Report of the Second Report WANA Forum

Report of the Second WANA Forum Pursuing Supranational Solutions to the Challenges of Carrying Capacity MAY 2010

16 - 18 MAY 2010 AMMAN, JORDAN Copyright © 2010 by the WANA Forum No part of this report may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the WANA Forum.

Deposit No. 2010 / 7 / 2768

ISBN: 978 - 9957 - 419 - 10 - 3

Publisher: WANA Forum Editors: Laura Haddad, Nour Qabba’ah, Baker al-Hiyari and Martti Antola Designer: Ihsan Hussein Printing: National Press Amman, Jordan

The West Asia–North Africa Forum garetfully acknowledges the support of The Nippon Foundation. Building Trust Together

Report of the Second WANA Forum Pursuing Supranational Solutions to the Challenges of Carrying Capacity

16 - 18 MAY 2010 AMMAN, JORDAN 2 WANA Forum Report 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword 5

Post-forum Reflections 8

Executive Summary 11 1. Overview of the WANA Forum 15 2. Opening Remarks 18 3. Transcending Regional Carrying Capacity 21 4. Regional Themes and Priorities of the WANA Forum 24 5. Launch of the Arabic Report of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor: Making the Law Work for Everyone 29 6. Displacement and Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Recovery 32 7. Social Cohesion in the WANA Region 39 8. Our Common Future: Water, Environment and Energy Community 43 9. Environment and Green Economy 47 10. Mobilising the Third Sphere for Collective Action 51 11. Dinner Remarks by Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 55 12. Break-Out Groups 56 12.1 Social Cohesion 56 12.2 Green Economy 62 12.3 Environment 64 12.4 Reconstruction and Recovery 70 13. Conclusions of WANA Forum 2010 73

Annexes 77 A1. Agenda 79 A2. Participants 89 A3. Speaker Bios 95 A4. Break-Out Session Participants 115 A5. Background Paper: Beyond WANA Forum 2010 117 A6. WANA Forum Secretariat 127

Photo credit: AP/EMPICS

Foreword by HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of the WANA Forum

he West Asia-North Africa (WANA) where regional cooperation could bring region continues to face many added value: reconstruction and recovery, T challenges, some of them untold; green economy, water and energy, education most of them tragic and sadly, man-made. for sustainable development (ESD), the After taking part in three days of discussions revival of hima and social cohesion. and deliberations during WANA Forum 2010 This year, poverty as one source of I remain optimistic. This optimism is not social fragmentation, was one of the areas ‘rose-tinted’ nor does it jar with the reality of addressed with the launch of the Arabic these ongoing tragedies; rather, listening to version of the Report of the Commission the stories of those WANA participants who on Legal Empowerment of the Poor (LEP), have lived through such adversity, gives me in collaboration with the United Nations hope and faith in the possibility of greater Development Programme (UNDP) and the things to come for the peoples of this region. Arab Thought Forum (ATF). The Report, These participants from all over the WANA Making the Law Work for Everyone, states region come together to form a community that poverty is not merely about a lack of of individuals comprised of the Third Sphere material resources, but also about a lack – government, private sector and civil society of property rights, labour and business rights – of WANA and beyond. These concerned as well as access to justice and the rule WANA citizens – some of them ‘witnesses’ of law. Seventy per cent of the world’s from crisis areas – are motivated by a sense population is unable to improve their of responsibility to combat the structures of livelihood regardless of how hard they work injustice wherever they exist. because of blatant exclusion. What seems Inspired by the Helsinki Process of 1975, yet to be understood by many in our society which is based on three ‘baskets’ – economy, is that all of humanity stands to lose if four security and humanitarian issues, the WANA billion human beings remain outside an Forum in 2009 identified priority issues inclusive societal structure.

WANA Forum Report 2010 5 We are now only five years away from scarcity and drought, as no single state can 2015 – the year in which the Millennium effectively achieve this on its own. This is Development Goals (MDGs) are supposed where the concept of a Community of Water to be realised. Yet, in the LEP session, I was and Energy for the Human Environment, a reminded of how much we have to do in concept I have been advocating for many order to get there. Did we set the benchmark years, comes into its own. It takes a regional too high? Or did we fail as a community approach to water, hunger, climate, health to do our best and try our hardest to make and poverty which is encompassing and the MDGs a reality? The UNDP gently consultative, with a view to averting future conflict or as we have recently Until uprooted communities are seen in some media reports, ‘water wars’. afforded autonomy over their lives, During the WANA Forum regional and global human security 2010 we discussed the notion of the ‘uprooted’ (a term originally will be threatened by a growing hatred introduced by the Independent industry borne of human suffering and Commission on International Humanitarian Affairs in the our collective failure to act early 1980s) in the context of Territoriality, Identity and warned us that with regard to the MDGs, Movement/Migration (TIM), a concept that there are three on which the WANA region challenges the current discourse around is failing: (1) Poverty, Employment and mandates – mandates for Palestinians; Hunger; (3) Women’s Empowerment and mandates for Iraqis and so on. The theory (7) Environmental Sustainability. This is behind the uprooted is that all peoples who an opportunity for the WANA community have been forced to leave their homeland are to mobilise and to look at the underlying equally vulnerable and their needs are often reasons as to why we are not on track to grossly misunderstood. People uprooted by meet these Goals. war, violence, environmental devastation and One of the highlights of this year’s persecution do not just need bags of flour Forum was the Strategic Foresight Group’s and rice, or cement to rebuild houses, albeit session on water, ‘Our Common Future: these items are important in themselves. Water, Environment and Energy Community’ Retaining dignity in their lives is what lies at where the concept of concentric circles of the root of all human aspiration and identity, cooperation to break political deadlocks and and until uprooted communities, irrespective generate ideas that can be implemented at of labels are afforded autonomy over their the policy level was discussed. Water must lives, regional (and global) human security be treated as an instrument of partnership, or will be threatened by a growing hatred there is every chance it will reach a critical industry borne of human suffering and our impasse which will threaten our security collective failure to act. and survival in the coming decades, such The WANA Forum is here to ask the as we have seen with Weapons of Mass difficult questions and to suggest alternatives Destruction. Of the 15 most water-poor that are sustainable and situated in the countries in the world, ten are in the WANA context of the WANA region. As our region. All states must take responsibility resources continue to dwindle, it is evident for finding regional solutions to water that we should invest more in a resource of

6 WANA Forum Report 2010 which we have plenty – people. We have to moment during the Forum, when I was told conserve our physical resources and develop that the sessions were being simultaneously our social and human capital with respect webcast to viewers all over the globe. Given to human dignity because the true wealth the high number of young people who use of nations relies on social cohesion, not the Internet to access information, I can only just on indicators such as GDP. A Regional hope we reached some of them, as it is this Cohesion Fund would be an important group we most need to engage, listen to and step toward establishing a more productive encourage. mechanism for enabling inter-regional This is not my Forum or your Forum. It and intra-independent action to enhance is a shared, inclusive space where we can all regional social cohesion. This will need to come together to consolidate our efforts and be based on a ‘code of conduct’ outlined in resources, through regional multidisciplinary, a social charter and informed by a cohesion multi-sectoral approaches, to legitimate index that is developed with the help of and motivate collective action to influence constructive consultations across WANA. An decision-makers and change agents. The empirical, apolitical database which can be challenge now is to turn ideas into a easily accessed by policymakers, community practical framework which is inclusive and leaders, advocates, the public and the media accessible, bridging the gaps between theory will be an important tool in this process. and practice; between the local, regional The WANA region would also do well and global; and to devise strategies to to listen and learn from the rest of Asia. influence political structures in ways that are As was clear from the presentations by meaningful and relevant to the communities our speakers from China, Japan and the on which we ultimately want to have an Association of Southeast Asian Nations impact. We now have an opportunity to (ASEAN), Asian states have proved they can infuse the entire policy debate (a debate adjust to the challenges of development where our voices need to be heard) with (and in some cases thrive) in an era of solid research that will undoubtedly improve volatile global markets and continued the quality and effectiveness of policy Western domination. Since WANA is, after actions. all, part of Asia, it should complement its I hope you will join me and the cooperation with Europe and North America greater WANA Forum community, with with stronger links to these Asian nations the continued support of The Nippon whose ‘Roadmap for an ASEAN Community Foundation, in building partnerships for 2009 - 2015’ comprises the three pillars of a regional cooperation around thematic Political-Security Community, an Economic priorities in the pursuit of a strong, stable Community and a Socio-Cultural Community and sustainable WANA. to ensure durable peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region. This second annual WANA meeting has built on the work of the past year and now I trust that you, based on the summary of El Hassan bin Talal themes, conclusions and recommendations Amman, August 2010 outlined in this report, will continue the ‘WANA conversation’ either virtually or when your paths cross again. This brings me to another satisfying

WANA Forum Report 2010 7 Post-Forum Reflections

t was truly encouraging to see so discussions, which demonstrated participants’ many prominent individuals from profound commitment to the welfare of the I across and beyond the WANA region entire human family. From climate change come together again in Amman this to water consumption, from freedom of year with the shared commitment of expression to social solidarity, from food working towards a better future for the security to education and health, all these region. I was particularly impressed at topics require committed action based on how the members of the Forum were common purpose. We can build the kind of taking concrete steps towards addressing societies we want for our children when we urgent challenges facing the region dare to dream and dare to be bold. There is through their participation in the various so much we can do for a whole generation working groups. I have no doubt that and for the whole world. this Forum of likeminded individuals will Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of continue to grow and play a vital role, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt not only in helping policymakers across the region develop policies, but also At every stage in the evolution of world in aiding civil society organisations in economy, certain drivers determine the their work. I consider it a true privilege future. In this century, water, environment, to be a member of this community and and human intellect are the most significant very much look forward to taking part in driving forces. Therefore, it must be our future meetings. priority to transform water and environment Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The from potential risks to instruments of peace Nippon Foundation, Japan and progress. In the entire landmass from Vietnam Under the banner of Pursuing Supranational and Cambodia in East Asia to Turkey in Solutions to the Challenges of Carrying West Asia and from Egypt in North Africa Capacity, we shared our knowledge and our to Republic of South Africa, a mega arch of experience at WANA Forum 2010 and have hydro insecurity exists. West Asia is at the taken a commitment to act on the issues epicentre of this mega-arch. Experts have we raised. I believe that we left the Forum been debating for years the problems of enriched by the thoughtful presentations and water security but always from short-term

8 WANA Forum Report 2010 and nationalistic perspectives. HRH Prince are expected to be achieved by 2013, it El Hassan made a conceptual breakthrough would be necessary and wise to concentrate at the WANA Forum 2010 plenary on Our only on the few already selected themes. Common Future: Water, Environment and Therefore, the challenge remains as to how Energy by proposing Concentric Circles of best to ensure that the next Forum may focus Cooperation. This idea makes it possible for and deepen the discussion on those themes countries facing similar challenges to come in order to give guidance and direction for together to develop a shared vision of a the remaining period. water and environment community, without Wishing all WANA Forum participants a being hampered by protracted conflicts. great deal of enthusiasm and success in this Peace and cooperation need to be built noble endeavour! carefully and gradually. At this year’s WANA Ambassador Ilari Rantakari, Ministry for Forum in Amman, we saw the first building Foreign Affairs of Finland block of our common future. Mr. Sundeep Waslekar, President of the The region of WANA is a strategic area of Strategic Foresight Group, India energy resources, about half of the world’s population resides here and the young The second WANA Forum clearly indicated population, to the degree that it is educated that the WANA Process is shaping up and and cultivated, can act as a vessel of motivating relevant individuals and through development and progress. them institutions in the region to participate I am happy to learn of Prince El Hassan and contribute to the preparation of policy and other participants’ positive reaction proposals as well as concrete action steps in to Turkey’s recent regional policy of ‘zero the areas of the selected process themes. problems with its neighbours’, understanding I have had the privilege to witness the the importance of unity and friendship. active and committed participation and The WANA initiative is still in its guidance of His Royal Highness over beginning stages – like a seed that falls to the past years in the Helsinki Process the ground, a baby who takes his or her first on Globalisation and Democracy. His steps or the first stages of a joyous voyage. inspirational leadership and establishment Seeds develop, babies grow up and joyous of the capable WANA Secretariat are already voyages reach their destination. Just as the yielding results in mobilising necessary European Coal and Steel Community formed partnerships and linkages to enhance desired the beginnings of the European Union, the and much needed collaboration and actions WANA region, if it can emerge from today’s among and by different stakeholders for the short-sighted politics, has as much potential. benefit of the WANA region and beyond. Mr. Cemal Usak, Vice President of the As I have had the opportunity to follow Journalists and Writers Foundation, Turkey the work on Social Cohesion, I would like to commend the initial preparation and I am inspired by Prince El Hassan who, commitments made in the Forum. This after having listened to the adverse stories would suggest that the work will continue narrated by individuals at WANA Forum and advance significantly through the 2010, could derive hope and faith in the established working groups and partnerships. future rather than hopelessness and despair. It is only natural that many important His Royal Highness’ opening remarks at issues would deserve to be included in this the Forum boosted my usually optimistic kind of process. However, as tangible results disposition so much that I see light beyond

WANA Forum Report 2010 9 the cumulus that has engulfed our region for Prince El Hassan said, we need “to devise nearly three decades. strategies to influence political structures in I reiterate Prince El Hassan’s statement ways that are meaningful and relevant to the that poverty doesn’t mean only the lack of communities on which we ultimately want to material resources. Now it is time we all find have an impact.” the faith and commitment to take actionable Mr. Mohsen Marzouk, Secretary-General of steps toward fighting poverty and creating the Arab Democracy Foundation, Qatar social justice in the region. Men, women and children should be afforded their rightful I deeply admire HRH Prince El Hassan for place in society with full legal protection. his visionary initiative – the WANA Forum I thank the WANA Forum for inviting me recognises the fundamental role of education to participate in this commendable initiative. in personal and social development and Ms. Khadija Hussein, Founding its principle means of fostering human Chairperson, Sudanese Mothers for Peace development as a tool for poverty alleviation and UNESCO’s Specialist in Community and social inclusion and a cornerstone in Development in the Arab World building a culture of peace. International education embodies the One of the demands of civil society in the priorities of the WANA Forum as it has the WANA region has, for years, been the call potential to contribute to reconstruction and to create a new working space to rise above peace-building in conflict-affected parts of two kinds of unfavourable divisions. the region, to the enhancement of social The first separates the three main agents cohesion and to sustainable environmental, of development (government, private sector, social, economic and cultural development. civil society) so they operate in isolation I encourage the Forum to consider setting from one another, hence depriving the up a WANA Chapter or Society of UNESCO- reform movement of the extraordinary APNIEVE, to develop WANA networks opportunity that mutual cooperation brings. in international education in partnership The second division concerns the various with China-based UNESCO International dimensions of development. Each area Institute of Education for Rural Development of expertise focuses on its own specialty: (INRULED), to facilitate curriculum women’s rights, environment, the fight innovation and teacher/student exchange against poverty, democracy and so forth for learning to live together in conflict- whereas all of these are interrelated. affected parts of the region, and to promote The most important value added of joint projects in international education the WANA Forum is that it is built upon for sustainable development in the region the idea of rethinking and unifying the with links between WANA’s and East Asian divided components of development as universities’ high-tech parks and education- inter-dependent, multi-disciplinary and business partnerships. interconnected. Dr. Zhou Nan-Zhao, President of UNESCO At WANA Forum 2010, I had the privilege Asia-Pacific Network for International of moderating the Social Cohesion sessions Education and Values Education (APNIEVE) where I saw considerable headway made and President of Chinese Council of Private in progressing the Social Cohesion Index, Higher Education, China Social Charter and Regional Cohesion Fund. I look forward to joining the WANA Forum in moving from dialogue to action, for as HRH

10 WANA Forum Report 2010 Executive Summary by Professor Sultan Barakat, WANA Forum Moderator

he West Asia-North Africa Forum WANA and to 2010 gathered 130 individuals complement Euro- T in Amman, from the region and Mediterranean and elsewhere, in order to address the theme Atlantic initiatives. of Pursuing Supranational Solutions to Countries in WANA the Challenges of Carrying Capacity. are beginning Building on the work of the First Annual to recognise WANA Forum in April of 2009, the 2010 that nations are Forum focused on advancing the priority empowered issues of reconstruction and recovery, green through regional economy, water and energy, education cooperation. for sustainable development, the revival Progress on of hima, and social cohesion, including cooperation and the legal empowerment of the poor. The integration within WANA and across Asia principle aim of the three-day meeting was would enhance connectivity, the leveraging to create partnerships for collaboration of resources and the region’s bargaining towards concrete policy proposals by 2011. power on the world stage so that WANA’s WANA Forum 2010 recognised the cultural diversity could become a source of need for people across the region to begin strength rather than an obstacle to progress. to transcend national carrying capacity After all, the true wealth of nations lies in through regional thinking and a regional their human and social capital. For WANA to policy framework that overcomes the build upon this capital, regional cooperation multi-layered choke-points within WANA. is needed to mobilise resources, exchange The establishment of regional entities of lessons and best practices, promote governance for the various cross-cutting knowledge production and dissemination, priorities of the WANA Forum could serve educate for citizenship and sustainable to monitor, oversee and implement regional development and produce home-grown cooperation. The Forum also welcomed solutions to the region’s challenges. exploring linkages between West Asia and The WANA region, a mosaic of ethnic, North Africa to the rest of Asia as a wake- religious and cultural diversity, stretches from up call to stimulate multilateralism within Morocco to Pakistan and is home to some

WANA Forum Report 2010 11 of the world’s earliest and most advanced the Index or refine the dimensions selected civilisations. Yet, it is also a region that to measure social cohesion. Partnering with faces monumental challenges, marred with research institutions, think tanks, universities conflict, war and the intense movement of and UN agencies from across the region people who flee their countries by force or would be helpful in the data collection phase in the pursuit of a better life. The gradual as well as in developing the Index. ‘brain drain’ that has ensued is exacerbated The need for a social contract was also by a lack of effective policies and an absence proposed by Forum participants last year. of incentives for people to stay and enhance A charter has the potential to further the the region’s carrying capacity. aims of advancing social development by Millions of people across WANA promoting the concept of citizenship and today experience multi-faceted poverty, equity, stimulating a process of dialogue extending beyond material needs to include within civil society groups and between infringement on basic human rights. They civil society and governments. The current live on the outskirts of society under multiple draft of the WANA Social Charter should, forms of exclusion and marginalisation, therefore, be widely disseminated to garner without any access to legal protection. feedback, and be made available in the Following the First Annual WANA Forum in form of an executive summary (in Arabic, 2009, a working group of Forum members Farsi, Turkish and Urdu) as well as a full embarked on an attempt to create a Social draft on the WANA Forum website. Media Cohesion Index that measures cohesion and advocacy strategies will also need to be and factors that contribute to it in WANA developed for different target audiences. countries, such as security and state capacity, Finally, a Regional Cohesion Fund rooted equality, participation and engagement, in a code of conduct outlined in the Social displacement, civic culture, mutual trust, Charter and informed by data from the Social social networks, tolerance to diversity and Cohesion Index, would advance social, inclusion, material and emotional wellbeing, environmental and economic development health and social security. The Index in the region. The nature of the governing could offer state and non-state actors an body, eligibility criteria for the allocation of analytical tool to guide the establishment of funds, management structures, monitoring developmental priorities. WANA Forum 2010 and evaluation processes, and sources of agreed to pursue qualitative and quantitative funding and partners, will be addressed in research in select WANA countries to validate the policy proposal that will be developed. The challenges posed Progress on cooperation and by demographic pressures, environmental stresses, integration within WANA and across widespread inequalities, Asia would enhance connectivity, the entrenched pockets of poverty, chronic unemployment, deeply leveraging of resources and the region’s rooted division and numerous bargaining power on the world stage political, sectarian and religious conflicts present a serious threat so that WANA’s cultural diversity could to local, national and regional become a source of strength rather than stability. Those who suffer the consequences are most an obstacle to progress often women, children and the

12 WANA Forum Report 2010 the establishment of an Those who suffer the consequences electronic public forum for are most often women, children and the the sharing of lessons and good practices on all of uprooted, the silenced majority in urgent the WANA Forum priority need of a coherent regional voice to raise issues. A comparative research project detailing its status in international relations the relationship between reconstruction, reconciliation uprooted, the silenced majority in urgent and peace building is needed to produce need of a coherent regional voice to raise its models and methodologies or tool kits for status in international relations. To this end, countries in the region. The Forum also WANA Forum 2010 agreed on a regional agreed to draft a concept paper that would donorship consultation in the near future examine five key sectors: energy, water, and to advocate for full WANA participation transport, waste and cities. New initiatives in global conventions on aid effectiveness, for renewable power generation and water such as the Paris Declaration and the Accra management must be carried out soon, Agenda for Action. informed by best practices. Lastly, a working A regional voluntary organisation report on water security by the Forum similar to the United States Peace Corps members will be finalised to propose the could help instil a sense of service and establishment of a WANA water scarcity and civic responsibility to the cause of peace drought information system, highlight the with volunteers living in conflict affected need to facilitate relevant training sessions or socially fragmented communities of across the region by WANA experts and WANA and working on issues ranging from promote a region-wide television and food security, education and health to Internet campaign to push governments and environment, business and information and the general public to consider WANA’s high communication technology. rate of water consumption and respond to The Forum also agreed to develop the challenges of carrying capacity. One a proposal for a regional reconstruction of these challenges include the effects of training institute which could foster a climate change, which will also be addressed generation of leaders from within WANA in a WANA report, in the context of uprooted who could tackle issues from conflict populations, food security, biodiversity, management and prevention to post- water, energy and education. conflict reconstruction and economic Members of the WANA Forum agree that development. Rather than reconstructing the instruments of regional cooperation must be status-quo-ante, the Forum highlighted the grounded in the principles of sustainability – potential of green housing developments, of both natural and human resources – while which are affordable and environmentally the human element must be placed at the sound, as well as the creation of a green centre of efforts to advance supranational modern industrial base and mass transport solutions to shared regional concerns. All- infrastructure – all central to developing inclusive sustainable development embraces state systems, revitalising economies and freedom, justice, participation and respect for promoting social cohesion. human dignity. Capacity building requires solid Hima is one example of an indigenous research, the consolidation of data and system of conservation management

WANA Forum Report 2010 13 that empowers local communities. The setting the groundwork for a WANA model establishment of a hima revolving fund of ESD in select pilot schools. It would focus for the legal empowerment of the poor on administrators and teachers to ensure that would help build the capacities of local they are trained in providing children with communities to manage, monitor and the needed tools and skills for experiential, conserve sustainable use of natural interactive learning and would also engage resources. The Forum agreed to compile a university students from WANA and other database of existing traditional himas, create regions in the process of developing and a Wikipedia web-page for hima where assessing ESD, thereby translating research scholars from around the world would be into practical applications. invited to contribute, and to document In an era where technology plays an through film the oral history of tribal men important role in connecting people across and women whose knowledge of hima was the globe, e-learning, institutional twinning, acquired and maintained for over 1400 years. cyber media and virtual communities provide This would not only contribute to regional opportunities for WANA to galvanise the knowledge of WANA history, but would Third Sphere of partnership into concerted also raise the profile of the region among action. Progressing from dialogue to both academic and non-academic circles action requires increased collaboration elsewhere in the world. with civil society, business partners, media Integrating indigenous knowledge, and government actors around thematic on hima for example, into the school issues. It also requires outreach to youth, curriculum is also integral in altering regional who comprise up to 60 per cent of the resource consumption patterns through population in many WANA countries, and the education for sustainable development involvement of local communities as genuine (ESD). Interactive courses, extracurricular stakeholders. activities and community service learning The following report attempts to provide are effective tools for emphasising the a comprehensive overview of these regional connection between people and their themes and recommendations for concerted environment and encouraging lifelong action. civic engagement for the common good. The Forum aims to promote a community For full-text presentations, reports and of practice around ESD with government, updates, visit www.wanaforum.org. private sector and media partnerships in

In an era where technology plays an important role in connecting people across the globe, e-learning, institutional twinning, cyber media and virtual communities provide opportunities for WANA to galvanise the Third Sphere of partnership into concerted action

14 WANA Forum Report 2010 1

Overview of the WANA Forum

ultan Barakat, WANA Forum Moderator, how this discussion could be brought to the Advisor to Prince El Hassan bin Talal and people, leaders and institutions of the WANA S Director of the Post-war Reconstruction region, both independently and through the and Development Unit, University of York, mobilisation of partnerships. welcomed participants to the second annual Professor Barakat reminded participants meeting of the West Asia - North Africa of the motivations that led to the launch of Forum, entitled Pursuing Supranational the WANA Forum. It emerged, in part, from Solutions to the Challenges of Carrying the recognition that, despite the increasing Capacity. global movement towards supranational He noted that the discussions initiated solutions, many countries in the WANA at the first annual meeting in April 2009 region remain focused solely on national have continued, not only through numerous agendas. As a result, they are less able to thematic consultations, but also within advocate for their shared interests upon the each of the members’ home countries, and global stage. Rather than a unified WANA, highlighted that such discussion is at the core with a regional voice on the world stage, of the WANA Forum process and represents they have tended to view themselves as its greatest tool. Every movement and great Gulf States, Arab countries, Central Asian historical change begins with a conversation republics and so on. in which those involved realise that they are Despite similar priorities – from facing the same challenges, and that they economic growth to conflict and ecologically have the will and the capacity to address sustainable development – WANA countries them effectively. far too often define themselves by their Over the three days of the second annual cultural, historical, linguistic and ideological meeting, participants were presented the differences. Paradoxically, the WANA opportunity to continue the dialogue, with Forum itself, which tries to overcome such the added responsibility of determining divisions, may be viewed as creating another

WANA Forum Report 2010 15 exclusionary framework by separating the The work of the WANA Forum is guided WANA region from its neighbours. This is not by a three-phase process. The first annual the intention. meeting in April 2009 launched the first In fact, it may be better not to project phase, which focused on the identification the WANA region as a geographical area of priorities and issues. Informed by the but rather as a conceptual meeting place technical expertise and experience of for those peoples and places which are all those involved, the process began by perceived as “in between” and at times on identifying a number of cross-cutting themes the margins of international dialogue and around which a series of expert consultations progress. As such, WANA is not a map, and took place throughout the year: a) the the WANA Forum also includes voices and reconstruction and recovery of war-torn or perspectives from Europe, Africa, Asia and conflict-affected parts of the region; b) the beyond, including if not particularly from enhancement of social cohesion between the India and China, two countries with which region’s diverse peoples, c) the promotion the WANA region has a long history. of environmental education for sustainable The WANA Forum is a demonstration development and d) the development of of the saying that ‘only the tent pitched by ‘green’ industries and infrastructure. Concept one’s own hands will stand’. The Forum papers were later revised and accompanied is thus motivated by a keen desire for the by more focused research agendas and draft people of the region to pitch their own policy proposals for presentation at the tents or, more literally, to drive their own second annual meeting for Forum members processes of growth, development and to consider, refine and approve. change, whether these changes relate to During the remainder of 2010 and the the recovery of war-torn societies, the beginning of 2011, the challenge will be to conjoining of prosperity and environmental ensure that these ideas are presented in a responsibility or the strengthening of ties and manner which lends itself to policy debate bonds between all peoples and cultures of within major international bodies and the region. national institutions throughout and beyond WANA. By the WANA Forum’s third annual meeting, again following a series of technical consultations and meetings of working groups, participants will be presented a set of tangible policy proposals which they will be able to finalise before preparing for a process of advocacy to last through the following years of the WANA Forum process. Professor Barakat noted that a range of key priorities emerged from the social, economic and environmental ‘tracks’ of the first meeting of the WANA Forum. Social

16 WANA Forum Report 2010 cohesion – defined as the intangible bond and give rise to governmental as well as that holds members of society together private-sector-led initiatives that will foster and facilitates coexistence, development, sustainable models of economic growth progress and prosperity – was identified which could restore the quality of land and as a major cross-cutting concern. Within water while diminishing the negative effects the social cohesion group, the emphasis of climate change. has been on the development of an index, Finally, reconstruction and recovery, which would allow for rigorous monitoring particularly in the aftermath of conflict and of social cohesions levels in order to identify violence, were identified as cross-cutting problems before they turn destructive and to issues. Reconstruction and recovery are, at support evidence-based policies. The group their core, concerned with the development also suggested the development of a social of social cohesion as a means to prevent charter to guide region-wide efforts aimed future conflict, build peace and foster at promoting social cohesion. Finally, the greater levels of justice and equity. A key social cohesion working group, building means of doing so is economic growth, upon the foundational guidance of Prince from small-scale livelihoods and micro- El Hassan, proposed the establishment finance entrepreneurs to macro-economic of a cohesion fund to enable resources reforms and large-scale investments driven to be pooled from across the region and by institutions such as the Arab Fund for distributed in such a manner as to diminish Economic and Social Development, the material inequalities and attitudinal hostilities Saudi Fund for Development and the Asia through humanitarian and developmental Development Bank. Reconstruction and interventions, the creation of key regional recovery also requires greater attention to infrastructure, and the promotion of dialogue environmentally conscientious approaches. as well as political and technical cooperation. The reconstruction and recovery working The economic working group developed group proposed a mapping of regional synergies with all tracks and has particularly reconstruction initiatives and developing focused upon the development of regional a statement of principles for post-conflict green industries and green infrastructure. recovery and international development In doing so, members of the track efforts within the WANA region. Such a highlighted the need for WANA to “leapfrog” statement could guide international actors development and bypass “old” industries in with a presence in the region. The group favour of those which are environmentally also emphasised the need to engage more sustainable and represent the economy fully with donor institutions from within of tomorrow rather than the economy of WANA, which are increasingly becoming yesterday. the driving forces in war-torn contexts, in The environmental working group order to ensure that they continue to engage emphasised the need for environmental effectively and in a manner which fosters education for sustainable development as region-wide cohesion. a means to build an appreciation for and While not yet a formal policy proposal, commitment to ecologically responsible the reconstruction and recovery group noted practices across the WANA region. Through the need for a regional training centre on education and advocacy, the knowledge, conflict and recovery that could ensure the skills and attitudinal shift necessary for creation of a cadre of national and regional the development of green industries can experts in order to foster more appropriate emerge. Progress in this area will support and effective means of assistance.

