Regional Programme Newsletter

Issue 2
July 2004

Regional Programme Division <<< NEWSLETTER >>> Regional Programme Division

Partnerships

New Initiatives

More information

DID YOU KNOW!

Following Issues

Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the second issue of the Regional Programme Newsletter for the Arab States. Your enthusiastic response to this new product, launched last April, has been deeply gratifying. It has sent the Regional Programme a firm and encouraging message: keep up the useful work and keep field managers in the loop. This issue will hopefully show you that we are determined to do both. Here, you’ll read about ICTDAR’s e-strategy discussion in Lebanon attended by high level national authorities. On HIV/AIDS, you’ll learn more about the two sub-regional initiatives in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf Countries, in which HARPAS has been recently involved. You’ll come to know about POGAR’s expert group meeting in Morocco on good public governance in the region. You’ll glimpse a new initiative on gender and media at CAWTAR; read about the main outcomes of the last Higher Education meeting in Amman with representatives of 15 Arab universities; and see, under the Millennium Development goals, some fresh regional efforts to build national capacity to respond.
As you read about all this and more, I hope you will be prompted to ask two questions. Can we at the country level contribute to these interesting directions? Can we help to make the RPD-CO partnership a stronger, better and more effective service to the region?
Quite a number of you have already answered those questions with a forceful “yes”, rolling up your sleeves to come and help out with ideas and support wherever a regional initiative appears on the country stage. Others may want to learn more about our work before joining in. Rest assured, there’s a lot going on. You will be welcome as partners any time you want to become constructively involved.
Following up on some of your suggestions, you will also find attached in this issue a list of our ongoing projects with a brief description, contact details and budgets.
As I said to the RBAS Resident Representatives at their recent Cairo meeting: the Regional Programme is proud of its association with the successes of the independently authored Arab Human Development Reports led by our wonderful Regional Director. Yet RPD does programs too – innovative, useful and catalytic interventions which also make a difference in the region. The great is not the enemy of the good. On the contrary, it is a source of inspiration. The strength of those Reports is nowhere more apparent than in the stellar people and committed efforts behind these targeted projects that are bringing the series alive. You are all part of that effort; and I hope this newsletter is a contribution to engaging you ever more closely in this work.
Of course, glimpses of our activities are not enough. So please use those URLs and contact addresses provided in this issue whenever you want to find out more about the Regional Programme.
Looking forward to our continuing collaboration and wishing you every success in your endeavours,

Zahir Jamal

<<< Events >>>

§ Wireless technology workshop in Jordan
ICTDAR co-organized a series of meetings in the Arab region with the ‘Wireless Internet Institute,’ aimed at increasing access. The first conference was held in Amman on 14-15 April. Stakeholders addressed the challenges in their countries and discussed how low telecom and internet penetration in the Arab region could be overcome. The second meeting is set for Beirut in November 2004

§ e-government discussions in Tunisia
Following the workshop in Morocco in March, an e-government discussion was organized by UNDP Tunisia, the prime minister’s office and ICTDAR. The meetings were held in Tunis on 19-20 April. One hundred participants from Lebanon, Morocco and Egypt shared e-government experiences of their home countries.

§ AIDS in Africa: Scenario for the Future
Facilitated by HARPAS, HIV/AIDS experts from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, and Sudan gathered in Cairo from 29 April to 1 May 2004 to continue the work of the UNAIDS workshop “AIDS in Africa, Scenario for the Future.” The participants discussed AIDS-related experiences as well as the 20-year outlook of the impact of AIDS on North African countries. The project seeks ways to avoid a worsening crisis by encouraging deeper understanding and examining the consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.

§ Africa Telecom in Egypt
ICTDAR presented the ICT regional programme at the Africa Telecom conference, held in Cairo 4-8 May. Participants from Asia, Europe and Africa discussed how to build on regional successes. Among a number of side events was the Arab business forum for the ICT annual conference, which focused on e-learning institutions. At the forum, ICTDAR presented its vision for a regional e-learning institute.

