participants fromdifferent Government and civil societyentities in selected member countries.ESCWA continues to respond to the requesof member countries for advisory andtechnical support services within the field oparticipatory democracy, civic engagementand consensus-building. During 2012,ESCWA provided a number of capacity-building initiatives on leadership skills,citizenship, communication and participatomechanisms to support the involvement ofcivil society associations and youth groups national dialogue processes.

ESCWA continuesto respond to therequests of membercountries for advisoryand technical supportservices within the

field of participatorydemocracy, civicengagement andconsensus-building

In 2012, ESCWA developed a specializedwebsite on Participatory Development inWestern Asia (http://pdwa.escwa.org.lb)that hosted an e-seminar on participationand democracy. The e-seminar generated 13

responses from 11 experts, social practitioneand civil society actors from six Arab countri(namely Algeria, Lebanon, Palestine, SaudiArabia, the Syrian Arab Republic and TunisiaIt presented a rich array of perspectives andsome actionable recommendations on theprocess of transition to democracy.

MAIN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OFESCWA E-SEMINAR ON PARTICIPATION &DEMOCRACY(1 June-30 September 2012)

The process of transition to democracyrequires reinventing governance,

establishing a new social contract, buildingtrust and rekindling hope.The role of women in the process of changein the Arab region is paramount. Transitionto democracy, balanced political life andtrue democracy are not possible if womenare excluded from political participation.

Civil society is a major player in the succesof national dialogue, and so civil societymust adapt and make changes in theprocess.Fighting corruption, nepotism and cronyismand ensuring transparency are among themost pressing reforms required in current

political transition

Those conclusions will be mainstreamed inongoing and future ESCWA programmes,projects and activities on participatorydevelopment, democratic governance andconsensus-building.


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Mr. Gilbert Doumit - Founder and Managing Partner Beyond Reform and Development Lebanon

My cooperation with ESCWA, which goes back

to more than 10 years, continues throughresearch activities, training, and the exchangeof knowledge in the areas of political,economic, and social development. Whatcharacterizes ESCWA is that it is constantlylooking for ways to deal with or adapt tochanges taking place in the region, througha work methodology that seeks to involve thelargest number of experts, activ ists, decisionmakers, and stakeholders in the design,implementation and evaluation stages of itswork.

The participatory approach of ESCWA,and its continuous communication with allgovernmental and civil society stakeholders,enhances its ability to interact with itsenvironment and adapt its programs to theneeds and expectations of beneficiaries anddecision makers. My most recent cooperationwith ESCWA was the development of atraining manual on Capacity Building forPartnership in Democratic Governance.

The guide aims to build the capacities of

governmental and non-governmental leadersthat have emerged and acceded to poweras a result of political transformations.The process of developing this guide isan example of the participatory approachof ESCWA. It included the preparation ofresearch papers and case studies by differenexperts, as well as series of meetings andbrainstorming sessions that brought togetheparticipants from various countries in theregion to discuss the material prepared andpresent recommendations. In collaborationwith a number of colleagues, I based work

on the guide on those papers, studies, anddiscussions, resulting in 10 chapters thatincluded case studies from 10 countries. Theguide was shared with a group of experts andstakeholders for review and suggestions,with a view to finalizing it after a concludingmeeting in Beirut. In the final stages, theguide was tested at a training session for civisociety activists and decision makers fromthe region. Recommendations emanating

Expert contributions

Looking forward, ESCWA will continue to

engage in the international debate on thedevelopment agenda beyond 2015, with theaim of increasing consultation with membercountries, civil society, academia and theprivate sector to reflect regional developmentneeds and specificities and strengthenthe regional arm of development. In 2013,ESCWA will take the lead in preparing theregional report for Arab States on the ICPDProgramme of Action beyond 2014, a majorreference point for future policies that takesthe nexus of population and developmentinto consideration. In addition, ESCWA will

Outlook

produce a publication on citizenship and

civic engagement in democratic transitionswith the aim of assessing ongoing socialtransformations in the region and upholdingthe institutionalization of participation topromote citizenship. Those efforts willbe complemented by capacity-buildingworkshops in support of participatory,consultative processes on consensus-buildindialogue. Finally, ESCWA will carry outactivities and identify lessons with the aim ofpromoting a common vision for an integratedsocial protection strategy in the region

ESCWA aims to increaseconsultation withmember countries,civil society, academiaand the private sectorto reflect regionaldevelopment needsand specificities andstrengthen the regionalarm of development


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from this meeting were adopted in the finalversion of the guide.