WANA Forum Report 2010 17 2 Photo credit: UAE Red Crescent

Opening Remarks

n his opening remarks, El Hassan bin since WANA is part of Asia. An important Talal, Chairman of the WANA Forum, development is the Roadmap for an ASEAN I spoke of the importance of carrying Community 2009 - 2015 adopted in March capacity in the context of human, natural and 2009. It sets the goal to build a community of economic resources and called for a regional Southeast Asian nations by 2015, comprising voice from WANA at the United Nations the three pillars of a Political-Security General Assembly and the Millennium Community, an Economic Community and a Development Goals Summit in 2010. He Socio-Cultural Community to ensure durable stressed the importance of building bridges peace, stability and shared prosperity in the between the haves and have nots, since region. The Chiang Mai Initiative among exclusion both in terms of the state and good ASEAN +3 is another concept for the WANA governance has been exacerbated by the Forum to study. Some consider this US$120 deteriorating situation of the uprooted in the billion swap facility a first step towards an region. Asian Monetary Fund. A stable South Asia Prince El Hassan also spoke of human and East Asia could be complemented by and social chokepoints within the nexus stability in West Asia and North Africa. of territoriality, identity and migration/ Building on the historic silk route, His movement (TIM) as well as the rich and very Royal Highness noted that it would be rich and the poor and very poor. The vast necessary to develop a Pan-Asian route of resources of the WANA region are not up to ideas and intra-regional policies. Today, meeting the challenges of carrying capacity. unlike during ancient periods of prosperity, The changing nature of war and conflict are the Middle East is not part of the vision of an impacting TIM in the opposite direction to interconnected Asia and Europe. Through a what is happening in other parts of Asia. coordinated research agenda with partners His Royal Highness stressed the need to from East and South East Asia and elsewhere, learn from the experiences of the rest of Asia the WANA Forum could contribute to

18 WANA Forum Report 2010 existing studies and research to provide an of investing dwindling income from energy impulse to reshape the territorial expanses in into social cohesion and collaborative efforts the hinterlands of WANA. In short, to rethink for human security, developing an economy WANA from within. with a human face and emphasising cultural Prince El Hassan spoke about businesses affinity, which should not be seen merely needing to focus on building human as an afterthought. Throughout, Prince dignity as a response to the alienation of El Hassan highlighted that the WANA the majority of people in WANA from their Forum has no hidden agenda. Rather, it societies. He cited the World Bank estimate is a partnership based on ad hominem that in order to keep up with the growing participation. population, the WANA region would have to His Royal Highness concluded that create 55 to 70 million new jobs by 2020 – God helps those who help themselves. It 55 million just to keep up and 70 million to is time that people in the WANA region bring the employment rate up to the global start considering changing themselves, their norm. If the region fails to achieve this, it perceptions, shouldering their responsibilities, will only fuel the hatred industry. and stop considering themselves as a One purpose of the WANA Forum is positional elite. The people who count are to sow the seeds of a semi permanent the future generations. Efforts should be conference that recognises the importance taken to make their world a better place.

Territoriality, Identity and Movement (TIM) Prince El Hassan said that a trans-disciplinary new form of social cohesion among diverse groups conversation is needed that looks at WANA to replace tribal solidarity. He considered the as if people matter. The transformation in values of Islam as a basis for the solidarity to form security goes well beyond technological a new civil society. The new wars in WANA aim at change. It involves a transformation of the the opposite. social relations of warfare. These ‘new wars’, There is an urgent need to understand the social where battles are rare and where violence relations that have been nurtured by the extended is mostly aimed at civilians, construct new conflicts and injustices in WANA, to examine the sectarian identities at the religious, ethical and fabric of what appears as the disorder in the region tribal levels to undermine the sense of shared and to discover images of alternative orders and political community*. Through the creation break-out from the binary relations constraining of memories of hate and fear, they WANA. produce divisive sectarian identities in mixed urban settings. These trends are Epistemological Tensions seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, the West Bank Conditionality of territorial vs Inclusion & Exclusion and Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan. The link framing of politics between identity formation and memory Coherence of order and disorder vs Inconclusive change is assuming new proportions. Movement as progress vs Ethnic persistence This perspective of interrogating TIM Binary Relations requires a focus on two different, but Inclusion/Exclusion The State interconnected issues: what is new and Deterritoralisation/Reterritoralisation Sovereignty who is rewriting history. Over 600 years Territory, Identity and Conflict Politics of Social Relations ago, Ibn Khaldun defined government as Movements of People Broadly Defined Nexus of Identity and Territory Mass Movement of Population State Carrying Capacity the institution which prevents injustice Memory Identity Formation other than such as it commits itself. Ibn New Wars Transformation of Society Khaldun understood the need in the new Injustice Privatisation of War cities that were being established for a * Mary Kaldor, Human Security, Polity Press, Cambridge, 2008

WANA Forum Report 2010 19 Lack of access to education and voices to share a collective vision for the region and healthcare means that children are not able provide them with the to stay in school or get the treatment they means to identify their most important challenges need when they are ill. The economic divide and address them means that parents are not able to provide effectively. Something needs to be for their families. Environmental problems done in the WANA region, mean they will not have access to energy Mr. Sasakawa said, about the lack of access to quality for heating or cooling their homes, and education and healthcare, their children will not have access to safe the economic divide, and environmental degradation. drinking water In addressing these issues, it is important to keep in Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon mind that lack of access to education and Foundation and member of the WANA Forum healthcare means that children are not able International Senior Advisory Board, began to stay in school or get the treatment they by noting that, like any part of the world, need when they are ill. The economic divide the WANA region faces many challenges, means that fathers and mothers are not able ranging from education, health and the to provide for their families. Environmental economy to the environment and security. In problems mean they will not have access to today’s complex, interdependent world, most energy for heating or cooling their homes, of these challenges cannot be addressed and that their children will not have access effectively by one nation, institution or to safe drinking water. individual acting alone. They require a long- What makes the WANA Forum truly term, collective vision. unique is its focus on the human element. A framework for bringing different voices Mr. Sasakawa stressed that he has no doubt together is needed, but this framework that the Forum can make real contributions must also allow participants to transcend toward encouraging policymaking that will individual, local, and national interests, and put the future of the people in the region embrace a larger goal. It must allow those first.

Pan-Asia and Europe Framework HRH Prince El Hassan explained how the current Pan-Asian network to Europe bypasses WANA and the Euro-Mediterranean network covers only part of WANA. The red and green lines represent the transportation linkages of ESCAP map. The blue highlights European Union member states while the green shows the Non-EU member states of Union for the Mediterranean. The yellow and green illustrates the missing link between Europe and Asia.

20 WANA Forum Report 2010 3 Photo credit: Child Fund New Zealand

Transcending Regional Carrying capacity

n his presentation, Ismail Serageldin, equity and inclusion, participation and member of the WANA Forum empowerment. I International Senior Advisory Board and With regard to tackling climate change, Director of the Library of Alexandria, gave an he stressed the need to work simultaneously in depth comprehensive overview of carrying on mitigation and adaptation strategies to capacity. address the threat of climate change to He noted that historically, while Malthus economic stability, ecological sustainability, predicted that the population growth rate health and social cohesion. Humankind’s would exceed the growth of the food supply, failure to prevent excessive greenhouse gas Marquis de Condorcet saw the human mind emissions in the 20th century has resulted in as capable of removing all obstacles to today’s need to prepare for inevitable climate human progress, and that human ingenuity change. By extension, today’s ongoing failure would devise the means of feeding growing to cease excessive greenhouse gas emissions populations. Amartya Sen, however, realised will necessitate more extensive adaptation to that famines still occur even when food is even greater climate change in the future. plentiful. Development is much more about Developing adaptation strategies to freedom, justice and participation than about deal with impending climate change will physical resources. be vital, and Dr. Serageldin offered the Dr. Serageldin demonstrated to example of the Nile Delta as one of the most participants the “human face” of suffering heavily populated and intensely cultivated in the region with the aid of numerous areas on Earth. Despite covering only 2.5 slides – ranging from images of devastation per cent of Egypt’s total land area, the caused by war to the effects of water scarcity Nile Delta harbours over one-third of the and food insecurity. He proposed solutions national population and nearly half of all to ending this suffering, rooted in the crops. Standing less than two metres above interconnections of security, peace, justice, sea level, however, it is also extremely

WANA Forum Report 2010 21 or pass through plants and The wars of the 21st century will be thus are not captured as surface water. Of the 41,000 fought over water. People are out on the cubic kilometres that are knife’s edge of starvation and there is likely potentially available to people as surface water – to be a significant number of environmental lakes, rivers, melting glaciers refugees, particularly in the WANA region – some 20 per cent are in areas too remote for people. and in Sub-Sahara Africa. In many cases, That leaves about 33,000 rural women walk four hours a day in cubic kilometres, of which nearly three-quarters come search of water for their families in monsoons and floods. This is counted in the vulnerable to the effects of climate change. total amount of water available, but only a The population of the Arab world fraction of that is collected by dams and thus constitutes five per cent of the world’s useful. People can now sustainably access population, but its share of the world’s water 12,500 cubic kilometres. is only one per cent. This small fraction is The main issue in the future will be how threatened by population growth that is the to better manage the flow of freshwater. highest in the world, as well as pollution and Climate change is making rainfall more the failure of the region to establish proper erratic, bringing periods of drought water management. and flood. Meanwhile, poor farmers in Dr. Serageldin highlighted how food developing countries are the least capable eaten daily in the region consumes about of withstanding years of drought. People 2,700 litres a day, per person, which amounts are out on the knife’s edge of starvation and to almost a litre per calorie. He connected there is likely to be a significant number of water scarcity with food security: for many environmental refugees, particular in the people, access to water is as important as WANA region and in Sub-Sahara Africa. In access to oil in more advanced economies. many cases, rural women walk four hours a He predicted that the wars of the 21st day in search of water for their families. century will be fought over water. Coupled with this, the global population According to UNDP estimates, Arab is growing and incomes are rising, which countries will be home to some 385 million in turn leads to changing diets. Livestock is people in 2015. However, there have been becoming more important because animal few indications that Arab governments are proteins are increasingly a part of the global developing the means to better manage the diet, but growing livestock requires much region’s precious one per cent share of the more grain and hence much more water, world’s water resources. thus impacting water resources as the world Freshwater, however, makes up only 2.5 strives to provide the diets of 21st century per cent of the Earth’s total water available, populations. while 97.5 per cent is saltwater. Of that 2.5 To address these challenges, Dr. per cent, two-thirds are locked in the glaciers Serageldin stressed the need to rethink and ice caps which are currently melting current paradigms. When talking about into the ocean. Of the remaining two-thirds, a knowledge based society, knowledge another two-thirds are lost as they evaporate has to be understood as more than mere

22 WANA Forum Report 2010 information – information does not People have a strong sense of identity and necessarily lead to wisdom. The true wealth solidarity which is of considerable value. of nations relies on social cohesion and Tackling such problems requires human capital, not just macroeconomic dialogue, an open exchange of views and indicators. Japan and Korea, for example, strategies to manage social risks, such as are not endowed with natural resources, but employment and systematic marginalisation. their cohesion has succeeded in generating In his last years of exile, even Napoleon great wealth. Bonaparte came to the conclusion that in the Dr. Serageldin spoke of the difficulty long run, the sword is always beaten by the of confronting situations where there is mind. Social and human capital is the glue no right answer, and quoted Amartya Sen that holds societies together. who showed that the issue of justice is very much at the heart of development. The dilemma is summed up in a story told by Sen in which he suggests that we meet three children, and between them, they have but one flute. The flute can justifiably be given to the one with the greatest need, the one who produced it, or the one who can put it to best use. These three perceptions of the issue of fairness touch upon the principles of equity, utility, and entitlement, within certain capability domains. But whatever the case, whether or not a definitive answer can be found is less important than recognising that these problems need to be engaged with; they cannot be ignored.

WANA Forum Report 2010 23 4 Photo credit: The Yemen Times

Regional Themes and Priorities of the WANA Forum

akhdar Brahimi, Former Special Advisor vulnerabilities, and issues such as to the UN Secretary General and unemployment and poverty, food security L Foreign Minister of Algeria, opened and nutrition, as well as health and human the session by noting that the previous security. This is because there is a prevalent session had been very substantive and given misunderstanding regarding the nature of all participants plenty of food for thought. money and credit in the world. The prevalent Participants were challenged to wake up idea is that markets provide the funding not only to the serious problems faced by needed and that money or credit is subject the region, but also to the opportunities that to market forces of supply and demand like exist, as long as people in the region are a commodity. However, it is not the result determined to work together sooner rather of market exchange. In fact it is the very than later. He expressed his hope that the existence of credit prior to having money panelists in this second session would take that makes it possible to engage in market the morning’s discussions one step further by activity: credit creates economic activity. considering the regional priorities for WANA Ms. Pettifor explained how “fountain pen in their respective fields. money” – some US$160 billion of it – were created by the Federal Reserve to bail out the Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy American International Group (AIG). Money International and Fellow of the New in banks is not tangible or visible, it is not a Economics Foundation (NEF), opened her commodity like gold, tulips or oil, and there presentation by noting she will try to answer is no limit to the availability of bank money Ismail Serageldin’s earlier question as to due to the unlimited ability to create credit. where the region would get the money People already use less and less tangible from to address several of the challenges money, such as coins and notes, in their identified. She stressed that the region can daily transactions: only two per cent of total afford to tackle economic and environmental money used is cash.

24 WANA Forum Report 2010 It has been said that the purpose of is by effectively borrowing from the future. banks is to allow people to save money, WANA countries will require above- which others can then borrow, whereas in average level policy changes to bring their fact there has for a long time already been a ecological footprint to a sustainable level, negative correlation between net saving and whilst keeping in mind that in the long term, net borrowing. John Maynard Keynes once physical laws always prevail over political said, “We can afford what we can create.” goals. As an example, Professor Meadows In other words, economic activity generates cited the growing Carbon Dioxide emissions. saving; it is not constrained by savings. The basic formula for calculating the volume There is no constraint on finance; the only of those emissions in terms of natural capital constraint is potential economic activity. This is multiplying the number of people by is because inflation would result in the event their capital and by the energy required of more finance than potential economic per capital unit by the fraction of energy activity. Money is a social construct, invented used from fossil fuels. This basically shows to make transactions easier, and the money that as long as the size of a population system is created on a foundation of trust in and their ambition to a higher standard of the banking system. living continue, emissions will grow since improved efficiency and alternative fuels Dennis Meadows, President of the Laboratory alone will not be able to balance out those for Interactive learning and Professor increases. He argued that the time of greatest Emeritus for Policy Systems, University of stress for the world will be between the New Hampshire and co-author of The Limits years 2000 and 2030, and that the coming 15 to Growth, noted that, put simplistically, years will see more changes in all aspects of solving problems in the WANA region is human life than have been seen in the past dependent on the ability of governments in 100 years. In conclusion, Professor Meadows the region to meet people’s demands. He noted that actions are much more important argued that there are two solutions: either than words. people need to get more of what they want, or they need to want less. There is a need Zafar Adeel, Director of the United Nations to think about the relationship between University Institute for Water, Environment politics and physical reality: global society is and Health in Canada, made a case for using using energy and raw materials at above the water as a development lever to bring about sustainable levels, in particular in the WANA some of the changes called for by previous region. There is a need to make a transition speakers. The entire WANA region suffers back below the level of sustainability, from water scarcity. An examination of which in turn requires different goals, new water consumption in the region clearly technologies and revised ethics. The ecological footprint is a way to measure the impact of people WANA countries will require above- on the environment: in 1972, the average human footprint was average level policy changes to bring roughly 80 per cent of what can their ecological footprint to a sustainable be sustainably used, whereas today it is at about 140 per cent. level. In the long term, physical laws The only way in which it is always prevail over political goals possible to go above 100 per cent

WANA Forum Report 2010 25 in the broadest sense are in the People are over-exploiting the fields of maternal and childcare, capacity of their natural systems to school attendance and education, and poverty elimination. None of provide water. People are behaving the Millennium Development Goals like teenagers with credit cards, can be met without water. spending money they do not have and Habiba Al-Marashi, Chairperson of expecting someone to pay the bill the Emirates Environmental Group, presented the work of the Emirates shows that people are over-exploiting the Environmental Group, which is capacity of their natural systems to provide a civil society organisation, established in water. People are behaving like teenagers 1991, with the aim of raising environmental with credit cards, spending money they do awareness through education for sustainable not have and expecting someone to pay the development. She noted that education for bill. He also noted that climate change will sustainable development includes learning make the situation in the WANA region even about what is needed to maintain and worse. By the end of the 21st century, parts improve the quality of life for generations of WANA will be up to 40 per cent drier than to come, equipping stakeholders to live they are today, which will have a significant and act sustainably and understanding the impact on sustainability. Dr. Adeel argued environmental, social and economic issues that the main drivers in the region are: 1) involved. population growth – almost all countries in Education for sustainable development the region will experience significant growth has become a well known and widely in size of population (up to double or triple accepted concept, and is considered an current levels); 2) demographic problems important way to guarantee the wellbeing – a young population with some 50 per of humankind and nature alike. Although cent of the population under 20; and 3) the WANA region faces challenges, such as unemployment – persistent unemployment conflicts, scarce resources, infertile land, low levels of up to 25 per cent. The reason that water quality and supply, population growth, water is an important factor in addressing climate change and loss of biodiversity, these drivers is due to the interrelationship engaging the region’s youth, which constitute between water security, food security and a large percentage of the population, poses energy security: a large part of food consists an opportunity to address these challenges. of water, and water is also an important Education that nurtures a strong sense of source of energy. Biofuels are a particularly environmental awareness can facilitate the important concern, because of the way they transition to a low-carbon economy. impact food security and water security. Ms. Al-Marashi stressed that creating a Investment in better management of new green generation will not transpire water resources and the provision of safe overnight, but that sustained efforts are water and adequate sanitation is needed. required. The Emirates Environmental Group The economic development lever of water is taking several steps to promote education is threefold: 1) mobilising the economic for sustainable development, but involving empowerment of communities; 2) demand educational institutions and promoting the management; and 3) enabling policies. The environment as a fundamental subject in links of water security to human wellbeing both academic and extra-curricular activities

26 WANA Forum Report 2010 are a top priority. The Group runs numerous social networking sites in particular, leaving educational projects, such as workshops them vulnerable to extreme and negative for teachers, students, inter-school and elements. They are exposed to the struggles, inter-college public speaking competitions, abuse and injustices that exist around the and environmental drawing competitions. world. They also see their parents, and Future WANA needs not only the collective society at large, deal with injustices at home, synergy of smart and wise people, but also class divides, persecution, discrimination, people with a strong sense of social and corruption, hypocrisy, and most of all, non- environmental responsibility. action’ by leaders. This leaves many of them disillusioned, desperately looking for hope, Salma Abbasi, Chairperson and CEO of and searching for a shared identity and sense e Worldwide Group, emphasised the of belonging for a common cause. Through importance of engaging youth, the digital the Internet, they find role models, making community and innovative strategic friends with people in the digital world, partnerships with business communities which often leaves them vulnerable and while also creating integrated and susceptible to unknown risks. interlocked policies. Ms. Abbasi stressed the importance She suggested that one aim of the WANA of providing youth access to positive Forum is to benefit and address the issues, role models and leaders who are actively concerns and frustrations of youth in the engaged in turning around the injustices of region. Therefore, the youth need to be the world. She suggested that work needs engaged in designing solutions and building to be done to create a united borderless the roadmap for WANA as they are the global digital community that promotes drivers of change. understanding, ethics, respect, peace, Ms. Abbasi noted that youth are spending harmony and humanity across the WANA more and more time on the Internet and on region and beyond.

