The 21st Regional Coordination Mechanism came at a defining moment in the Arab region. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provided the perfect opportunity to discuss and review for the first time the adaptation, implementation and monitoring of this ambitious agenda at the regional level. Identifying new priority areas for joint work and enhancing existing mechanisms for cooperation is important for ensuring that the RCM can meet the needs of the governments and people of the Arab region at a time when the region is experiencing unprecedented levels of crisis, conflict and instability, which threaten to compromise development gains in several countries.
 
Members of the RCM include all UN regional agencies, representatives from LAS General Secretariat and representatives from regional and international funding institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The RCM aimedto improve coordination among the work programmes of the organizations of the UN system and regional development entities in each region.