§ University database nearly ready
Representatives of 15 Arab universities met in Amman (May 14-16, 2004) to continue their work on an integrated statistical database that meets international standards. The meeting was the second and final workshop organized by the Higher Education Project, launched in January 2002. Group discussions and tutorial sessions led to the first view of the emerging regional database. All the data was compiled and validated, and the database will soon deliver a wide range of statistics that will enable vital comparisons between universities in the region and abroad. Plans are underway to expand the group of participating universities to 45 during the second phase of the project, expected to start next January.

§ UNDP/OECD initiative on Governance for Investment & Development
On 29-30 April, an expert group meeting on Governance for Investment & Development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was held in Morocco. This meeting was jointly organized between UNDP-POGAR and the OECD and. was part of the preparatory phase for an initiative on governance for investment & development in MENA countries. UNDP-POGAR and OECD are now undertaking further preparatory work to detail the terms of reference of thematic working groups that will principally implement the initiative after it is formally launched in December 2004.

§ e-strategy in Lebanon
On 27-28 May, a workshop on building a knowledge society was held in Beirut under ICTDAR auspices. The workshop showcased best practices of e-strategy in the region and received endorsement from the President of Lebanon, the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR), and UNDP Lebanon. During the meeting, ICTDAR presented the main strategic objectives of the e-strategy and urged the participation of all stakeholders. This meeting is the first of a series of meetings on e-strategy with senior decision makers.

§ Arab Media Watch Network: Women’s Voices Heard
CAWTAR is establishing a project on gender and media called the Arab Media Watch Network: Women’s Voices Heard. The project will disseminate reliable information for and about women in a way that reflects real-life situations. The project will also help make media more accessible for women. CAWTAR also hopes to establish a network to monitor the portrayal of Arab women in the media. The network will include a code of ethics to encourage gender sensitive reporting.

§ Women For Peace Conference
The regional training for NGOs representatives "The Road to UN Security Council 1325 and Future Perspectives" took place in Cairo on 29-30 May. The training was organized by the Suzan Mubarak Women International Peace Movement and sponsored by UNDP RBAS, UNIFEM and the UN Egypt. The purpose of the gathering was to increase knowledge among women’s groups on the scope and implications of UN SC Resolution 1325 of 2000, which called for increased participation of women in peace negotiations and peace building initiatives. Building on the testimonials of women peace activists from several countries (including Palestine, Iraq and Kenya) the participants worked together for two days to identify specific recommendations aimed at increasing the contribution of Arab women in fostering a culture of peace and non violent resolution of conflicts.

§ UN agencies mobilized in the Horn of Africa Initiative
The Horn of Africa sub-region is currently facing immense development challenges, made worse by increased mobility and the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The UNAIDS ICT/MENA held a conference on “Partnership on the HIV/AIDS Response in the Horn of Africa: Tackling the Epidemic in Post-Conflict Situations” in Yemen between 25 and 27 May 2004. It developed a common strategic framework and looked at ways to pool resources and ensure coordination on HIV/AIDS among different partners. HARPAS presented plans to lead a “Horn of Africa Initiative,” together with UNAIDS.

§ Keynote address by POGAR in the 8th Annual Euro Mediterranean Economic Transition Meeting
The 8th Annual Euro-Mediterranean Economic Transition Meeting, organized by the European Commission, was held in Brussels on 10-11 June. UNDP-POGAR’s regional coordinator delivered a keynote address during the first session on “Judicial and Legal Reforms in the Arab Countries.” This is an annual seminar organized by the Euromed initiative.

§ Alexandria Library Conference: The role of civil society in Arab countries
A regional conference “The role of civil society in the Arab countries and reform: Reality and Prospects” took place on 21-22 June at the Alexandria Library. The conference was organized by the UN High Commission for Human Rights and UNDP, together with the Arab Organization for Human Rights and the Arab Reform Forum. The conference discussed how to enhance the role of civil institutions and to spread the values of democracy and human rights, via plans and reform programs. The meeting recommended:
* Establishing an Arab forum for social dialogue and an independent Arab institute for public opinion polls.
* Launching a campaign to establish an Arab Fund to support NGOS
* Acting to create a framework for integrating the interests and promoting the presence of young Arabs in development issues
* Inviting civil society associations to enhance the participation of women in leadership positions and decision-making
* Establishing a framework for co-operation and co-ordination between Arab civil society associations and their counterparts abroad.