This experience highlights the distinctivenessof ESCWA at three levels: first, its ability toreact quickly and effectively to the politicaltransitions in the region, which allowed it toadjust its priorities according to the emergingneeds and expectations of the region, andthus take the decision to develop this guide;second, its commitment to involve all parties,be it experts, activists, or policymakers in theproduction of a tool that addresses the needsof the region; and third, its provision of an

interactive space for shared learning amoncountries, sectors, and individual experts, a manner that reflects positively on variouscommunities of the region.

In this period of political transformations thcountries of the region are going through,the role of ESCWA is becoming increasinglyimportant. Its relationship with all parties,its ability to engage them in dialogue, and itcredibility with decision makers makes it aessential reference in public policymaking countries of the Arab region.

Ms. Rasha Jarhum - Social Development AdvisorLebanon

Countries in the ESCWA region are currentlyat the crossroads where, to respond torecent political developments, they have tothink seriously about the social dimensionof development. The situation is highlightedby a finding of the Arab Forum: Towards aSocial Welfare Mix, organized by ESCWA in2012 that several countries provide relatively

elaborate services to a l imited percentage ofthe population, while large percentages donot even have access to basic social servicesof good quality. The Arab Forum providedan opportunity to discuss the linkages andrelationships between various social actorsand how these relationships influence socialprotection in the region.

In the development discussion in Arabcountries, most attention is given to economicissues while social issues are relativelyneglected. Thus, a strength of ESCWA is

that it adopts a holistic approach to socialpolicies. ESCWA has an inherent edge inproviding much-needed technical assistance

in specific areas such as welfare policy andzakat management, and fostering organizecorporate social responsibility.

As an example, the research I conductedon zakat management in Yemen indicatedsignificant gaps within the legislation as weas the administrative procedures, resultinginadequate zakat collection and redistributmechanisms, where the poor benefit only toa limited extent from social policies enactefor their protection. The recommendations ESCWA in this area can be highly instrumenfor social policy considerations, particularlduring these times of political transition aninstability in the region.

The role of ESCWA as a regional platformfor exchange of experiences betweenmember countries should be strengthenedcountries need more opportunities to share

experiences related to the design of socialprotection policies.


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ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT AND

INTEGRATION

Source: David Orcea - www.shutterstock.com.


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The main objective of Economic Developmentand Globalization Division (EDGD) is to fosterlong-term dynamic growth and equitabledevelopment in the economies of WesternAsia and to enhance regional cooperationand integration at the subregional, regionaland global levels through strengtheninglinkages between countries of the regionand promoting their effective integration intothe world economy. The Division consists offour sections that deal with specific themes:regional integration, globalization andfinancing for development, economic analysis,and development policy.

The Division has adopted a three-trackstrategy: first, national, regional and globaleconomic monitoring and assessment;second, research, policy analysis and

empirical analysis of long-term structuraland development issues that form the core offlagship publications; and third, knowledgemanagement, where the Division developsand shares policy options and good practiceand facilitates capacity-development and

knowledge-building through meetings,advisory services and staff missions. Focusareas include poverty alleviation, incomedistribution, inclusive and sustainableequitable development in the Arab regionand productivity and competitiveness. Thatalso includes advice on the design andimplementation of suitable macroeconomicpolicies for long-term growth in the regionFurthermore, the Division promotes econoand financial integration within the region awith other regions, and strengthens South-South cooperation through participation inglobal supply chains.

