The concept of “Sustainable Development” was adopted during “The Earth Summit” in Rio, in 1992, and The UN “Commission on Sustainable Development” (CSD) was established to review progress achieved towards the implementation of the concept and the entailed “Agenda 21” adopted then. Yet since that time, limited progress was achieved. Many observers stated that the mechanisms for implementation needed reform at all levels: national, regional and international.

The methodological framework presented in this guidance document outlines the integrated assessment approach being implemented in support of the Regional Initiative for the Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Socio-Economic Vulnerability in the Arab Region. The approach combines climate change impact assessment and vulnerability assessment tools into a five step integrated assessment methodology that is based on global climate modelling, regional climate modelling, hydrological modelling, vulnerability analysis and integrated mapping tools.

After decades of market-oriented reforms, the ESCWA region is facing fundamental questions about the parameters of future development. The expectation that top-down economic stabilization, liberalization of markets and strategic privatization would lead to more competitive, diversified and inclusive economies has only partially materialized. The employment situation in particular remains a constant challenge and needs to be addressed through a more integrated approach to labour market policy, combining economic and social policy.