ISSUE NO. 1: May 2014

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) is committed to strengthening communication and fostering

stronger coordination with its partners in Bahrain. This newsletter is the first effort to raise awareness

about the United Nations’ work in the country. In 2013 alone, the United Nations and the Kingdom of

Bahrain have partnered together to promote UN principles and address national priorities in a number

of key ways. In February 2013, the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO) Director General, Dr.

Yumkella, visited Bahrain to inaugurate the Arab International Center for Entrepreneurship and

Investment that serves to boost foreign investment and stimulate economic growth and job creation. In

June 2013, for the first time in the Arab Region, the Government of Bahrain hosted the annual United

Nations Public Service Awards Ceremony, during which 47 public organizations from 28 countries were

awarded for their excellence in public service. The year concluded with a visit by Helen Clark, UNDP

Administrator and Chair of the United Nations Development Group, who launched the UNDP regional

report on Water Governance in Bahrain.

In 2014, the UNCT looks forward to a number of upcoming international conferences, including the

Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) that will bring together heads of national telecom and ICT

regulatory authorities from around the world to Manama during 3-4 June 2014. The event is organized

by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with the Government of Bahrain

and chaired by Dr Mohammed Al Amer, Chairman of Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory

Authority (TRA).

In the last quarter of 2014, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in

partnership with the Government of Bahrain will facilitate two international forums. The International

Bahrain Green Technology Expo & Forum will provide the opportunity for international companies to

exhibit the latest technological products and services that aim to preserve the environment. The

International Entrepreneurs Forum will bring together approximately one thousand entrepreneurs to

discuss best practices on entrepreneurship.

During 2014, the United Nations and the Government of Bahrain aim to develop and finalize a Strategic

Cooperation Framework that will serve to ensure a collective, relevant and strategic UN response to the

aspirations and challenges of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In view of international discussions on the Post-2015 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals,

considerable collective efforts will continue to be made to ensure Bahrain is engaged and contributes to

the Post-2015 Development Agenda consultations.

Over the course of the year, I look forward to working with you all to support Bahrain’s ambitious

reform and development agenda.

Peter Grohmann, Resident Coordinator

UPDATE FROM THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

The UN Country Team in Bahrain comprises of eight agencies. Six agencies are based permanently in Bahrain and two agencies participate in the Country Team from Riyadh (UNICEF) and Doha (UNESCO). The agencies are (in alphabetical order): the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP ROWA), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In addition to the UN Country Team, 12 non-resident United Nations Agencies provide technical support and advice in diverse thematic areas to the Government of Bahrain. Below you will find information on the Heads of UN agencies which form the UNCT:

ABOUT US: THE UN COUNTRY TEAM (UNCT)

United Nation, Bahrain

@UN_Bahrain

@UNICManama

Post-2015 International Development Agenda

Overview:

As the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is fast approaching in 2015, the world is now embarking

on a discussion centered around the vision of the new Post-2015 global development framework.

This time, however, the Secretary General has put in place a process for open and inclusive consultations to ensure that

the new global development priorities are based on the feedback of citizens from all parts of the world. At the global

level, the High Level Panel, under the leadership of the Presidents of Indonesia, Liberia and the Prime Minister of the

United Kingdom, released its first report of recommendations for the new global agenda in May 2013. At the regional

level, representatives from civil society and academia, including five participants from Bahrain, participated in the Arab

Development Forum in Amman to discuss regional priorities. At the national level, 88 countries so far have facilitated

broad Post-2015 consultations allowing for over 1.7 million people to address their diverse needs and the emerging

challenges of the 21st century.

The MY World Survey [www.myworld2015.org]:

The MY World Survey is the United Nations global survey that aims to capture people's opinions and priorities, so that

global leaders can be informed as they begin the process of defining the new Post-2015 development agenda for the

world. Results from the MY World Survey will continue to feed into the work of the High-level Panel.

Post-2015 Engagement in Bahrain:

The UN Country Team in Bahrain has raised awareness about the MY World Survey and the Post-2015 Agenda process

by setting up MY World Survey voting booths around Bahrain. As a result of the campaign and the UN in Bahrain’s

collective efforts, MY World Survey votes for Bahrain increased from 280 to over 4000 votes. Bahrain now has the

highest survey participation rate in the Gulf and the highest per capita participation rate in the Arab Region.

On 20 April 2014, the United Nations launched its own MY World Survey promotional video for Bahrain with the aim of

stimulating further discussion and interest in the Post-2015 development agenda process. Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national

carrier and an esteemed partner of the UN, will screen the video onboard all flights as of 1 May, 2014. To watch the

new video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7VmcYmsINw

The United Nations extends its gratitude to all organizations that have promoted the My World Survey.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Post-2015 Agenda is linked to the “Rio+20” -- the UN Conference on Sustainable Development -- that took place in

June 2012. One of the main outcomes from this conference was to develop a set of global sustainable development

goals (SDGs) that should integrate all three dimensions of sustainable development, build upon the Millennium

Development Goals and converge with the Post-2015 development agenda.