WANA Forum Report 2010 27 They see their parents deal with injustices at home, class divides, persecution, discrimination, corruption, hypocrisy and non-action by leaders. This leaves many of them disillusioned, desperately looking for hope and searching for a shared identity and sense of belonging for a common cause

The digital community is a vehicle for to wait for new solutions to be developed. mobilising social cohesion. It gives access It would be important to start developing to the excluded and a voice to the voiceless policies now and make best use of existing and marginalised. It can also be used to technologies. mobilise the next generation in a positive Participants also noted that technology manner to give them hope, inspiration and alone would not be sufficient for addressing motivation that will help foster a global environmental degradation in the region, behavioural change. Thus, she emphasised and that the environment should be seen as the need to join forces across the globe on a cross-cutting theme that affects all areas of common issues and grievances by engaging development. women and youth as part of the solution, Social workers are responsible for since they are currently untapped. bringing about change in people’s behaviour, Technology today supports the and it was suggested that the WANA Forum knowledge economy and leverages best develop a strategy for empowering social practices to allow for the creation of a workers to teach new generations to behave fair and better society that can build the more responsibly. foundation for sustainable social cohesion. The potential of employing nuclear Ms. Abbasi concluded by emphasising technology for addressing energy and water the importance of strategic partnerships with problems in the WANA region was discussed. business communities for out-of-the-box It was noted that realising projects such as thinking for job creation and innovation. employing nuclear power to desalinate sea She also stressed the need for a holistic water at the coast and pumping it further framework of policy development to help inland would require the resolution of translate rhetoric into action. To do so, conflicts in the region. she said, policy development needs to be Pricing water was identified as a strategic, practical and inter-linked, inter- politically sensitive issue: it would be locked and interwoven with the economy, important to come to grips with the real cost environment and society and continuously of water but access to water for the poor measured and monitored. She also would need to be guaranteed. highlighted the need to create achievable Finally, the need for society to reclaim the targets that yield progress and provide a system for creating credit from the private sense of accomplishment. sector was acknowledged as a way to ensure it would be used to promote sustainable Comments and Recommendations development, such as developing decent It was noted that there are already many urban living environments instead of just technologies that could be employed to large urban construction projects. address carbon footprint; it is not necessary

28 WANA Forum Report 2010 5 Photo credit: Adam Pattıson

Launch of the Arabic Report of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor: Making the Law Work for Everyone l Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of the often the greatest victims of poverty. Surely, WANA Forum and Commissioner on zakat, in its broader understanding could E Legal Empowerment of the Poor, help, but solutions are needed that empower chaired the launch of the Arabic Report people to break the cycle of poverty and all of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor forms of exclusion that come with it. (LEP): Making the Law Work for Everyone. Four billion inhabitants of today’s In his opening remarks, he confirmed world are statistically poor. They have that human capital is the most important been left out from any economic scheme pillar on which countries depend for their and development agenda, rendering them continuity and survival. If this human capital without any contribution to their societies. is grounded or depleted, it will be reflected The effect of such exclusion and its in the advancement of society or render any implications on the stability and security of development an illusion. societies is very clear. All of humanity stands His Royal Highness also stated that to lose if four billion human beings remain poverty does not only mean material outside any inclusive formula. No society can poverty. Everything that limits the power prosper, or even progress, if people are not of humanity – psychologically, physically effective stakeholders of their own futures. It and spiritually – is part of poverty. Any is the essence of citizenship. infringement on anyone’s rights by restraint, Only practical considerations will allow oppression and denial is poverty. It extends society to move from words to actions and beyond hunger, thirst, famine, epidemics, this is the core of the principle of Making desertification and so on. the Law Work for Everyone, and the concept The uprooted (refugees, displaced of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor. The persons, migrants and people uprooted report contains practical and implementable from their land due to climate change, wars, mechanisms, tables and strategies that could conflicts and different forms of tyranny) are lead to access to justice, property rights,

WANA Forum Report 2010 29 and policies governing the economic, social and political affairs in many countries prevent sufficient access to a large part of the community. The rules of the game themselves are not fair. This, of course, is not only morally unacceptable but also impedes economic development and can lead to instability and insecurity. The LEP report focuses on the process of changing the methodology through which the poor are labour and business rights. A bottom up excluded and marginalised so they may approach coupled with unconventional benefit from the rule of law and the legal innovative approaches is the solution to this system and services to protect their rights dilemma. Prince El Hassan concluded that and interests and increase economic activity our challenges are supranational and so in their capacity as citizens and actors in should the solutions be. their communities. Rights protected by law include the right to vote, the right to Medhat Hassenein, Professor of Finance freedom of expression and the right to and Banking at the American University of trial in accordance with due legal process. Cairo, stressed that in this day and age, The report found that when the poor are the available body of knowledge should protected and have access to opportunities be able to provide the opportunities of through the legal system, the practical economic growth for everyone. The fortunes benefits become a reality. When the informal generated globally over the past few years economy becomes legalised, the tax base are unprecedented. Yet, the overwhelming will expand and widen, and the state majority of the world’s population is still revenues for national development will result deprived, and lack of income is only one in further economic gains, which lead to the dimension of the problem. Poverty-stricken expansion of domestic markets and increase communities have been excluded outside the financial activity at all levels. scope of the rule of law. Whether they live Based on the four essential pillars of the below the poverty line or slightly above it, Legal Empowerment of the Poor (access to they are men, women and children who lack justice and the rule of law; property rights; access to any rights or protection under the labour rights and business rights), citizens law. Although they are considered citizens and grassroots organisations are able to of their countries, the modest resources create momentum for significant change, they have – at best – cannot be protected or through public awareness and mobilisation increased appropriately. to support the main themes in the process of The report places the greatest legal empowerment. responsibility of widespread poverty on The report identifies those who could society and proves that laws, institutions be in a position to assist governments,

30 WANA Forum Report 2010 such as the World Bank, the United Nations from isolation and exclusion and called for Development Programme (UNDP), the peaceful solutions to armed conflict and International Labour Organization (ILO), displacement. the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Habitat Agenda of the Amal Basha, Chairperson of Sisters Arab United Nations as well as regional political Forum for Human Rights in Yemen, pointed organisations, banks and institutions and out that the laws currently in place need civil society organisations, social workers, to be reviewed, so as not to crush women the business community, professional under the mirage of customs, traditions and associations, religious groups, particularly in laws. She also called for a focus on political their contributions to empowering the poor and economic reforms to ensure that the on the ground. marginalised, including women, do not A number of personalities heavily remain victims. involved with social work and human rights in WANA were invited to comment on the Hummam Ghassib, Secretary General of the LEP report. Arab Thought Forum, emphasised the need to make the content of the report available Adnan Badran, Chairman of the Board of the to the public on a large scale, particularly National Centre for Human Rights in Jordan, among young people and simplifying the stressed the importance of the international content in a way that does not jeopardise Declaration of Human Rights and the role of its integrity. He also called for the utilisation the Third Sphere (government, private sector of different media and publication tools in and civil society), creating an environment disseminating the message. for creative thinking and innovation. In his concluding remarks, Prince El Hassan Nuha al-Mikkawi, Governance Practice Leader noted that the current era of globalisation at the UNDP Regional Centre for Arab States, and privatisation should not mean the end stressed the need for the active participation of planning and priority setting. Priorities of civil society, including religious must stem from the needs of the region, institutions, in achieving the priorities of and should not be held captive by imported the third millennium. By 2015, the Arab agendas from foreign capitals. He stressed region will have achieved some of the that poverty eradication cannot be achieved Millennium Development Goals, but human without an increase in productivity; just development is a long-term process. The as preventive medicine must come before region is currently struggling to achieve the curative medicine. The WANA region must right balance between human ambition and re-examine its priorities and the ethics of the use of natural resources. She emphasised professions, concentrate on rights, not on that the UNDP will work in collaboration numbers, and change the behaviour of with other bodies and forums on legal young people, thus linking the future of the empowerment to achieve progress on the region with their legitimate aspirations. His ground. Royal Highness warned of the spread of the hatred industry in the world, stressing the Khadija Hussein, Founder and Chairperson of importance of ‘normalisation’ of relations the Sudanese Mothers for Peace, explained between Arabs and Muslims toward the impact of war and conflict on mothers meaningful cooperation for the sake of and children, as they often suffer the most future generations.

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Displacement and Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Recovery

ohammed Al-Arifi, Technical of some states in the region to become Department Manager of the Saudi signatories of the 1951 UN Refugee M Fund for Development, introduced Convention and 1967 Protocol. the panel and reiterated the need for a Yet the region has a rich culture of taking supranational mechanism rooted in WANA in persons at risk and needing refuge. A to address conflict and its aftermath. He also UNHCR-sponsored book by Cairo University cited the ‘Cost of Conflict in the Middle East’ law professor and dean of the law faculty, Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) 2009 report, Ahmed Abu Al-Wafa (The Right to Asylum which argues that conflict has cost the region Between Islamic Shari’ah and International around US$12 trillion in missed economic Refugee Law: A Comparative Study, 2009) growth and development over the last two describes the influence of Islam and Arab decades. tradition on modern-day international refugee law. Protection of refugees, their Imran Riza, Jordan Representative of the property and families, non-refoulement, United Nations High Commissioner for the civilian character of asylum, voluntary Refugees (UNHCR), gave an overview of the repatriation are all referenced in the Quran. total registered refugees, asylum seekers and Mr. Riza spoke about the ‘brain drain’ internally displaced persons and returnees in in the context of the uprooted, noting that the WANA region, which includes 11,807,611 some of the most educated and talented people. individuals are being resettled abroad He stressed the need not to just mitigate rather than helping in the reconstruction against displacement but make constructive of their communities. WANA lacks policies use of displacement when it occurs. Yet and incentives for people to stay and the politics of the region often means a enhance the region’s carrying capacity. reluctance to recognise the ‘refugeeness’ of One recent and promising trend is cross- refugees, which underlies the unwillingness border migration to allow Iraqi refugees, for

32 WANA Forum Report 2010 example, to go back and forth between Iraq toward resolving the refugee problem, thus and Jordan in order to access resources they allowing, in accordance with international have at home. law, the dignified return of refugees to their homeland. She highlighted the need for the Lily Habash, Deputy Chief Technical Advisor international community to continuously for the Capacity Development Initiative of recognise the right of return, as well as the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the demand that Israel apologise to Palestinians Palestinian People (PAPP), presented the for the moral and historic damage they have situation of Palestinians today, speaking in incurred as a result of Israeli occupation. her personal capacity independent of her As a third generation refugee herself, Ms. official position in UNDP/PAPP. Habash said that she and her family accepted She noted that Palestinians have their fate and moved on in life, but that, for undergone 62 years of continuous suffering, the sake of her own dignity, she requires this a denial of their right of return to the apology and recognition of responsibility. It land from which they were displaced, is essential, she said, for future reconciliation institutionalised violations of basic human between Palestinians and Israelis. rights and freedoms, and still there is no just In her capacity as member on the resolution in sight. Refugees in the Occupied advisory board of the Palestinian UNDP Palestinian Territories constitute 45 per Palestinian Human Development Report cent of the total population. The records 2009 / 10, Ms. Habash shared the report’s of the United Nations Relief and Works main findings. The widespread absence of Agency (UNRWA) in mid 2009 show that human security in the Occupied Palestinian the number of registered refugees totalled Territories has greatly impeded Palestinian 4.7 million, constituting 43.4 per cent of the progress, and until Palestinians are afforded total Palestinian population. Of these, 41.7 economic and environmental control – per cent are in Jordan, 9.9 per cent in Syria, specifically control over macro-economic 9 per cent in Lebanon, 16.3 per cent in the policy, trade, livelihoods, water resources West Bank and 23 per cent in Gaza. and borders – sustained development will United Nations data shows that remain elusive. Palestinian refugees are still vulnerable The report also explores different facets because of continued conflict, their relation of human security, economy, food, health, to the labour market in general and the environment, politics and community from degree to which their social and political the perspective of establishing freedom from rights are on par with other inhabitants want and fear, freedom to live in dignity and of the host countries. Ms. Habash added reframing the concept of security, so that the that this leads to disempowerment and a security of the individual is placed on par continued dependence on aid from UNRWA with the security of the state. whose focus is not necessarily development Ms. Habash supported the Report’s but rather humanitarian. Palestinians face a argument that the crisis of poverty future absent of human security and stability in Palestine is not about a poverty of for generations to come. insufficiency or lack of capacity, but a Ms. Habash noted that in the midst of all poverty of disempowerment in terms of the the challenges facing the institutionalisation extent of control over borders and micro as and financial stability of humanitarian well as macro level policy. Israel’s systematic institutions that serve refugees around the segregation of Palestinian communities into world, it is crucial to continuously work a series of fragmented archipelagos has had

WANA Forum Report 2010 33 far reaching implications for Palestinian developing Palestinian internal cohesion. economic, social and cultural cohesion. Fragmentation has also severely weakened Ahmed Hassan, President of the Somali Red the central authority and central institutions Crescent Society, began his presentation by of governance of the Palestinian Authority noting that for over two decades, Somalia and intensified internal Palestinian political has been without a Central Government polarisation. A pragmatic approach to and is characterised by lawlessness and promoting human security whilst under, insecurity, especially in the south and or emerging from, occupation would central regions. Since 1991 conflict, recurrent be needed, and could be based on a drought and occasional floods have affected participatory state-building strategy to Somalia in general and in particular the promote territorial continuity, economic south and central regions. These disasters integration, social cohesion, sovereignty and have killed thousands of people and political reconciliation. rendered millions displaced. However, In conclusion, Ms. Habash reiterated Somaliland and Puntland experience a the Report’s recommendations for the general good level of peace and stability and establishment of a Commission for a fairly functioning administration. Representative Governance to monitor the At the end of 2008, a significant political implementation of the suggested state- change took place in Somalia. In December building strategy to ensure transparency 2008, Abdullahi Yusuf resigned as president of the Palestinian Authority and build of the Transitional Federal Government accountability and credibility. She also (TFG), and in January 2009, Sheikh Sharif stressed the Report’s call for de-linking aid Sheikh Ahmed, the leader of the Islamic from the political process so that institutional Courts Union who vowed to end the arrangements can be established to ensure conflict in Somalia, was elected as the new that the rights of Palestinians are protected president of the country. In anticipation and their needs addressed in accordance of this political change, Ethiopian troops, with international law. Finally, Ms. Habash present in Somalia since December 2006, noted that WANA could take on efforts to withdrew from Mogadishu and Baidoa. promote education, empowerment and equal This new political development in Somalia, human rights for Palestinian refugees in host which initially brought hope for a political countries and provide neutral support to solution to Somalia’s long-standing crisis, was short lived. It rather soon resulted in serious divisions 1,807,611 people* in WANA are registered refugees, asylum between the Islamic Courts seekers and internally displaced persons and returnees Union and triggered armed conflict between TFG on one Iraqis registered with UNRWA (as of April 2010) in Jordan: 32,169; Syria: 165,493; Lebanon: 8,035; Egypt: 6,573; Iran: 4,084; Total: 216,354 side and the Harakat Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam on the other. Palestinians registered with UNRWA (as of December 2009) in Jordan: 1,983,733; Syria: 472,109; Lebanon: 425,640; Total: 2,881,481 Fighting broke out in Mogadishu between the TFG in May 2009, supported by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on one side and Harakat Al- Shabaab Mujahideen, Hizbul * Data as of January 2009, except for Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and Egypt which are from March 2010. Islam and other militia groups

34 WANA Forum Report 2010 on the other side. Since then, fighting has education, water/sanitation, veterinary been ongoing, causing loss of life, mass services, roads, etc.) both Somaliland displacement of people and the destruction and Puntland need humanitarian and of infrastructure. development assistance. Dr. Hassan noted that since 2009, the Dr. Hassan stressed that according to humanitarian landscape of Somalia has been the World Human Development Report characterised by the following factors and in 2009, Somalia is one of the world’s developments: poorest countries. Food insecurity affects g In Mogadishu, escalating conflict, an estimated 17 million people in Ethiopia, violence and indiscriminate mortar Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, Eritrea and parts attacks and shelling are resulting of Kenya and Uganda. There is also a high in high civilian casualties. In 2009, level of global acute malnutrition (GAM) in Keysaney Hospital (founded by large parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and International Committee of the Red Sudan. The affected populations are those Cross together with the Somalia Red who already live on the margins of survival Crescent Society) has treated 2357 due to conflict, displacement and chronic war-wounded persons. poverty. Conflict and political instability g Massive internal displacement in the are serious challenges in Somalia, Ethiopia, southern and central regions of the Sudan and Yemen, and have lead to high country, particularly in and around numbers of refugees as well as internally Mogadishu. An estimated number displaced people. of 1.55 million people are displaced across the country. Bakhtiar Amin, Founder of the International g Drought, food insecurity and Alliance for Justice and Former Minister of malnutrition throughout the whole Human Rights of Iraq, addressed the plight country, including Somaliland of the uprooted in the historical and present- and Puntland, affecting urban day context of Iraq. The Iraqi refugees and poor, pastoral and agro-pastoral IDPs are estimated to be between four - four communities. According to the 2009 FAO/the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) assessment, 3.64 million Somalis are in need of livelihood support and humanitarian assistance. g Despite functioning administration in place in Somaliland and Puntland, due to the lack of resources and basic infrastructure (health,

WANA Forum Report 2010 35 of population and its Some of the most educated and talented restitution might cause individuals are being resettled abroad rather it again. Yet, there are IDPs and refugees who than helping in the reconstruction of their have not regained their communities. WANA lacks policies and houses and properties. The drainage of Marsh incentives for people to stay and enhance Arab Lands (used to the region’s carrying capacity be called the Venice of the Middle East and the Garden of Eden) in and a half million today. He noted that Iraq the South, which constitutes a human and is one of the biggest producers of refugees environmental catastrophe, has also led to and displaced people in the WANA region massive displacement of the population of and in the world; although to a much lesser the South of Iraq in the 1990s towards other extent it has also received refugees from its areas of Iraq and Iran. neighbouring countries and the region. The Iraq-Iran War, the Gulf Wars, For several decades in Iraq, millions of sanctions, repressive policies of the regime, persons have been internally displaced, forced enrolment in the armed forces, deported or forced into exile. The exact popular militia, Al Quds Army, Fedayeen figure of uprooted Iraqis, both during Saddam and Ashbal Saddam and other and post Saddam Hussein’s regime, is security, militia and para-military entities problematic and inaccurate. Various sources were all decisive push factors behind the decrease or increase the number due to their displacement and migratory waves of Iraqis. various political interests. Multiple sources The exodus of over 60,000 Iraqi Kurds estimate the number of Iraqi refugees, before from Duhok province to Turkey in 1988 the fall of the Baathist regime in 2003, to be occurred right after the end of the Iraq-Iran three to five million people. UN-HABITAT war as a result of chemical attacks by the estimate IDPs to be 805,000 in the North Iraqi government. The refugees were placed (Kurdistan region) and 100,000 to 300,000 in in three camps in Diyarbakir, Mush and the southern and central parts of Iraq. Most Marin in Turkey. The failure of the uprising of the refugees and IDPs during Saddam’s of 1991 following the Gulf War after the time were Kurds and Shiaa. Today, the Kuwait invasion led to massive exodus of IDPs are of all communities and most of the Iraqi refugees to neighbouring countries, a refugees, in particular in the neighbouring time period characterised by many in the Arab countries, are Sunnis. international community and media as the Mr. Amin noted that the first wave of largest human exodus after the Second World refugees from Iraq were opponents of the War. Iraqis from the South, Central Euphrates Baathist coup d’état of 1968, then the Jews of and Eastern parts of the country, including Iraq in the 1970s. The policy of demographic the entire population of Iraqi Kurdistan – changes targeted mainly the Shiaa population over four million people, were in movement of Iraq and the Kurdish community. The towards the Iranian and Turkish borders in administrative decapitation policy of the cold, snowy, rugged mountainous and mined provinces of Karbala, Diyala, Salahaddin, areas, dying by the hundreds. Kirkuk, Erbil, Mossul and Amara and the This human tragedy was televised, capital Baghdad caused some movements shocked international public opinion and,

36 WANA Forum Report 2010 as a result, a no fly zone in the North and the Iraqi government, such as the Ministry of the South was created and the United Migration and Displaced, most refugees have Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued its not returned to Iraq. first human rights resolution. Resolution Mr. Amin noted that the security situation 688 (issued in April 1991) condemned the in Iraq remains fragile with differences from repression of the Iraqi civilian population province to province. It is not advisable to and demanded that Iraq immediately put refoule or force Iraqi refugees or IDPs back. an end to it. Many refugees were able to Repatriation by foreign countries – be they return to their homes, but many others were European, Middle Eastern or other – should displaced across the region and beyond. be based on free choice with necessary In the post-conflict period of 2003, the facilities and financial assistance. Iraqi push factors for new displacement and authorities have also made some support refugees were not a systematic centralised available through the Ministry of Migration state or a ruling authority’s policy. Rather, it and Displaced, the Prime Minister’s Office, was due to multiple factors and challenges local authorities, the Iraqi Red Crescent, the such as insecurity, flight from fear and Kurdistan Regional Government and civil want, terrorism, Al Qaeda, remnants of society organisations. Saddam’s regime, obscurantist forces, In conclusion, Mr. Amin noted that outlaws, sectarian violence (its apogee the best help from neighbours and the was after the attack on the Samara Holy international community would be to Shrines in 2006 and continued until 2008), contribute to the stability of Iraq, the national militias, occupation, resistance, economic reconciliation process and the success of instability, cross-border operations, sabotage the democratic and political process in the activities, lack of services and good country in order for these refugees and IDPs governance, electricity and water problems, to return back to their homes. social injustices, restricted social freedom by multiple actors, nepotism, clientelism, Mohammad Ehsan Zia, CEO of TADBEEN corruption, organised crime groups, Consulting Inc. and former Minister of Rural intimidations, harassments, kidnappings, Development of Afghanistan, began his human rights violations, the occupation, presentation with a quote from a senior military operations, the dire economic NATO commander he thought accurately situation and unemployment. sums up the challenge faced by Afghanistan The Iraqi refugee situation in the today: aftermath of the 2003 conflict is characterised “A successful counterinsurgency strategy by the presence of various observers and needs three pillars: an effective military/ human rights organisations in some countries security campaign; an effective local of the region as the open door policy in development/governance campaign; and an Syria, a semi tolerant host in Jordan, a totally exit strategy of [international forces]. Today’s indifferent host in Egypt, and a host of Afghanistan counterinsurgency (COIN) rejection and detention in Lebanon. Although strategy has the first, a start to the second the situation of Iraqi refugees and IDPs in and almost none of the third. The COIN the post 2003 era has received more regional strategy has shortcomings that can be fixed and international attention and support, more by linking development and governance assistance and understanding is needed. work to ongoing Afghan national and Despite the improved security situation international development programmes.” and the support and facilities provided by Mr. Zia argued that this statement reveals

WANA Forum Report 2010 37 one major challenge: the lack of unity of The Taliban are not the only threat or purpose in every aspect within and between the single source of all of Afghanistan’s all stakeholders, between military operations, problems. The rule of law is equally civilian and aid efforts, among and within undermined by a number of other actors the international community, between the within the country who pose an imminent international community and the government threat to peace and security, especially if of Afghanistan, and finally and most visibly, the international focus and presence should the lack of unity of purpose within the draw down. Afghan government itself. To meet the deadlines set by the Unity of purpose is fundamental to international community, NATO commanders the success of efforts in Afghanistan. The and the Afghan National Security Forces have cause of unity of purpose is not served rapidly expanded the first pillar of the COIN when different actors in the international operations. But the other equally important community are not on the same page and pillars of development and governance envision different endgames to the situation. are lagging far behind. Development Mr. Zia noted that counterinsurgency cannot programmes of the government of be successfully achieved in isolation and Afghanistan are buried under multiple layers without state building. If state institutions in of donor and government bureaucracies, Afghanistan are not sufficiently built, and the absurd conditionalities and opposing international forces leave the county, all of interests and priorities. the hard-won gains will be lost. People are disappointed with the slow What is worrying is that the international pace of development and the lack of community and the government of government leadership. No one is thinking Afghanistan, in their search for quick out of the box. A one-size fits all solution solutions and a rapid exit strategy in the is being applied, regardless of the unique shortest possible timeframe, revert to the circumstances in the different areas of same old solutions which have already been the country. There is a general consensus condemned by history. that poverty is one of the motivators for These solutions include the continued the growing insurgency. The most recent co-optation and legitimisation of the forces national study reveals that disparities of warlordism, ill-conceived efforts such as between rich and poor are rapidly growing the Afghanistan Social Outreach Programme, in Afghanistan, despite the billions of dollars formation of tribal militias, the Community of development investment by donors in the Defence Initiatives, and so on. All these country. attempts at crafting quick- impact, short-term, and cheap Attempts at crafting quick-impact, solutions to problems which short-term and cheap solutions to problems are fundamentally neither short-term nor easy to fix, which are fundamentally neither short-term end up diverting attention, nor easy to fix, end up diverting attention, resources and time from the kind of long-term serious resources and time from the kind of long- investments that are needed term serious investments that are needed to extend the rule of law and build up the institutions of to extend the rule of law and build up the the state. institutions of the state

38 WANA Forum Report 2010 7 Photo credit: Right to Play

Social Cohesion in the WANA Region

aha Yahya, Regional Advisor on and every ethnic group has its own culture, Social Policy at the United Nations but as a result of a thousand years of M Economic and Social Commission common history, there is also a common for Western Asia (ESCWA), introduced the Chinese culture which links these groups panel and noted that it will address several together. of the challenges identified in previous Second, addressing the new challenges sessions. The main issues will be the affecting social cohesion – such as an mechanisms for fostering social cohesion, unsustainable investment-driven growth the roles of different stakeholders – such as pattern, an unbalanced industrial structure, governments, civil society, the private sector unbalanced development between urban and and donor organisations – in so doing, and rural areas as well as different regions, and how their efforts can complement each growing income disparity – is crucial both for other. maintaining social cohesion and sustaining economic development. The new approach Hu Shaocong, Director of the Department adopted by the Chinese government is for the Developing Countries Studies, China based on putting development first, but also Institute of International Studies, stressed introduces harmony and balance to promote the importance of social cohesion for comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development in all countries, and highlighted development. This involves changing growth three key elements of social cohesion from patterns, accelerating the development China’s experience. First, social cohesion of the rural and western region of China, under the consensus of development has reforming the wealth distribution system and provided a solid basis for economic growth increasing the income of poor people. The – a generally stable society also creates real challenge still remains in implementing an enabling environment for economic this new approach to development. development. China has 56 ethnic groups, Third, every country has to find its own

WANA Forum Report 2010 39 way to achieve social cohesion, because assertion of distinctiveness and ascription every society has its own circumstances, of a special function – and diversity – special conditions, priorities, context of which maintains boundaries and is aware consensus and its own way to achieve it. of self-identity, but is socially relevant and While learning from the experiences of other harmonious. It would also be important to countries can help, ultimately, every society focus on equality, acknowledge that social knows how to solve its own problems and cohesion is a two-way process, always only that society itself can solve them. contextualised and addresses both the social and cultural dimensions. Amal Basha, Chairperson of the Sisters It is easy to acknowledge the potential Arab Forum for Human Rights in Yemen, of equality to contribute to social cohesion, reflected on the challenges to fostering but is difficult to translate it into policy. The social cohesion in Yemen. She noted that acceptance of a two-way process involves development in Yemen has been affected an acceptance of diversity on the part of by conflicts in Somalia, Iraq and Palestine. existing elites. The media and the State have Yemen has suffered from wars in the North, a key role to play in adopting “myth busting” which in turn have led to a problem of strategies in order to pave the way for internally displaced people and refugees. improving social cohesion. The way in which The Yemeni president has remained in office social cohesion is understood is always for 20 years, and religious forces have all context-sensitive – it differs based on time but silenced political debate in the country. and place. Therefore, it would be important Political pluralism is no longer tolerated, to acknowledge that Islam as a context for religious diversity is constrained and pluralism has both a theoretical and practical women’s rights are ignored. In recent years, part to play, going beyond the public-private Yemen has also suffered from the emergence divides. of terrorist organisations and Somali pirates In conclusion, Dr. Godazgar noted on its territory. There is a growing division that promoting social cohesion requires between the North and the South, which addressing both economic and cultural seriously hinders economic development and issues. Improving economic equality is a social cohesion. necessary but not a sufficient condition for the promotion of social cohesion – Hossein Godazgar, Reader and Deputy Head intercultural understanding is also a critical of Department for the Study of Islam and part of a positive change towards social Muslims at Al-Maktoum Institute, identified cohesion. three main approaches to social cohesion and exclusion: the redistributionist discourse, Jan Sadlak, Vice-Rector for International which emphasises economic inequalities; Cooperation at the Wasrsaw School of Social the moral underclass discourse, which Psychology and Humanities, defined social emphasises cultural differences and cohesion as the glue that brings people exclusion; and the social integrationist together in society, particularly in conditions discourse, which emphasises paid work. He of social diversity. Even some credit rating noted that none of the three touch upon the agencies look at social cohesion as a variable social scientific meaning of social cohesion. when setting credit ratings for governments. In WANA, it would be necessary to Dr. Sadlak focused on the role of higher distinguish between difference – which education in social cohesion because draws and maintains boundaries via the he sees knowledge-sharing as the most

40 WANA Forum Report 2010 effective instrument of social cohesion; every educational institution is a stakeholder Universities are not only and partner in fostering it. Universities are creators and custodians of responsible for education, research and societal development. They develop creative knowledge, but also values. solutions and they can also better anticipate They should no longer be their own optimal role in society. Universities are not only creators and custodians of thought of as ivory towers knowledge, but also values. They should but rather, as vital elements of no longer be thought of as ivory towers but rather, as vital elements of social, economic social, economic and cultural and cultural development. development In Europe, the Bologna process is an important element of the development of education is a fundamental tool for a regional identity because knowledge improving the situation of women in society does not stop at geographical borders. The and achieving gender equality. Further WANA region would also benefit from an education is an indispensable tool for exchange programme at university levels. promoting economic growth. In China, the Study programmes would need to reflect secondary vocational education now includes multiculturalism, developing a global more than 86 per cent of the population, perspective and firm values. The interplay because the development of skills of workers between global and local knowledge is is extremely important; it is the driving force essential for innovation; mono-cultures do of a knowledge-based economy. not innovate. The three goals of fostering social Dr. Sadlak concluded that people are cohesion in China are sustainable driven by short-term concerns and it is finally development, eliminating conflicts and time to start seeing the urgency of what is instable environments and social, economic, going on. environmental and cultural development. Essential elements in China’s development Zhou Nan-Zhao, President of the UNESCO have been learning from the experiences Asia-Pacific Network for International of other countries and reversing the brain Education and Values Education (APNIEVE) drain. International education is necessary and President of the Chinese Council on for deriving benefits from educational Private Higher Education, quoted a Chinese innovations and working together in a proverb: “If you are planning for a year, globalised world. They are essential for sow rice. If you are planning for a decade, building pillars of education for the 21st plant trees. If you are planning for a lifetime, century, learning to live together and educate people.” Education is, therefore, appreciate diversity. International education a powerful tool for social cohesion and has three main dimensions: globalised poverty alleviation. There is, for example, a problems, the transitional flow of teachers, strong correlation between poverty, social and aid and trade flows. The cooperation exclusion and illiteracy. China has been one of the International Research and Training of the very few countries to achieve the Centre for Rural Education (INRULED) is Millennium Development Goals on halving China’s contribution to supporting teacher poverty and reducing illiteracy. training. In the experience of China, secondary Dr. Zhou outlined a path for moving

WANA Forum Report 2010 41 from ideas to action: developing a long-term was no licensing for private radio in Jordan. vision for social cohesion and sustainable Therefore, he connected with private radio development; highlighting the significance stations in Palestine, to which his station of education, developing multi-sectoral and broadcast on the Internet and which then multi-stakeholder approaches to initiatives; broadcast the same programme on radio placing international education higher on waves. Some years later, the airwaves were the agenda, setting up a UNESCO sub- deregulated and more private radio stations regional taskforce; expanding inter-regional emerged. At the moment, radio in the WANA cooperation on education, and mobilising region is very centralised and would need to educational and cultural resources through be decentralised in order to promote social cross-cultural learning. cohesion.

