With the pro-democratic uprisings sweeping the region dominating their agenda, senior representatives of several United Nations organizations based in the Arab world have concluded a meeting in Beirut with renewed commitment to strengthen their coordination with all regional economic and social development actors.
The commitment was made during the 15th Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) Meeting, which was held 1 June at the UN House in Beirut and brought together regional directors and officials from 22 UN agencies and other international and regional organizations as well as partners in the Arab region. The role of the RCM is to facilitate policy coherence in economic and social development in the region among UN actors and with key regional stakeholders.
The meeting aimed to leverage partnerships to support inclusive and sustainable development in the Arab region at such a critical juncture in its history. Participants agreed on the need to explore an alternative development paradigm for the region, in light of the dramatically different atmosphere in Arab countries since the beginning of the ‘Arab Spring’ in 2011. They agreed to create a Thematic Working Group to promote Regional Integration through identifying challenges, opportunities and priorities for achieving regional integration and supporting member countries in the development of long-term strategies for enhancing regional integration.
Chaired by ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf and the Assistant Secretary General for Social Affairs of the League of Arab States (LAS) Sima Bahous, the meeting was also attended by representatives of the World Bank, civil society organizations and regional experts and academics.
The meeting’s theme was “Transition to Democracy,” given the current upheavals in the region. Participants identified various opportunities for the UN to engage with regional stakeholders – LAS, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, regional banks, as well as member countries, to facilitate the transition to democracy in the region. They also identified clear mechanisms to engage relevant regional and international actors in the dialogue to seize social transformation opportunities.
“The Arab spring has begun,” said Khalaf in her opening statement. “Arab societies are publicly demanding accountability to them above all else (…) What is evident at this point is that barriers of fear have been shattered, and the region will not regress into the political and economic stalemate that characterized it prior to December 17, 2010. Citizens are now empowered as they lay claim to rights long denied. The change is irreversible.” ESCWA chief revealed that the Commission organized an extensive two-day brainstorming session in Cairo with representatives of the youth of Arab Freedom Squares in April to ensure that ESCWA’s responses are in tune with their aspirations. To support the Arab spring, address emerging needs and help peoples of these countries transit into the coming phase, ESCWA is reviewing its internal work program and launching three new flagship publications that will explore options for the region and reflect priorities of the youth.
For her part, Bahous stressed the importance that LAS gives to strengthening coordination and partnership with ESCWA in the light of historical circumstances the Arab region is currently facing. “Calls for change and reform have emerged from various segments of societies, and Arab countries have responded to political and social uprisings in various manners. People have expressed their agonies in different ways…the Arab world has changed,” she said. The LAS official added that despite some successes recorded, developmental policies failed in achieving dignity, social justice and a decent living for the increasing number of Arab youth. She concluded by saying that achieving a prosperous society relies on reaching social justice. She expressed hope that this meeting will contribute to empowering member countries in their shift towards democracy.
In their recommendations, participants in the 15th RCM also stressed the importance of enhancing coordination between the world organization and other regional actors on statistical cooperation in the Arab States, to facilitate evidenced-based policy making for member countries and development actors.
Maryam Sleiman