Issue 4
January 2005
Regional Programme Division <<< NEWSLETTER >>> Regional Programme Division
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Dear Friends and Colleagues, The following newsletter has been prepared as a “snap-shot” of the avalanche of events, products, partnerships and new initiatives, undertaken by the dedicated staff of the Regional Programme Division (RPD) and their partners in the Arab region. Over the past few months, RPD has continued to consolidate the impact of its regional programmes through dynamic and creative public outreach from Amman to Addis Ababa; from Cairo to Casablanca; and from London to Ein El Sokhna. As we continue to forge ahead into 2005 we will endeavour to keep up the pace and ensure that our rigorous research, stock-taking and advocacy is always matched by the concrete results that unleashes creativity, builds capacities and ultimately promotes sustainable human development. |
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We anticipate the second half of 2005 to be equally fruitful. The launch of AHDR 3 (Freedom in the Arab World), has generated enormous interest, and following the official launch in Amman on 5 April 2005, the Regional Director has presented the Report’s findings and key messages to audiences in London, Paris, Geneva, Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid; Washington and Ottawa. The fourth Report, Women’s Empowerment, which we anticipate being equally provocative in the region and abroad, is set for launch, hopefully, in the first quarter of 2006. Given the importance of teamwork and the onus placed on ‘synergy” within RBAS, I am pleased to say that this will be the final newsletter covering only the Regional Programme; for the next issue, based on all the feedback about our internal communications outreach, will be Bureau-wide, seeking to cover all RBAS activities. You will hear more on this shortly. Our warmest appreciation until then! Nada Al Nashif |
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§ 30 January to 25 March: Higher Education Project promoted across region
During the first quarter of 2005, the achievements and future prospects of the Higher Education Project were promoted widely through public presentations, keynote addresses and high-level events. A successful advocacy programme has resulted in growing interest among regional Ministers of Education, university presidents and academics. We are pleased to note that several new universities have expressed interest in joining the Project’s second phase. The Higher Education Project was presented at the following forums:
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The Higher Education Conference for Gulf States, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. January 30- 2 February, 2005
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The Knowledge Society Symposium. American University of Cairo (AUC), Egypt. 2-3 February 2005
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The Conference on Higher Education for Developing Countries. Agha Khan Foundation, London, UK. February 24-25, 2005
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Public lecture at the Press Club, Muscat, Oman. March 25, 2005
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§ 2-3 February: Knowledge society symposium in the American University of Cairo (AUC) The AHDR - 2003 Building a Knowledge Society was the main reference document at the AUC Knowledge Society Symposium attended by government ministers, members of the AUC Board of Trustees, university presidents, business entrepreneurs and leading academics (including Sir Magdi Yaacoub and the Nobel Laureate Ahmasd Zuail). Two of the speakers were representatives of the Higher Education Project (Session I: Building a Knowledge Society, and Session II: Achieving Quality in Higher Education). |
§ 6-7 February: Good Governance Initiative launched at Dead Sea conference Under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, POGAR and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan launched the initiative on "Good Governance for Development in the Arab Countries", in partnership with the OECD, and in collaboration with Arab and International organizations. |
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The Initiative focuses of three core areas (administration, financial sectors, the judiciary) with six main thematic reform areas: (1)Civil Service and Integrity; (2) Role of the Judiciary and Enforcement; (3) E-Government, Administrative Simplification and Regulatory Reform; (4) Role of Civil Society and Media in the Reform of the Public Sector; (5) Governance of Public Finance; and (6) Public Service Delivery. The main objective is to enhance sustained growth through strengthening good governance based on the rule of law and enhanced citizens’ participation. More information can be found on the website designed for the Initiative: www.arabgov-initiative.org |
