While 2010 was, for ESCWA member countries, a year of recovery from the effects of the global financial crisis, in 2011 the continued global economic recession and the popular movements in some Arab countries led to a downturn in economic growth rates in most member countries. These challenges and changes have placed added pressure on member countries to implement the commitments set out in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development and reaffirmed in 2008.

Beirut, 12 November 2010 (UN Information Service) — ESCWA Friday concluded its 14th Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) meeting for all UN agencies operating in the Arab region, which was held at the UN House in Beirut 11-12 November. The meeting, which was attended by regional directors and officials of UN agencies and offices, was inaugurated by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf, and League of Arab States (LAS) Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs Sima Bahous.

Beirut, 11 February 2019 (Communication and Information Unit)--The United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Ms. Rola Dashti, today met with the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Mr. Gebran Bassil.
 

These guidelines aim to support efforts made in the ESCWA region to develop the usage of information and communications technology (ICT) in economic and social development and building the information society. They were prepared in order to assist decision makers and policy planners in the region in formulating ICT strategies that are appropriate for the needs and priorities of the countries of the region, and in implementing, following up and regularly assessing those strategies.