Governance in the Arab States
The 2004 Arab Human Development Report, Towards Freedom in the Arab World, identified several key challenges to good governance in the region. These include public administration systems that do not fully meet the needs of citizens, shortcomings in institutional accountability, constrained opportunities for people to participate in the decision-making processes affecting their lives, and in some cases the lack of enjoyment of fundamental rights such as citizenship and gender equality. Add to this a regional and international context that often presents barriers to reform, and the challenges to good governance are indeed formidable.
Even amid such constraints, however, efforts are being made by government leaders and civil society throughout the region to reform governance institutions and processes in a way that allows people greater freedom and increased opportunity. These include parliamentary elections, judicial reform and strengthening, and fighting corruption. The call for reform has not been muffled, but is changing in subtle ways as the Arab region finds its own way to strengthening good governance. UNDP works in the Arab States with governments, the private sector and civil society to support these processes, strengthening the capacity of institutions and individuals to protect human rights, enhance social cohesion and grow strong bonds of trust between governments and citizens.
Strengthening Governance in the Arab Region
Established at the request of Arab governments, the Programme on Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR) supports key regional and national governance institutions to address governance needs and concerns, with the aim of enhancing good governance practice and governance reform in the Arab world.
POGAR’s activities range from promoting policy dialogue and creating strategic partnerships, to capacity building and knowledge sharing among government officials, civil society organizations, academics and donor agencies. POGAR works with a large array of Arab national and regional partners, as well as other UN agencies and international donors to promote pillars of good governance including rule of law, transparency and accountability, participation and human rights.
At the Country Level
UNDP is committed to responding to government demand to implement national-level projects that respond to the governance challenge in Arab states. Initiatives to strengthen governance on the national level are implemented within the framework of the strategies of Country Offices, and in collaboration with national and international partners including governments, civil society, and other United Nations agencies. Two key areas of activity are institutional strengthening and decentralization.
Institutional Strengthening
Our country-level work on institutional strengthening comprises a number of initiatives for parliamentary development, electoral reform and judicial reform. We are working along with the governments in North Africa, Palestine, Lebanon and the Gulf on programs to strengthen parliamentary effectiveness and accountability. Our cooperation with Sudan involves a project to strengthen the functioning of political parties within the parliamentary system. In Egypt, we are building parliament capacity to develop strategies for promoting economic development through trade.
Our commitment to electoral reform revolves mainly around supporting country efforts to increase women’s empowerment – in countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan and Yemen. We are also work with authorities in Lebanon on electoral reform.
On judicial reform we focus on developing capacity of Ministries of Justice, including through the promotion of anti-corruption measures aimed at enhancing accountability and equity of justice systems.
Decentralization
Decentralization, on the other hand, is a long-standing commitment that has yet to fully materialize in the region – decision-making remains quite centralized in nearly all Arab States. UNDP is committed to helping Arab States decentralize by supporting changes such as the institutionalization of local elections, modernization of legislation at the municipal level, and reform of national legislation for enhanced capacity and responsiveness at sub-national levels, allowing for local governments to better deliver the services needed for human development at the local level throughout the region.
To learn more about UNDP’s governance initiatives at the national level
please click on the relevant Country Office link on the right