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§ 21-23 February: Amman meeting on ‘Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa’ HARPAS participated in the UNAIDS/WHO organized regional meeting in Jordan. Given the growing numbers of women and girls infected by HIV in the region, there is increasing need to enhance awareness and understanding of the factors determining risk and vulnerability in the region. The meeting was successful in mobilizing partners and organizations for advocacy and action on women, girls and HIV/AIDS, while identifying and exploring effective HIV/AIDS prevention strategies and services. Representatives from Algeria, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan made country-specific presentations. At the end of the workshop, a coalition of 11 NGOs from 11 different countries formed an association to further the fight against women and girls’ vulnerability to the deadly disease. |
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§ 1-3 March: Sub-regional conference on ICT for development and e-Business in Tangiers Organized by the Union du Maghreb Arabe, UNECA and ICTDAR, participants discussed ICT for development, especially in relation to realizing MDGs, and improving e-Business. Among the recommendations made, was the establishment of a free zone for the Maghreb region to encourage commerce, developed standards for e-commerce, and improvement in network security and information to protect consumers in the sub-region. |
§ 4 March 2005: New UNAIDS report "AIDS in Africa: Three scenarios to 2025" launched in Addis Ababa HARPAS participated in meetings organized for the launch of “Aids in Africa: Three scenarios to 2025”. UNAIDS presents three possible case studies on how the epidemic in Africa could evolve over the next 20 years based on the policy decisions of African leaders and the International Community. The scenarios initially set out to answer one central question: “Over the next 20 years, what factors will drive Africa’s and the world’s responses to the AIDS epidemic, and what kind of future will there be for the next generation?” Responses led participants to contemplate three scenarios: (1) Tough choices: Africa takes a stand; Traps and legacies; (2) The whirlpool and (3) Times of transition: Africa overcomes. Each scenario proposes different answers for the future. See the complete report at: http://aidsscenarios.unaids.org/scenarios |
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§ 6-8 March: First conference on National Human Rights Institutions in the Arab Region at the League of Arab States POGAR held conference in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and in cooperation with the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) of Egypt and the League of Arab States (LAS). |
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The conference’s main objective was to bring together representatives of the existing National Human Rights’ Institutions (NHRIs) from the Arab region (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia) and representatives from Ministries of Human Rights or Justice, from countries where NHRIs have not yet been established. |
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§ 8-11 March: HARPAS Retreat in Ein El Sokhna, Egypt The HARPAS team held a 3 days retreat to develop the programme’s work plan for 2005 and define its strategy for 2006-2007 “From Breaking the Silence to Collective Action for Change”. The team identified key goals to be achieved through HARPAS priority areas of work: advocacy, capacity building and strategic information. The resultant work plan ensures effective synergies with UN sister agencies on the one hand, and avoidance of duplication with UNDP regional programmes on the other. |
| § 8 March: Launch of ICT hub for SMEs in the renewable energy sector in Morocco UNDP Morocco, the Centre du Developpement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Microsoft and ICTDAR signed a partnership agreement for the official launch of an ICT support centre to the “maison de l'energie” (energy houses) project. This project aims at initiating and nurturing micro-enterprises in the energy sector (focused on developing sustainable and renewable energies in Morocco). Towards that purpose, the implementing partner, CDER, leveraged the use of ICT by setting up an ICT support centre to ensure information sharing, training, and support. A portal and a toolkit for business management are n the stages of being developed to provide those young entrepreneurs with collaborative platforms, as well as access to information. ICTDAR initiated the project and is supporting it both technically and financially |
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§ 21-23 March: Forum on reinventing government in the Arab States
POGAR and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in partnership with the Dubai School of Government convened the regional forum “Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in the Public Sector” in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This Forum is an integral part of the preparatory activities for the 6th Global Forum on Reinventing Government, to be held in Seoul, Republic of South Korea 24-27 May 2005. The themes of this Forum contributed to the main theme of the Sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government: Toward Participatory and Transparent Governance. The purpose was to share the experience of participating countries in practicing the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in public institutions and to discuss good practices and approaches that further the agenda of Arab countries for improving the quality and delivery of public services to the satisfaction of investors and the public at large.
