Locations2018 in review: reflecting on success for greater future impact
The Arab States region continues to face substantial development challenges. Yet, in its first year of implementation, the UNDP’s Regional Programme for Arab States was able to advance significantly on its strategic priorities.
“The Regional Programme is one important contribution to the ultimate goals that we all share: inclusive societies that leave no one behind; resilient societies that take risks, such as climate change into account; and strong societies that are able to lead the changes needed to meet the promise of the. 2030 Agenda for sustainable development”.
Mourad Wahba, UNDP Regional Director for Arab States at the Executive Board session that approved the Regional Programme 2018–2021, in January 2018.
Trade and Economic Integration
The Regional Programme contributed to strengthening the interconnectedness of Arab markets. Through our support, the Economic and Social Council of the League of Arab States passed a resolution to upgrade the Pan Arab Free Trade Agreement. At the national level, Egypt and Jordan enhanced their trade efficiency by modernizing and digitalizing customs procedures through National Single Windows. Assistance will continue in 2019 towards the development of a regional Single Window for Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
“In a region where economic integration has been slow and often disrupted by conflict and crises, trade can be a powerful engine of inclusive growth.”
Yakup Beris, UNDP Regional Programme Coordinator
Knowledge for development
Long-standing efforts to promote evidence-based development policy-making and transformations produced important results. Our Arab Development Portal introduced the first regional SDGs Tracking Tool, which employs big data technology to monitor progress of Arab countries towards achievement of the Sustainable development Goals. In addition, our Foresight report on the Future of knowledge assessed the readiness of 20 pilot countries to embrace innovative digital technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence to promote knowledge development.
“Data are the lifeblood of decision-making and the raw material for accountability.”
Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator at the “Knowledge for Sustainable Development” event that UNDP hosted in July 2018, in New York
Stronger institutions & societies
To promote inclusive participation and help build peaceful societies, we provided assistance to regional electoral and parliamentary processes, including support to the League of Arab States (LAS) Electoral Forum and the establishment of a network of women in elections. In addition, we helped LAS strengthen its capacities to manage conflict-related risks, establishing and training a dedicated task force in its secretariat.
We also continued to invest in journalists’ potential to promote social cohesion, besides in strengthening national capacities for preventing violent extremism (PVE) with the development of a toolkit for the design, monitoring and evaluation of PVE programmes.
Fighting corruption
Building on the momentum created over the past years, we continued to drive a robust anti-corruption and integrity agenda, broadening the approach to governance and democratic reforms. Thanks to this support, in 2018 Lebanon, Tunisia and Kuwait adopted national integrity strategies and laws. Tangible progress was made in reducing sectoral corruption risks in at least four countries. More than 2,000 students from 23 universities in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Tunisia engaged in our “Universities Against Corruption
“I see around me resources being wasted because of corruption. If used rightly, they could make citizens’ lives better”.
Omar, a 22-year-old student from Tunisia who developed his own initiative as part of Universities against Corruption
Youth
Tapping into the remarkable youth potential of the Arab region, the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) scaled up its work by partnering with dozens of organizations across 11 countries. 5,000 youth participated in the programme and hundreds of them developed innovative SDGs solutions to address needs in their communities. Champions of Change from previous YLP editions served as mentors for participants in 2018. Among them, Salma from Tunisia, has developed a mobile app to prevent sexual harassment in public spaces and Khalil from Lebanon, created an e-platform to help Lebanese residents sort their waste.
Gender equality
In partnership with UNWOMEN, UNFPA and ESCWA, we produced a Regional Gender Justice Study that assessed laws and policies affecting gender equality in 18 Arab countries. Complementarily, the women’s legal rights online platform developed with CAWTAR was upgraded and will be launched in 2019. These knowledge products encourage gender-based reforms and form a solid basis for advocacy for greater gender equality across the region.
Looking ahead
As we reflect on 2018, the new year looks even more promising. Early this year, in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, regional partners and UN agencies, we launched an ambitious SDG Climate Facility project to promote climate action, devise innovative solar solutions for crisis-affected communities and scale-up climate finance. In addition, through a new partnership with the European Union’s Regional Trust Fund MADAD, municipalities across Iraq and Lebanon will be supported to more effectively respond to the impact of the regional refugee crises.
2019 will not just be about widening the scope of our work, but will also focus on enhancing the impact of its ongoing projects. New partnerships with universities in the region will allow us to broaden engagement with youth on anti-corruption, elections and youth leadership. Additional policymakers’ participation in dialogues that are informed by evidence and data produced by the Regional Programme will strengthen thought leadership. Continued investment in innovation and new technologies will help explore new development frontiers. More integrated approaches to sustaining peace will further enhance capacities of governments and regional institutions to prevent violence and conflict. The application of tailored methodologies to fight corrupt practice will promote more transparent use of resources and contribute to increasing citizens’ trust in institutions.
“The regional programme is a catalyst for change. By promoting innovation, fostering evidence-based policy-making and deepening cooperation and experience-sharing between countries, it has the potential to lead structural transformations in the Arab States region”.
Khaled Abdelshafi, Director of the UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States
