On the 2nd of August 2016, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Ms. Rima Khalaf announced the appointment of Ms. Khawla Mattar (The Kingdom of Bahrain) as Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support.
 
Ms. Mattar is bringing with her a vast working experience in development and in political offices of the UN. She has also worked closely on issues of gender; equality; human rights; migrant workers; rights at work for all and children’s rights.
 

On the sidelines of the UN Day celebrations (24 October), a panel discussion was organized for the regional launch of the Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia. In order to shed light on the precious natural resources and promote dialogue between countries sharing water resources, ESCWA and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) have prepared the Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia.

On 11 December 2014, ESCWA and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) launched of a four-year project to bolster food and water security in the Arab region. SIDA has donated USD 2.7 million while the contribution of ESCWA will amount to USD 0.8 million. The project generates unique national and regional data on the present and future situation of food and water security; design coordinated regional policies to enhance food and water security; and help governments respond to dwindling arable lands and increased water scarcity, while meeting growing food needs.

Officials as well as cultural and concerned personalities today gathered at the Beirut based UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to listen to school children appealing to promote road safety in Lebanon and the Arab world. 
The ceremony was intended to launch a three-day workshop organized by ESCWA on Road Safety under the umbrella of the 3rd UN Global Road Safety Week, and under the auspices of the Lebanese Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Mr. Nohad El Mashnouk.