§ 26-27 March: Advisory board consultative meeting for the 4th AHDR
On 26-27 March, Members of the Advisory Board, including CAWTAR and representatives from the regional ESCWA and UNIFEM bureaus and distinguished Arab scholars met in Casablanca to initiate and prepare for the next AHDR, which will address women’s empowerment
§ 3-5 May: HIV/AIDS focal points’ meeting in Kuwait |
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HARPAS in partnership with the BDP HIV/AIDS group held its annual focal points meeting in Kuwait City from 3 to 5 May. This year’s event aimed to continue HARPAS efforts to strengthen CO capacity on HIV/AIDS and align country level action with regional and global UNDP policy and programmes. The workshop reviewed the key successes achieved throughout the year, and continued to build CO capacity in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS with a particular emphasis on National Strategic Planning and how to scaling-up the national response. Focal points also discussed internal communication mechanisms and follow-up steps to HARPAS initiatives. Sixteen out of the eighteen Focal Points were able to attend in addition to five Communication Officers, Kuwait Resident Representative, Moez Doraid and Saudi Arabia Resident Representative Mostafa Benlamih. The BDP HIV/AIDS Group Director, Elhadj Sy was also present along with BDP colleagues, and colleagues from the UNAIDS Regional Support Team including Director for the Arab Region Oussama Tawil. Within the past year, 11 countries have established, or are in the process of establishing, HIV/AIDS programmes, signalling a transformation in the region. |
§ 4-6 May: Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) annual meeting in Cairo in May
On 4-6 May, the GKP organised an International Forum on cross-sector partnerships for the advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) solutions for development.
This two-day event brought together leaders from business, civil society and government to share experiences, interests, opportunities and challenges in applying ICT for development and to build new partnership-based initiatives for implementing and scaling the socio-economic development impacts of these technologies in the Middle East and North Africa region. ICTDAR gave a presentation during the plenary session on making cross-sector partnerships work in the 21st Century, highlighting experiences in the Middle East and North Africa.
§ 8-10 May: Pan Arab regional conference on WSIS Phase II in Cairo
To pave the way for the second phase of the WSIS in Tunis, later in November; the League of Arab States and the Arab Working Group for the preparation of WSIS organised the preparatory conference during 8-10 May. The three day meeting was attended by high level participants from the region; ICTDAR organized a session on e-content, where findings from regional experts prepared during the expert group meeting in Cairo were presented.
§ 11-12 May: ICT intervention to eradicate illiteracy
On 11-12 May the Arabic Network for Illiteracy and Adult Education and ICTDAR organized a regional workshop: "Fighting Illiteracy through Technology". The workshop allowed practitioners working on illiteracy eradication to share experiences and learn from others in the usage of technology for this key issue.
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§ POGAR study Legal and Economic Framework to Address Corruption translated into English |
Train-the-trainers sessions will be organized to facilitate the use of the CD-ROM. The CD-ROM is available to local organizations through its national partners (CAWTAR in Tunisia and the Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Women in Lebanon). Good media coverage of the launch from newspapers and TV as well as attendance from government bodies, UN agencies and NGOs ensured publicity for this project. |
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§ CAWTAR launches Afaq e-newsletter
Starting from January 2005, and within the framework of its Arab Adolescent Girls’ programme, CAWTAR launched its monthly newsletter “Afaq online”. Afaq online is an electronic publication sent to CAWTAR network members and different stakeholders, addressing issues related to adolescents and youth in the region. As part of the same programme, other products (brochures and repertoires) have also been prepared to reinforce the Centre’s advocacy efforts.
§ HARPAS publishes its Regional Report |
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§ Higher Education Regional Programme produces three regional reports from its phase I
After successful finalization of the Higher Education Regional Programme phase I, the project has finalized three regional reports for region-wide distribution. The first focuses on the situation of Computer Science and Business Administration education in Arab Universities, as revealed by the outcome of the evaluation of programmes in 29 participating universities. The second report highlights the performance of 1811 senior students measured by the results of the Major Field Test administered under the project. The third report, currently being finalized, presents the main findings yielded by the project’s pilot regional statistical database, which was developed in cooperation with fifteen universities. The indicators enable comparison of statistical features among the universities and with corresponding international standards.
