The Regional Bureau of Arab States

1. The Regional Bureau of Arab States Dena Assaf, RBAS, NY JPO Regional Workshop, Nairobi, May 27 - 31

2. Overview • Personal Experience • The Regional Bureau of Arab States (RBAS) • Learning

3. Part I – Personal Experience • Worked in a National Government (former Director of the Palestinian National Development Plan) • Capacity Building • LEAD 2001

4. Part II - RBAS • Organigram • The Directorate • The Country Operations Division • The Regional Division • Arab Human Development Report 2002 (AHDR)

5. RBAS - Organigram Directorate Country Oper. Regional Prog. N. Iraq Prog. Finance & OHR

6. NCC countries Bahrain Kuwait Libya Saudi Arabia UAE MICs countries Algeria Egypt Iraq Jordan Lebanon Morocco Syria Tunisia RBAS Countries (17 countries) Cont…

7. LDC countries Djibouti Somalia Yemen Sudan Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) – separate programme under the OA Countries, continued…

8. The Directorate • The overreaching role of the Directorate is to provide leadership, vision, and direction for UNDP’s interventions in the region. • The role of the Directorate is to provide overall management and coordination, while also promoting the relevance of RBAS internally and in the region. • It is also the Directorate’s role to ensure that RBAS as a whole adds value to our field offices, while providing means for integration and follow-up.

9. Directorate Focal Points • Dr. Rima Khalaf Hunaidi – Regional Director • Oscar Fernandez-Taranco – Deputy Regional Director • Ali Al-Za’tari – Policy Advisor • Dena Assaf – Management Specialist • Laurence Reno – RBAS OHR • Valerie Cliff – RBAS Finance • Shafiqa Darani – IT Assistant • Jackie Ghazal & Fatoumata Diop – Admin Asst’s Director & Deputy Director • Jackie Richmond – Finance Asst. • & Chief N.Iraq Prog – Michel Gautier + 4 staff

10. Country Operations Division • To guide COs in aligning their programmes to the new vision of UNDP • To support COs in developing new partnerships within and outside the country • To monitor compliance with UNDP corporate programming and management mechanisms • To assist the Directorate in strategic human resources management in line with new profile of COs • To support COs in resources mobilization efforts by identifying potential new partners and developing linkages to donors

11. COD Focal Points • Chief – Flavia Pansieri (MDG focal point) • Mona Hider – Tunisia, Morocco, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia • Heba El-Kholy – Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon • Bruno Lemarquis – Somalia, Algeria, Djibouti, Sudan • Maha Bahamdoun – Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya • Yasmeen Ariff-Sayed – Prog. Asst to Bruno & Mona • Alem Gebeyehu – Prog. Asst to Heba & Maha • Hazel Gooding – Prog. Asst to Flavia

12. Regional Programme Division • Close collaboration with Country Offices in formulation and implementation of Regional Programmes • Synergy with CO-supported activities - provision of seed funding and support to pilot activities in areas that meet RCF criteria • Using knowledge resources and expertise available at the SURF and elsewhere within UNDP – knowledge mgmt, best practices, knowledge sharing • Nurturing and capitalizing on cross-cutting themes & inter-linkages in the RP, particularly gender and knowledge • Policy analysis, dialogue, advice, and advocacy • Strategic partnerships (public, private, civil society) – regional & global

13. RPD Focal Points • Chief Zahir Jamal • ICT; SURF; RCF Moez Doraid • Private Sector/Investment Ali Al-Za’tari • WSSD II; HIV-AIDS Walid Badawi • Gender; Programme Finance Elballa Hagona • Intellectual Capital Development Maen Nsour • Governance; Human RightsAdel Abdel Latif • Programme Asst Madi Mousa

14. 65 million adults are illiterate, two-thirds women 10 million 6 - 15 year olds are not in school: if current trends persist, that number will increase by 40% by 2015 54 million lack access to safe water 29 million lack access to health services Maternal mortality rates are double those in Latin America and the Caribbean; four times those in East Asia Population growth is among the highest in the world, at about 2.8% RegionalDisconnects:Capabilities “The Arab region has dramatically reduced poverty and inequality in the 20th Century.” Yet the backlog of deprivation must be cleared.