<<< Products >>>

§ E-readiness in Yemen
ICTDAR is starting an e-strategy assessment in Yemen. The project will carry out an e-readiness assessment that will recommend policies and interventions to develop objectives and plans for Yemen’s information society.

§ Two new POGAR publications available
The Directory of “Women in Islam” prepared by Dr. Farida Bennani and Dr. Zineb Miadi, under the Gender and Citizenship initiative framework. Also, the Arabic version of “Assessing Legislation: a Manual for Legislators” under the theme of the rule of law is now ready. For copies contact Maya Abi Zeid at maya.abi-zeid@undp.org

§ Database report to be released
Another overview report from the Higher Education Project will be ready for region-wide distribution this summer to participating as well as other universities and higher education institutions in the region. The report will detail the experience of building a pilot regional database for Arab universities. In addition to outlining the elements of the database development, the report will compare the statistical profiles of the participating university with international norms.

§ Arab e-government Institute
ICTDAR launched a feasibility study for an e-government Institute for the Arab region. The institute will promote regional cooperation, increase international integration, and assist in effective implementation of e-Government in the Arab region.

<<< Partnerships & Cooperation >>>

§ RPD / BDP collaboration on the MDGs
RBAS/RPD and BDP have identified four main activities for future co-operation to support the MDG process in the region. The first is a project on Societal Engagement in the MDG Processes. It will be jointly funded by BDP/RBAS in 5 countries and will help build the capacity of governments and CSOs to achieve and monitor the MDGs. The second activity concerns Advocacy around the Arab MDG Report. As part of the regional MDG advocacy campaign, RBAS and BDP are sponsoring the launch of the French version of the Arab MDG Report in Rabat, Morocco on July 12, 2004. Two follow-up advocacy and awareness raising workshops, for Maghreb and Mashreq countries respectively, will be organized. Governmental and non-governmental representatives from all Arab countries will be invited to take part. The third activity will pilot Peer and Partner Reviews in 1 or 2 Arab countries initially. It will take a holistic approach to the costing of MDGs, addressing issues of public finance management and the allocation of external resources to achieve the goals. Finally, the fourth area of joint work is a series of Macroeconomic Studies which will assist governments to assess and design effective pro-poor macroeconomic policies. Scoping missions have been undertaken in three Arab countries (Yemen, Syria, and Sudan).

§ A chance to stop AIDS in the Gulf
An opportunity still exists in Gulf countries to halt the spread of the HIV epidemic. The region’s risk factors were addressed at a workshop in Bahrain on 26-27 June 2004. The workshop was organized by UNDP, UNICEF, UNAIDS and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Representatives of various government ministries attended, along with National AIDS Programme manages and representatives of civil society. The objective of the meeting was to expand the HIV/AIDS response to non-health sectors and to highlight the urgency of preventative measures. The meeting agreed on ten key recommendations for change to be presented to decision-makers in Gulf States.

§ Women in the Arab Media
A workshop called “Empowering Women in Arab Media,” organized by Sharqiyat media group and UNESCO, will be held in Amman on 23-24 of July. The workshop will examine career barriers to women in Arab media

<<< New Initiatives >>>

§ ICT for blind people
ICTDAR is engaging in an innovative project to promote the Braille system in ICT and computer technology. The project will help the blind take full advantage of the modern ICT society. The private sector and NGOs are participating in the project, for which Egypt will be the pilot country.

§ Follow Up to AHDR 2003: Boosting Science Policy, R&D and the Arabic Language
Responding to knowledge gaps in the region identified in the second Arab Human Development Report (AHDR 2003), three new regional initiatives are at the planning stage: The first is a plan for an Arab Science and Policy Research Centre (ASPRC) to assist decision makers in identifying successful approaches to common issues in science policy. The second is a feasibility study of an Arab Fund for Research and Development. The fund will help to institutionalize R&D in the region, increase the supply of financial and human capital for scientific and technological ventures and co-ordinate regional and international support for Arab S&T. The third initiative recognizes the powerful role of language in development exchanges, especially in commerce, trade and on. It will increase inter-Arab and intra-cultural communication by targeting the modernization of the Arabic Language in terms of theory, teaching, grammar, terminology, usage, documentation and computerization. The initiatives flow from high-level, RBAS-led consultations in the region supported by the Globalization and Growth pillar of the regional programme.