§ Regional study on Arabic e-content followed by Expert Group Meeting
ICTDAR commissioned research on Arabic e-content in preparation for a series of events centred on Arabic electronic content, and following a request from the League of Arab States and the Arab Working Group in preparation of the WSIS. The study collects statistics on existing Arab e-content that can be reached through search engines and directories. In addition, the prototype of an Arab search engine was developed, and a project document for regional Arabic e-content portal was prepared. On 9 and 10 of April ICTDAR (in partnership with the League and the Arab Working Group) brought together in Cairo, experts from both the public and private sectors and UN sister agencies to discuss Arab e-content. The expert group was presented with the draft report of the study, later finalised based on the recommendations. Recommendations called for a number of initiatives, including: (a) development of an economic model for e-content production (including partnership with content provider from the private sector); (b) defining indicators to measure progress in the area of Arab e-content; (c) sharing and transferring successful experiences to increase partnership; (d) raising awareness of the potential for profit in the e-content industry; and (e) establishing clear plans for the implementation of Arabic domain names
§ Publication of the Regional E-Government Institute (REGI) report
This provided an overview of the institute, from the functional areas to the activities and services that REGI could potentially offer. The report is available at ICTDAR website: www.ictdar.org
§ Study on UN convention against corruption ready
The study “Comparative Study on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the Current Legal Status in the Arab Countries” has been added to POGAR’s list of publications. Hard copies have been made available since the end of January.
§ POGAR website reached more than two million hits by March 2005
POGAR’s website www.undp-pogar.org counted 40,004 visitors in January, 45,366 in February and 51,046 in March, with an overall toll of users that has marked more than two million hits in March 2005.
| § New Microsoft/UNDP/CAWTAR and ICTDAR partnership On January 27, Microsoft, UNDP and CAWTAR signed a partnership at the UNDP Office in Tunis. The main objective of this partnership is to train trainers from CAWTAR and other NGOs with a curriculum developed by Microsoft. Once the training is completed, the trainers will receive a certificate from Microsoft and will be able to deliver IT training to social workers and members of other NGOs. This initiative is designed to facilitate access to ICT for certain target populations (women, members of NGO and associations, social workers), improve IT Knowledge transfer, allow the creation of new jobs and develop women's entrepreneurship in the IT sector. The first wave of trainers received their certificate during the launching of the WRCATI CD-ROM in Tunis. |
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§ CAWTAR invited
to the social affairs ministers meeting at the League of Arab StatesMulti-partners expert meeting for the launch of CAWTAR’s forth Arab Women Development Report
Within the framework of the Arab Women Media Watch (a CAWTAR – UNIFEM project supported by AGFUND), the two institutions held an expert meeting on March 28-29, 2005 for the launching of CAWTAR’s forth Arab Women Development Report “Arab Women and Media”. Experts contributing to the report also set an action plan for the coming period and agreed upon the structure of the report.
§ First meeting of the Founding Committee of the Arab Water Council
As part of the process of preparing UNDP’s regional water governance programme in the Arab region, UNDP funded the first meeting of the Founding Committee of the Arab Water Council (AWC) which was held in Dubai in January 2005. The meeting discussed the charter of AWC; the Work plan for 2005-2006; and the validation of the UNDP/AWC desk study on the status of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) plans in the region. A list of key recommendations was endorsed by the members, including: (a) capacity building support to develop and implement IWRM plans;(b) support to the implementation of MDG-7; and (c) preparation of the report on the State of Water Resources in the Arab World. Furthermore, a joint UNDP/AWC Technical Committee was established to guide the formulation of the UNDP Regional Programme. Elie Kodsi of the SURF-AS represented UNDP in this important regional event. In April 2005 and during the Commission on Sustainable Development 13, the desk review was presented in a number of sessions both in plenary and side events gaining much support and prominence not only at the regional level but also globally. The report was also presented by H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, President of the AWC and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt.