15. Arab universities and schools trail global academic standards and fail local job markets Only 0.6% of the population uses the internet The penetration rate of the PC is only 1.2% Investment in R&D does not exceed 0.5% of GNP Production systems remain natural resource intensive, not knowledge based “The costs of improving education systems may be substantial, the costs of perpetuating ignorance are incalculably greater” AHDR 2002 RegionalDisconnects:Knowledge

16. Lower inflation and budget deficits attained during the 1990’s. However: Total factor productivity has steadily dropped by 0.2% since 1960 - the largest decline compared to other regions Growth is anemic; highly vulnerable to changes in oil prices For a decade, per capita income has stagnated at 0.7% a year ( > 3.2% average for developing countries) Unemployment, at around 15%, is among the world’s highest Regional Disconnects: The Economy Oil wealth distorts the picture: “In 1999, the GDP of all Arab countries combined stood at just US$531.2 billion – less than that of a single medium sized European country, Spain (US$595.5 billion).”

17. The Arab World: “Richer Than It is Developed” Output per person is higher than that of most other developing regions. Arabs outperform sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in human development, but rank below Latin America and the Caribbean and East Asia on the Human Development Index (HDI) Adult literacy rate Life expectancy at GDP per capita Human Development (% of age 15 birth (years) +) (hundreds, PPP$) Index (%) Sub-Saharan Africa South-East Asia and the Pacific South Asia (excluding India) South Asia Latin America and the Caribbean East Asia (excluding China) East Asia Arab countries 0 25 50 75 100 0 50 100 150 0 25 50 75 100 0 20 40 60 80

18. HDI values, Arab countries A World of Difference Among Arab Countries: Kuwait at the top scores only slightly lower than the world leader (Canada). Djibouti, at the bottom, is not much better off than the world’s lowest ranked case (Sierra Leone). Kuwait Bahrain Qatar UAE Libya Saudi Arabia Lebanon Oman Jordan Tunisia Algeria Syria Egypt Morocco Iraq Sudan Mauritania Yemen Djibouti 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

19. Digital Disconnect Internet hosts (per 1,000 population), world regions

20. Strategic Deficits GLOBALIZATION – slow response to new factors of production and growth KNOWLEDGE – weak mobilization of new drivers of growth, human development and poverty reduction (competitive intellectual and human capital; ICT; applied research) GOVERNANCE – halting transition to inclusive, representative and responsive democracy

21. Current RPD Programmes (min of 3 country participants) Not comprehensive but include: • Globalization – policy advice in poverty reduction, economic growth, and SMEs • Knowledge – Improving Higher Education standards and ICT for Development • Governance – Modernizing justice administrations and e-governance • HIV/AIDs – Addressing denial & utilizing best practices from Africa More on RPD

22. The Arab Human Development Report 2002 Creating Opportunities for Future Generations

23. AHDR 2002: Main Features • The first Report of its kind in the Arab region • Exposes critical opportunity and capability deficits, as well as untapped strengths • Stresses the relationship between human development, human freedom and the institutional context • Explores broader indicators for assessing human development, in addition to the HDI • Represents the independent analysis of Arab scholars and intellectuals “ ..this is not the grandstanding of outsiders but an honest, if controversial, view through the mirror” Mark Malloch Brown

24. “Bridled Minds, Shackled Potential” Freedom House scores, world regions Out of seven world regions, the Arab countries register the lowest average score for civil and political freedoms

25. Voice and accountability The Report examines aspects of the political process such as civil liberties, political rights and independence of the media. For example, the Arab region has the lowest average score for voice and accountability in the world

