Within the framework of the “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND)” project, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in partnership with the General Commission for Regional Development (CGDR) and the National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) in Tunisia, is organizing a capacity-building workshop on “Improving the yield and quality of fruit tree plantings and adopting water-saving irrigation techniques and renewable energy technologies for pumping, irrigation, and water desalination”.
 
This workshop aims to build/enhance the knowledge and the practical capacities of a group of peasants in the region of Chorbane (Governorate of Mahdia, Republic of Tunisia), with regard to improving the yield and quality of fruit tree plantings through the adoption of the best agricultural practices that are compatible with what the region is facing as a result of climate change like water scarcity, by rationalizing the use of the available water resources through using water irrigation saving techniques and renewable energy techniques to desalinate highly saline groundwater and to pump irrigation water. The workshop will provide the participants with theoretical knowledge and practical experience with regards to Water-Energy-Food Nexus, by adopting modern methods of training that integrate theoretical and practical dimensions together through the field school technology.

Beirut, 12 April 2019 (ESCWA)--The 3-day Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD) ended yesterday at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) headquarters in Beirut.

International remittances to developing countries have grown rapidly over the past decade. Remittances[1] received by developing countries accounted for about one third of export earnings, more than twice private capital flows, almost 10 times official capital flows and more than 12 times official transfers in the recent 10 years.