§ HIV/AIDS - HARPAS makes groundbreaking presentation at the regional Health Ministers meeting at the League of Arab States Following-up on a series of productive initiatives and the strong partnership between HARPAS and LAS that came out of collaboration on the religious leaders initiative, the Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs of the League invited HARPAS Regional Coordinator to make a 20 minute presentation to the Arab Ministers of Health on the 27 March 2005. The presentation outlined a number of clear recommendations to move the HIV/AIDS response forward which compelled Ministers to endorse and adopt the approach. Another positive result is the commitment by LAS to include HIV/AIDS on the agenda of the next Arab Summit meeting in Sudan in 2006. UNDP/HARPAS will work very closely with LAS to ensure this happens and will continue to support this process. |
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The Ministerial decisions called for the following:
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§ Towards Freedom in the Arab World 2004 The third Arab Human Development Report: Towards Freedom in the Arab World 2004, has generated enormous public policy debate at national, regional, and international levels. |
The latest Human Development Report (AHDR) addresses the relationship between freedom, good governance and political change in Arab countries, identifying political restrictions as the most stubborn of impediments to meaningful reforms and the realization of an Arab renaissance. As with the two previous Reports, AHDR 2004 is not without its advocates as well as antagonists. Praise, as well as criticism, is indicative of the credible and candid nature of the Report, written by a talented group of Arab scholars with a stake in the future of their region. |
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§ Launching the Report: From Amman to Alabama
Dr. Rima Khalaf Hunaidi, Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States officially launched the AHDR 2004 on 5 April 2005 in Amman, Jordan. Generating extensive media coverage, the launch was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs and Government Performance, Dr. Marwan Muasher; HRH Prince Turki bin Talal and other Jordanian and International dignitaries. Public events also took place at the League of Arab States and the Arab Physician Union, both based in Cairo, Egypt. In Europe, the Regional Director attended events in London, Paris, Geneva, Brussels, Copenhagen and Madrid; and in the United States, presented the Report at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, DC and US War College in Montgomery. Upcoming events will also take place in London, Japan, Canada, and other locations to be determined.
§ Impact on Arab Affairs: Massive Mass Media
Among the best indicators of the Report’s impact on national and global affairs is the extensive media coverage, including satellite television, radio networks, internet-based news services, and print media (international dailies and journals). To date, Al Jazeera, BBC, Al Arabiya, Dubai, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, along with countless other national media sources, have covered the release of AHDR 2004.
§ Dissemination of Hard and Digital Copies The distributors of the hard and digital copies of the Report have indicated that the Report is moving in ever-increasing numbers. The Dubai-based Gulf Research Center (GRC) handles distribution of the Arabic hard copy (as well as Arabic and English digital copies). To date, they have requested over 2000 hard copies for distribution. California-based Stanford University Press, is disseminating the English edition and is in the process of moving 3000 hard copies in the US and Asia. A third partner, UN Publications has ordered approximately 1500 English and 750 Arabic hard copies. As for digital downloads, GRC reported approximately 6000 Arabic downloads and 2000 English downloads to date. |
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§ What’s Next?
As the third AHDR is still being widely covered, the Regional Programme Division is now in the process of preparing for its fourth Arab Human Development Report on Women’s Empowerment.
| § Donors show interest to support POGAR’s new project to strengthen the rule of law |
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On 14 March 2005, a planning meeting on the new project on “Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Arab States: Modernization of Prosecutor’s Offices” was convened in Cairo. |
The meeting entailed thorough discussions with donors in addition to planning and sharing ideas for the preparations needed to launch the project. The donors who have indicated their support and approved grants thus far included the United Nations Foundation in addition to Governments of the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway. |
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§ UNOHCHR and UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office support to POGAR’s initiatives
The UN-Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights has pledged a grant of US$ 40,000 to POGAR’s project on Human Development and Human Rights (PARDHUR) in the Arab region. Likewise, the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office approved a grant of around US$ 60,000 for organizing a regional workshop that would develop a platform for action on media reforms in the Arab region, to be presented later during the World Summit on the Information Society that will be held in Tunisia in November 2005.
