The Arabic term zaatar designates a variety of aromatic perennial plants typically harvested from the wild, which generally belong to the Origanum, Thymus and other genera of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. The term zaatar is also used to designate the different herb mixes, which in addition to the zaatar herb, usually include such other traditional ingredients as grilled sesame seeds, sumac fruits (Rhus coriaria L.) and salt. Each country possesses its own zaatar mix recipe with specific proportions of ingredients.

This report aims to update all stakeholders in the progress of the ESCWA technical cooperation programme during 2006, despite the challenging unstable environment of the region. The report highlights the main operational achievements of ESCWA during the past year including the newly formed integrated social policies framework, the efforts to support Iraqi academic institutions, and the formalization of the regional trade and environment initiative.

This publication is the first effort led by the United Nations to comprehensively identify and assess the state of transboundary surface and groundwater resources in the Western Asia. It was prepared by ESCWA and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and was developed in close consultation with ESCWA member countries, as well as regional and international experts.

Investment in human capital is crucial for poverty reduction and has a positive impact on economic growth and human development. This study analyses the impact of public policy on human development as measured in terms of public spending on education and health in 11 ESCWA countries during the period 1975-2002. It compares achievements in human development across these countries by testing the statistical relationship between the indicators of human development in these countries and their per capita GDP, and through cross-section time-series panel data model.