Daoud Kuttab, Founding Director of Comments and Recommendations Community Media Network and Media In the ensuing discussions it was noted Activist in Palestine and Jordan, stressed the that promoting social cohesion would need importance of media. He noted the zenith of a holistic approach, with top-down and the radio coinciding with uprisings against bottom-up support. Culture was highlighted rulers in the WANA region which had an as a key priority for promoting social adverse effect on the development of media cohesion and regional cooperation. in the region in the 20th century. There has With regard to community media, it always been a connection between political was noted that community media could rulers and local radio, which has effectively help people in the peripheries to be better become a mouthpiece of the government aware of what happens in centres. Radios – this phenomenon has prevented the do not require much power and could even use of the radio as an educational tool. It be operated by solar energy in rural areas, would be important for social cohesion to which would serve to promote inclusion, introduce community radios to the WANA education and capacity-building. The WANA region. Licensing radio stations is commonly region could draw on lessons learned considered a national treasure, but from Africa, where community radios have governments in WANA are not tapping into played an important role. It was also noted this treasure as they are not granting licenses that public-private partnerships could be and providing opportunities for people explored to promote community radios. to develop their own media structures. Media reform could be selected as a priority Mr. Kuttab noted that in 2000, when he for promoting development in WANA. established an Internet radio station, there The need for developing media to promote thinking and There is a strong correlation understanding was highlighted to fill the gap between commercial between poverty, social exclusion media and educational and illiteracy. According to a Chinese institutions. The establishment of an Arab Portal for the Proverb, if you are planning for a year, dissemination of ideas that emerge sow rice. If you are planning for a from the WANA Forum was suggested. decade, plant trees. If you are planning for a lifetime, educate people

42 WANA Forum Report 2010 8 Photo credit: Kaikobad

Our Common Future: Water, Environment and Energy Community

his guest session was organised by the g Emin Onen, Member of Parliament, Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) and Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs T consisted of five components. The of AK Party, Turkey. first component was a Vision Conversation The Third component was Strategic between El Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of Dialogue on International Cooperation the WANA Forum, and Sundeep Waslekar, with senior diplomats from Sweden and President of SFG. Switzerland, including: The second component was a Strategic g Jean-Daniel Ruch, Special Envoy Dialogue on Concrete Policy Initiatives, for the Middle East, Government of which included the following panelists: Switzerland; g Karim Nashashibi, Economic Advisor g Francois Muenger, Head of Water to the Prime Minister of the Palestine Initiatives, Swiss Agency for Authority; Development and Cooperation; g Saban Disli, Member of Parliament, g Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Deputy Head of Economic Advisor to the Prime the Middle East Division, Ministry of Minister of Turkey; Foreign Affairs, Sweden; g Dureid Mahasnah, Former Water g Annika Johansson, Regional Water Negotiator, Jordan Valley Secretary Coordinator, Swedish International General and Co-Chair, Jordan-Water Development Agency. Community with Israel and Syria; The fourth component was a presentation g Kamal Field Al-Basri, Chairman and on water scarcity and drought in the WANA Member of the Board of Trustees, Iraq region by WANA Forum Environment Institute for Economic Reform, Iraq; Working Group member Jauad El-Kharraz, g Selim Catafaco, President of the Information Manager of the Technical Unit at National Authority of the Litani River, the Euro-Mediterranean Information System Lebanon; on Know-how in the Water Sector (EMWIS).

WANA Forum Report 2010 43 He gave an overview of the working group’s are part of the same political dynamic; the assessment of current environmental, social first such circle of cooperation could be and economic impacts of water scarcity and formed by Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and drought in WANA. He shared examples of Jordan for sustainable management of water water demand and supply management and the environment. In order for such a measures and drought and risk management circle to translate into a reality, Prince El implemented or planned in the WANA region Hassan recommended the establishment in order to mitigate the impacts of water of an independent regional entity with a scarcity and drought. The expected impacts mandate to introduce practical measures for of climate change on the region and the cooperation. This idea was supported by concept of virtual water were also addressed. opinion makers from the region, as well as Dr. El-Kharraz acknowledged that data gaps international diplomats who participated in remain and listed his recommendations for the Strategic Dialogue of the plenary. ways forward, discussed in the Environment Other concrete ideas were also Break-Out Session (page 69), which include presented to enable the region to move the establishment of an effective WANA ahead, breaking the cycle of conflict that drought information system. The fifth has undermined the ability to harness component of the plenary was an open human potential and allowed crisis of discussion with WANA Forum participants. water scarcity to loom on the horizon. The The plenary, organised as part of the plenary emphasised that concentric circles SFG’s initiative for water security in the of cooperation should be based on a shared Middle East, aimed to advance policy conceptual premise, and that: deliberations that began in Montreux, g Water should be treated as a Switzerland in February 2010, with two cornerstone of cooperation. In the workshops engaging 60 senior opinion same way as the coal and steel makers from the Middle East. The Montreux community provided a foundation Workshops resulted in an Agenda for for regional cooperation in Europe Action, with several ideas presented in the 1950s, water and environment for consideration by the policymaking are at the core of the current stage community in the region and the of technological development in the international donor community interested world. in peace and cooperation in the Middle g If water is not treated as an instrument East. In Amman, the discussion progressed of cooperation, crises are inevitable. In to develop some of the broad ideas into the same way as the nuclear arms race realisable aspirations. threatened destruction of humankind Prince El Hassan lamented the half a century ago, water scarcity transformation of the Fertile Crescent into threatens human survival in the the Futile Crescent and introduced the coming decades. concept of concentric circles of cooperation g Water scarcity is closely linked to food as an innovative approach to break the security and health security. Therefore, political deadlocks in the region, which cooperation in water should be seen have made a collaborative response to in the context of agriculture and humanitarian problems very difficult. His sanitation. Food is already perceived Royal Highness proposed that the region as a basic human right. In a similar develop concentric circles of cooperation, way, sanitation should be treated as a where each circle consists of countries that human right.

44 WANA Forum Report 2010 Trans-boundary problems need to 5. To prepare for integrated water resource management on a be resolved but they cannot provide sustainable basis at the basin level. an alibi for ignoring domestic actions The proponents of the regional entity were clear that for improving sustainability such a mechanism should not g While not ignoring water rights, water be a negotiating platform, a should be treated as an instrument task performed by inter-governmental of partnership driven by needs and committees, nor should it undertake studies sustainability of the entire population and organise conferences, a task undertaken in a given geography. by established regional research centres. g Experience from around the world They proposed a multiple-layer structure proves that good ideas need sound for such a regional entity: institutional mechanisms to transform g A regional concept group of high into actions, and therefore a real level political leaders or their concentric circle of cooperation would representatives; only evolve with an institutional g A regional technical group of architecture. representatives of concerned ministries The plenary also realised that for and water authorities; the first circle to become a reality, the g A regional advisory group of experts concerned countries would need to create and civil society representatives; an independent regional entity with the g An international group of donor following objectives: countries and relevant international 1. To undertake an independent organisations; assessment of water resources in the g An independent secretariat. first circle countries and to examine The speakers from outside the region emerging trends with regards to indicated that such a regional entity could availability, needs and environmental potentially attract international support, implications of alternative water provided stakeholders in the region take scenarios; initiative and ownership to create its 2. To create regional protocols and foundation. Such an endeavour should practical measures for standardising be seen as the possibility of a partnership measurements of water flows and between regional and international actors. environmental indicators; Once a successful beginning is made 3. To harmonise water laws for in the first circle, stakeholders from other sustainable environment in the countries could form similar concentric countries forming the first circle; circles of cooperation. Eventually, it might 4. To enable projects of a regional be possible for different circles to explore nature, which by their very intersecting linkages. Such a phased characteristic cannot be undertaken approach could free cooperation in such at the national level, including the essential human issues as water security, development of a regional climate which is closely linked to food and health change model and using satellites security, from protracted conflicts. and remote sensing for mapping The High Level Plenary articulated underground water, arid land and aspirations for countries outside the first other phenomena; circle. One way to break the deadlock in

WANA Forum Report 2010 45 Israel-Palestine negotiations could be to be resolved but they cannot provide an alibi agree on a special fast track for negotiations for ignoring domestic actions for improving on water. The importance of water in sustainability. the peace process was recognised by the Experts have outlined a long list of Oslo Process, which created a Joint Water measures for sustainable water management. Committee. Unfortunately, at present, it The plenary identified some priority areas does not function as a joint forum, as the where action cannot wait any longer. While Palestinians complain about their proposals these desired measures are well known, being rejected by the Israeli authorities they need to be repeated until they are and unfair exploitation of aquifers by implemented on a wide scale. These include: Israeli nationals, while the Israeli side has g Mitigating conveyance losses which expressed reservations about the Palestinian amount to 50 per cent or more in water management practices. several countries in West Asia; In order to break the deadlock, it is g Introduction of efficient irrigation necessary to revive and reorganise the Joint practices and drought-resistant crops Water Committee in such a way that: given that agriculture accounts for g It facilitates discussion on equitable more than 80 per cent of water needs basis between Israeli and Palestinian in several countries; counterparts, where they discuss their g Use of small, particularly solar- grievances and expectations with a powered, waste water treatment plants common vision to save and sustain and desalination plants, which can be water resources; deployed at the household level, on a g It brings in representatives of large scale; international donor governments as g Partnership with private sector to observers to ensure fairness in the exploit technology and modern management of water sector. management practices; Participants recognised water security as g Involvement of the Third Sphere to an important component of human security spread awareness and education about and, therefore, recommended that parties sound demand management practices, agree to treat water as a problem to be including the use of the Internet jointly solved on a fast track basis, without to publicise maps and facts, and being subjected to the long and protracted public hearings to express concerns process of negotiations on other contentious and aspirations of the marginalised issues. It is for the opinion makers in Israel sections of population. and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to The Plenary put a special emphasis on recognise their common future in sustainable solutions that benefit the poorest of the water management. If they agree to create poor. Small waste water treatment plants such a fast track, it will automatically create and desalination plants, which cost US$2000 the second concentric circle of cooperation to US$3000 per unit, can be used by a in the region. household or a small cluster of households Participants also recognised that water is to produce water for some households needs not merely an issue of discussion between and also for supporting small home gardens parties across borders and territorial to produce vegetables, which can create jurisdiction, but is also an issue of sound additional income. management within the jurisdiction of each country. Trans-boundary problems need to

46 WANA Forum Report 2010 9 Photo credit: Heathcliff O'Malley

Environment and Green Economy

bdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, CEO trade. This also leads to a general tendency of Al-Ihsan Charity Centre in the to treat it in isolation from economic, A United Arab Emirates, introduced social and political dimensions. Integration the panel and noted that developing a and a holistic approach to planning that green economy also generates employment demonstrates the linkages are important. opportunities and enhances the wellbeing Thus, a communications strategy that reaches of society. Sheikh Al Nuaimi suggested the a cross-section of stakeholders (politicians, discussants consider the potential benefits private sector, industry, etc.) is paramount. of transitioning to the green economy with Many decision makers are entrenched in respect to health, poverty reduction and the status quo and it would be important to public participation, and to identify the address the political economy and highlight agents of change (NGOs, government or the the opportunity for developing new jobs and private sector) best equipped to turn ideas improving equity. into action on the ground. The Green Economy Initiative provides an opportunity for leapfrogging and avoiding Hussein Abaza, Former Chief of Trade and the loopholes and negative impacts of Economics at the United Nations Environment current development paradigms of the West. Programme (UNEP), gave a brief overview Mr. Abaza recommended the WANA Forum of UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative, partner with the Arab Forum for Environment launched amid the financial crisis, and the and Development, which is already assessing Arab Green Economy Initiative. He noted current policies in seven sectors and is that despite the efforts of governments, engaged in capacity building efforts. sustainable development has largely not gained traction because many people still Walid Saleh, Regional Coordinator of the view the environment as a problem rather United Nations University International than as an opportunity for job creation and Network on Water, Environment and Health,

WANA Forum Report 2010 47 explained how a great deal of people, always assuming that progress means companies, cities and nations have started looking to the future, Mr. Serhal advocated to calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) taking a step back, learning from the past emissions (carbon footprints), having what is needed to meet the challenges of this acknowledged that it is only possible generation and the next. He mentioned the to reduce those emissions if they can Hima Fund, which aims to help NGOs across be measured. He presented the latest in the region work with local communities to carbon footprint software that measures revive a hybrid hima. consumption (by sectors) to ultimately produce per city measurements as part of a Kazi Jalal, Special Programme Instructor transition to a low carbon, resource efficient, for Environmental Studies at the Harvard 21st century Green Economy. University Extension School, outlined five The Greenhouse Gases Calculation recommendations for moving forward in a and Reduction Portal (GHG CRP) includes green economy era: components such as electricity, heating and g Establishing peace and security in the industrial fuels, ground transportation fuels, region is a prerequisite for sustainable aviation and marine transportation fuels, development. Lack of equitable emissions from industrial processes and peace and security has been a major product use and waste. It is a simple process constraint to achieving sustainable that involves inventory, calculations, analysis development. and a reduction plan. The objectives are g Initiating a study on WANA is to: 1) educate cities and organisations on important for data collection GHG inventory process and calculation; 2) and dissemination. In 1995, the provide an easy to use interface to capture Asian Development Bank (ADB) GHG inventory data; 3) implement a GHG initiated a programme to promote calculation methodology based on agreed regional cooperation on sustainable upon and proven standards; 4) assist cities development in Asia and soon in determining their GHG footprints; 5) realised the need for a comprehensive collaborate with other cities to compare study on economic, social and and contrast; and 6) link cities to networks environmental profiles and priorities of international professionals and training of its member countries. ADB and courses on GHG calculations and reduction Harvard Institute for International plans. Development (HIID) initiated a large- scale two year study titled “Emerging Asaad Serhal, Director General of the Society Asia: Changes and Challenges” which for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon formed the basis for a Regional (SPNL), introduced the concept of hima, Cooperation Framework (RCF) on which he defined as a community based sustainable development. Thematic system of conservation. Its historical roots works such as “Water in the Arab are in the Islamic concept of stewardship, World” exist but a broad study in of sustainable use of resources. He cited WANA is needed. faith, morality and law as the basics of g Jumpstarting a new production environmental ethics, but also said that revolution (industrial and agricultural). because people have become alienated Current industrial production has from these, the result has been poverty, five basic problems which should exclusiveness and violence. Instead of be avoided or minimised in the

48 WANA Forum Report 2010 Many people still view Soubhi Abdulkarim, Chairman and CEO of Souter Group, explained that although the environment as a problem many people think of technology as rather than as an opportunity rocket science, technology for sustainable development is already available, with some for job creation and trade companies comprised of just a few people working on solutions to today’s challenges WANA region: 1) use of materials and regarding water, food, energy and waste. processes that cause health hazards; What is needed is to bring these existing 2) system loss that cause wastage elements, these building blocks, together in and environmental hazards; 3) failure a way that addresses the needs of WANA. to reflect negative externalities in He stressed that more participation is product cost; 4) subsidies on energy needed from the private sector – people and water that mostly benefit those who bring technologies to the market. The better off rather than the poorest WANA Forum could be the portal to make and cause environmental hazards; this happen – for identifying, connecting 5) transaction costs are higher for and activating small and medium sized small-scale operators. With regard enterprises, integrating technologies. to agriculture, Dr. Jalal suggested He added that waste is a huge problem adopting redistributive policies that in the region that needs to be tackled, and favour access of the poor to land various technologies are available and should and modern inputs and microcredit, be further implemented. Mr. Abdulkarim also increasing public expenditure in less highlighted the need for new ‘green’ housing favoured agricultural land, increasing developments – not waterfront properties but investment in rain-fed agricultural basic, simple and affordable for the average areas and introducing drip irrigation, family in the WANA region. sand-dune stabilisation, controlled grazing, rodent control, etc. Raouf Dabbas, Senior Advisor at the Ministry g Ensuring that development assistance of Environment in Jordan, spoke about is effective. Ineffective development inclusive development and of identifying assistance, both from multilateral and tapping into the strengths of different financing institutions and bilateral countries in WANA – some may be leaders in agencies, in the past, has been a tourism, others in technology and so forth. cause of unsustainable development. Bringing the different variables together is Terms of lending from these financing important to bring about significant change. institutions have to be carefully Since 80 per cent of natural resources negotiated and in some cases even are consumed in cities, and with the rise avoided. of urban migration, he highlighted the g Widening geographical coverage importance of eco-cities. He cited Jordan of WANA to include Azerbaijan, as a case study since the municipality of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Amman partnered with the UN Industrial Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Development Organization (UNIDO). Uzbekistan as they share geographic He stressed the cross-cutting nature of proximity, socio-cultural similarity and sustainable development which encompasses already have experience in regional green construction, waste management, cooperation. mobility, energy, air and water and requires

WANA Forum Report 2010 49 collaboration across sectors (education, far from reach while efforts to establish a finance, legislation and so on). green economy, for example, are much more feasible today. In response, it was suggested Liu Baolai, Council Member of Chinese that too often people miss the larger picture People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, shared by focusing only on one element. China’s experience in combating climate The wisdom of “sustainable development” change and greening the economy. First, was challenged as lacking on both scientific China accelerated economic and industrial and moral grounds. Although millions of restructuring and increased research and people lack clean air and water, and are development to curb climate change. plagued by deteriorating ecosystems, these Measures are taken to save energy in problems are caused not by “unsustainable industry, transportation and construction, development” but by poverty, poorly promote energy-saving and environment- defined property rights and lack of freedom friendly cars, and encourage use of energy- of opportunity. Thus, the most important saving products with government subsidies, contribution that can be made to human close down backward production facilities welfare is an extension of human rights that are highly energy consuming and and democratic liberties, it was argued. The heavily polluting and expand forestation to only development that is truly sustainable is increase forest carbon sink. development accompanied by greater respect Second, despite its continued dependence for basic human rights throughout the world. on coal, China’s forward-thinking strategy Another issue raised was whether involves optimising its energy structure. companies in the region working on China is now leading the way in installed green technology could collaborate with hydro power capacity, nuclear power governments and NGOs for customised capacity, solar water heating panels and projects for those who cannot afford a pricey photovoltaic power capacity. fee. It was explained that many companies Third, China is working to educate the provide feasibility studies for free. public about making environmentally sound It was recommended that more ‘twinning’ choices. To meet this aim, the country has partnerships should be established, where improved its urban public transportation local universities and institutions partner with (bus, rail and subway) and has adopted academic programmes abroad. This could economic and legal measures. work well for eco-city initiatives as well as Lastly, China actively engages in for the exchange of information, experiences international exchange and cooperation, and creating enthusiasm. realising that environmental security is Finally, it was suggested that the WANA transnational and transregional, involving Forum develop the concept of a water environmental, economic, social and political footprint and virtual water to complement dimensions. carbon footprint.

Comments and Recommendations The Green Economy Initiative It was questioned whether it provides an opportunity for leapfrogging is realistic to set peace and security as a prerequisite for and avoiding the loopholes and negative sustainable development, since impacts of current development it was suggested that solutions to conflicts in the region are paradigms of the West

50 WANA Forum Report 2010 10 Photo credit: Ya Libnan Photo credit: Ya

Mobilising the Third Sphere for Collective Action

alma Abbasi, Chairperson and CEO be important for governments to establish of e Worldwide Group and Associate strategic partnerships with civil society S Fellow at King’s College London, organisations (CSOs). She also noted that Conflict, Security and Development Group, CSOs have been recognised by the United encouraged panelists to reflect on how best Nations and governments as real actors to streamline the work of multiple sectors for change. She stressed that CSOs cannot (public, private, civil society, academia) in a replace the state, but rather the combination cohesive manner and to leverage resources of a strong state and a strong and active civil for maximum impact. She also emphasised society can create the dynamics essential for the need to embrace latest technologies in change. creating a ‘living network’ and highlighted In the WANA region, very few countries the importance of adopting international are working in partnership with CSOs or marketing and awareness campaigns. In involving them in the decision making order to move from conversation to action, processes. Ms. Hamza further stressed she said that specific success indicators need that there are several limitations and to be developed to monitor progress and constraints, both external and internal, measure the impact of each initiative. for moving towards closer partnerships. Regional instability, the legal framework Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation of and geographical location are among the the Future, began her presentation by noting key external constraints, whereas weak that the involvement of civil society actors governments, lack of transparency and weak is key for change and reform at the political credibility are the key internal constraints. level as well as at the economic level, since In order to improve the situation in the they are central not only to democracy WANA region, she suggested adapting new but also in bringing about change for legislation on fiscal or economic incentives sustainable economic development. It would in order to promote philanthropy and

WANA Forum Report 2010 51 consultations between governments and and citizens need to feel that they are CSOs, improving access to information engaged and part of the process. The for CSOs and promoting a culture of civic potential of technology to correct this has education by adding civic awareness to largely been ignored. curricula. Savas Sahin, Urban and Regional Planner Naseem Tarawnah, General Manager of 7iber at the Department of Politics and Public Inc. and Social Media Enthusiast, presented Administration in Atilim University in Turkey, 7iber Inc.com, which is a virtual online noted that, as everywhere, people in the citizen journalism space where citizens can WANA region have very different desires submit comments and express their views or needs. Whereas some want to mainly without censorship. The content of this improve their material wellbeing, others want website is created by the people for the to learn, have a voice and change existing people. In the WANA region, the relationship conditions. The question then becomes between the Third Sphere and governments how to provide people with the possibilities is usually only understood to include of pursuing their desires and needs. governments, civil society organisations and Participation is an essential element. the private sector, leaving communities out He noted that there are several of the equation. Although the three other preconceived notions against participation, actors should work for the wellbeing and because it is usually a lengthy and time- service of the community, the views of consuming process, and often difficult to communities tend to be marginalised in the get practical solutions. This in turn leads process. to a tendency of organising small-scale Mr. Tarawnah noted that the emergence consultations and then continuing with of social media has allowed decentralisation initially planned developments despite the in the sense that it is possible for individuals outcomes of those consultations. However, and communities to express their views. this need not be the only course. Social Fortunately, the costs of the technology dynamics can be mobilised in several ways: tools required to make use of social media orally, in writing and through facilitation. All have diminished recently, allowing for more of these modalities allow for the aggregation people to make use of them. He stressed of ideas of a large number of people and the importance of civic engagement, of balancing conventions with creative ideas. civil society empowering people and Dr. Sahin presented a recent participatory bringing them together through the Internet. initiative in Turkish Public Administration, However, due to fear of being subjugated which sought to balance out economic- to one another, different actors are largely spatial-institutional planning through working in isolation from each other, and the participation in large cities. In Ankara, an key question that remains is how to engage in-depth stakeholder analysis was realised the people. and a database involving 11,000 public, He argued that a major problem of private and NGO stakeholders in Ankara development and reform agencies in the was produced. Detailed information for region is that civil society tends to be each stakeholder was gathered and a interested in raising funds more than helping communication and interaction strategy people in need – one could say that in the for consulting each group was developed. WANA region the train of reform is leaving Out of the large group of stakeholders the station without passengers. Communities initially mapped, a focus group of 1000

52 WANA Forum Report 2010 key stakeholders of strategic importance, was realised as one of the most successful influence and potential for contribution participatory planning processes completed was selected for a wave of communication within only six months with nearly no cost. through official letters, e-mails and text None of the stakeholders disputed the plan messages in order to collect information or went to court to object it, and official about their perception of the process as well authorities widely appreciated the plan. The as their recommendations and ideas about Turkish Prime Ministry and The Turkish strategic planning of Ankara. Ministry of Internal Affairs accepted it as After an analysis of the responses the national best practice. Universities also received, facilitation and moderation accepted the plan as a best practice and strategies and methods were finalised. A new lectures were given about it, and the Turkish tool called “stakeholder expectation meeting” Quality Association, a reference NGO for was created. One thousand stakeholders total quality management, selected it as the were gathered, where they produced ideas Best Practice in Sustainable Development. about developments in the Ankara Province, In conclusion, Dr. Sahin noted that the using special innovative and creative biggest obstacle for participatory government facilitation techniques. The whole process and participatory processes is prejudice. was completed in one week. A group of Innovation and creativity are of utmost 500 stakeholders was then identified for an importance for realising participation to its institutional strategic planning process of the full extent. A holistic and continued process Special Provincial Administration of Ankara. with the right degree of firmness is needed. Out of the different stakeholders, universities and specialty associations, Ali Rabi, President of the International 11 separate expert groups were created, University of Iran, Farabi Institute of Higher involving 500 experts in over 30 meetings. Education and Co-Chair of Middle East Together with decision-makers, they defined Citizens Assembly (MECA), noted that WANA strategic aims, performance criteria and is the richest region in the world not only action plans in 11 priority areas to complete in terms of gas and oil resources, but also the Provincial Strategic Plan of Ankara. in terms of challenges. There are missing An implementation, communication, and links between different actors in the region follow up strategy and programme was also with very few connections. There is also launched, disseminating 5000 copies of the large-scale flight of capital and brains in plan to stakeholders and other institutions the region. What is needed is a region with who may wish to replicate the process. All the free movement of people, products and stakeholders were informed in each state capital – essentially a WANA passport similar and participants were given honours and to that of the European Union. In order to certificates. realise that vision, however, a legitimate The Ankara Strategic Planning Process managing body for regional cooperation would be needed. In the WANA region, the train of In order to bring about a reform is leaving the station without mental paradigm shift, Dr. Rabi stressed two key elements: utilising passengers. Communities and citizens the power of the Internet age need to feel that they are engaged and and establishing a network of intellectuals in the region through part of the process virtual connectivity.