Finally, EDGD improves the capacity ofESCWA member countries to financesocioeconomic development. It providessupport for sustained follow-up to the

agreements and commitments containedin the Monterrey Consensus and helpsmember countries fill the financing gap byraising domestic and international financiaresources.

Overview

EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL COOPERATIONAND INTEGRATION ARE KEY OBJECTIVES OF ESCWA


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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATIO38

FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENTThe Commission is active in key areasrelated to financing development in theArab region, namely financing small andmedium enterprises (SMEs) and financinginfrastructure through public-privatepartnerships. During 2012, ESCWA publisheda comprehensive study on the main financialconstraints SMEs face. The study wasdiscussed at the twenty-seventh session ofthe Commission in a round table on inclusivefinance (10 May 2012) and at a regional expertgroup meeting (EGM) on the role of SMEs insustainable development in the Arab region(Kuwait, 6-7 November 2012) in cooperationwith the Arab Planning Institute. Themeetings resulted in an agenda for furtherresearch in 2013.

Under the public-private partnershipinitiative, EDGD developed a paper onthe potential for ESCWA to help membercountries prepare viable projects andstructure appropriate financing options. Thatwork will continue throughout 2013, with anEGM to launch the ESCWA public-privatepartnership platform.

FISCAL SPACE IN THE ARAB REGIONThe Commission undertook an analyticalstudy that aimed to assess the impact ofrecent transitions on fiscal space in Arabcountries and their capacity to financethe development transformations that thepeople demanded. The study confirmedthat fiscal space in the aftermath of recenttransitions is more constrained than it wasbefore. Nevertheless, the study found that

basic social protection was affordable formost countries within current spending, ifexpenditure on subsidies was switched tosocial protection. Regional developmentwill play an important role for countrieswith restricted fiscal space in the shortterm. Those findings were discussed at thefirst Arab Economic Forum organized byESCWA (Beirut, 23-24 November 2012). Thedeliberations resulted in the suggestion to

Major achievements

develop a fiscal space index for the region

to facilitate the development of policyrecommendations at the regional andsubregional levels.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGESDuring the Arab Conference on theMillennium Development Goals (MDGs)organized by the Council of Arab Ministersof Social Affairs (Cairo, 2-3 December 2012),ESCWA contributed a background paper andparticipated in the discussions. The paperassessed the main successes and failuresof the efforts of the Arab region to achieveMDGs, with a special focus on food insecurityand increasing undernourishment in theregion. Based on that assessment, ESCWApresented a range of ideas for the UnitedNations development agenda beyond 2015,including the importance of incorporatingthe issues of inequality, social protectionand governance. In addition, the Commissionproposed the establishment of an Arabfood security fund to strengthen regional

development.

To build the capacity of member countriesto compile foreign direct investment (FDI)statistics, ESCWA conducted a nationaltraining workshop on the Compilation andDissemination of Statistics on FDI Inflows(Beirut, 24-28 September 2012).

POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY IN JORDANDuring 2012, ESCWA contributed to a poverty

reduction strategy for Jordan that is currentlbeing finalized and will be ready in early 2013The Commission evaluated the country’scurrent tax structure and developed differentpolicy options that can make the tax structuremore pro-poor. In addition, ESCWA assessedpoverty among employed people in Jordan,and evaluated the cost of including theworking poor in social security programmes.ESCWA provided modelling and analysis


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based on household surveys along withinnovative, tailored policy options for povertyreduction.

TRADE AND REGIONAL INTEGRATIONThe Commission published two technicalpapers on trade liberalization and productivecapacity, and liberalizing trade in services.Both papers aimed to assist membercountries in assessing the benefits of tradeliberalization and its impact on variousdevelopment issues. In addition, a paperon Growth and Employment Outcomes ofDifferent Arab Maghreb Union IntegrationOptions: Preliminary Results was preparedupon the request of the Government ofTunisia. The paper estimated the impactof alternative scenarios of fostering theintegration of member countries of the ArabMaghreb Union.

