Resources

The Arab region has the lowest representation of women in political life globally and is ranked the lowest in political participation on the gender gap index. This holds true at all levels of governance, including the parliament, government, civil service, judiciary and local councils. Women’s poor political representation also reflects their lower rates of political participation, which make them a less sought-after body of voters and limit the…

Can smart cities help us achieve true sustainable development? With merely a decade to go to deliver on the 2030 agenda and the universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digital development is seen as a forceful catalyst that can help governments close developmental gaps and accelerate progress. In particular, smart and sustainable cities are becoming microcosms of policy and governance transformation challenges we face in our drive…

GEMS indicator aims to measure the maturity of government services provided through the portal and through mobile applications in the Arab region. It seeks to bridge the gap in most of the international indicators, related to service maturity, its use and user satisfaction. To this end, 84 government services have been identified, and it is necessary for each country to deliver them electronically for individuals and businesses. The principle of…

SDGs National Reporting Platforms (NRPs) are essential to help member countries to achieve their national development goals and are crucial elements to monitor and report the progress towards achieving the SDGs at all levels. The objective of these platforms is to create sustainable pathways for sharing transparent information, offering easy analysis tools that enable Governments and policymakers set, evaluate their progress, and adjust…

Over the past decade, global economic growth rates have continuously declined. The extent of this trend, influenced by developments in digital technologies, are yet to be fully captured. Today, numerous national efforts are deemed to be largely ineffective in terms of their responsiveness to new and emerging social, economic and political landscapes. What are the strategic directions and policy roadmaps for a thriving digital economy that spans…

We live in a world of rapid change that may be best characterized as a ‘VUCA world’: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Effectively, it is a new world where old laws and rules no longer apply. The advanced technologies of the digital age are disrupting ‘business as usual’ and no industry is immune. Not to be left behind, governments have to predict the future by imagining what the world will be like and ‘adapt’ at the same pace, all…

E-Handbook on SDG Framework and Metadata provide Up- to-date information on the Sustainable Development indicators, their Tier category and the official metadata as per custodian agency.  The E-Handbook is a resourceful tool that includes, where available, background information, country examples, and other resources to provide in-depth knowledge to data producers and users to improve collection, compilation and analysis. This document contains…

The first ESCWA Award on Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women was presented by Ms. Rima Khalaf, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), to three staff members. The award is delivered for the first time and constitutes a milestone for ESCWA, which is integrating gender perspectives in its plans, policies and programmes. At a ceremony held…

A decade marked for accelerated action and delivery towards sustainable development has been disrupted by a global health threat that has severely impacted the Arab region. The focus now is on urgent action to save lives and repair livelihoods. This crisis is a stark reminder of why an efficient and effective public sector is the first line of defence in addressing systemic risks. This perilous pandemic is spreading through the Arab region at a…

Laws and regulations related to access to information and openness are very important for the implementation of open government principles. These laws cover several areas, such as access to information, protection of personal data, citizen participation and anti-corruption. However, the access information law is the basis and core stone for open government. The adoption of this law, and its implementation are of great importance for launching…

Building on the findings of the Arab Sustainable Development Report 2020 (ASDR 2020), the first in the region to offer a quantitative and qualitative analysis of all 17 SDGs, ESCWA and the WHO EMRO are jointly organizing a high-level discussion in collaboration with UNICEF and UNFPA on:   - What is COVID-19 telling us about the region’s progress on SDG 3 and efforts to ensure the health and well-being of 430+ million people in the Arab world…