ESCWA convened the 11th session for its Committee on Liberalization of Foreign trade, Economic Globalization and Financing for Development on 27 and 28 November 2017 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Within its regular work programme, the Economic Governance and Planning Section at UNESCWA/EDGD will undertake a series of activities on the topic of "Measuring Economic Governance in the context of National Development Planning" and the expert group meeting scheduled for 12 and 13 June 2014 in Beirut was the kick-off.

 The training is the result of close collaboration between the Conference Services Section and the Human Resources Section at ESCWA and the Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development Section at OHRM. The training will be delivered by Mr. David Hattem, English Language Teacher, Language and Communications Programme, OHRM, and will be co-facilitated by Ms. Deva Alexander, Translator/Editor, ESCWA.

Good governance remains a critical ingredient for socio-economic development as well as for peacebuilding. In light of the development challenges facing Western Asia, in conflict affected countries in particular, the consecration of good governance practices is all the more pressing but continues to face a wide range of obstacles. The most serious challenges within the public sector remain the depletion of human resources and physical infrastructure as well as the desperate need to upgrade and develop outdated administrative practices.