The Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia (ESCWA) is organizing in cooperation with the Center on International cooperation in New York University a series of webinars that aim at cultivating the culture of social justice and discuss related issues and principles that must be taken into consideration during the design and implementation of public policies and programmes. The webinars address select social and economic policies that are considered key to achieve social justice in the Arab region, particularly in light of the increasing repercussions of COVID-19. The webinars further aim to present a set of tools and guides developed by ESCWA to enhance member countries’ capacities in integrating the concepts of social justice in public policies and programmes.
 

Webinar #1: Social Protection and Social Justice in the Arab Region

20 January 2021, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The webinar focused on social protection policies as critical tools for achieving social justice. It offered an opportunity for government officials to exchange experiences about promising policies and programmes on social protection from the region and the world and discuss the mechanisms and reforms that can be applied so that these policies contribute to the achievement of social justice. The webinar gathered a number of officials, concerned with social protection programmes, representing ministries and governmental entities from several member countries. The webinar concluded with a set of messages and recommendations that emphasized the following: The importance of integrating social justice principles, namely rights, equity, equality and participation in the design and implementation of social protection policies; Social protection policies should be part of a wider framework of inclusive and integrated social policies; The right mix of policies and programmes is country-specific and highly dependent on the country’s context, reality and priorities and should be designed using a participatory approach; Sustaining efforts to reach all social groups and leave no one behind, and ensuring a transparent fiscal space for implementing social protection programmes; A mix of universal and targeted social protection programmes is required to address inequality while ensuring buy-in across society.

Meeting Details Agenda Concept Note (in Arabic) Meeting Report (in Arabic) Opening Statements ESCWA: Dr. Mehrinaz El Awady, Cluster Leader - Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development Center on International Cooperation - New York University: Dr. Faiza Shaheen, Inequality Lead - Inequality and Exclusion Pathfinder Presentations ESCWA: Social Protection Programs in the Arab Region (Arabic) Center on International Cooperation - New York University: Social Protection - Headline Lessons from Global Experiences Jordan: National Aid Fund (Arabic) Tunisia: Tunisian Experience - Digital Social Transfers in the Context of COVID-19 Related Documents Center on International Cooperation - New York University: Leading Policies to Combat Inequality and Exclusion (Arabic)

Webinar #2: Food Security Policies and Social Justice: A Nexus Approach

3 February 2021, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The webinar seeks to present and discuss the current situation of the issue of food security and its connection to promoting social justice, especially in light of the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also aims to identify the challenges facing the implementation of food security policies and the ways to confront them and their relevance to achieving social justice, taking into account the political and social peculiarities of the Arab countries and their national conditions. The webinar will provide an opportunity for experts in planning and policy development from the various ministries concerned with issues of social justice and food security to discuss the means and mechanisms that can be activated and the reforms that can be undertaken to reach food security policies that enhance social justice in the Arab region.

Meeting Details Concept Note (Arabic) Agenda Meeting Report (in Arabic) Opening Statements  ESCWA: Dr. Mehrinaz El Awady, Cluster Leader - Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development (in Arabic)  Presentations ESCWA: Tracking Arab Food Security and Policies Related to Social Justice (in Arabic) Center on International Cooperation - New York University: Food Insecurity in Global Perspective Arab Organization for Agricultural Development: The role of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development in ensuring food security and lessons learned during the pandemic (Arabic)  Morocco: COVID-19 and Food Security in Morocco: Impact on the most vulnerable and measures undertaken (Arabic)