Roula MajdalaniDirector, Sustainable Development and Productivity Division

UN-ESCWA

Integrating the Economic, Social and Environmental Pillars

of Sustainable Development: Perspectives from the ESCWA region

The ‘Arab Spring’

Uprisings across the region demand Freedom, Dignity and Social Justice for Inclusive and Sustainable Development

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Integration of the Economic, Social and

Environmental Pillars of Sustainable Development

needs Governance to provide a solid foundation

Integration of the Economic, Social and

Environmental Pillars of Sustainable Development

needs Governance to provide a solid foundation

ESCWA Countries regularly outperform Global Growth Rates

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(real GDP growth, annual percentage change)

Unemployment Remains a Challenge in the Current Development Paradigm

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Persisting Challenges & Regional Priorities

Water Security – Water scarcity and water stress characteristic of nearly all Arab countries

Food Security – reorientation of policy framework from food self-sufficiency to food security

Energy Security – implications for energy importing and exporting countries

Environmental Security due to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events – exacerbating other threats to regional security & increasing uncertainty

Governance and Weak Institutions – implications for participatory, inclusive and accountable governance

Financing for development – skewed financial resource availability between countries, sectors and stakeholders.

Need to Reinforce & Integrate the Three Pillars of Sustainable Development & its Foundation

Integrated Sustainable Development

Planning and Programming at ESCWA

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Trade Transport

Energy

Shared Water

Resources

Gender & ESCWA

Center for Women

Statistics

Democracy and

Development

Youth andEmployment

AgricultureIndustry

SMEs

ESCWA Technology

Center

ESCWA Strategic Framework (2012–2015) aims to address the3 pillars of Sustainable Development + Governance as a continuum

Financing for Development

ESCWA’s Role in Promoting Integrated Sustainable Development

ESCWA as UN Regional Commission promotes an integrated approach to sustainable development through

its various roles and functions

Convening Role

Think Tank Role

Advocacy Role

Knowledge Broker

Regional Coordination

Role

Multi-SectorPlatform

Inter-Governmental

Forum

Civil Society/ Stakeholder

Platform

Inter-Agency Coordination

Regional Advisory Services

Example: Macro-Economic Modeling

The ESCWA Regional Macro-Econometric Model aims to: Simulate impacts of budgetary and monetary policies. Introduce Shock Indicators to project the effects of shocks on the economy

and basic development parameters.

Model considers the following parameters:– Financial flows, balance of payments (intra-regional/inter-regional)– Trade flows (goods and services)– Labor and unemployment (population, gender)– Energy sector– Water constraints– Agricultural production, etc.

Model considers two sub-regional groupings:- Oil Exporters (the GCCs along with Algeria and Libya) & Oil Importers.- Model excludes Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Somalia; Iraq will be modeled separately.

Outputs will support ESCWA’s: – Arab World 2025 Report– Arab Integration Report– Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment & other in-house assessments

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Regional Initiative on Climate Change

Regional Initiative for the Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Socio-Economic Vulnerability in the Arab Region

Objectives

Assesses the impact of climate change on water resources in the Arab Region through a science-based consultative and integrated approach (regional climate modeling)

Identifies socio-economic & environmental vulnerabilities caused by climate change impacts (trade, employment, migration, health, etc.)

Provides a common & informed regional platform to address climate change impacts on the Arab region & support regional dialogue, priority setting and policy formulation on climate change adaptation and the formulation of negotiation positions at the regional level.

Inter-Agency initiative led by ESCWA involving LAS, UNEP, UNISDR, UNESCO, UNU, WMO & Arab Governments, SMHI & LAS Organizations

Regional Initiative Components

Climate Change Impact Assessment

Socio-EconomicVulnerability Assessment

Awareness Raising and Information DisseminationWater Ministries, Meteorological Organizations, Arab Research Centers

Baseline Review and Knowledge Management

Capacity Building & Institutional StrengtheningWater Ministries, Meteorological Organizations, Arab Research Centers

Trade, Transport & Sustainable Development

Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq (ITSAM)

Agreement on International Roads Agreement on International Railways

Inter-linked, cross-sectoral activities on: – Trade facilitation

• National Trade Facilitation Committees• National Trade and Environment Committees• Movement of people and goods

– Sustainable Transport– Food Security, Food Self-Sufficiency & Food Imports

– Financing for Development13

Inter-Governmental Coordination on Regional SD Priorities

ESCWA Committees

• Water Resources• Energy• Transport• Women• Social Development• Trade Facilitation• Statistics• ESCWA Technical

Committee

Ministerial Councils

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• ESCWA Ministerial Session• Arab Ministerial Water

Council (AMWC)*– Arab Water Security Strategy

• Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE)*– Arab Sustainable Development

Initiative

– Arab Climate Change Action Plan

– Arab Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy

*Includes support to their LAS Technical Committees

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Inter-Agency Coordination

RCM Members: ESCWA (Coordinator), UNAIDS, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNDOCO, UNEP, UNESCO, FAO, UNFPA, UNHABITAT, UNHCR, UNIC, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNIFEM, UNOHCHR, UNODC, UNOPS, UNRWA, UNU, ICAO, IFAD, ITU, ILO, IOM, IMF, LAS, OCHA, UPU, WFP, WHO, World Bank

Regional Coordination Mechanism

(RCM)

TWG on Climate Change

TWG on MDGs

TWG on Food Security

TWG on Statistics

Civil Society Advisory Board

Regional Preparations for Rio+20

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ESCWA led & coordinated a Consultative & Multi-Sectoral Process aimed at Integrating Sustainable Development in the Arab Region

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Conclusions

The integration of the 3 pillars of Sustainable Development, improved Governance and increased Financing allows for progress towards sustainable development goals.

Sustainable Development requires the engagement of a range of multi-sector, public and private stakeholders.

Participation, transparency & accountability are essential components of governance for sustainable development.

Arab Regional Preparations for Rio+20 have engaged a wide range of stakeholders through a variety of platforms to foster an integrated vision and renewed commitment for sustainable development in the Arab region.

ESCWA as a United Nations Regional Commission is uniquely positioned to support Governments & Civil Society achieve Sustainable Development in the region.

Copy of this presentation is available at:

www.un.org/regionalcommissions

THANK YOU!

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