FUnited Nations Development Programme

fArab States
bEmpowered lives. Resilient nations.

 
 
UNDP helps countries across the Arab region to build and share their own solutions to development challenges within UNDP’s four main focus areas: Poverty Reduction and Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Democratic Governance, Crisis Prevention and Recovery, and Environment and Sustainable Development. UNDP’s work also emphasizes the priority concerns of HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and the protection of human rights, while addressing as well the human development deficits identified by the first series of the Arab Human Development Report — in knowledge, freedom, and women’s empowerment. Building on the tradition of UNDP’s Global Human Development Reports, the Arab Human Development Report has become a milestone in the discussion and debate on the reform agenda for human development in the Arab region.


 

Latest News


 
 
Responding to Arab transformations 
  
 
Two young Tunisian democrats, messengers of progress who are a striking metaphor for some of the changes sweeping our world, met with Director for Democratic Governance at UNDP.
 
Mariem and Hassine were selected to visit New York from the thousands of Tunisians who completed “DemocraTweet”, an online game which guides people through fundamental principles of democracy and democratic transition. UNDP developed the game, partnering with the country’s leading radio station, Radio Mosaique FM, to ensure it reached across Tunisian society as the country prepared for elections. It’s just one example of how we’ve risen to the challenge of supporting the aspirations of Tunisian people. Read more  
 

16 January 2012
New York - As the International Year of Sustainable Energy for all kicked off today, United Nations officials called on governments, the private sector and civil society to help expand energy access, improve efficiency and increase the use of renewables. Read more

16 January 2012
UNDP continues to support the electoral process in Yemen prior the presidential elections    
Sanaa – UNDP
is assisting the government of Yemen in conducting the presidential elections due next month, and is introducing electoral reforms in the long term. In an interview with UN Radio, UNDP Yemen County Director, Randa Aboul Hosn explained that the programme is providing logistical and technical to the Supreme Committee for Elections and Referendum. Also, UNDP is training members of the of the electoral commissions in all parts of Yemen. Listen to the interview

9 January 2012
Dubai – The meeting highlighted two factors, how to best identify opportunities to integrate HIV & Health in UNDP’s programs and projects, given the recent developments in the region, and the promotion of other health and non-health MDGs – particularly through cross-practice strategies. Read more

 


More News

Highlights from Arab States

Lebanon
In one of the highest mountains of Mejdel Akkar - North Lebanon, far away from the noisiness the hectic city, three women cultivate sage plants. With other 22 women, these harvesters work in the Majdel Akkar Cooperation supported by the United Nations Development Programme in Lebanon.
Sudan
Until recently, farmers in northeast Sudan used to rely solely on rainfall for their subsistence crops, despite fertile land and groundwater close to the surface.
Lebanon
Zawtar Al Charkieh, the southern village, highly relying on agriculture as a source of income, was severely affected by the July 2006 war that caused immediate damages to 90% of agricultural fields including lands contaminated by cluster bombs.
Tunisia
Azza Badra was one of thousands of women in Tunisia who competed for a seat in yesterday’s national elections, the first since the country’s dramatic pro-democracy shift in January this year and since its independence in 1956.
Iraq
Nearly 300 participants marked the launch of the United Nations Global Compact Iraq Local Network in Baghdad lead by the United Nations Development Programme together with the Secretariat of the Iraqi Council of Ministers.
Sudan
Red Sea State first in Sudan to expand role of civil society in budget making and expenditure management
For the first time in Sudan, a civil society network has been involved in the process of drafting the state budget. To date, the network has expanded community-based budget monitoring to 10 localities in the Red Sea State.
Somalia 
Income brings hope to Somali families facing famine
Some 18,000 people in 3,000 households currently benefit from the catchment project, set up by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), particularly female heads of households, young people, those forced from their homes, disabled and other marginalized people.
Tunisia 
Democracy cannot be achieved without women as voters, leaders and candidates during the elections
In marking the International Day of Democracy, this feature spotlights UNDP’s support to Tunisia in its steady transition to democracy with particular focus on strengthening women’s candidates for the Constituent Assembly elections. 
 
Sudan  
The women of the Diem Arab Centre in downtown Port Sudan have traditionally suffered from absence of viable economic options and welcome income-generating opportunities to earn money for their families. The members greatly appreciated the eight bakery ovens and eight sewing machines received from UNDP in late 2010 that have provided a new lease on life to the women’s centre.
 
Somalia
Thousands of people in Mogadishu are enjoying a better quality of life thanks to a newly-renovated health clinic and a skills training program that were supported by the UNDP’s Employment Generation for Early Recovery (EGER) Programme.
 
Lebanon
Despite significant reduction of mine victims in South of Lebanon, recently affected areas are still in need of mine risk education and socio economic projects to rehabilitate mine affected areas and assist mine victims.
 
Lebanon
Teachers and students at 25 public schools in South Lebanon are to benefit from a constant supply of electricity to their offices and classrooms following installation of solar panels that provide an alternative to expensive and polluting diesel generators.
 
Sudan
More than 10,000 people in the South Kordofan state of Sudan now have improved access to clean water, following completion of a reservoir through an initiative managed by the United Nations Development Programme.
 
Lebanon 
The Cooperative for Olive Farmers in Hasbaya, South Lebanon has achieved a unique specialty in transforming the residue of olives into livestock feed at their site. For the process, they employ the equipment and machinery offered by the United Nations Development Programme in Lebanon.
 
 

 


In the Spotlight

8 January 2012
 
  
Abu Dhabi - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the "Human Development Report" today in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in cooperation with the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Competitiveness Council.

The event was attended by senior state officials, members of the diplomatic corps, economists and local and international media representatives.
 
Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator of the UNDP said it is a great opportunity to launch the report in Abu Dhabi for the second consecutive year because of the high place UAE achieved in the report as it is the first among Arab countries. She added that the report looks at various challenges facing development in the world specially how to meet the basic needs of the peoples.
 
His Excellency Mohammed Omar Abdullah, the Undersecretary of Department of Economic Development, Abu-Dhabi, said that this year's report asserts the close link between sustainability and social fairness and clarifies that human development can not be realized without realizing the principle of sustainability; based on fairness and empowerment. The report takes all sides accountable jointly towards deprived categories all over the world, either now or in the future.
 
Norway, Australia, Netherlands, USA, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Leistenchtien, Germany and Sweden came in the first ten places in the index of human development world report 2011. UAE came in the thirtieth place among 187 countries.
 
The report comes at a time when the world leaders are preparing for meeting in Rio De Janeiro to discuss on sustainability and equity as elements of world development.
 
The world development report set a message regarding the environmental side that necessitates certain steps to environmental catastrophes and to avoid further degradation. Read remarks of Rebeca Grynspan at the Arab Regional Launch of the Human Development Report 2011
 
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