WANA Forum Report 2010 53 Mohsen Marzouk, Secretary General of the Arab Democracy The involvement of civil society Foundation, highlighted key issues for mobilising the Third Sphere. actors is key for change and reform Firstly, the objectives of the WANA at the political level as well as at the Social Charter cannot be achieved without partnerships. Secondly, economic level, since they are central genuine dialogue between different not only to democracy but also in stakeholders is needed – not just “cosmetic” consultations. Thirdly, bringing about change for sustainable cooperation needs to be broad- economic development based since even civil society organisations only represent the interest of A key to mobilising the Third Sphere in some persons or parties. Fourthly, it would WANA would be for states in the region be important to restore the concept of to move towards recognising civil society citizenship in terms of both rights and duties. organisations as social institutions relevant In conclusion, Mr. Marzouk noted that a for national decision making processes. Civic possible contribution the WANA Forum could education and awareness-raising were seen make would be to activate the Social Charter as important, but not sufficient, for leading to as a framework for balanced cooperation change on the ground. between the three sectors of society. Internal It was suggested that the WANA Forum mobilisation would be needed to transform develop a platform and space for mobilising ideas into action. different stakeholders since the WANA region has few successful examples of partnerships Comments and Recommendations between the various sectors of society. It was noted that engagement of the Third Sphere has to start with a willingness to engage all stakeholders, be they government, private sector, civil society or communities, including faith- based organisations. Online spaces are working and evolving, where people come together because they are concerned and want to participate. The fact that a greater number of people in the WANA region now have access to the Internet means that online spaces are becoming a more viable forum for engaging these different actors. Participants felt that the potential of participative democracy has not been fully explored in the WANA region.

54 WANA Forum Report 2010 11 Photo credit: mapsof.net ASEAN Member States

Dinner Remarks by Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN

urin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of the WANA as well as a citizen of his or her own Association of Southeast Asian Nations country. (ASEAN), shared the experience of As we continue this experiment that is S WANA, such a lesson will be integral in ASEAN, which was founded in the midst of political turmoil, and has now, with driving progress on regional cooperation 10-member states representing 592 million and integration in West Asia and North people, evolved as a key player in the global Africa, which will enhance connectivity, the economy. leveraging of resources and the region’s Indeed, Southeast Asia has been home to bargaining power on the world stage. To some of the most vibrant economic growth do so, however, Dr. Pitsuwan drew on and has ably addressed heterogeneous the experience of ASEAN to argue that the societies while building social cohesion and historical baggage of the past has to be averting the sorts of conflicts which have put aside to work for a common future. recently affected other parts of the world. Diversity does not have to be an obstacle to Dr. Pitsuwan stressed the importance of cooperation – WANA can draw on its rich regional cooperation. He quoted John Donne diversity to become a source of strength. who a few centuries ago said, “no man [or Dr. Pitsuwan concluded with reference to woman] is an island”. He added that we are Persian Sufi poet and theologian Jalal ad-Din all part of this global network of lives, of Rumi. Six centuries ago, he surveyed the societies, of communities, of nations and terrain of the Middle East and observed that that human beings are the most important vendors of all goods are gone; people of all resource a society has and can claim to have. ideas have receded into history. He called for Yet regional cooperation is predicated a new beginning and said we are the new upon people’s perceptions that they are part vendors. Dr. Pitsuwan urged participants to of a single region. Doing so is not about come up with new merchandise, of ideas a map or acronym but about identity and and approaches, as part of the 21st century ensuring that the so-called ‘person on the bazaar of WANA and the new silk route of street’ feels that he or she is a citizen of peoples, goods and ideas.

WANA Forum Report 2010 55 12 Photo credit: Qatargas

WANA Forum Priorities Break-Out Groups

ANA Forum 2010 participants “tribalism”. Ibn Khaldun, one of the most divided into four sub-groups in versatile thinkers and philosophers of Islam Worder to progress the work of in the late Middle Ages, portrayed social the priority issues: Social Cohesion, Green cohesion as a prerequisite for civilisational Economy, Environment and Reconstruction progress and development of society and and Recovery. defined it as “the force binding people together through a common language, culture and social behaviour”. 12.1 Social Cohesion Despite the WANA region’s rich historical Break-Out Sessions and cultural roots, its social fabric is weakening in the wake of demographic Nour Qabba’ah, WANA Forum Researcher, pressures, widespread inequalities, together with Juho Saari, Professor of Welfare entrenched pockets of poverty, deeply Sociology at the University of Eastern Finland, rooted divisions, numerous political, presented a summary of the work achieved sectarian and religious conflicts and chronic on social cohesion since the First Annual unemployment. These challenges do not WANA Forum. Social cohesion can be defined only put social cohesion at risk and leave the as the intangible bond that holds members of region trapped in a form of ‘development in society together and facilitates coexistence, reverse’, but they also pose a serious threat development, progress and prosperity. to societal and regional stability in the WANA Ms. Qabba’ah explained that social region and beyond. cohesion is not a foreign concept to WANA; Participants at the First Annual WANA known formerly as asabiyya, the concept Forum in 2009 recognised that social dates back to the pre-Islamic era where it cohesion is a prerequisite for WANA’s was seen in the context of “clanism” and development and agreed to initiate a multi- year collaborative study on the topic.

56 WANA Forum Report 2010 Ms. Qabba’ah pointed out that although and Somalia, could not be included in the social cohesion as a conceptual framework measurement. Furthermore, more or less is largely an ideal to strive toward, the satisfactory proxies were used to measure study could help explain the numerous social cohesion given the lack of direct forces at work in the region. Amongst these variables, which in turn affects the results forces, based on preliminarily theoretical and the reliability of the measurement. assumptions, include security and state Attempting to measure the subjective, capacity, equality, participation and attitudinal component of social cohesion also engagement, displacement, civic culture, poses challenges, i.e. elements like social mutual trust, social networks, inclusion, networks, tolerance and inclusion could not tolerance as well as material and emotional be measured. Those usually require micro- wellbeing. level data on individuals’ subjective opinions. The WANA Forum has embarked on The weighing of dimensions was another creating a Social Cohesion Index (SCI) to challenge when constructing the SCI; measure the degree of social cohesion within additive indices risk oversimplifying issues. WANA countries to capture the variations Lastly, the current Index is state-centric in for monitoring progress. Measuring progress that it neglects the role of civil society which toward social cohesion (which can be seen can play a very important role in the field as an evolving desired status) makes it more of social welfare in the WANA region. He tangible and thus more attainable. reminded participants that social cohesion, Professor Saari, one of the experts who after all, is a formula to which different worked on creating the Index, explained that stakeholders contribute. the process of updating the Index in itself Ms. Qabba’ah pointed out that one could, in the future, offer state and non- way this Index could be further developed state actors an analytical tool to guide the is through gathering more data on the establishment of developmental priorities. intangibles by partnering with different To construct this Index, a number of research institutions who are known to have indicators were identified under each social carried out surveys of this kind. A number of cohesion dimension and those that were the representative and interesting country cases most technically, statistically and theoretically could be selected for closer quantitative and sound were selected to construct the SCI. qualitative in depth analysis on the basis of The following dimensions were finally the preliminary Index findings. The cases reflected: material wellbeing; access to selected need to be similar in scope and knowledge; gender equality (income); objective with the aim of finding out why internal security; external security; forced some models of action are more effective displacement; degree of democracy; political than others in promoting social development instability; health; emotional wellbeing; trust and enhancing social cohesion. in the state and its institutions (civic culture) The SCI, through statistical evidence, and solidarity. Based on these dimensions, may identify problems of social cohesion, the SCI assigned a score to each country but a framework to effectively address these studied. challenges, between governments, civil Before presenting the results of the SCI, society and the private sector, would be Professor Saari reminded participants that the needed. A social charter is one instrument Index is by no means perfect. Due to lack of toward that goal; it would stimulate a data, some of the WANA countries, namely process of dialogue within the Third Sphere Comoros, Djibouti, Libya, Oman, Palestine in the WANA region to enhance the degree

WANA Forum Report 2010 57 Finally, in order to ensure concrete action on the challenges facing the region, Ms. Qabba’ah explained that a fund, to which all the WANA nations can contribute, is important to enable supranational action to increase the degree of regional cohesion and solidarity. Rooted in a code of conduct outlined in the Social Charter and informed by data from the Social Cohesion Index, the Cohesion Fund would provide non- returnable allocations to advance social, environmental and economic development under the framework of sustainability. Ideally, it would aim to reduce inequalities in terms of per capita incomes of social cohesion and advance social between the different WANA countries. More development by promoting the concept specifically, such a Fund could develop of equity and citizenship beyond locality, regional infrastructure and forge regional national identity, political borders, religion cooperation and finance activities in the and ethnicity. It would also reflect the areas of water, energy, social security and region’s shared values, and consequently environmental protection. Most importantly, foster a region-wide sense of belonging the Cohesion Fund would aim to benefit that could strengthen the invisible bond of the entire region and not only in times of social cohesion. Most importantly, it has the conflict. potential to inspire a new sense of social The Cohesion Fund can partially follow responsibility by highlighting the need to the example of the World Zakat Fund participate in civic duties, and creating a (WZF) which allocates a certain percentage process of ownership and participation. of its funding to investments that generate A Draft Charter already exists for WANA, new capital, thus managing its funds in developed by individuals from civil society a sustainable way to ensure growth and as an instrument to facilitate and give continuity. substance to a debate within civil societies The following will need to be addressed and between civil societies and governments. when developing the Fund proposal: This Charter can be presented to Civil source of funding, management of the fund, Society Organisations (SCOs) for feedback eligibility criteria, monitoring and evaluation and revision. But how will those SCOs and transparency. be identified and how can the Charter be advocated are two important questions for Omar Al-Basheer, Executive Director for consideration in presenting the Social Charter the Outreach Sector at the Royal Scientific as a policy tool for social cohesion in the Society of Jordan, shared his recent work on WANA region. the Drivers of Change initiative launched

58 WANA Forum Report 2010 recently by the Royal Scientific Society stimulate thinking and empower people in (RSS). He described the drivers of change the country. as demographics, climate change, water, Participants stressed the need for an energy, water, urbanisation and waste, and understanding of social cohesion that is these can be seen within societal, economic, rooted in the WANA region and reflects its environmental and political domains. In the identity, local realities and conditions. They wake of globalisation, technological changes suggested reworking the social cohesion and demographic pressures, issues such definition to include respect for social as migration, material wellbeing, health, diversity and tolerance. displacement, poverty and access to water The Social Cohesion Index, in particular, are all deemed important when attempting elicited a great deal of discussion by to measure social cohesion and address participants who suggested revisiting the environmental sustainability and carrying methodology, including the criteria on which capacity. the index was based. Some concern was In line with the need to explore case expressed with regards to making this Index studies within the WANA region under available to the public at this stage since WANA’s social cohesion initiative, Dr. Al- social cohesion is a sensitive topic for many Basheer proposed Jordan as a case study. people. He presented the National Campaign on Participants regarded the Social Charter Public Awareness for the Drivers of Change as a platform for advocacy and action. As for as an innovative mechanism to do so. The the Cohesion Fund, participants noted that it National Campaign is an initiative that was will be important to prove how such a Fund recently launched in Jordan to understand would be different from others in the region. the factors that drive change in the country, The social cohesion working group their implications and what the government divided itself into three sub-groups, each and local communities can do to build a of which addressed one of the three sustainable, positive future for the country. policy tools proposed for enhancing social The campaign, which plans to run up to a cohesion. hundred workshops with local communities across all levels of Jordanian society, seeks to increase the involvement of citizens in the decision-making process and start a nation-wide debate on priority issues. Dr. Al-Basheer concluded that this local initiative would not only address issues that are in line with social cohesion (state capacity, civic culture, mutual trust, shared values and solidarity), but it will also

WANA Forum Report 2010 59 Case Studies: Conduct Social cohesion is not a foreign concept in-depth research in to WANA; known formerly as asabiyya, it select WANA countries to validate the Index or was seen as a prerequisite for civilisational refine the dimensions progress selected and to contextualise a WANA understanding of social Social Cohesion Index cohesion. Up to three WANA countries Looking at the way social cohesion was should be selected and a selection criterion defined, as well as its identified consituent to select the relevant case studies needs elements, some participants felt that it lacked to be agreed. Some participants argued contextualisation within the region and that that the countries selected should be as it was largely based on Western literature. representative of the WANA region as The idea of the Index, on the other hand, possible. Others suggested selecting them was praised by everyone and there was a based on the findings of the Index, i.e. great deal of discussion about the potential one which is low, another which is high it could play particularly if it was converted and another that ranks medium in social into a live Index that can be updated cohesion. Some participants recommended regularly. However, some participants that the country selection not be based questioned certain elements of the Index and on the preliminary findings of the Social more specifically the weight accorded to the Cohesion Index, but on a different criterion. social cohesion dimensions, an issue that is The difficulty of accessing data is an still open for discussion. In order to address important factor to be considered. these issues, the following ways forward were suggested: Partnerships: Partner with research institutions, think tanks, universities and Development of the Index: Provide feedback UN agencies from across the region for on the elements preliminarily chosen to the purpose of data collection and for measure social cohesion, and suggest developing the Index. alternative variables where relevant. It was suggested that the Social Cohesion Social Charter Index needs to reflect access to knowledge A draft Social Charter was developed in an through Internet as well as labour migration, effort to bridge diversity and difference, another element that is largely influential. both within and among WANA countries, by Verifying the possibility of finding data identifying common values and principles. for any suggested variable is important, as Participants agreed that this Charter should well as experimenting with possible social be focused on creating supranational social cohesion variables using sensitivity analysis cohesion through regional cooperation to check their suitability for inclusion in the and consequently made the following SCI. Discussion is needed on the weighing of suggestions: the different dimensions i.e. which element should be accorded more importance when Development of the Charter: Circulate the measuring social cohesion, keeping in mind Draft Social Charter first among intellectuals what is feasible, not what is optimal. and academics (e.g. non-profit private universities) that can carry out threaded

60 WANA Forum Report 2010 conceptual discussions as well as contribute to formulating/revising the goals of the Nature of the Governing Body: The Cohesion Charter and its guiding principles. These Fund should be an organisation that intellectuals can then start a national debate specialises in funding projects rather than in every country across the WANA region implementing them since the latter is difficult about the Charter. The role of the media can and many actors are already involved in be explored for this purpose. implementing projects.

Feedback: Disseminate the Charter Criteria for Allocating Funds: All those simultaneously to as many civil society who sign the Social Charter should be organisations as possible for feedback eligible, whether they are governments or and make it available in two formats: an official bodies, civil society organisations, executive summary and a full draft. These municipalities, private entrepreneurs or even should be made available online at the individuals. WANA Forum website. Management Structure: In order to ensure Dissemination: Translate the Social Charter the legitimacy of the Fund, transparency and into Arabic, as it is the official language accountability would be important principles. in most WANA countries. At a later stage The establishment of the Fund would highly it can be translated into other languages benefit from Prince El Hassan bin Talal’s (Farsi, Turkish, Urdu, etc.). Manuals can support as a regional and international figure be produced to address the different target of moral authority. audiences of the Charter if the language in which it was written seems abstract. Devising Monitoring and Evaluation: The Social a media and advocacy strategy for the Social Cohesion Index could be possibly used in Charter was also recommended. the monitoring and evaluation of the Fund.

Cohesion Fund Source of Funding: Funds should come It was agreed that the main purpose of the from the region (private sector and/or Cohesion Fund is to strengthen and promote governments). WANA Forum members may social cohesion at all levels of the WANA be able to help in fundraising. Voluntary region. Some of the participants from the contributions and investing part of the social cohesion working group, however, money to generate capital would be a good suggested that in the earlier phases, the way to start (although the capital generation Fund should focus on smaller size projects should be independent of the management at grassroot levels, and can later evolve into of funds). financing intraregional larger-scale projects. Participants agreed to develop a detailed Partnerships: Organisations such as the proposal (based on the existing draft World Zakat Fund, the Fund for the Poor social cohesion study) for the creation of in Bahrain, Fair Africa Solidarity and the a Cohesion Fund. Such a proposal would Pakistani Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) clearly state the value-added and niche to could be helpful contact points for fleshing be filled by the Fund as well as identify out the Fund in detail. It could also be the priority areas and sectors which the helpful to partner with some implementing Fund would target. Participants added the organisations in the region to gather their following recommendations: views.

WANA Forum Report 2010 61 12.2 Green Economy progress in implementing this pledge is now being monitored. The Arab Green Break-Out Sessions Economy Initiative has held eight workshops in an effort to identify priorities for Zafar Iqbal, Senior Economist at the Islamic greening WANA. The AFED also regularly Development Bank, presented the work produces a report on the state of the Arab of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) environment and has developed a corporate in Indonesia to identify critical constraints environmental responsibility programme. to infrastructure development. Before He stressed that it would be important not investing, an investor usually wants to to duplicate work. Mr. Saab noted that it know what the critical constraints are and could be interesting to pursue cooperation how they will be addressed. Through between the AFED and the WANA Forum to long consultations with stakeholders, the promote mutual objectives – the AFED could, IDB developed a questionnaire to ask a for example, present the policy proposals number of questions from people who that emerge from their Arab Green Economy really know the constraints. They combined Initiative that are in line with the WANA the questionnaires and identified a number Forum at the third annual WANA meeting. of constraints which would need to be addressed in order to create incentives for Ahmad Mango, Co-Moderator of the WANA infrastructure investments in Indonesia. Forum and Advisor to HRH Prince El Hassan Infrastructure investment in Indonesia was bin Talal, noted that historically, since the seven to eight per cent of GDP but declined Second World War, there has been a “vertical to about two per cent as a result of the Asian Asia” – inherited colonial trade routes Financial Crisis. Neighbouring countries have designed to deliver resources to ports and recovered from the crisis, but Indonesia then on to colonial masters. Now there is is still facing challenges. The first issue to talk of a horizontal Asia – the “hinterlands” consider in order to rectify this would be have opened up and Asia is no longer a the problem of land acquisition. The second series of ports. Asia reaches out to Europe, is institutional capacity at the governmental but not into the Middle East. It would be level – starting with capacity to develop important for WANA to develop from being a funding proposals. The third is governance, vertical WANA to a horizontal WANA and to including addressing corruption. The fourth link with the world around it. and final issue is how to secure long-term financing. The study was recently finalised Discussion and Recommendations and launched with the Asian Development In the discussion, group members noted Bank and the International Labour that the Economy Break-Out group should Organization. have the passion of a non-governmental organisation but with the mindset of a Najib Saab, Secretary General of the Arab corporation – with clear goals, objectives and Forum for Environment and Development milestones. It was recongised that the group (AFED), noted that the AFED has a broad includes a number of pragmatic individuals range of members, both from civil society who can come up with actionable ideas. At and from government bodies as observers. the same time, it was also highlighted that The first activity undertaken by the Forum the group should be cognisant of what it came up with a pledge to reduce energy can do and what it cannot; quick wins were consumption by 20 per cent by 2012, and seen as important for setting examples for

62 WANA Forum Report 2010 others to follow. It would also be important the possibilities and constraints to involve the business community in the for developing infrastructure and region. green industry within WANA. The Participants stressed the need to keep in key elements of the concept paper mind the important objective of improving would include: 1) mapping of the livelihoods of people in the region and, existing policies that are constraining therefore, it would make sense to focus “greening” and identification of on the basics of what the region needs. policies that would be needed to At the same time, it was noted that joint promote it – focus on five key sectors: concrete projects would also be needed to energy, water, transport, cities and encourage cross-border cooperation in the waste; 2) proposals for transforming region. Power generation and water could be the trend of exporting raw materials potential public or governmental initiatives, and importing finished goods by but electric motor vehicle production and identifying how industries could best a high-speed train could be carried out by make use of the resources available private entrepreneurs. A combination of in the region and adding value to long-term and short-term visions would be them, so that WANA could export needed. finished goods within the region It was suggested that the group develop and around the world; 3) drawing a concept paper examining how to a transportation and infrastructure transition to a green economy in five key map based on today’s needs; and 4) sectors: Energy, Water, Transport, Waste, an in-depth assessment of the fiscal, and Cities. The paper could examine what social, political and cultural feasibility the current policies are in each sector and of implementing the policies and their impact, in addition to highlighting proposals developed in the above impediments and proposing policies for areas. moving forward towards a green economy in g Establishing a WANA Research and these sectors. The concept paper would also Development Centre (Basra was need to highlight the costs and benefits of suggested as a location in line with implementing such policies in order to demonstrate their effectiveness. In addition to the concept paper, the group also stressed the need to identify short, medium and long-term actions in order to have concrete initiatives to move towards a green economy. On the basis of these discussions, the following areas for future work were identified: g Producing a concept paper to explore

WANA Forum Report 2010 63 the proposal that emerged from the g Non availability of resource materials Reconstruction and Recovery working in Arabic (policy development, group) to conduct studies on potential curricula development and teacher innovations, such as electric vehicle training); manufacturing or an inter-WANA High- g Lack of integration in the values and Speed Train for transporting people traditions of WANA countries in the and goods; planning and implementation of ESD, g Initiatives for renewable power particularly in using them to inform generation (at micro and inter-WANA the development of ESD curricula and levels); teaching materials; g Initiatives for WANA water g Understanding the broad and inclusive management (collection and recycling concept of ESD and its inter-linkages at micro, inter-WANA and macro with other cross-cutting themes and levels). initiatives in order to integrate it into The group highlighted the need to divide school curricula, educational material these initiatives into short, medium and and activities; long-term initiatives. The criteria for the three g Lack of sufficient financial support; categories could be: within 0 - 5 years, 5 - 10 g Lack of coordination between and over 10 years. countries and institutions on ESD; Participants identified the following key g Concept of ESD is not easily steps in moving forward towards WANA understood; Forum 2011: 1) developing the Draft Concept g Lack of regional cooperation (South- Paper further (by working group members); South Cooperation and North-South 2) linking with Asian, African and European Cooperation); networks and partners to share knowledge g Role of NGOs vis-à-vis ESD promotion and experiences of greening; and 3) is not well defined; holding a consultation in Tokyo to facilitate g Absence of cooperation with opportunities for sharing best practices international organisations and and lessons learnt, translate these into a bodies in ESD development and model that is applicable and feasible for implementation. WANA, provide input for the work on Green g Absence of a regional road map to Industry and Infrastructure, and network promote ESD. with organisations and individuals in Japan Dr. Saleh proposed for the WANA Forum and elsewhere who can contribute to the to launch a three year joint initiative of the WANA Forum objectives. WANA Forum environment working group with ministries of education, ministries of environment, media (i.e. MBC3) and other 12.3 Environment partner institutions, such as the United Break-Out Sessions Nations University and UNESCO, aimed at incorporating topics of sustainable Walid Saleh, Regional Coordinator of the development into formal education, one that United Nations University International would promote more participatory, problem- Network on Water, Environment and Health, solving, community oriented and cross outlined the challenges of Education for curricular forms of learning. Sustainable Development in the WANA Ten pilot schools would be selected region, which include: based on their readiness to innovate.

