The conference provides a platform for Arab countries to identify priorities, share best practices in implementing the Global Compact for Migration and explore policy implications.

This report examines the role of water-related SDG targets and indicators in informing the development of policy measures to tackle water challenges in the Arab region. Selected policy options are analyzed under various climate change scenarios in view of informing sustainable planning and appropriate decision support systems to optimize and rationalize water use.

Following the Libyan parliamentary elections held in June 2014 and the inability of the Government to extend its authority beyond Tripoli, in addition to the political instability and intensified armed violence around the capital city of Tripoli and the second largest city of Bengazi, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) produced a note to examine the economic situation in Libya and review the main challenges the Libyan economy is facing.

In a seminar held at the UN House, Beirut, ESCWA launched the Information Economy Report 2013 on 2 December, in the presence of experts in the fields of economic issues and information and communication technologies.

Chief of the ICT Applications Section at the Information and Communications Division in ESCWA (ICTD) Nibal Idlebi briefly presented the report, while Associate Economic Affairs Officer at UNCTAD Marie Sicat detailed its global findings and while ICTD Information Technology Officer Rami Zaatari delivered a presentation on the regional aspects of the report.