A 30-member Open Working Group (OWG) of the General Assembly has been tasked with preparing a proposal on the

SDGs. The co-chairs of the OWG have recently released a ‘focus area document’ that sets out 19 broad issues for

consideration, with a view that these focus areas will serve as a basis for formulating the SDGs. This document will be

further refined over the coming months.

UN GLOBAL PROCESSES

UN PROGRAMMES IN BAHRAIN

The Strategic Cooperation Framework for Bahrain: Updates

The United Nations has played an important role in supporting Bahrain in building capacities in key areas, including

education, health, entrepreneurship, institutional development and the environment. Currently, both resident and non-

resident UN agencies are in the process of responding to the country’s evolving economic, social and political climate by

reassessing its programmes and methods of engagement. In light of this, the UN Country Team in Bahrain has asked for and

received support from the Government of Bahrain to develop a new Strategic Cooperation Framework.

The Strategic Cooperation Framework

The Strategic Cooperation Framework outlines agreed areas for cooperation between the UN and the Government and

ensures that that the UN’s work in the country is aligned with national priorities. The purpose of the Strategic Cooperation

Framework, which is similar to a United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), is to ensure a collective,

relevant and strategic UN response to the aspirations and challenges of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In 2014, the United Nations resident and non-resident agencies and senior counterparts from the Government and Bahrain

society will meet in a Strategic Planning Retreat to discuss the identified areas for collaboration, support and coordination

and build consensus on key areas for cooperation. The outcome of this Strategic Planning Retreat will be a draft skeletal

Strategic Framework document for 2015 – 2018.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Technical Mission in Bahrain

On invitation of the Government of Bahrain, a technical mission from the Office of the High Commissioner

for Human Rights (OHCHR) was based in Bahrain for two months from February 20 to May 2, 2014, to develop a

framework for technical cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain. During the extended mission, the OHCHR delegation

met with relevant ministries, the Inter-Ministerial High Coordinating Committee on Human Rights, the Parliament, the

National Human Rights Institution and civil society organizations. The technical mission conducted several inclusive

consultations with a wide range of national counterparts to identify their needs in promoting and protecting human rights

in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The mission concluded with the presentation of a draft framework for cooperation.

Minister of Justice, HE Shaikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa

received members of the OHCHR technical team and

resident UN officials.

The UN has declared 2014 to be the ‘International Year of Small Island Developing States’. The year aims to honor the contributions and the progress of Small Island Developing States (SIDs), as well as highlight and address the various needs and challenges faced by such countries, including the Kingdom of Bahrain. The year will help raise awareness of the UN Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in September 2014 in Apia, Samoa, and will focus on building partnerships for sustainable development.

ATTENTION!

Recent and Upcoming Events:

16 - 17 March: Arab Regional Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations

Environment Programme, Manama, Bahrain.

19 - 22 March: Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture – UNIDO Bahrain Animal Production Show 2014. The show provided an

opportunity to learn about the latest developments in areas of animal production, poultry, fish farming, veterinary and food

industries in Bahrain.

27 March - 6 April: Bahrain International Book Fair 2014, Bahrain International Exhibition Center. The exhibition offered the

opportunity to display the latest publications in all fields. A UN booth was stationed at the Book Fair to disseminate the latest UN

publications.

15 - 17 April: The 2nd Annual Food & Safety Conference, Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. The UN delivered a statement on

the impact of food safety in curbing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Gulf.

16 - 17 April: International Civil Aviation Organization-World Customs Organization Joint Conference on Enhancing Air Cargo

Security and Facilitation, Manama, Bahrain.

20 April: Official Launch of Bahrain’s MY World Promotional Video, Manama, Bahrain.

23 - 24 April: Launch of the Middle East/North Africa Public Administration Research (MENAPAR) network, Bahrain. Organized by

the Bahrain Institute for Public Administration (BIPA) in collaboration with UNDP and in partnership with the International Institute

for Administrative Sciences, the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Public Administration (IASIA).

5 - 7 May: International Conference on "Civilizations in Service of Humanity" organized by the Government of Bahrain.

2 - 3 June: ECOSOC Youth Forum, held in New York. The global forum provides a platform for young people across the world to engage in a dialogue with Member States on how they can be included in shaping the post-2015 and sustainable development agenda.

3 - 5 June: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR 2014), Manama, Bahrain.

Recent Visits by Senior UN Officials to Bahrain:

Month of Visit Name Title UN Agency

February, 2013 Dr. Kandeh Yumkella Director General UNIDO

April 2013 Mr. Taleb D. Rifai Secretary General UNWTO

June, 2013 Mr. Wu Hongbo Under-Secretary General UN DESA

June, 2013 Mr. Maged A. Abdelaziz Under-Secretary General Office of the Special Adviser on Africa

November, 2013 Ms. Helen Clark Administrator UNDP

January 2014 Mr. José Graziano da Silva Director General FAO

January 2014 Mr. Yuri Viktorovich Fedotov Director General UNODC

February, 2014 Dr. Aisa Kacyira Dep. Executive.Director UN Habitat

April, 2014 Mr. Raymond Benjamin Secretary General ICAO

April, 2014 Mr. Bashar Abdurahman Hussein Director General Universal Postal Union