In connection with the review of progresstowards the implementation of the MonterreyConsensus on financing for development,ESCWA prepared a report that highlightedtrade liberalization measures that membercountries implemented during the period2009-2011 to enhance the role of tradein financing for development. The report

highlighted important issues including export

diversification, trade complementarity,and non-tariff measures facing trade flowsbetween Arab countries, and will feed intothe Arab Integration Report, prepared by thOffice of the Executive Secretary of ESCWA

The Division also contributed to the ArabIntegration Report by assessing progress ineconomic integration, trade integration andmacroeconomic policy convergence. TheDivision developed simulations of alternativscenarios of deeper Arab economicintegration and estimated its impact. The United Nations Conference on Trade anDevelopment (UNCTAD) organized the twenfifth regional course on key issues on theinternational economic agenda for WesternAsia. ESCWA presented papers during thecourse on scenarios of deeper Arab economintegration, options for financial cooperatiobetween Arab countries and the EuropeanUnion and the impact of trade liberalizationusing the product space map approach

(Oman, 18-20 November 2012).

During 2012, ESCWA continued to supportmember countries in formulating andimplementing trade policies that are conducto growth and regional integration.

Gulf of Aqaba, Source: Chris Hyde - www.shutterstock.com.


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The Commission organized an EGM onpreferential trade agreements and regionalintegration (Tunis, 5-6 December 2012).The meeting concerned trade integrationbetween Arab and non-Arab countries,

including members of the EuropeanUnion, and addressed non-tariff barriersand their impact on trade flows betweenArab countries. Par ticipants from 11member countries attended the meetingin addition to representatives of privatesector organizations, the Organisation forEconomic Co-operation and Development,the International Trade Centre, the AfricanDevelopment Bank and the Common Marketfor Eastern and Southern Africa, amongothers.

To promote the intraregional movement ofhuman and physical capital and traded goods,ESCWA prepared a study on Establishingand Implementing a Single Window forTrade Facilitation in the Sudan. The studydiscussed international recommendationsand concluded with a proposed plan of action.In addition, ESCWA organized a workshop inthe Sudan with the Ministry of Trade and theNational Labour Union, to discuss obstaclesand solutions, international recommendationsand the experiences of other countries. Asa result of the workshop, the Minister forTrade agreed to supervise and support theimplementation of a single window for tradefacilitation and the Sudan Customs Authoritywas assigned as the focal point for formalitieswhile the Sudan Port Authority was assignedas the focal point for logistics.

TRANSPORTUnder its technical cooperation mandate,ESCWA provided technical assistance toEgypt to activate the National Transport and

Trade Facilitation Committee. A draft action

plan, prepared by ESCWA, was discussedduring the workshop on Transport and TradeFacilitation in Egypt (Cairo, 11 April 2012), andsent to the Ministry of Transport for adoptionThe implementation will be initiated by the

Ministry with support from ESCWA.

In partnership with the Arab Union for LandTransport and other organizations, ESCWAco-organized a regional workshop on theImplementation of the Action Plan of theUnited Nations Decade of Action for RoadSafety 2011-2020 (Amman, 14-15 November2012). Representatives of 12 membercountries, the Economic Commission forEurope and more than 16 Arab, international,regional and non-governmental organizationwere in attendance. During the meeting,participants discussed good practice andlessons learned from other regions, fundingtools for road safety improvements, the needfor ongoing monitoring and evaluation of roadsafety and the preparations for the secondUnited Nations Global Road Safety Week inMay 2013. At the meeting, ESCWA proposedthe establishment of a national lead agency ocouncil on road safety involving partners froma range of sectors.

INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THEARAB MASHREQTo follow up with member countries on thedevelopment and implementation of theIntegrated Transport System in the ArabMashreq (ITSAM), ESCWA organized thethirteenth session of the Committee onTransport (Beirut, 24-26 April 2012). At thesession, committee members discussedregional harmonization of the institutionalframeworks and legislation in the transportsector and methods of financing theinfrastructure of some components of ITSAM

In the Sudan, ESCWAhas supported theimplementation ofa single window fortrade facilitation


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OutlookFrom 1990 to 2012, the poverty rate increasedin the Arab region (see figure below).Accurate measurements of poverty are animportant tool to formulate appropriatepolicies to reduce poverty. In 2013 ESCWAwill undertake an evaluation of currentmeasures of poverty and inequality andmeasurement techniques to identify how

they could be improved. The study will reviewcurrent approaches to definitions andcalculations of poverty to analyse theirrobustness (theoretical approach), review thestructures of current household expenditureand income surveys and discuss potential

changes (practical approach). By linkingtheoretical and practical approaches, thestudy aims to influence the measurement aanalysis of poverty, which will influence poand the way the Arab region fights poverty.

The League of Arab States, ESCWA and othUnited Nations agencies in the Arab region

are cooperating to prepare the fourth ArabMDG Report. The objectives of the report arto provide a thorough assessment of MDGprogress to date in the Arab region; to analwhat worked and what did not; and to discuthe desired future development paradigmfrom a regional perspective, given the currglobal debate on the post-2015 developmenagenda. The report will be presented to theCouncil of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs iJuly 2013.

The Commission is planning to prepare

a publication on the Arab developmentoutlook, which will discuss the medium- anlong-term socioeconomic outlook for theregion and recommend policies based onan in-depth analysis of recent trends anddevelopments that affect the economic,social, environmental, food, water, securityand governance sectors of the region. Thepublication will also present subregionalnarratives of development prospects in the

DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT PROJECTSAs part of the project on Strengtheningcapacities in the ESCWA region to negotiatebilateral investment treaties, ESCWAconducted several workshops and technicalmeetings in Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia andthe Sudan. In addition, ESCWA launched auser-friendly website on bilateral investmenttreaties in March 2012. The website providesa space for the exchange of experience and

Contributions to technical cooperation

expertise in the area of bilateral investmen

agreements between ESCWA membercountries.

Furthermore, in cooperation with UNCTADESCWA organized a study tour for 12Government officials from five membercountries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman athe Sudan) to attend the World InvestmentForum 2012 (Doha, 21-22 April 2012).

Poverty in the Arab region and subregions(percentage)

Source: ESCWA calculations based on national data.Note: Least developed countries (LDCs).

45.0

18.4

1990

2012

10.5

20.323.4

40.042.6

22.7 23.4

40.0

35.0

30.025.0

20.0

15.0

10.0

Maghreb Mashreq LDCs Arab region

5.00.0


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Gulf Cooperation Council countries, countriesof the Arab Mashreq, Maghreb countries, andthe Arab least developed countries.

Within that context, ESCWA will develop a

variety of quantitative models that informeconomic analysis in the region. Due tothe ongoing development of the statisticalcapacity of member countries, more varietiesof quantitative models such as computablegeneral equilibrium and dynamic stochasticgeneral equilibrium have become technicallyfeasible. During 2013, the Commissionwill continue to share technical expertisein quantitative modelling concepts andtechniques with experts and practitioners inthe Arab region through advisory services,with a view to ultimately contribute toestablishing an Arab macroeconomicplatform to accelerate regional integration foroptimal economic benefit.

Upon request, ESCWA will continue tosupport member countries in specific areas.Currently, ESCWA is creating an assistanceprogramme for Tunisia and developing anoverall investment strategy that aims toattract job-creating investments to strategic

ESCWA will increase its knowledge base andprovide policy advice on economic governanceand economic institutions to membercountries, based on lessons learned from theregion. Specifically, ESCWA will prepare severareports and policy working papers, organizean EGM and provide policy support to selectedcountries in the region.

sectors and regions. The assistanceprogramme is based on the investmentframework of the country and comprehensiveresearch. It calls for capacity-buildingmeasures to promote efficient and well-coordinated institutional architecture topromote investment. Proper legislation andregulations, along with tools such as bilaterainvestment treaties are needed to support thimplementation.

