The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) is organizing an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in order to review the preliminary work and results concerning its programmed activity, "the Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the ESCWA Region 2010-2011." The Survey addresses the current Socio-economic indicators in the region focusing on the important subject of "Social Protection".

The purpose of this EGM is to review the draft socioeconomic survey prepared by ESCWA for 2011. Before the launching of the survey we would like to receive critical views from selected experts, suggestions and reaction to the content and form of this survey, the first by ESCWA after the tremendous events in the Arab region. The Socioeconomic survey covers main economic and social trends in member countries in 2011 and provides preliminary projections in 2012. In addition to the general chapters covering traditional macroeconomic and social indicators, this year's edition focuses on the subject of the Social Protection, as one major theme in the political landslide in the region.