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§ CAWTAR engages in resource mobilization CAWTAR has stepped-up its resource mobilization plans. During this year’s first quarter, two of CAWTAR’s proposals to international donor agencies have been approved in the pre-selection process. |
§ Report on the role and contribution of the Arab NGOs follow up
In preparation for Beijing + 10, CAWTAR, in partnership with UNIFEM and UNFPA, prepared an NGO Shadow report for the Arab region. Issued on International Women’s Day, the Report, titled “Ten Years after Beijing, The role and contribution of the Arab NGOs,” covers (a) women’s status; (b) gender based violence; (c) women’s health; and (d) political and economic participation. As a follow up, CAWTAR will hold a plenary session during its forthcoming @nged network meeting to discuss the shadow report during the fall of 2005
§ An Arab model of Law to protect People Living with HIV/AIDS On 13 – 14 March 2005, HARPAS in partnership with the Arab Institute of Human Rights, UNICEF, ILO, UNAIDS and OHCHR began its initiative “The Legal framework for HIV/AIDS and Human Rights in the Arab States”. |
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The initiative, which consists of 4 phases, aims at reviewing the international instruments and national legislation to come up with a model of law that will protect the rights of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This review will be conducted in 15 Arab countries. HARPAS will be organizing a validation workshop in October 2005 in Cairo to review the comparative legal study as well as the model of law proposed Arab parliaments for ratification, at a later stage. |
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§ New project on Strengthening Institutional Capacity within the context of Good Governance and the Rule of Law
POGAR’s new project on the Modernization of Prosecutor’s Offices towards Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Arab States will be launched in Cairo on 17-18 May 2005. This project aims to support national efforts in the Arab Region to strengthen institutional capacity within the context of good governance and the rule of law, and to enhance citizen security in four pilot countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen.
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The 6th Global Forum on Reinventing Government: Toward Participatory and Transparent Governance
The 6th Global Forum on Reinventing Government will be held in Seoul – Republic of South Korea on 24-27 May 2005. The Forum aims at supporting Arab countries (executive, legislative and judicial branches) and facilitating access to best practices achieved in the area of public service reform.
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CAWTAR will lead the gender session of the upcoming World Bank Magreb conference
CAWTAR, as the main regional partner of World Bank in the Arab region focusing on gender issues, will be leading the Gender theme group of the World Bank’s upcoming sub-regional conference for the Maghreb. The World Bank conference will take place 24-25 May with the aim of disseminating and discussing its 4 World Bank regional reports covering the issues of Governance, Trade and Investment, Employment, and Gender.
§ Community Access Centre to be launched in SIWA, Egypt
ICTDAR-supported Community Access Centre will be launched in the coming weeks. The concept behind these centres is to raise awareness among community members on the impact of information technology on job creation and existing learning opportunities; to build human and technical capacities to facilitate access to, and utilization of, information technology, and ultimately to stimulate the development of e-Content and e-Services by and for rural communities.
CAWTAR (Centre
of Arab Women in the Arab Region)
For more information on the centre: www.cawtar.org.tn
Regional Programme Coordinator: Ms. Soukeina
Bouraoui,
Contact them at: cawtar@planet.tn
HARPAS (HIV/AIDS
Regional Programme in the Arab States)
For more information on their programme: www.undp.org/rbas/regional/aids
Regional Programme Coordinator: Ms. Khadija Moalla,
Contact her at: khadija.moalla@undp.org
Higher Education
Project
Project Manager: Mr. Isam Naqib,
Contact him at: isam.naqib@btopenworld.com
ICTDAR (Information
and Communication Technologies for Development in the Arab Region)
For more information on their programme: www.ictdar.org
Regional Programme Coordinator: Ms. Najat
Rochdi,
Contact them at: info@ictdar.org
POGAR (Programme
on Governance in the Arab Region)
For more information on their programme: www.pogar.org
Regional Programme Coordinator: Mr. Adel Abdel
Latif ,
Contact them at: pogar@pogar.org
mREGIONAL PROGRAMME
www.undp.org/rbas/regional/index.html
We would like to hear from you!
If you have comments, suggestions,
questions, would like to add more news, etc. to the Newsletter contact
Marta Vallejo at marta.vallejo@undp.org
For more information on the AHDR (2004) Towards Freedom in the Arab World contact Randa Jamal at Randa.jamal@undp.org