26. Missing: The Other Half Average GEM values, world regions The Arab region ranks lower on GEM than any region except Sub-Saharan Africa

27. The Three Deficits 1. Freedom 2. Women’s empowerment 3. Human capabilities & knowledge relative to income

28. AHDR Launch • Official Launch 1st week of July in Beirut (to be confirmed) • Available in Arabic, English and French • Press Kits will also be made available to Country Offices • Website also to be launched in July

29. Part III – Learning • Learning is Priority in UNDP and does not mean only External Training • Learning takes individual initiative • Learning Policy of minimum of 5% • Country Offices have Learning Managers – they can assist you to determine how to achieve your goals • RBAS has Learning Team (Dena Assaf Learning Manager)

30. RBAS Workshops • Resource Mobilisation workshop (completed in May) • MDG regional workshop (Yemen, June 3rd) • Results Based Programme Design workshop (Morocco, Oct 2002 – to be confirmed) • Scenario and Crises Planning workshop (2002/2003 tbd)

31. Other Resources • Your Learning Manager and his/her access to the LM network • The LRC (Learning Resource Center) • The Learning Tree (the EL-TREE) • On-line learning such as: www.xtremelearning.com • The SURF; AS-SURF at: www.surf-as.org • Learning Profile: Humphrey-Mumford Learning Style on El-Tree (Learn to Learn) • Your imagination…

32. Important that WE Continue to LEARN from One Another

33. More on the RPD Programme:

34. Country office collaboration • Demand-driven programmes • Collaboration with SURF - Regional Program as client and animator RPD GoalsA Closer Partner: • RBAS Advisory Board • Project Advisory Committees • Regional partnerships-LAS; OPEC; AFESD; UNCTAD; WB A Stronger Ally: • Knowledge-based services • Results-oriented services • Capacity building services • Policy impact & leverage • Pro-poor liberalization policies • International capital development • Rule of law, political participation and transparency • Gender equality • MDGs • Sustainable development • Breaking the silence on HIV-AIDS A Catalyst for Change:

35. WHAT’S HOLDING THE REGION BACK?

36. Strategic Deficits GLOBALIZATION – slow response to new factors of production and growth KNOWLEDGE – weak mobilization of new drivers of growth, human development and poverty reduction (competitive intellectual and human capital; ICT; applied research) GOVERNANCE – halting transition to inclusive, representative and responsive democracy

37. ISSUES Capability & opportunity deficits Opportunity to assess & manage risks & rewards of globalization Coherence between economic liberation and poverty reduction New generation; changing public expectations; more vocal civil society Inadequate and untapped human resources OUTCOMES Poor productivity and exports Neglected intellectual capital and uncompetitive labour forces Inefficient, opaque and unaccountable governable systems unable to attract financial capital or popular support MISSED ENTRY POINTS Governing institutions, research institutions, private sector firms, educational institutions, workers, employers, and civil society. CLIENTS

38. 1. Globalization

39. Results Services Assets Clients

40. Issues: • Promoting coherence between economic liberalization, trade and poverty reduction

41. Services: • Advisory services for building poverty reduction into trade and foreign investment strategies; • Training, advisory services, capacity building in commercial diplomacy and negotiation for WTO accessions • Support to meet obligations under WTO implementation Agreements and Pan-Arab Free Trade Agreement\ • Advice on promoting small and micro enterprises (SMEs): • Strengthening policy and legal frameworks • Principles and guidelines for low-cost business start-ups • Emphasis on knowledge-based applications • Build national capacity to enhance coherence and consistency • between liberalization and poverty reduction • Advocacy for a human development framework for the globalization • debate and related policy formation

