The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) signed on 20 June a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC). This MoU represents a statement of intent by the parties to work together and outlines the basis, collaboration and joint activities in fields of mutual interest. In the signing ceremony held in Qatar, ESCWA was represented by its Executive Secretary Bader Omar AlDafa, and GOIC by its Acting Secretary-General Loulwa Bint Abdullah Al Musnad.

Famed American author Ernest Hemingway once said that retirement is the ugliest word in the language. This is mostly true for those who let the word become a state, but not to Anhar Hegazi, whose dedication to her work comes “from love,” as she puts it. Determined and dynamic, Hegazi is well known around ESCWA, where she is the Head of the Sustainable Development and Productivity Division (SDPD).  The Information team spoke with her shortly before retirement, and she had a few words to say about her work in the Regional Commission, the achievements of her division, and on life.

World leaders are gathering in New York between 20 and 22 September to review progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a range of targets to fight poverty, hunger and disease set in 2000. Over three days, more than 130 heads of state and government are assessing what has been achieved and what is needed to meet the goals by the 2015 deadline.