In response to the request of Jordan, ESCWAis assisting in the following: developing theanalytical capacity of the Government ofJordan to develop a socioeconomic modelthat links macroeconomic policies to povertyemployment and diversification and acts as atool for policymaking; enhancing the busines

Olive processing, Ramallah, Source: Ammar Awad.


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Mr. Issa Maldaon- Vice President Economics Faculty, Damascus University

Expert contribution

environment in Jordan; and encouragingentrepreneurship by easing constraintson SMEs and improving the businessenvironment for them.In addition, ESCWA is developing a technical

assistance project for Oman. The purposeof the project is to assist policymakers todevelop tools and local capacity to generateinformation about household welfare at amuch finer level than before. The projectwill assess and map poverty in Oman and

establish a capable team of national povertanalysts at the Supreme Council for Planniwhich will mainstream primary inputs intothe country’s five-year development plan. Tpoverty assessment report will complementhe national human development reports araise awareness of inclusive developmentby highlighting regional discrepancies,money-metric poverty and its concentratioin certain regions or in particular populatiogroups such as women and children.

During 2012, new development challengesappeared in the region. To face thosechallenges, working methodologies andcreative approaches are needed. The mostimportant challenges are as follows:

1. Economic, social and political changes are

taking place in the countries of the regionthat experienced the Arab Spring, and thosechanges have resulted in new priorities thatreflect the demands and needs of the people.

2. Populations have placed increasingpressure on their Governments to respondimmediately to their demands, especially withregard to employment and social protection.

3. There is an urgent need to adopt a newdevelopment approach, to ensure that allcategories of citizens have access to thebenefits of development on the basis of soc

justice and human rights, in accordance wiinclusive development.

4. Funding sources and sufficient fiscal spais needed to finance development plans and

ensure sustainability, especially in the non-exporting countries of the region.


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INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY FORREGIONAL INTEGRATION

Cairo, 2012. Source: Ed Giles - www.gettyimages.com


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Information and communication technology(ICT) and knowledge play an increasinglyimportant role in development processes.They influence the global economic, socialand cultural sectors now more than ever andare central to knowledge-based economies.Member countries of ESCWA have varyingcapabilities to adapt to the relentlessadvance of knowledge and technology andface real challenges in their transition tothe information society and knowledgeeconomies. The widening digital dividebetween developed countries and ESCWAmember countries increases vulnerability toglobal economic turmoil. Member countriesmust direct their efforts towards buildinghuman capital and strengthening digitalliteracy and education, particularly for womenand youth.

The Information and CommunicationTechnology Division (ICTD) of ESCWA aspiresto close the digital divide and develop aninclusive information society, knowledge-based economies and global competitiveness.The Division works in compliance withthe outcomes of the World Summit on theInformation Society (WSIS), the 2003 GenevaPlan of Action, the 2005 Tunis Agenda andinternational development goals. It followsup on the implementation of the outcomes ofWSIS, the ESCWA Regional Plan of Action for

Building the Information Society and the ArabICT Strategy.

There are three ICTD entities, namely the ICTApplications Section, the ICT Policies Sectionand the ESCWA Technology Centre.

The ICT Applications Section promotes theuse of ICT applications and e-services forsocioeconomic development with special

focus on digital Arabic content. It seeks toimprove knowledge-based economies in thregion with a special focus on building trusin cyberspace through the development andharmonization of cyberlegislation at theregional level. It measures and profiles theinformation society in member countries anexplores new trends in ICT for developmen

The ICT Policies Section supports theformulation and implementation of policiesand strategies that assist member countriein their transition towards knowledge-baseeconomies. The Section also focuses onbuilding a competitive ICT sector that is bason innovation and partnerships. The Sectiosupports the participation of the Arab regioin the global dialogue on Internet governanIt launched a dialogue between stakeholde

and developed a platform to discuss strateissues and options related to regionalpriorities in the field of Internet governance