64 WANA Forum Report 2010 Teachers and headmasters would then take professional editors, writers and artists, part in a mandatory preparatory meeting and by forming close partnerships where they would participate in the design with governments, schools, and NGOs of a practice-oriented model for the inclusion in each country. It is important to of sustainable development into their acquire the written support of each schools, with a focus on waste management, ministry of education and ensure the renewable energy and water efficiency. close involvement of the environment Teachers and students would together ministries in each WANA country. generate a plan of action, gather information, Similarly, this proposed programme reflect, report and evaluate their progress on would need to be tested in local each stage of the process. schools to ensure the content is applicable to local conditions and to Ibrahim Al-Khader, Regional Director of the ensure usage by teachers; Middle East Division of Birdlife International, g Promote action for the environment reiterated the challenges in WANA and and support indigenous-led change the need for all sectors to be fully and by empowering people to take action, equally committed in order for sustainable improving the quality of their lives and development to be achieved. The WANA society; region, with all its political, economic, social g Enhance teaching techniques in and environmental diversity, is bound to face primary and secondary schools by challenges in collectively putting ESD into providing relevant, interactive materials, action, particularly when there is no “one- with emphasis on e-learning tools. size fits all” approach. Each cultural/societal group can consequently choose to address Nadia Al-Sakkaf, Editor-in-Chief of the Yemen ESD in the context of its own aspirations for Times, provided a brief overview of what she sustainable development. has gathered from the state of ESD in Yemen. Dr. Al-Khader proposed developing an She cited over a dozen NGOs, governement extracurricular modular training and teaching agencies and voluntary groups working on kit, drawing on local practices and contexts environmental sustainable development. to illustrate wider concerns of sustainable Despite promising developments in Yemen development. Such a programme would concerning ESD, the following challenges develop effective and relevant content that remain: meets local needs whilst satisfying wider g Absence of built-in mechanisms in the general policy issues. To be effective, they educational system; must key in to local priorities, link with g Limited environmental exercises in core parts of the curriculum and have the schools; following outcomes: g Scattered initiatives with no g Develop the first multi-country, multi- coordination; language education and training for g Loss of enthusiasm from experts; sustainable development materials; g Lack of an overall mechanism for g Develop a better understanding of sustainable development. the factors linked to sustainable Ms. Al-Sakkaf proposed facilitating development and the management of short courses on the environment by natural resources; utilising already established environmental g Ensure local relevance on sustainable civil society and creating success stories development issues by engaging from schools to share and implement best

WANA Forum Report 2010 65 For over 200 years the Bili tribe in Saudi Arabia has managed Jabal Ral as a reserve for ibex

Hima Anjar in Lebanon, a breeding area for the Syrian Serin, a threatened bird species practices in the region. The challenge, (IBAs) located on government lands be according to Ms. Al-Sakkaf, still remains: how conserved through strict IUCN categories can practitioners in WANA consolidate their such as Nature Reserves while IBAs located work and move from individual learning to on municipal, tribal, private or religious lands regional learning? be conserved through the hima-community based approach. IBAs are about birds Asaad Serhal, Director General of the Society and biodiversity, he said, while himas are for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon about people and sustainability. Due to the (SPNL), presented the work of SPNL in participatory nature of hima management, reviving hima, a community based traditional which requires human and financial system of management and conservation of resources, the experience of SPNL has proved human and natural resources practiced in that residing with the local community the WANA region for more than 1500 years is essential in order to understand the and a source of empowerment for rural community structure, norms and traditions. communities. Mr. Serhal explained that governments Aishah Abdallah, Member of the across the region have been following IUCN Commission on Education and the trend of legally declaring protected Communication, proposed a process for areas as Nature Reserves, a transfer from legal recognition of traditional himas as local management to management by Community Conserved Areas, using Saudi governmental agencies. Yet restricted Arabia as a case study and touching on management has created tension and some WANA Forum themes, particularly resentment on the part of local communities living within environmentally sustainable toward the concept of Nature Reserves. limits, legal empowerment of the poor and Research on other management options led government by discussion. to the rediscovery of hima, documented on In Saudi Arabia, although the stated the old maps of Lebanon. During the last 30 official policy is to promote community to 50 years, most countries in WANA have participation in protected area management, neglected the traditional hima system. Community Conserved Areas are yet to be Mr. Serhal stressed that both himas recognised by law. However, Saudi Arabia is and Nature Reserves are important for the birthplace of one of the greatest heritages conservation and protected area management. of community conserved areas on Earth: the He suggested that Important Bird Areas traditional hima. In the 1960s, there were

66 WANA Forum Report 2010 approximately 3,000 traditional himas in g Effective governance, management the country. They were small individually plans and law enforcement that will but altogether made up a vast area of land enable himas to meet international and were managed by and for particular standards and criteria for protected villages or tribes. Because people benefited areas. directly, they had an incentive to invest in and conserve their natural resources. Since Conclusions and Recommendations they were managed locally, individuals in the community were able to influence The Revival of Hima management decisions. g Develop a Wikipedia for hima Ms. Abdallah said that the move away and invite scholars worldwide to from the traditional hima system resulted contribute; in what is known as the Tragedy of the g Research and compile a database of Commons: when everyone has equal access existing traditional himas by local to natural resources and the rights to use tribes and communities in WANA; them are not linked to accountability for g Document and film tribal men maintaining them in good condition, no one and women’s verbal and written has an incentive to conserve them for future indigenous knowledge acquired and generations. maintained for over 1400 years; Without legal recognition, the few g List the numerous ecosystem goods and traditional himas that remain are struggling. services, often contributing significantly They will need to continue to adapt to to human livelihoods (e.g. fishermen/ new socio-economic realities to fulfil the women, grazers, farmers, etc.); changing needs of the local communities, g Document examples embedded in the Ms. Abdallah said. As social organisation roots of environmental ethics, faith, shifts from tribal to geographic units, the morality and law relating to hima; management of traditional himas needs to g Test, monitor and document the shift from tribal to geographic objectives. Ms. evolution of the new hybrid himas Abdallah’s recommendations for the process of cross-cultural 21st century art and of recognising traditional himas include: science; g Provisions to ensure that traditional g Partner and activate local, national and himas do not lead to inequities or regional stakeholders from the Third tribal conflicts, such as management Sphere; boards that represent the local people g Build up the capacities of local across the divides of power, ethnicity, communities on the management, tribal lineage, gender and age; monitoring, conservation and the g Training of local community managers sustainable use of natural resources in in principles of conservation planning himas; and protected area management; g Encourage exchange of traditional g Fair and transparent processes knowledge and experiences between for resolving conflicts of interest the traditional himas and the evolving and disputes, including principled new hybrid himas; negotiation and sometimes mediation g Identify the local and regional between stakeholders and between financial linkages between himas and the local communities and relevant Arab and Islamic banks, funds and authorities; endowments; and

WANA Forum Report 2010 67 g Establish a hima revolving fund for experiential education method of the legal empowerment of the poor. teaching, learning and reflecting that combines academic classroom Education for Sustainable Development curriculum with meaningful service, g Map regional initiatives of selected illustrating the connection between good practices in extra-curricular, people and the environment, experiential learning. encouraging lifelong civic engagement g Identify a criteria for the selection of and strengthening communities for the pilot schools (WANA countries and common good. schools). g Integrate indigenous knowledge g Build up Communities of Practice into the school curriculum. Hima (CoPs) and expand to include private may be the vehicle to do so. sector and media partnerships. While Local communities would get extra-curricular activities are more an opportunity to participate in easily implementable than curriculum curriculum development and students reform, it was recommended that (through community service learning) governments be part of the process could go out into the communities from the onset and that a bridge be and exchange in mutual learning. built between various stakeholders Typically, the dominant discourse who should include the private sector centres on rural communities needing as well as NGOs and governments in to be educated, but in many ways, partnership. they may have more to teach. One g Consider integrating extra-curricular example from the UAE was cited: activities as part of the curriculum Filmmakers teamed up with educators – find areas where the curriculum to make a documentary for students, can be enriched by extra-curricular connecting environment and culture activities so that students can tie in through the eyes of the elderly. It theory and practice. depicted, for example, five indigenous g Adopt service-learning as an species of trees in Ras Al Khaimah, and illustrated how these trees bear relevance to the culture and livelihood of Emirates and capturing its social, medicinal and economic value. g Focus needs to also be on administrators and teachers to ensure that they are trained in providing children with the needed tools and skills for experiential, interactive learning of this kind. g Engage university students (from the country but also virtually with universities abroad) in the process of developing and assessing

68 WANA Forum Report 2010 ESD thereby translating research into to the international standard of 715 to practical applications. 1000 litres daily. Participants reflected on the outcome g Since so many families in WANA of the First Annual WANA Forum as well depend on agriculture, proposed as this year’s joint session of the Strategic solutions should include Green Foresight Group on water security and the Water (rainfall that infiltrates and common theme running throughout on remains in the soil, the basis of rain- climate change. They made the following fed agriculture), which also has an recommendations: implication on the legal empowerment of the poor. Green water is a very Water Scarcity and Drought important resource for global food g Finalise the Report (a first draft is production; about 60 per cent of available) with contributions in the the world staple food production form of chapters from WANA Forum relies on it. Farmers already know members and other experts; how to improve rain-use efficiency g Identify the steps and financial and but lack the resources to do so. As human resources needed to establish an investment in local knowledge, an effective WANA water scarcity and green water credits leverage existing drought information system since the social capital to bring rural farmers region lacks a drought management out of poverty and reduce the prediction centre and direction on negative externalities of poor land water availability; management. g Set the groundwork for creating a website on which mapping of Climate Change regional initiatives, experts and g Map regional initiatives working resources in water (and possibly other to address the challenges posed themes) could be displayed to avoid by climate change in WANA and duplicating efforts and to establish formulate Communities of Practice focused partnerships. (CoPs); g Establish linkages and coordinate g Produce a report that addresses training sessions in pilot countries on these challenges in the context of topics relating to water to be facilitated uprooted populations, food security, by experts from across WANA. biodiversity, water, energy and Learning about desalination practices education; in Algeria, for example, could benefit g Assess why past initiatives have failed other countries. to produce concrete results and g Launch a region-wide creative present recommendations in light of televised and Internet campaign, in these findings. partnership with NGOs, the private sector and governments. This would Other Recommendations have the double aim of promoting g Formulate a logical framework matrix regional thinking on meeting the to identify benchmark indicators to challenges of carrying capacity. Water access the activities and progress of consumption in WANA is so high. In the environment working group(s) the UAE for example, it exceeds 378.5 and devise a mechanism for engaging litres per person every day, compared it/them virtually;

WANA Forum Report 2010 69 g Activate networks of WANA Forum deprivation of rights and legal protection members to promote a WANA Forum as well as from (b) distribution inequalities. regional presence at international These causes were noted as involving meetings and forums (i.e. World Water governance, poverty and inequity among Forum, UN Compact Group, Gulf other factors. It was noted that reconstruction Research Foundation’s annual meeting and recovery efforts after conflict must be at Cambridge University in the UK); based on an understanding of these factors g Conduct a literature review that and should attempt to ameliorate them as a captures the contributions of religion means of conflict prevention. (Islam, Christianity and other religions Following this presentation, participants and traditions) to environmental/ engaged in a discussion of the emerging human ethics. A literature review and findings which Dr. Janjua had addressed. database of regional religious figures, Participants identified several challenges to influential in their communities, could post-conflict reconstruction and recovery, support and promote a “Drivers of which are summarised as follows: Change” concept in the region rooted g Limited integration of the full range in the histories, cultures and religions of actors – including civil society, of the people of WANA; governments, donors, international g Explore a framework of organisations, the private sector, ‘environmental culture’ or military institutions and so on – which ‘environmentalism’. are involved; g Few opportunities for actors from within the WANA region to share 12.4 Reconstruction and experiences on effective and ineffective strategies for rebuilding the Recovery Break-Out Sessions institutions, capacities, economies and societies of conflict-affected contexts; The break-out group on Reconstruction g Limited opportunities (and, to a lesser and Recovery began with an update on extent, capacities) for WANA actors in the progress made during the ‘WANA-Led public institutions, civil society and the Expert Consultation on Reconstruction and private sector to lead reconstruction; Recovery’ in October 2009. A presentation g Dominance of Western models of was delivered by Karen Janjua, Head of stabilisation and reconstruction which the Reconstruction Cluster at the Regional have tended to emphasise “global” Human Security Centre (RHSC) in Amman, stability or security concerns to the which focused upon the following themes: detriment of effective state building The Costs Of Conflict: It was noted, based and meaningful socio-economic on research conducted by the Strategic recovery in conflict-affected state Foresight Group of India, that conflict had institutions, thus resulting in the rise cost the Middle East as much as US$12 of insurgencies and entrenchment trillion as a result of direct damage, including of fragility in several war-torn loss of life, and indirect ramifications environments; and (e.g. opportunity costs, inflated military g Limited understanding of reconstruction, expenditure, etc.). particularly since the late 1990s, as an Causes Of Conflict:These were discussed opportunity to foster reconciliation as resulting from (a) rational grievances and between groups or build peace.

70 WANA Forum Report 2010 Members of this working group then could be included within the Reconstruction discussed their aspirations for the WANA and Recovery group’s focus upon effective Forum’s work on reconstruction and donorship. Improving the manner in which recovery. “What, specifically, had the WANA financial assistance is provided to post- Forum hoped to achieve with regard to post- conflict contexts could help to ensure conflict reconstruction and recovery, and that external resources are, for instance, how will we turn these hopes into a reality?” allocated to support the government and its the moderator of the session, Professor reconstruction priorities. Sultan Barakat, asked. The following topics Reconciliation: Participants felt that received particular attention as the Forum reconstruction often focused upon material members attempted to answer this question: considerations such as infrastructure and Capacity Building: It was noted that economic growth while not paying sufficient a lack of capacity among government attention to promoting reconciliation within institutions in conflict-affected countries is and between formerly warring parties. The often used to justify international leadership Reconstruction and Recovery group felt of reconstruction and recovery efforts. As that research must be conducted into good a result of national governments’ limited practices for using reconstruction assistance access to resources, which are commonly as a tool for reconciliation. Such research provided to NGOs, UN agencies and, may feed into a “collective statement” increasingly, private firms, they face from the WANA Forum in the future on challenges in demonstrating their relevance, reconstruction and recovery and will legitimacy and abilities. Furthermore, comprise a portion of the WANA Forum’s the costs associated with international broader advocacy strategy. organisations of all varieties has diminished Discussion of the issues and needs above aid effectiveness. To address this challenge, led to the formulation of the following policy participants discussed the need to develop proposals to take forward. a regional reconstruction training institute g Mapping of reconstruction initiatives: which could foster a generation of leaders what is happening and what are from within WANA who could tackle issues good practices and lessons learnt. ranging from conflict management to post- conflict reconstruction and international development. A proposal for such an institute comprises a key recommendation of the Reconstruction and Recovery group. After its development, this proposal will be utilised to build support and mobilise resources for such a centre. National Governmental Ownership: Aligned with the discussion of capacity building, concerns were also raised about the potential for national authorities in conflict- affected countries to “own” reconstruction. It was felt that the unnecessarily complex and fragmented nature of international aid financing had further marginalised the state, and participants implied that such a theme

WANA Forum Report 2010 71 Information on reconstruction outputs – or earlier drafts of outputs – will initiatives throughout the region be ready for dissemination at consultations to will be consolidated through this be held in the autumn of this year. “mapping”. The information from A range of other ideas were raised and this stock-taking will inform all other will potentially be followed upon by WANA aspects of the Group’s work. Forum members during the remainder of the g An e-forum for sharing lessons learnt WANA Forum process. These include: and good practices for reconstruction g Studying obstructions to the Greater will be established by the WANA Arab Free Trade Agreement, which Forum. may foster greater regional economic g Design of a regional training institute. recovery, including for countries A proposal for a regional training emerging from conflict. institute – which focuses upon conflict g Developing evidence-based regional management, reconstruction and policies on refugees and migrants, development – must be developed for which are commonly created by (and public dissemination and advocacy exist long after) armed conflict in with key regional stakeholders. WANA; g Organisation of a regional donorship g Advocating for full WANA consultation. Powerful regional actors, participation in global conventions particularly bi- and multi-lateral on aid effectiveness such as the Paris donors, should be coordinated to Declaration and the Accra Agenda for foster a shared vision and lessons Action; learning. g Building momentum towards a g Launch of a research project on regional, voluntary organisation within use of reconstruction to promote WANA along the lines of the US Peace reconciliation and peace building. A Corps, which would help build bonds comparative research project on the across the region and, hence, prevent relationship between reconstruction, conflict; and reconciliation and peace building will g Articulating the need for a Regional result in the development of models Fund for Reconstruction and Recovery and methodologies (toolkits) which which could consolidate inputs and may be adapted by each country in resources from actors within the the region (and perhaps beyond); WANA region. “peace education”, “peace journalism” etc. may be included as well as the monitoring of peace and conflict vulnerability. g Basra reconstruction study (Allied Project) of Basra is led by the London School of Economics with the Post- war Reconstruction and Development Unit, University of York. All projects have been designed such that additional outputs will be ready for presentation and discussion or evaluation at WANA Forum 2011 and 2012. Additional

72 WANA Forum Report 2010 13 Photo credit: Laura Haddad

Conclusions of WANA Forum 2010

pokespersons from the Break-Out examples from the South Asian experience Sessions were invited to share the and recommended broad level consultations S conclusions and next steps as agreed among citizen groups in getting their input upon by the working groups. Following and having them play an active role in their presentations, Prince El Hassan asked advocating national governments to adopt panelists to share their reflections. it and oversee its implementation. One aspect of the implementation phase would Rehman Sobhan, Chairman of the Centre for be to explore areas in the constitutions of Policy Dialogue (CPD) in Bangladesh and countries where aspects of the Charter could member of the WANA Forum International be implemented through the application of Senior Advisory Board, offered some the rule of law (legally enforceable rights). reflections on the Social Cohesion Index, Dr. Sobhan warned against the Social Charter and Fund. He said that the Index Cohesion Fund becoming solely another should capture not only the outcomes of source of welfare funding. It would be social deprivation but also the underlying more productive and sustainable to address sources. He focused on employment, problems relating to structural change and education and health. What are the levels to ensure that assets are put at the disposal of inequality in income discrepancy and of resourceful people – not just through scope of upward mobility (the opportunity microcredit programmes but broader access structures being created for people to move to land ownership and management of up in the social ladder and bridge the gaps corporate assets that promote collective that exist)? He said the Index should also access for purposes of community action. capture the disparities in the quality of education and the inequalities in the access Lakhdar Brahimi, Former Special Advisor to health services and the quality of care. to the UN Secretary General and Foreign Regarding the Charter, he shared Minister of Algeria, observed that far too

WANA Forum Report 2010 73 with an integrated approach, The Arab world often looks to not in isolation. the North, but not enough to the East Mr. Brahimi concluded his remarks by highlighting the although there are perhaps more importance of linkages between adaptive lessons from Asia. ASEAN was WANA and the rest of Asia. He said that the Arab world often founded in the midst of regional strife looks to the North, but not and internal conflicts, juxtaposed against enough to the East although there are perhaps more the background of a raging Cold War and adaptive lessons from Asia. As a backdrop of failed attempts at creating ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan shared in his keynote regional coalitions speech, ASEAN was founded in the midst of regional strife often, meetings take place, people share and internal conflicts, juxtaposed against important and interesting ideas but then they the background of a raging Cold War and leave and there is no follow up. He invited a backdrop of failed attempts at creating all participants to be part of the larger WANA regional coalitions. community and encouraged them to remain engaged and committed between annual Muchkund Dubey, President of the Council for meetings and for years to come. Social Development (CSD) in India, reiterated He addressed representation of Forum the connection between WANA and the rest participants, observing that more balance is of Asia, citing current development taking needed with more participation from North place, particularly with the Gulf’s eastward Africa. He also noted that while people shifting economic engagements and trade, spoke of the importance of getting civil investment and institutional linkages with society, private sector and governments Asia. At present, Asia is the largest trading together, there was little representation at partner for the Gulf Cooperation Council the Forum of the private sector and even (GCC), accounting for 51 per cent. He less so of government. He stressed that also cited the shared religious landscape the importance of governments cannot as another link: around 62 per cent of the be overestimated, that the role of the world’s Muslims live in Asia, with over government is indispensible. Since education 683 million adherents in such countries as is one of the priority themes of the WANA Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Forum, more attention needs to be given He recommends WANA take advantage of to governments, to get them interested and a growing Asia with supranational linkages, involved, since they play the largest role in especially in the areas of water, energy and educating society. The greatest challenge green industry. He also calls for the “de- is not only to get them interested but also commercialisation of education” and a return get them to work together. He suggested to its philosophical, holistic purpose – to attracting governments and the private comprehend, to contest and to transform. sector with the publication of a report more ambitious than the Arab Human Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the Emirates Development Report and one that addresses Environmental Group, emphasised the greatest environment, development and education asset the region has at its disposal: its human

74 WANA Forum Report 2010 capital, especially the large and dynamic Khadija Hussein, Founder and Chairperson population of youth between the ages of of the Sudanese Mothers for Peace, urged 18 and 35. WANA, she said, should learn participants to exercise their hearts, not how to nurture and harvest it as an effective only their minds, in their individual and element of development in the region. Part collective work. She spoke of the power of the equation, in this era of fast-paced of love to transform lives and added that technological change, involves activating although participants may face resistance in the World Wide Web for a regional hub in what they aim to accomplish, they should knowledge production and dissemination. not underestimate their influence to inspire She also suggested inviting more women’s change through the positive energy that love organisations, business groups, chambers yields. of commerce, rotary clubs and publishing She reminded participants of the conflicts houses to contribute to the process of looking plaguing many parts of the region, including holistically and comprehensively at what Sudan where thousands of women are sustainable development means in this region. widowed and children are orphaned by war. She said that poverty means much more Mutsuyoshi Nishimura, Special Advisor to than the lack of material resources – anyone the Cabinet of the Government of Japan who lacks the right to enjoy his or her full and former Ambassador in Charge of freedom is poor. She shed light on Female Global Environmental Issues, noted the Genital Mutilation (FGM), what she calls a difficulties the WANA region has faced crime against girls, a cultural practice still in making progress on many mainstream common in some parts of WANA. She urged issues, requiring third party participation or the Forum to take on women’s rights issues intervention. Asian countries can be more as part of human rights, social cohesion and active in partnerships built on solidarity, legal empowerment of the poor. friendship and commitment to work together to address these challenges. Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy Ambassador Nishimura added that social International and Fellow of the New cohesion cannot be achieved manually Economics Foundation (NEF) in the United or manipulatively in the form of social Kingdom, spoke of the dearth of leadership engineering. He spoke of the relatively equal in the world and argued that finance should income distribution in Japan as a positive be a servant to the economy, not its master. factor in social cohesion. Agricultural policy, When we fail to pay debts, we have to fish social welfare policy, the tax system, trends more fish from the sea, extract more of in earnings differentials and the role of the Earth’s assets. When we fail to connect our Japanese family are among the many factors that have shaped Japan’s Finance should be a servant to income distribution. He recommends WANA capitalise the economy, not its master. When we on its valuable experiences in water- fail to connect our financial system saving technologies and solar and wind power to form partnerships with the limits to growth, when we with governments, enterprises and fail to live within our ecological and NGOs in other parts of Asia, such as China, who are leading the green financial budgets, we fail to act in the revolution. interest of all people

WANA Forum Report 2010 75 labels, categorisations and Poverty means much more than the arbitrary lines. lack of material resources – anyone who Prince El Hassan bin Talal, lacks the right to enjoy his or her full WANA Forum Chairman, reminded participants of the freedom is poor need to approach zakat in the broader context of social financial system with the limits to growth, cohesion and legal empowerment of the when we fail to live within our ecological poor. He called on all religious leaders to and financial budgets, we fail to act in the move from pulpit to action as partners and interest of all people. drivers for change. He mentioned the points that participants Liu Baolai, Council Member of Chinese raised throughout the Forum, including People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, human capital and the importance of the emphasised the importance of regional Internet and referred to the word capital in cooperation to the long-term security needs Arabic, raas el mal (head and wealth) and of the region and the world, adding that the need for both intellectual and financial no problem can be effectively solved by generosity. force. He also spoke of the need for the free The true worth of this meeting is not market to serve the people of the region as Internet, he said, but Inner-net and warned it provides added opportunities to enhance against coming away from this meeting when regional cooperation. Ambassador Baolai more is said and less is done. He reminded concluded with the famous hadith: “Seek participants that youth is not a question of knowledge even in China” and commented age – many people have given up hope at a that his participation in the Forum suggests young age and many others keep on going to “seek knowledge even in Amman.” despite their advancing years. He outlined his hopes for WANA Forum Ahmed al-Mukhaini, Consultant in Human 2011, which includes developing thematic Rights and Inter-Faith Cooperation and Vice proposals and advocacy strategies that Principal of SASLO Leagal Training Centre in encompass the Third Sphere. Part of this Oman, said more youth should be involved effort should include the creation of an in the Forum. He reminded participants empirical index to capture realities on the of their achievements and of the potential ground and document best practices for that lies ahead. Encouraging full ownership knowledge sharing. He added that istikhlaf and active participation will help keep the – stewardship – requires people of all momentum, he added. communities to take responsibility of their own destinies and initiatives should focus on Sawsan Hanish, Professor of Social Work at facilitating this process. Alfatah University in Libya and Executive Prince El Hassan concluded that he is Director of Libya's Public Union for Social deeply humbled to be part of this regional Work and Psycology Experts, commented on initiative and called on participants to build the supranational characteristic of all these on the trust they have established in working issues the Forum has taken on – they have no together for a better tomorrow. single religion, identity or age; they transcend

76 WANA Forum Report 2010 annexes

WANA Forum Report 2010 77 78 WANA Forum Report 2010 annex 1: Agenda

WANA FORUM 2010 Pursuing Supranational Solutions to the Challenges of Carrying Capacity 16 - 18 May 2010 Kempinski Hotel Amman, Jordan

This year’s meeting of the WANA Forum convenes under a multifaceted framework for transcending national carrying capacity through regional thinking. In partnership with the Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) of India and the United Nations Development Programme’s Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor (LEP), the Forum will:

1. Update members on the WANA Forum’s progress since April 2009; 2. Consider priority themes identified by WANA Forum participants; 3. Review and agree upon future courses of action for the WANA Forum.

The WANA Forum also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the Regional Human Security Centre (RHSC), the Arab Thought Forum (ATF), International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN-ROWA) and the Badia Research and Development Centre (BRDC) as well as the contributions of WANA Forum Members.

Yohei Sasakawa El Hassan bin Talal and Ann Pettifor Ismail Serageldin

WANA Forum Report 2010 79 SUNDAY, 16 MAY 2010

09:00-10:00 Registration (meet in Al Reem Ballroom, venue for all plenary sessions) 10:00-12:00 Overview of the WANA Forum by Sultan Barakat, WANA Forum Moderator Opening Remarks g El Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of the WANA Forum g Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Japan and WANA Forum International Senior Advisory Board Member Transcending Regional Carrying Capacity Overview by Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Alexandria, Egypt and WANA Forum International Senior Advisory Board Member 12:00-12:30 Coffee Break 12:30-14:00 Regional Themes and Priorities of the WANA Forum This plenary is designed to inspire regional thinking around the priorities of the WANA Forum, which encompass the broader themes of economy and environment as well as the focused initiatives of social cohesion, reconstruction and recovery, water security and environmental education for sustainable development – none of which exist or operate in isolation. Leading individuals in their fields share their unique experiences as practitioners working to advance these pillars in the WANA region and across the globe. g Lakhdar Brahimi (Chair), Former Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and Foreign Minister of Algeria g Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy International and Fellow of the New Economics Foundation (NEF), United Kingdom g Dennis Meadows, President, Laboratory for Interactive Learning and Professor Emeritus for Policy Systems, University of New Hampshire and co-author of the The Limits to Growth, United States g Zafar Adeel, Director of United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and Chair of UN- Water, Canada g Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group, UAE and Board Member of UN Global Compact g Salma Abbasi, Chairperson and CEO, e Worldwide Group and Associate Fellow, King’s College London, Conflict, Security and Development Group, UK/UAE 14:00-15:30 Lunch 15:30-17:00 Break-out Groups: Review of WANA Forum Priorities These focus group sessions of the first day are devoted to presentations of proposals for advancing the priorities of the WANA Forum.

80 WANA Forum Report 2010 G1: Social Cohesion (Pluto Room) g Mohsen Marzouk (Chair), Secretary-General of Arab Democracy Foundation, Qatar g Nour Qabba’ah, WANA Forum Researcher, Jordan g Juho Saari, Professor of Welfare Sociology at the University of Eastern Finland g Omar Al Basheer, Executive Director for the Outreach Sector at the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Jordan

G2: Green Industry & Infrastructure (Venus Room)

G3: Environmental Education for Sustainable Development & Revival of Hima* in WANA (Jupiter Room) g Odeh Al Jayyousi (Chair), Director, International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN- ROWA), Jordan g Walid Saleh, Regional Coordinator, MENA, United Nations University, International Network on Water, Environment and Health, UAE g Ibrahim Al-Khader, Regional Director, Middle East Division at BirdLife International, Jordan g Nadia Al-Sakkaf, Editor-in-Chief of The Yemen Times, Yemen g Asaad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), Lebanon g Aishah Abdallah, Member, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Education and Communication, Saudi Arabia

* The Arabic word hima (literally translated ‘protected area’) is a traditional system of management and conservation of human and natural resources practised in the WANA region for more than 1400 years.