42. Results • National investment policies consistent with poverty reduction promoted, together with people-centred strategies for managing globalization. • National plans and policies demonstrate readiness and ability to manage globalization in a manner supportive of human development • New trade obligations of 11 countries met through stronger policy analysis and in guidelines and facilities designed to give SMEs affordable, broad-based market access • Analysis produced and disseminated of the prospects for export-led poverty reduction • Assessment prepared of the impact of foreign trade and investment policies, not only on countries but on people; Arab trade negotiating capacities strengthened

43. Assets • UNDP’s holistic approach to development • Partnerships with UNCTAD, WTO, ITC,ESCWA, ECA, OPEC,World Bank League of Arab States, civil society organizations, academia and economic policy and research institutions • UNDP’s neutral capacity building role; BDP-SURF trade policy specialists and poverty reduction specialists • Experience gained with SME development in 1st RCF

44. Issues Promoting coherence between economic liberalization, trade and poverty reduction Results • Human Development as the UNDP’s holistic approach • Partnerships with UNCTAD, WTO, ITC,ESCWA, ECA, OPEC,World Bank League of Arab States, civil society organizations, academia and economic policy and research institutions • UNDP’s neutral capacity building role; BDP-SURF trade policy specialists • Experience gained with SME development in 1st RCF • National investment policies consistent with poverty reduction promoted, together with people-centred strategies for managing globalization. • New trade obligations of 11 countries met through stronger policy analysis and institutions; Arab trade negotiating capacities strengthened. • Policies, facilities, and guidelines designed to give SMEs affordable, broad-based market access. Assets Trade & Finance ministries, chambers of commerce, public and private investors, small and medium sized enterprises Clients

45. 2. Knowledge

46. Issues: Re-vamping and utilizing knowledge capabilities

47. SERVICES • Intellectual capital development (ICD) and knowledge based economy • Assess technological, economic and pedagogical changes driving knowledge economies • Design culturally appropriate strategies to promote Arab ICD • Basic & higher Education • Assess Math and Science school teaching, produce data and analyses to develop policies, standards and strategies for reform based on international standards. • Help 40 Arab universities to plan, manage and improve the quality of higher education, applying international benchmarks and practices. • Data base created and tested • ICT for development • promote enabling policy, legal and institutional contexts • facilitate broader access, including in rural areas • support to key, regionally replicable country - level interventions(e.g Lebanon and Egypt) • identify/share regional and global best practice • support National Information Technology advisory bodies • disseminate information on ICT market niches • exploit ICT for job creation • introduce ICT in school curricula • ICT for poverty reduction initiatives

48. Results • Internationally comparable scores for student performance in Math and Science in 5-6 countries; lessons learned available to policy makers, schools and teachers.Business and computer science courses at 40 universities assessed, trends analyzed and policy reforms formulated. • ICT policies/strategies strengthened, best practices and information disseminated; • specific ICT applications developed contributing to job creation education & poverty reduction.

49. Assets • Intra and interregional experience sharing (Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Europe); • High-calibre RBAS Project Advisory Groups • Frontier studies in Arab ICD; • Expertise/methodologies of partners - IEA, Boston etc • UNDP global ICT partnerships; UNDP global and regional knowledge management structures; BDP-SURF ICT specialists

50. Issues Re-vamping and utilizing knowledge capabilities Results • Intra and Interregional experience sharing (Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Europe); • High-caliber RBAS Project Advisory Groups • Frontier studies in Arab ICD; • Expertise/methodologies of partners - IEA, Boston etc • E-assessments under GCF; UNDP global and regional knowledge management structures; BDP-SURF ICT specialists Internationally comparable scores for student performance in Math and Science in 5-6 countries; lessons learned available to policy makers, schools and teachers; reforms recommended. Business and computer science courses at 40 universities assessed, trends analyzed and reforms recommended. ICT policies/strategies strengthened, best practices and information disseminated;applying ICT for job creation; specific ICT applications education & poverty reduction. University and school teachers, administrators & students; public and private employers; IT policy makers, private firms, grassroots communities and other user groups. Clients Assets