The ESCWA Technology Centre assistscountries, public entities and privateorganizations in the region to acquire thetools and capabilities to facilitate sustainabdevelopment, attain technological parity wiother regions of the world and transform theconomies so that they are based on scientand technological knowledge. The Centrestrengthens the capacity of member countr

to develop and manage national systems;develop, transfer, adapt and apply technolodetermine and facilitate the development otechnologies that are suitable for the regioand improve the legal and commercialframework for the transfer of technology. also aims to enhance the role of technologyand science in the major economic sectors member countries.

Overview

ESCWA ASPIRES TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND DEVELOPAN INCLUSIVE INFORMATION SOCIETY, KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMIES

AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS


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HARMONIZATION OF CYBERLEGISLATIONA reliable legal framework for cyberspaceprovides the foundation for the developmentof the ICT sector in the Arab region andfosters an enabling environment for theknowledge society. Since 2009, ESCWA hasbeen implementing the project on Regionalharmonization of cyberlegislation to promotethe knowledge society in the Arab world. Incollaboration with the League of Arab States,ESCWA organized the regional workshop onDeveloping and Harmonizing Cyberlegislationin the Arab Region (Cairo, 14-15 March 2012).As a testament to its achievements in theregion, the Council of Arab Ministers ofJustice recommended at its twenty-seventhsession to continue cooperation betweenthe Executive Bureau of the Council andESCWA on legal matters for developing andharmonizing cyberlegislation in the region.

The project to harmonize cyberlegislation inthe region resulted in the publication of theESCWA Cyberlegislation Directives, whichwere officially launched during the twenty-seventh session of the Commission in May2012. The Directives were designed to assistArab countries in the development of nationalcyberlaws and to harmonize cyberlegislationat the regional level.

To raise awareness of the importance ofharmonizing cyberlegislation in the Arabregion and to promote regional integrationin the formulation of cyberlaws, ESCWAorganized two regional workshops thattargeted stakeholders in the legal andICT sectors, including representativesof ministries, academic institutions and

associations. In addition, ESCWA convenednational workshops in collaboration withlocal counterparts in the following countries:Algeria (Ministry of Post and Media andInformation Technologies); the Sudan(Ministry of Justice); Bahrain (Legal AffairsDepartment and the eGovernment Authority);Lebanon (Arab Lawyers Union, Beirut Bar

Major achievements

Association and the Arab Center for the

Development of the Rule of Law and Integrityand the United Arab Emirates (UnitedArab Emirates University). Through thosecapacity-building workshops, Governmentofficials and experts will be in a betterposition to formulate, understand and adoptcyberlegislation and develop the legal systemof cyberspace.

THE ARAB INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM In 2006, the global Internet GovernanceForum (IGF) began as a multi-stakeholderplatform for policy dialogue. Since then,ESCWA has continued to engage Arabstakeholders in Internet governance. In2012, cooperation between ESCWA and theLeague of Arab States on the Arab Dialogueon Internet Governance culminated in theestablishment of the Arab IGF. During thetwenty-seventh session of the Commission,ESCWA adopted resolution 306 (XXVII)entitled Development of the Arab IGF processand sustaining efforts in the Arabic domainnames field.

Following the Conference and PublicConsultation to Establish the Arab IGF(Beirut, 31 January-1 February 2012), adecentralized platform for inclusive policywas established under the umbrella ofESCWA and the League of Arab States andwill involve all stakeholders. The Arab IGFsecretariat is represented by the NationalTelecommunications Regulatory Authority ofEgypt, and the Kuwait Information TechnologSociety hosted the first annual meeting. TheArab IGF facilitates the implementation of

the programmes of the Arab Regional RoadMap for Internet Governance: Framework,Princ

ESCWA ANNUAL REPORT 2012

Documents

Transcript of ESCWA ANNUAL REPORT 2012