G4: Reconstruction & Recovery (Meeting Room 5, Mezzanine floor) g Sultan Barakat (Chair), WANA Forum Moderator and Professor of Politics and Director of the Post-war Reconstruction & Development Unit, University of York, UK g Karen Janjua, Research Fellow, Head of Reconstruction Cluster at the Regional Human Security Centre, Jordan

17:00-17:30 Coffee Break

17:30-18:30 Launch of the Arabic Report of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor, Making the Law Work for Everyone Seventy per cent of the world’s population is unable to improve their livelihoods – regardless of how hard they work – due to multiple forms of exclusion. Poverty is not merely the lack of material resources. It extends to lack of power and choice. Without addressing policies and institutions that exclude the poor and marginalised,

WANA Forum Report 2010 81 poverty will continue, along with increased dependency on the physical environment which further reduces the natural resources base and impedes sustainable development. A call to make legal empowerment a key pillar of the anti-poverty agenda in WANA, this session is organised in collaboration with the Arab Thought Forum and the United Nations Development Programme. g El Hassan bin Talal, Commissioner on Legal Empowerment of the Poor and Chairperson of the WANA Forum g Medhat Hassanein, Professor of Finance and Banking at the American University in Cairo and former Minister of Finance, Egypt

20:30-22:00 Gala Dinner with keynote speaker Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Gala Dinner with Keynote Speaker Surin Pitsuwan (left of Prince El Hassan)

Launch of the Arabic Report of Legal Empowerment of the Poor: El Hassan bin Talal; Ahmed Hassan; Khadija Hussein; Amal Basha

Regional Priorities Plenary: Habiba Al Marashi; Dennis Meadows; Lakhdar Brahimi; Ann Pettifor; Zafar Adeel; Salma Abbasi

82 WANA Forum Report 2010 MONDAY, 17 MAY 2010 09:00-10:30 Displacement and Post-Conflict Reconstruction & Recovery Approximately 70 per cent of the world refugee and uprooted population is in Africa and the Middle East. Growing populations, declining access to resources (particularly water), increased consumption and demand on energy and repeated conflicts all add to the magnitude of stretching the limits of carrying capacity. In this plenary, speakers will provide an overview of where the region stands today and the areas for which regional cooperation is needed for closing the human dignity deficit. WANA-led approaches to reconstruction and recovery have the potential to create a supranational mechanism for addressing conflict and its aftermath. Conflict has cost the region around US$12 trillion in missed economic growth and development over the last two decades, according to the ‘Cost of Conflict in the Middle East’ SFG 2009 report. The negative social, environmental and economic effects of conflict could present an opportunity to reconstruct communities based on good governance, green industry and infrastructure, socially cohesive policies and an understanding of carrying capacity. g Mohammed Al-Arifi (Chair),Technical Department Manager of the Saudi Fund for Development, Saudi Arabia g Imran Riza, Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Jordan g Lily Habash, Deputy Chief Technical Advisor, Capacity Development Initiative, United Nations Development Programme, Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP-PAPP), Palestine g Ahmed Hassan, President of Somali Red Crescent Society g Bakhtiar Amin, Founder of the International Alliance for Justice and Former Minister for Human Rights, Iraq g Mohammad Ehsan Zia, Chief Executive Officer, TADBEER Consulting Inc. and Former Minister of Rural Development, Afghanistan 10:30-10:45 Coffee Break 10:45-12:00 Social Cohesion in the WANA Region The WANA region faces increasing social fragmentation, which is exacerbated by poverty, increased conflict and exceeding the environment’s carrying capacity. How can the WANA region effectively deal with the divisions that weaken its social fabric in a multidimensional way? What are the mechanisms for fostering cohesion and inclusion as opposed to division and exclusion? What are the roles of the state, civil society and social networks? Speakers in this session will put forth some answers and provide examples of networks, instruments and tools for enhancing social cohesion.

WANA Forum Report 2010 83 g Maha Yahya (Chair), Regional Advisor on Social Policy, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Lebanon g Amal Basha, Chairperson for Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights, Yemen g Hu Shaocong, Director of the Department for Developing Countries Studies of China Institute of International Studies, China g Hossein Godazgar, Reader and Deputy Head of Department for the Study of Islam and Muslims, Al-Maktoum Institute, United Kingdom/Iran g Jan Sadlak, Vice-Rector for International Coorperation, Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland g Zhou Nan-Zhao, President of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Network for International Education and Values Education and President, Chinese Council of Private Higher Education, China g Daoud Kuttab, Founding Director of Community Media Network and Media Activist, Palestine and Jordan 12:00-13:30 Break-out Groups: Strategies for Engaging Partnerships The focus groups for social cohesion, green industry and infrastructure, environmental education for sustainable development and Hima and reconstruction and recovery resume to provide constructive input on the proposals and put forth an outline for creating and engaging in targeted strategic partnerships. 13:30-14:30 Lunch 14:30-18:30 Our Common Future: Water, Environment and Energy Community Following its recent report on the ‘Cost of Conflict in the Middle East’, the India-based think-tank Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) launched a study on water security for preventing future conflicts through collaborative regional solutions for peace and shared challenges. Organised by the SFG, this session is part of an ongoing series of consultations, with the first international workshop taking place in Montreux earlier this year. 14:30-15:15 Vision Conversation with El Hassan bin Talal, WANA Forum Chairperson Chaired by Sundeep Waslekar, President of Strategic Foresight Group 15:15-16:15 Strategic Dialogue on Concrete Policy Initiatives g Karim Nashashibi, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Palestine Authority, Palestine g Saban Disli, Member of Parliament, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey, Turkey g Dureid Mahasnah, Former Water Negotiator, Jordan Valley Secretary General and Co-Chair, Jordan-Water Community with Israel and Syria, Jordan g Kamal Field Al-Basri, Chairman and Member of the Board of

84 WANA Forum Report 2010 Trustees, Iraq Institute for Economic Reform, Iraq g Selim Catafaco, President of the National Authority of the Litani River, Lebanon g Emin Onen, Member of Parliament, Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs of AK Party, Turkey 16:15-16:45 Coffee Break 16:45-17:15 Strategic Dialogue on International Cooperation g Jean-Daniel Ruch, Special Envoy for the Middle East, Government of Switzerland, Switzerland g Francois Muenger, Head of Water Initiatives, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland g Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Deputy Head of the Middle East Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden g Annika Johansson, Regional Water Coordinator, Swedish International Development Agency, Sweden 17:15-17:30 Presentation of Report on Water Scarcity & Drought in WANA g Jauad El Kharraz, Information Manager of the Technical Unit at the Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the water sector, France 17:30-18:30 Open Forum on ‘Our Common Future’ Plenary

After 19:30 Free Time

Social Cohesion Plenary: Amal Basha; Daoud Kuttab; Zhou Nan-Zhao; Maha Yahya; Hu Shaocong; Jan Sadlak; Hossein Godazgar

Strategic Foresight Group joint session on Our Common Future: Dureid Mahasnah; Karim Nashashibi; Kamal Field Al-Basri; El Hassan bin Talal; Sundeep Waslekar; Saban Disli, Emin Onen; Selim Catafaco

WANA Forum Report 2010 85 TUESDAY, 18 MAY 2010

09:00-10:45 Environment and Green Economy As the WANA region confronts the challenges of climate change, it is more apparent that the days of infinite growth on a finite planet are over. Peaking oil production, growing food insecurity, water scarcity, jobless recoveries and a myriad of social, environmental and economic ills continue to further degrade carrying capacity. Is the WANA region repeating the mistakes of the industrialised world, leading us to further economic difficulties and ecological hazards? What are the prospects for a Pan Asian framework that includes WANA? In this panel discussion, speakers will be asked about the opportunities for WANA to adopt sustainable approaches to meet these challenges, move from consumption to production and leapfrog into the third industrial revolution of the post carbon economy. g Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi (Chair), CEO of Al Ihsan Charity Centre and Chairman of the International Steering Committee for the Global Initiative Towards a Sustainable Iraq, UAE g Hussein Abaza, Former Chief of Trade and Economics at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Switzerland, Egypt g Kazi Jalal, Special Program Instructor, Environmental Studies at Harvard University Extension School, USA g Raouf Dabbas, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Environment, Jordan g Soubhi Abdulkarim, Chairman and CEO, SOUTER Group, UK/UAE g Walid Saleh, Regional Coordinator, MENA, United Nations University, International Network on Water, Environment and Health, UAE g Asaad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), Lebanon g Liu Baolai, Council Member of Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and Special Researcher for China Institute of International Studies, China 10:45-11:00 Coffee Break 11:00-13:00 Break-out Groups: Formulating Action Plans This is the third meeting of the focus groups to agree on a way forward and to formulate a concrete action-oriented plan with timelines, proposed partnerships and benchmarks. 13:00-14:30 Lunch 14:30-16:00 Mobilising the Third Sphere for Collective Action El Hassan bin Talal has long called for the engagement of the third sphere of partnership between governments, the private sector and civil society in becoming shareholders of their future. What is

86 WANA Forum Report 2010 the Third Sphere in the context of WANA? How can civil society be strengthened to enable them to be a real force and partner in influencing policy and change? What is the role of the Third Sphere in civic engagement and education for citizenship? In this panel discussion, speakers will address these questions and present their recommendations on how the Third Sphere can be activated to partner with the WANA Forum in working toward mutual objectives. g Salma Abbasi (Chair), Chairperson and CEO, e Worldwide Group and Associate Fellow, King’s College London, Conflict, Security and Development Group, UK/UAE g Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation For the Future (FFF), Jordan/Tunisia g Naseem Tarawnah, General Manager of 7iber Inc, blogger and social media enthusiast, Jordan g Savas Sahin, Urban and Regional Planner, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Atilim University, Turkey g Ali Rabi, President of the International University of Iran, Farabi Institute of Higher Education and Co-Chair of the Middle East Citizens Assembly (MECA), Iran g Mohsen Marzouk, Secretary-General, Arab Democracy Foundation, Qatar 16:00-16:30 Coffee Break 16:30-18:00 Conclusions of WANA Forum 2010 by Sultan Barakat, Forum Moderator Response to Conclusions of WANA Forum 2010: g Liu Baolai, Council Member of Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and Special Researcher for China Institute of International Studies g Lakhdar Brahimi, Former Special Advisor to the UN Secretary- General and Foreign Minister of Algeria g Muchkund Dubey, President of the Council for Social Development (CSD), India g Sawsan Hanish, Professor of Social Work at Alfatah University and Executive Director of Libya’s Public Union for Social Work and Psychology Experts, Libya g Khadija Hussein, Founder and Chairperson of Sudanese Mothers for Peace, Sudan g Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group, UAE and Board Member of UN Global Compact g Ahmed al-Mukhaini, Independent Researcher and Consultant in Human Rights and Interfaith Cooperation and Vice Principal of SASLO Legal Training Centre, Oman g Mutsuyoshi Nishimura, Special Advisor to the Cabinet of the government of Japan and former Ambassador in charge of global environment issues, Japan

WANA Forum Report 2010 87 g Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy International and Fellow of the New Economics Foundation (NEF), UK g Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Member on the International Senior Advisory Board of the WANA Forum, Bangladesh Closing Remarks by El Hassan bin Talal, WANA Forum Chairperson After 18:00 Free Time WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2010

Meet at 8:00 Field Visit to the Badia Region (Optional) in hotel lobby In collaboration with the Badia Research & Development Centre (BRDC), this optional field visit is open to all. Pre-registration is required. Participants will get first-hand insight into the BRDC work of providing integrated solutions for resource management, community development and environmental conservation and management in Jordan’s Badia region.

Environment and Green Economy Plenary: Hussein Abaza; Liu Baolai; Kazi Jalal; Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi; Raouf Dabbas; Soubhi Abdulkarim; Asaad Serhal; Walid Saleh

Savas Sahin; Nabila Hamza; Naseem Tarawnah Salma Abbasi; Mohsen Marzouk; Ali Rabi

88 WANA Forum Report 2010 annex 2: Participants

Hussein Abaza, Former Chief of Trade Mohammed Al-Arifi, Technical Department and Economics at the United Nations Manager of the Saudi Fund for Development, Environment Programme (UNEP) in Saudi Arabia Switzerland, Egypt Ahmed Al-Atrash, Professor of International Salma Abbasi, Chairperson and CEO, e Relations and Peace and Security Analyst at Worldwide Group and Associate Fellow, Al-Fateh University, Libya King’s College London, Conflict, Security and Development Group, United Kingdom and Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Minister United Arab Emirates of State for International Cooperation and Acting Minister of Business and Trade and Elsadig Abdalla, Political Expert, Ministry of Member on the Board of Trustees, Silatech, Foreign Affairs, Qatar Qatar

Aishah Abdallah, Member, IUCN Commission on Rasem Badran, International Expert and Education and Communication, Saudi Arabia Consultant for Architecture Design and Urban Planning in Muslim Communities, Soubhi Abdulkarim, Chairman and CEO, Jordan SOUTER Group, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates Liu Baolai, Council Member of Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) Sadoun Rashid Abdul Latif, Consultant and Special Researcher of China Institute of in planning and development at the International Studies, China Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking, Qatar Sultan Barakat, WANA Forum Moderator and Advisor to Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Jordan Chaled Abu-Gharbieh, General Manager, EJAB and Professor of Politics and Director of the Business and Investments L.L.C., Jordan Post-war Reconstruction & Development Unit, University of York, United Kingdom Hasan Abu Nimah, Director, Regional Human Security Centre (RHSC), Jordan Amal Basha, Chairperson of Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights, Yemen Zafar Adeel, Director, United Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment Omar Al Basheer, Executive Director for and Health (UNU-INWEH), Canada the Outreach Sector at the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Jordan Aysha Alkusayer, Assistant Executive Manager, Strategic Studies Department,Alwaleed bin Kamal Field Al-Basri, Chairman and Member Talal Foundation, Saudi Arabia on the Board of Trustees, Iraq Institute for Economic Reform, Iraq Ayad Altaai, General Coordinator, Global Initiative Towards a Sustainable Iraq, Unied Sara Bazoobandi, Doctoral student at the Arab Emirates Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, Exeter University, United Kingdom and Iran Bakhtiar Amin, Founder of the International Alliance for Justice and Former Minister for Martin Beck, Resident Representative of the Human Rights, Iraq Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Jordan

WANA Forum Report 2010 89 El Hassan bin Talal, Chairperson of the WANA Initiatives Division at the Swiss Agency for Forum, Jordan Development and Cooperation, Switzerland

Murad Bino, Executive Director, The Inter- Noreddine Ghaffour, Research and Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Capacity Building Project Development and Management (INWRDAM), Manager at the Middle East Desalination Jordan Research Centre (MEDRC), Oman

Selin Bolme, Researcher at SETA Foundation, Humam Ghassib, Secretary-General, Arab Turkey Thought Forum (ATF), Jordan

Lakhdar Brahimi, Former Special Advisor Rafia Ghubash, President of the Arab to the UN Secretary-General and Foreign Network for Women in Science and Minister of Algeria Technology, United Arab Emirates

Alia Brahimi, Research Fellow in Global Hossein Godazgar, Reader and Deputy Security at the London School of Economics Head of Department for the Study of Islam and Senior Research Associate at the and Muslims, Al-Maktoum Institute, United University of Oxford’s Department of Politics Kingdom and Iran and International Relations, United Kingdom Bekir Gür, Coordinator of Educational Zeinab Burma, Executive Manager of Studies, SETA Foundation, Turkey Sudanese Mothers for Peace, Sudan Lily Habash, Deputy Chief Technical Raghda Butros, Founder of Hamzet Wasel Advisor, Capacity Development Initiative, and Ashoka Fellow, Jordan United Nations Development Programme, Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian Salim Catafaco, President of the National People (UNDP-PAPP), Palestine Authority of the Litani River, Lebanon Mohammad al-Hamad, Director, Civil Society Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen, Kuwait Research Development Center, Jordan University of Fellow at the London School of Economics Science and Technology, Jordan and Political Science, United Kingdom Omar Hamarneh, Chief Executive Officer of Raouf Dabbas, Senior Advisor at the Ministry El Hassan Science City (EHSC), Jordan of Environment, Jordan Habiba Hamid, Manager, Zayed International Jessica Dheere, Co-founder/Director of Social Humanitarian Awards, United Arab Emirates Media Exchange, Lebanon Ali Hamoud, Director General, General Saban Disli, Member of Parliament and Commission for Al Badia Management and Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Development, Syria Turkey, Turkey Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation Muchkund Dubey, President of the Council For the Future (FFF), Jordan and Tunisia for Social Development (CSD), India Sawsan Hanish, Professor of Social Work at Ilmas Futehally, Executive Director and Vice Alfatah University and Executive Director President of Strategic Foresight Group, India of Libya’s Public Union for Social Work and Psychology Experts, Libya Johan Gely, Senior Water Specialist, Water

90 WANA Forum Report 2010 Ahmed Hassan, President, Somali Red Annika Johansson, Regional Water Crescent Society, Somalia Coordinator, Swedish International Development Agency, Sweden Medhat Hassanein, Professor of Finance and Banking at the American University in Cairo Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Deputy Head of the and Former Minister of Finance, Egypt Middle East Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden Baker al-Hiyari, WANA Forum Team Leader, Jordan Khaled Kahhaleh, Advisor, Royal Scientific Society, Jordan Khadija Hussein, Founder and Chairperson of Sudanese Mothers for Peace, Sudan Taher Kanaan, Managing Director, Jordan Center for Public Policy Research and Zafar Iqbal, Senior Economist, Islamic Dialogue (JCPRD), Jordan Development Bank, Saudi Arabia Hamed Kazim, CEO of HK Consulting, United Jehad Jaafar, Head of Environmental Arab Emirates Citizenship Programme, Bahrain Musa Keilani, Editor-in-Chief, Al-Urdon Kazi Jalal, Special Program Instructor, newspaper, Jordan Environmental Studies, Harvard University Extension School, United States Ibrahim Al-Khader, Regional Director, Middle East Division at BirdLife International, Jordan Arafat Jamal, Deputy Representative, UNHCR Representation in Jordan Yehya Khaled, Director General of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Karen Janjua, Research Fellow, Head of Nature, Jordan Reconstruction Cluster at the Regional Human Security Centre (RHSC), Jordan Jauad El-Kharraz, Information Manager of the Technical Unit at the Euro-Mediterranean Odeh Al-Jayyousi, Regional Director, Information System on Know-how in International Union for Conservation of the Water Sector (EMWIS), France and Nature, Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN- Researcher at the Global Change Unit, ROWA), Jordan University of Valencia, Spain

Alaa El Sadek; Rafia Ghubash; Jauad El-Kharraz Lahib Al-Khraisha; Omar Al Basheer; Ilari Rantakari

WANA Forum Report 2010 91 Hisham Khatib, Honorary Vice Chairman Mohsen Marzouk, Secretary-General of the of World Energy Council, Jordan Arab Democracy Foundation, Qatar

Nayim Khemaies, Private Equity Investment Paul Mazza, Communication and Information Associate and Ashoka Arab World Support Officer, United Nations Educational, Scientific Network Member, Kuwait and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Jordan

Riad Al Khouri, Dean of Business School, Dennis Meadows, President, Laboratory for Lebanese French University at Erbil, Iraq Interactive Learning and Professor Emeritus for Policy Systems, University of New Lahib Al-Khraisha, Programme Officer, United Hampshire, United States Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Iraq Operations Unit, Jordan Noha El-Mikawy, Practice Leader - Governance, UNDP, Regional Centre for Arab Daoud Kuttab, Founding Director of States, Egypt Community Media Network and Media Activist, Palestine and Jordan Francois Muenger, Head of Water Initiatives, Swiss Agency for Development and Robin MacGregor, Regional Manager (Gulf Cooperation, Switzerland & Middle East), International Programme, Charity Commission for England and Wales, Ahmed al-Mukhaini, Independent Researcher United Kingdom and Consultant in Human Rights and Interfaith Cooperation and Vice Principal of Dureid Mahasnah, Former Water Negotiator, SASLO Legal Training Centre, Oman Jordan Valley Secretary General and Co- Chair, Jordan-Water Community with Israel Zhou Nan-Zhao, President of UNESCO Asia- and Syria, Jordan Pacific Network for International Education and Values Education and President, Chinese Ahmad Mango, WANA Forum Moderator and Council of Private Higher Education, China Advisor to Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Jordan Karim Nashashibi, Economic Advisor to the Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Environmental Group, United Arab Emirates Palestine and Board Member of UN Global Compact

Jehad Jaafar and Fatima Shawqi Alia Brahimi and Zafar Iqbal

92 WANA Forum Report 2010 Mutsuyoshi Nishimura, Special Advisor to Environment Research at the Gulf Research the Cabinet of the government of Japan Center, United Arab Emirates and former Ambassador in charge of global environment issues, Japan Imran Riza, Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Ihsan Jordan Charity Centre and Chairman of International Steering Committee of the Global Initiative Jean-Daniel Ruch, Special Envoy for the Towards a Sustainable Iraq, United Arab Middle East, Government of Switzerland, Emirates Switzerland

Wafa Omar, Deputy Director of Programs, Najib Saab, Secretary-General of Arab Forum Arab Democracy Foundation, Qatar for Environment and Development (AFED), Lebanon Khaldoun Al Omari, Protected Areas Programme Officer, International Union for Juho Saari, Professor of Welfare Sociology at Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for the University of Eastern Finland, Finland West Asia (IUCN-ROWA), Jordan Alaa El Sadek, President of the Arab World Emin Onen, Deputy Chairman of Foreign Academy of Young Scientists, Bahrain Affairs of AK Party, Turkey Jan Sadlak, Vice-Rector for International Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy Cooperation, Warsaw School of Social International and Fellow of the New Psychology and Humanities/SWPS, Poland Economics Foundation (NEF), United Kingdom Savas Zafer Sahin, Urban and Regional Planner, Department of Politics and Public Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the Administration, Atilim University, Turkey Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia Motasem Saidan, Director, Environmental Management Department at Princess Sumaya Nour Qabba’ah, WANA Forum Researcher, University for Technology and Director of Jordan Consultation Cluster at the Royal Scientific Society, Jordan Wissam Rabadi, Executive Director of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation, Nadia Al-Sakkaf, Editor-in-Chief of The Yemen Amman Office and Acting Director of iPark Times, Yemen Technology Incubator at the Higher Council for Science and Technology, Jordan Walid Saleh, Regional Coordinator, MENA, United National University International Ali Rabi, President of the International Network on Water, Environment and Health, University of Iran, Farabi Institute of Higher United Arab Emirates Education and Co-Chair of Middle East Citizens Assembly (MECA), Iran Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and Member of the International Ilari Rantakari, Ambassador, Helsinki Process Senior Advisory Board of the WANA Forum, on Globalization and Democracy, Ministry of Japan Foreign Affairs, Finland Yoshiaki Sasaki, Advisor to the Sasakawa Mohamed Raouf, Program Manager, Peace Foundation, Japan

WANA Forum Report 2010 93 Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Adel Tweissi, Secretary-General of the Higher Alexandria and Member of the International Council for Science and Technology (HCST), Senior Advisory Board of the WANA Forum, Jordan Egypt Cemal Usak, Vice President of the Journalists Asaad Serhal, Director General of the Society and Writers Foundation, Turkey for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), Lebanon Masoumeh Velayati, Fundraiser, United Nations Association International Service, Mohammad Shahbaz, Director of Badia United Kingdom and Iran Research & Development Centre and WANA Forum Environment Working Group Sundeep Waslekar, President of Strategic Facilitator, Jordan Foresight Group, India

Saeed Shami, Regional Programme Maha Yahya, Regional Advisor on Social Coordinator for Biodiversity Management, Policy, United Nations Economic and Social International Union for the Conservation Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), of Nature - Regional Office for West Asia Lebanon (IUCN-ROWA), Jordan Seiichiro Yonekura, Professor at the Institute Hu Shaocong, Director of the Department for of Innovation Research at Hitotsubashi Developing Countries Studies, China Institute Unviersity, Japan of International Studies (CIIS), China Mohammad Ehsan Zia, Chief Executive Fatima Shawqi, Researcher at Al Tajdeed Officer, TADBEER Consulting Inc. and Cultural & Social Society and Member of Former Minister of Rural Development, the Environmental Citizenship Program Afghanistan and Women’s Association for Human Development, Bahrain Steve Zyck, Research Fellow at the Post- war Reconstruction and Development Unit Mohammed Shiyyab, Director General, (PRDU), United Kingdom Cooperative Monitoring Centre (CMC), Jordan

Muhammad Siddiqi, Assistant Editor of Dawn, Pakistan

Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue, and Member on the International Senior Advisory Board of the WANA Forum, Bangladesh

Tatsuya Tanami, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation, and Member on the International Senior Advisory Board of the WANA Forum, Japan

Naseem Tarawnah, General Manager of 7iber Inc, blogger and social media enthusiast, Jordan Murad Bino and Mohammad Siddiqi

94 WANA Forum Report 2010 annex 3: Speaker bios

Hussein Abaza, Former Chief of Trade and ambassadors of peace’ and engaging Economics at the United Nations Environ- university students and school children ment Programme (UNEP) in Switzerland, around the world to embrace the concept of Egypt understanding, tolerance and respect. As Chief of Trade and Economics at With nearly 30 years experience in the UNEP for 12 years, Mr. Abaza assisted field of technology and business process countries, particularly developing reengineering, Ms. Abbasi is linking ICT countries and countries with economies companies in developing economies with in transition, enhance their capacities to international corporations and organisations integrate environmental considerations in to promote knowledge transfer and drive development planning and decision-making. interfaith understanding, dialogue and In addition to the many positions he held awareness. She joined the High Level in UNEP since 1980, he worked as the Adviser’s Panel of the United Nations Global Financial and Administrative Manager of a Alliance for Information Communication United Nations Physical and Urban Planning Technologies and Development (UN GAID). project in Saudi Arabia, Managing Director Ms. Abbasi was awarded a Senior of the Center of Planning and Architecture in Research Associate Fellowship in the Cairo in Egypt, and Manager of the Islamic International Policy Department at King’s Investment Company, Central and Northern College London and has recently been Region in Saudi Arabia. awarded the Ibn Khaldun Award for Excellence for promoting understanding Salma Abbasi, Chairperson and CEO, e between global cultures. Worldwide Group and Associate Fellow, King’s College London, Conflict, Security and Aishah Abdallah, Member, International Development Group, UK/UAE Union for the Conservation of Nature Ms. Abbasi is chairperson and founder of (IUCN) Commission on Education and eWorldwide Group, a consortium of 37 Communication, Saudi Arabia companies and universities focused on Ms. Abdallah is a member of the providing multiple services and solutions International Union for the Conservation of in the key areas of security and resilience, Nature (IUCN) Commission on Education sustainable development and empowerment, and Communication and works in alternative energy, recycling and Saudi Arabia as a wilderness leader and environment and management consultancy. environmental educator with the Girl Ms. Abbasi actively works with multiple Scouts, schools and government agencies governments in an advisory capacity, to introduce women and girls to the wonders promoting interfaith harmony, understanding and beauties of the natural world. Her most and social-economic development. recent contribution is a proposal involving Ms. Abbasi also works with multiple the official recognition for traditional himas UN agencies to promote cultural diversity as Community Conserved Areas (CCAs), the at the international level and, through criteria proposed for selecting pilot himas, eWorldwide Group, has recently sponsored which involves negotiations between local UNESCO’s ‘Power of Peace’ (PPN) initiative, communities and stakeholders such as the championing the creation of young ‘global Ministry of Agriculture and others.