§ RPD to launch new water programme
The effective management of water in Arab states is a high priority – both for governments and for the UNDP. In an effort to increase its work on the environment, RPD is looking at cooperation with the new Arab Water Council (AWC) to support countries in their development of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) plans. The first step is to review current preparedness of IWRM plans in the region, which will be done by the Centre for Environment and Development in the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) under the supervision of SURF-AS. The review, which will begin in July, will last about three months.

§ E-gov@ASP: an Arab Sharing Platform for e-government
ICTDAR continues its ongoing efforts to develop a regional e-government institute. One of the initial services will be a regional portal on e-government, to be developed with the help of Microsoft. The portal will support pan-Arab collaboration between e-government stakeholders. The portal will also serve as a document clearinghouse for actors in the e-government arena. In addition, it will promote and develop pan-Arab IT businesses by enabling companies involved in e-government to promote their work in other countries.

§ HIV/AIDS and National Strategic Planning in the Middle East and North Africa
UNDP participated in a workshop organized by UNAIDS on “Building Capacities on National Strategic Planning on HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa.” The meeting, which was held in Beirut, Lebanon from 15-18 June 2004, brought together National AIDS Programme managers, UN Agencies and civil society representatives. During the workshop UNDP stressed the need to energize national HIV/AIDS responses. The recently developed BDP guide was shared with the participants and a presentation was made on ways for HARPAS to support the national HIV/AIDS response.

<<< Upcoming >>>

§ Religious Leaders & HIV/AIDS Initiative
Mobilizing religious leaders in the Arab States is crucial in order to stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region. The HARPAS Religious Leaders Initiative will be launched on 28 June -1 July 2004 at a Technical Meeting of religious experts in Damascus, Syria. It will build on previous experiences and will engage leaders from the Islamic and Christian faiths. A key goal is to develop positive educational approaches to HIV/AIDS. Such approaches include promoting accurate HIV/AIDS messages as part of a unified Arab response to the epidemic.

§ Third Arab Women development report “Gender and decision making” by CAWTAR
The next annual report from CAWTAR on women’s issues, the third in the series, will be on Gender and Decision-Making. Look for the publication later this year.

§ ICT for SME's in Morocco and Egypt
SMEs are crucial to the growth of Arab economies and increasing awareness on how to use ICT is key to their effective development. ICTDAR will therefore conduct an ICT train-the-trainers programme in Morocco and Egypt in July 2004.

<<< For more information on the Regional Programme visit >>>

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

REGIONAL PROGRAMME
www.undp.org/rbas/regional/index.html

<<< DID YOU KNOW! >>>

§ New colleagues
Azza Karam (Egypt) has recently joined RBAS/RPD as Senior Policy Research Advisor, with responsibilities spanning the regional programme and AHDR series.
Contact her at: azza.karam@undp.org

Mary Jreidini (Lebanon) has recently joined RBAS/RPD as Programme Assistant on the AHDR series.
Contact her at: mary.jreidini@undp.org

Taher El-Sonni (Libya) has recently joined RBAS as IT Associate /Webmaster.
Contact him at: taher.elsonni@undp.org

§ The regional programme presented in Cairo
During the long series of regional back to back meetings in Cairo early June, Zahir Jamal presented an overview of the regional programme to RRs and DRRs and introduced two dynamic close-ups of the regional programmes based in Egypt. Najat Rochdi for ICTDAR and Khadija Moalla for HARPAS made inspired presentations for their respective programmes.

Contact Us

In the following Issue...

We would like to hear from you!
If you have comments, suggestions, questions, would like to add more news, etc.
Contact Marta Vallejo at marta.vallejo@undp.org

»Religious Leaders meet in Syria
»New CAWTAR publication
»ICTDAR training of trainers for SME's
And much-much more!