WANA Forum Report 2010 95 the strategic development of the UN’s overall water agenda. He has extensive experience in a variety of water and environmental issues, including monitoring and control of water pollution, water management in dry areas, solutions to industrial environmental problems, modelling of environmental systems and environmental policy formulation. Dr. Adeel has led the development of a network of scientists working in water-scarce Soubhi Abdulkarim and Lily Habash countries, particularly those in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Through his editorial Soubhi Abdulkarim, Chairman and CEO, lead, this network has published eight books SOUTER Group, UK/UAE in the UNU Desertification Series. He also co- Mr. Abdulkarim has over 25 years of chaired the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment experience in environmentally sound team that produced the global desertification technologies, alternative energy, high- synthesis. end computing, communication, network Dr. Adeel has also studied the formulation infrastructure, medical technologies and of environmental policy and governance automation. at several levels; his book on this topic is He founded SOUTER Group as a East Asian Perspectives in Environmental consultancy company specialising in Governance – Response in a Rapidly Technology Solutions within the framework Developing Region. of sustainable development and maintains a diverse clientele that includes governments, Bakhtiar Amin, Founder of the International NGOs and private companies. SOUTER Alliance for Justice and Former Minister for Group works closely with international Human Rights, Iraq organisations such as the UNDP and is Mr. Amin has more than 20 years experience involved in large-scale projects in Iraq, in the field of international human rights Jordan, Syria, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. and humanitarian work. He has worked Mr. Abdulkarim’s former positions include extensively on issues involving minorities, Chief Operating Officer of Hydra Trading refugees and the uprooted, release of and Senior Vice President and CTO with prisoners, women’s rights and human rights Abraaj Capital, two of the largest investment in general, conflict resolution, elimination of firms in the region. landmines and freedom of expression. He has participated in fact-finding missions in Zafar Adeel, Director of United Nations Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Kurdistan, Lebanon, University Institute for Water, Environment Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, among and Health (UNU-INWEH) and Chair of UN- others. Water, Canada Mr. Amin has served as Minister of Dr. Adeel served as Senior Engineer at Human Rights of Iraq, Advisor for the GeoTrans Inc., an environmental services Department of Migration and Refugee and consulting firm in the United States, Affairs in Sweden and NGO Representative before joining the United Nations University of the UN Human Rights Commission in in 1998 where he has played a key role in Switzerland and Executive Director of the

96 WANA Forum Report 2010 International Alliance for Justice (IAJ), which Sultan Barakat, Moderator of the WANA coordinates a network of 275 international Forum, Professor of Politics and Director non-governmental organisations from more of the Post-war Reconstruction and than 120 countries. The IAJ called for the Development Unit at the University of York in establishment of an International Ad Hoc the United Kingdom Tribunal to investigate the Iraqi leadership’s Professor Barakat is the author of crimes against humanity, crimes of war and Reconstructing Post-Saddam Iraq and genocide. After the Conflict: Reconstruction and Mr. Amin’s recent work involves Development in the Aftermath of War organising educational seminars and training in addition to numerous journal articles programmes all over the world for Iraqi and reports on international affairs and journalists, academics, lawyers, politicians, development. Professor Barakat’s research, human rights activists. He travels extensively which has consistently challenged the to participate in conferences and meet with hitherto unimpressive work of the Western- various heads of state, government officials led international community, has focused and others to shed light on human rights upon the means of intervening in post- issues in Iraq and across the WANA region. conflict societies with a particular emphasis on ensuring local ownership, promoting Mohammed Al-Arifi, Technical Department recipient state sovereignty and legitimacy Manager of the Saudi Fund for Development, and protecting human security. Saudi Arabia In addition to his scholarly work, For the past 30 years, Mr. Al-Arifi has Professor Barakat serves as a senior advisor handled all technical aspects of the Saudi for several major international organisations, Fund for Development, including supervising including the United Nations Development and overseing infrastructure projects and Programme, UNICEF, the World Bank, evaluation and management of resources the UK Department for International during implementation. Development, the Global Peace Index, the The Saudi Fund for Development Overseas Development Institute and many participates in the financing of projects others. In these roles, he conducts original in developing countries through the research while also helping to bridge the provision of soft loans with an emphasis divide between the scholarly, policy and on projects that promote the social and practitioner communities. economic wellbeing in low income Professor Barakat, who has been proud countries. It supports infrastructure, social to collaborate on His Royal Highness’s and development projects all over the initiatives for many years, has been closely world, including more recently its continued involved in the WANA Forum from its support of funding reconstruction efforts inception. He also serves as a senior in Palestine, funding the construction academic advisor to the Regional Human of hospitals in Indonesia and Cuba, the Security Centre in Amman. financing of the third phase of an expansion project in Jordan to establish two power Liu Baolai, Council Member of Chinese generation units run by natural gas and People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) diesel and contributing to the Enhanced and Special Researcher for China Institute of Integrated Framework Trust Fund aimed at International Studies helping least-developed countries to better Ambassador Baolai has served as a diplomat integrate into the multilateral trading system. in Chinese embassies in Morocco, Sudan

WANA Forum Report 2010 97 Advisory Committee of the Cairo Institute of Human Rights Studies in Egypt. In previous years, Ms. Basha was actively involved with countless Yemeni NGOs and various United Nations programmes, such as the UNDP Civil Society Advisory Committee to Administrator and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) programme on women in development and population as well as the European Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Omar Al Basheer, Executive Director for the Outreach Sector at the Royal Science Society Liu Baolai (RSS), Jordan Dr. Al Basheer is an expert engineer and Kuwait, been Counselor and Deputy with 28 years experience in design Director-General of the Department of West and implementation in the fields of Asian and North African Affairs, as well telecommunication, IT, renewable energy, as Director-General of the Department of electricity and power machinery. While Foreign Affairs Management, at the Ministry working for NASA, Dr. Al Basheer developed of Foreign Affairs and served as Ambassador a power management and distribution Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China system for more efficient use of energy to both the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. onboard the International Space Station, as He has been with the CPIFA since 2007, first well as other satellites powered by solar as Secretary-General and Vice President and energy. As founder and managing partner of now as Council Member. Applied Solutions & Knowledge Management Experts (ASK ME), Dr. Al Basheer worked as Amal Basha, Chairperson of Sisters Arab a business and projects development advisor Forum for Human Rights, Yemen for many international, regional and local Ms. Basha is a human rights activist and a institutions and corporations. trainer in the fields of gender, development and human rights. In addition to her work with Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights (SAF), she is a regional coordinator for the International Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) and an advisor to the Yemen Ministry of Human Rights. She is a board member of the Foundation for the Future and coordinates several of the Foundation’s programmes, including Legal Protections of Prisoners, Legal Rights for Refugees, and a Lawyers Training Programme on Human Rights and Violence against Women. She is also a member on the Amal Basha

98 WANA Forum Report 2010 Dr. Al Basheer was a vice dean and faculty member in computer science at the Amman Arab University for Graduate Studies. As an associate professor, he lectured in many local and international universities and educational institutions in the fields of engineering, computer science and management. Dr. Al Basheer frequently serves as a board member in many governmental institutions, non-profit organisations and NGOs. Some of these include the Energy/ Water/Environment Infrastructure Taskforce, EDAMA Initiative Jordan’s Leadership in Renewable Energy, the National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES), the National Agenda/Vocational Training and Employment, and government entities Lakhdar Brahimi and Taher Kanaan performance evaluator for the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence. Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies. Prince Hassan has long called for the El Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of the WANA creation of a Community of Water and Forum Energy for the Human Environment and Prince Hassan has devoted his life to the engagement of the third sphere of building bridges across existing political partnership between governments, the and religious divides and has shown a private sector and civil society in becoming long standing commitment to promoting shareholders of their future. human security across the WANA region. He advocates the adoption of international Lakhdar Brahimi, Former Special Advisor standards and supranational thinking that to the UN Secretary-General and Foreign transcends labels and ‘brand names’. Minister of Algeria Internationally, he proposed the A veteran United Nations envoy and advisor, establishment of a New International Ambassador Brahimi has played a central Humanitarian Order at the United Nations role in world events for the past 40 years. He and is the Founding Member and President lectures regularly around the world on issues of the Foundation for Interreligious and relating to security, conflict prevention and Intercultural Research and Dialogue. resolution and peace. He is presently Senior He is also a Commissioner on the Legal Visiting Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Empowerment of the Poor and an active Global Government at The London School of Board Member of the Nuclear Threat Economics and a member of “The Elders,” an Initiative. independent group of global leaders created Regionally, Prince Hassan has founded in 2007 at the initiative of Nelson Mandela and chaired a number of committees and to “offer their collective influence and initiatives including the Higher Council for experience to support peace building, help Science and Technology, the Royal Scientific address major causes of human suffering and Society, the Arab Thought Forum and the promote the shared interest of humanity.”

WANA Forum Report 2010 99 In addition to his extensive service to the United Nations, Ambassador Brahimi held numerous positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, Under-Secretary- General of the League of Arab States and Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Egypt and Sudan.

Raouf Dabbas, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Environment, Jordan Mr. Dabbas is currently advising the Ministry of Environment on a number of cutting edge approaches to sustainable developing, such as the launch of ecological and sustainable Muchkund Dubey cities, working in partnership with those in the private sector whom he believes are related to world economy, international instrumental stakeholders and drivers of monetary and trading systems, security and change. disarmament, South Asian cooperation and Prior to his current role, Mr. Dabbas was international relations. Currently teaches as an advisor to the Prime Minister on faculty in course Post Graduate Diploma environmental issues and served as president Programme in Development Studies and of Friends of Environment Society for 10 would be the first module for a Masters in years. He was also country coordinator with Development Studies, under newly formed GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations Ambedkar University, Delhi (AUD), which is to Benefit the Environment). mandated to focus on teaching and research He is a founding member of several in social sciences and the humanities both at NGOs, including the Jordanian Network for the under graduate as well as post graduate Environmentally Friendly Industries, the first level. of its kind in Jordan. Mr. Dabbas is currently on the Executive Board of the Environmental Hossein Godazgar, Reader and Deputy Liaison Centre International based in Kenya. Head of Department for the Study of Islam and Muslims, Al-Maktoum Institute, United Muchujund Dubey, President of the Council Kingdom/Iran for Social Development (CSD), India Dr. Godazgar’s background is in religions, Prof. Muchukund Dubey is a Former Islam, social science and education, political Ambassador and Former Indian Foreign philosophy and practical ethics, with special Secretary, the administrative head of the emphasis on bioethics, the environment and Indian Foreign Service, Government of India. the foundations of law. One core aspect of He is also President of the Council for Social his research involves religion and Islam in Development, and Chairman of the Asian relation to various aspects of everyday life, Development Research Institute, Patna. He is such as education, ethics, social cohesion, also a Professor in International Relations at the environment, and peace/conflict issues. the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and He is the author of The Impact of Religious Professor Emeritus at the Foreign Service Factors on Educational Change in Iran: Islam Institute. in Policy and Islam in Practise. He has also He is researching a wide array of issues published several articles and chapters in

100 WANA Forum Report 2010 English and Farsi in peer-reviewed journals She has long held the conviction that and edited books. Dr. Godazgar is an building state institutions based on good editorial member of Totalitarian Movements governance and investing in people and and Political Religions and field editor of their education, even under adverse political Edwin Mellen Press. He is also guest editor circumstances, are the best examples of of Social Compass, Special issue on Iran. resilience and the most effective tools of He is a regular reviewer for publishers resistance in the face of Israeli occupation. worldwide and has lectured in the UK, U.S., Spain, Italy, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation Norway, Turkey, Armenia and Iran. For the Future (FFF), Jordan and Tunisia Foundation For the Future is a multilateral Lily Habash, Deputy Chief Technical institution aiming to promote democracy, Advisor, Capacity Development Initiative, human rights, active citizenship and good United Nations Development Programme, governance through support and assistance Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian to civil society organisations in the region. People (UNDP-PAPP), Palestine For her role in FFF, Ms. Hamza was Before recently joining UNDP/PAPP, Ms. honoured with an award by the Arab Pioneer Habash spent 15 years as a professional and Innovators Forum. civil servant and advisor to many Palestinian Ms. Hamza is former Executive Director ministers and pioneered the establishment of the Arab Women Center for Training and of key Palestinian institutions including the Research (CAWTAR), a regional centre based Technical Support Unit for the Palestinian in Tunisia and funded by UNDP, UNFPA economic negotiating team and the and IPPF. She also worked as Expert in the Negotiations Support Unit in the Negotiations League of Arab States for 10 years. Affairs Department of the PLO. She also She holds various leading positions in served on the Advisory Board of the the Public Sector in Tunisia and worked as a Palestinian Human Development Report for consultant for UNDP, UNFPA, the European 2009/2010. Commission, the Economic and Social Ms. Habash is a civil society activist Commission for Eastern Asia (ESCWA) and and was instrumental in founding several has been the Coordinator of many regional youth and women’s organisations, including programmes. PARTNERS: Women & Men for the She has been nominated as member of Empowerment of Palestinian Women, which the High National Commission in charge of focuses on enhancing women’s leadership elimination of all forms of discrimination skills through qualitative education, against women and Member of the National mentorship and lifelong training. She is also Commission for equal opportunities in the Deputy Head of the Board of Directors of Tunisia. the Palestinian Association of Contemporary Ms. Hamza has published and contributed Arts. to a wide range of books and articles Ms. Habash was twice recognised by the on public policies, social development, World Economic Forum – Davos, selected as good governance, gender issues, poverty a Global Leader for Tomorrow. She currently alleviation and employment in the Arab serves as a Board Member in the Palestine region. Chapter of the Young Arab Leaders and was recognised for her efforts in peacemaking by Sawsan Hanish, Professor of Social Work at the Women for World Peace Circle. Alfatah University and Executive Director

WANA Forum Report 2010 101 of Libya’s Public Union for Social Work and Psychology Experts, Libya Prof. Hanish is the executive director of Libya’s National Society for Social Development and the assistant secretary of its Environment Friends Society. She is also active in Libyan women’s rights organisations, and participated in the United Nations Development Programme’s National Consultation Committee on Women. She also works as an education inspector.

Ahmed Hassan, President of Somali Red Crescent Society, Somalia Dr. Hassan has spent 20 years with the Medhat Hassanein Somali Red Crescent Society, the only national entity still functioning in the During his term as Minister of Finance, country. He works in the complex Somali Dr. Hassanein developed and instituted a landscape toward improving the livelihood set of fiscal public policy reforms for the of Somalis who suffer the effects of conflict, Government of Egypt. Dr. Hassanein served drought and floods. with the Arab Investment Bank in Egypt as Dr. Hassan began his career as a medical the head of the Investment Sector in charge doctor, department head and later hospital of projects finance, assets management and director before joining the World Health private equity transactions of the bank. After Organization (WHO) as Consultant and his service with the Arab Investment Bank Member of the Executive Board and the he was named president and CEO of the Ministry of Health as Director General. Egyptian Gulf Bank in Egypt.

Medhat Hassanein, Professor of Finance Khadija Hussein, Founder and Chairperson and Banking at the American University in of Sudanese Mothers for Peace, Sudan Cairo and former Minister of Finance, Egypt Ms. Hussein was State Minister for the Dr. Hassanein is a member of the UN Ministry of Peace in Sudan until the ministry High Level Commission on the Legal was dissolved in 1989 after the coup. She is Empowerment of the Poor. He also served a specialist in community development in as Governor of the World Bank and as a the Arab world and has been campaigning member of the G7 Expanded Committee for for genuine peace and human rights for the the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). last 30 years. She worked for the Ministry of Dr. Hassanein was the senior economist Education in Sudan and was delegated to the of the Projects Department of the Arab UNESCO centre in Egypt. Fund for Economic and Social Development She currently serves as the Vice Chair in Kuwait. During his term with the and Coordinator of the international offices Fund he participated in the financing of of the Sudanese Women Forum for Darfur, infrastructural, agro-industrial, industrial and organised by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), agricultural projects. He later was promoted which establishes and supports a wide range to lead the Fund’s Technical Assistance of networks on women and peace across the Department. continent.

102 WANA Forum Report 2010 She is also Member of the National assistance, supporting capacity building and Foundation to Unite Sudanese People creating better understanding and enhanced chaired by the former President Abdel cooperation among the member countries of Rahman Suwar al-Dahab. As Member of the United Nations. Women International for Peace and Freedom, she worked on the successful and ongoing Odeh Al Jayyousi, Director, International ‘Voice of African Women’ Programme. Union for the Conservation of Nature - Ms. Hussein was awarded Community Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN-ROWA), Champion status by the British Government Jordan and Ambassador of Peace by the World Prior to joining IUCN, Dr. Al Jayyousi was Association of Non-Governmental a university professor in water resources Organizations (WANGO). and environment and dean of scientific research at the Applied Science University Kazi Jalal, Special Program Instructor, in Jordan. He has over 15 years experience Environmental Studies at Harvard University in various planning activities in Chicago Extension School, United States at the Department of Planning and at the Dr. Jalal teaches courses on sustainable University of Illinois, Center of Urban development and corporate sustainability Economic Development. He also worked at the Harvard University Extension School. as a consultant with the European Union, He is also a freelance consultant on ESCWA, the World Bank and other leading environmental management and sustainable international organisations. development working for international organisations such as the United Nations, Ibrahim Al-Khader, Regional Director, United Nations Development Programme, Middle East Division at BirdLife World Health Organization, Asian International, Jordan Development Bank, World Water Forum, Dr. Al-Khader has over ten years of International Water Management Institute, national, regional and international work International Union for Conservation of experience in the areas of environmental Nature and the Global Initiative Towards a science and project implementation with Sustainable Iraq. the General Cooperation for Environment As Chief of the Office of Environment and Social Development (OESD) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Jalal led the formulation of the ADB’s policies and guidelines on environment and sustainable development, including water, poverty reduction, involuntary resettlement, indigenous people, gender and NGO cooperation. Dr. Jalal also worked for over 15 years with the United Nations-Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UN-ESCAP) initially as Chief of the Environmental Coordinating Unit and later as Director of the Division of Industry, Human Settlements and Environment providing technical Odeh Al Jayyousi

WANA Forum Report 2010 103 Protection (GCEP), the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as assistant national coordinator and regional water programme coordinator.

Daoud Kuttab, Founding Director of Community Media Network and Media Activist, Palestine and Jordan Mr. Kuttab is Founder Director of Community Media Network which operates the community based Radio Al Balad, AmmanNet Habiba Al Marashi and PEN Media, a media NGO contracted to produce 52 epidodes of Shara’a Simsim, the only 12 members. The EEG is a professional Palestinian version of Sesame Street. working group devoted to protecting Mr. Kuttab is a former Ferris Professor of the environment through means of Journalism at Princeton University where he education, action programs and community taught a seminar on new media in the Arab involvement and is open to people of world. He helped establish the Aabic Media all ages and nationalities. EEG maintains Internet Network (AMIN), a censorship a diverse membership list consisting of free Arab website and also established and individuals, corporations, schools and presided over the Jerusalem Film Institute universities, government sectors and private and the Institute of Modern Media at Al Quds organisations. University. EEG has become a large network Mr. Kuttab has won numerous of likeminded, environment-conscious international awards, including the CPJ individuals and organisations working International Press Freedom Awards, together towards sustainable development in the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to the UAE and abroad. Under Ms. Al Marashi’s Write Award and the Leipzeg Media Institute guidance EEG is the first environmental NGO award. He is also on the International Press in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and Institute’s list of 50 Press Freedom Heroes the only organisation of its kind in the UAE and on the list of The 500 Most Influential with accredited status to the United Nations Muslims in the World (2009) by The Royal Convention to Combat Desertification Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan and (UNCCD), the United Nations Environment Georgetown University in the United States. Programme (UNEP)’s Governing Council, His columns appear regularly in Arab and and the International Union for Conservation international newspapers. of Nature (IUCN). In 2006, Ms. Al Marashi became a board Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), Environmental Group, UAE and Board the world’s largest voluntary corporate Member of UN Global Compact citizenship initiative. Ms. Al Marashi is now Ms. Al Marashi is a Founding Member and successfully serving her second term in Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental this position and is also President of the Group (EEG) which began in 1991 with UNGC Local Network for the GCC Region.

104 WANA Forum Report 2010 She is one of the Founding Members of the has held several executive and managerial Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) positions in a number of regional and and Founder and President of the Arabia international organisations: he was the CSR Network which is a unique platform Regional Coordinator at El Taller Foundation, for building a sustainable future for the the Regional Programs Coordinator at the economy, environment and society. International Labor Organization, and the Freedom House Regional Director. He Ahmed al-Mukhaini, Independent also founded and directed Al-Kawakibi Researcher and Consultant in Human Democracy Transition Center. Rights and Interfaith Cooperation and Vice Mr. Marzouk participated in founding a Principal of SASLO Legal Training Centre, number of the most important regional and Oman international human rights and democracy Mr. Al-Mukhaini served as Political Assistant networks and is a member of several of their and Advisor to two American Ambassadors directorial committees such as the Council in Oman and Assistant Secretary General for a Community of Democracies. He holds for Information at Majlis a’Shura (elected a higher degree in Political Sociology and chamber of the bicameral parliament of International Relations and is a contributor to Oman). In this capacity, Ahmed provided many collective publications. Mr. Marzouk, policy advice on several draft laws, a poet and a playwright, also worked as a specialising in social, health, environmental freelance journalist. and women’s issues and undertook assignments in drafting laws. He also served Dennis Meadows, President, Laboratory as Chief Clerk for Permanent Committees for Interactive Learning and Professor and Director of the International and Inter- Emeritus for Policy Systems, University of New parliamentary Affairs Bureau, as well as co- Hampshire and co-author of the ground- ordinating all capacity building programmes breaking book The Limits to Growth, United for members and staff, and delivering States translation and interpretation services. Dr. Meadows is one of the key figures in Mr. Al-Mukhaini has delivered lectures, the environmental movement over the talks and courses for several national, last 50 years. His ten books have been regional and international organisations, as well as being an interlocutor with several international think tanks. He has delivered courses on Islamic ethics and jurisprudence, the history of humankind, the political history of Oman and interfaith co-operation. In addition, he acts as an external examiner and supervises research on political practices in Oman and legal and technical implications of traditional healing.

Mohsen Marzouk, Secretary-General, Arab Democracy Foundation, Qatar Mr. Marzouk has a 25-year professional experience in human development, mainly as a Human Rights expert and activist. He Dennis Meadows

WANA Forum Report 2010 105 translated into more than 30 languages. His Club of Rome report, “The Limits to Growth” (1972), sold over three million copies and was awarded the German Peace Prize. It was selected as one of the ten most influential environmental texts of the 20th century. His most recent book Limits to Growth - The 30-Year-Update has been Kazi Jalal, Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi and Raouf Dabbas has been translated into 12 languages. and Training Center for Rural Education), Dr. Meadows designs sophisticated Director and Professor at East-China Normal management-training simulations on University International Centre of Teacher issues related to energy, environment and Education, President of China Chapter sustainable development, which are used of State University of New York (SUNY) in training programmes around the world. and Director of Beijing APEC Centre for He also serves on the management boards International Education and Training. He of companies in Europe and the United is also acting as Advisor to the Chinese States with firms active in renewable energy, National Commission for UNESCO and software development and public health to China-UNICEF Cooperative Education insurance and has lectured or consulted to Project and Senior Advisor with International corporate and government groups in over 40 Education and Network (iEARN). countries. Dr. Zhou has consulted for the European His interest in environment and Union, UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, economics arose during his 1969-70 Asian Development Bank and the African automobile trip taking photographs and Development Bank. recording music from London to Sri Lanka - 100,000 kilometres over 12 months. Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Ihsan Charity Centre and Chairman of the Zhou Nan-Zhao, President of UNESCO Asia- International Steering Committee for the Pacific Network for International Education Global Initiative Towards a Sustainable Iraq, and Values Education (APNIEVE) and UAE President, Chinese Council of Private Higher Sheikh Al Nuaimi, infamously known as the Education, China “Green Sheikh”, is taking his message of With an academic background in ‘holistic living’ to the world, activating his educational sciences, Dr. Zhou is the author networks worldwide and inspiring people of of over 120 publications on education and all ages, religions and backgrounds. is a globally recognised expert on teaching He has coordinated the formation of methods, curriculum and the globalisation of environmentally and socially responsible education. non-governmental organisations and is Dr. Zhou’s extensive resume includes creating partnerships between public, Co-Director for International Programmes of private and local communities, advising UNESCO-INRULED (International Research decision makers, participating in steering

106 WANA Forum Report 2010 committees for strategic sustainability across sectors, and through the media, advocating environmentally-friendly approaches to development, guided by Quranic teachings on tawhid (unity), khalifa (stewardship) and amana (trust). Sheikh Al Nuaimi is currently serving as environmental advisor to the Ajman Government, where he is also chairman of Green Base Environmental Services and the founder of the Majlis for Holistic Knowledge and Holistic Health. Jan Sadlak, El Hassan bin Talal and Zhou Nan-Zhao Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy International and Fellow of the New high level group of the Helsinki Process on Economics Foundation (NEF), United Globalisation and Democracy, sponsored by Kingdom the Finnish and Tanzanian governments. Ms. Pettifor is a fellow of the New Economics Ms. Pettifor is Editor of the Real World Foundation and co-author of The Green New Economic Outlook which in 2003 accurately Deal. She lectures widely on international predicted “a seismic crisis” - the bursting of finance and sovereign debt, and on the need the credit bubble “in America, not Argentina” to devise new economic policies to deal with (Cover of the New Statesman, 1st September, the ‘triple crunch’ of the financial crisis, peak 2003). She authored The Coming First World oil and climate change. She is also Executive Debt Crisis in 2006. Director of Advocacy International Ltd. Ms. Pettifor has worked for more than 14 She blogs on her website (www. years in the field of international debt and debtonation.org) and the Huffington finance and led the global ‘Drop the Debt’ Post (www.huffingtonpost.com) and has campaign, Jubilee 2000, which succeeded in contributed articles to the Guardian, the New persuading a large swathe of world public Statesman and others. opinion, as well as world leaders, to cancel Ms. Pettifor has served on the board of US$100bn of debt owed by 42 of the poorest the United Nations Human Development countries. Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and was member of the Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of Association of Southest Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia Dr. Pitsuwan, a native of Thailand, is Secretary General of ASEAN – an organisation of ten countries in Southeast Asia that works to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development of the region. Early in his career, Dr. Pitsuwan taught Political Science at Thammasat University, and in 1984 ran for a Parliamentary seat from his home Surin Pitsuwan town. Dr. Pitsuwan had been returned to

WANA Forum Report 2010 107 Parliament eight times since 1986 and as an He later returned to Iran and initiated MP was appointed Secretary to the Speaker the International University of Iran as the of the House of Representatives, Secretary to platform for bridging the divide between the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Deputy the Iranian specialists and academics abroad Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of with the scientific communities in Iran. Foreign Affairs. Currently, Dr. Pitsuwan is Dr. Rabi has been working on the Virtual on the Advisory Boards of the UN Human University project during the past 10 years Security Trust Fund, the International Crisis in Iran, Middle East, Europe and the Unites Group, the Council on Foreign Relations and States. He currently heads Farabi Institute of the Rockefeller Foundation. Higher Education, Online Graduate School of Management. Nour Qabba’ah, WANA Forum Researcher, His current areas of interests include: Jordan Information Society, Information Technology With a BA in modern languages (French and and International Development, e-Learning, Spanish) and an MA in diplomatic studies, and Political Economy. He is also the Ms. Qabba’ah has acquired great knowledge founder and co-chair of MECA. in the field of international relations, politics, economy and law, and has fortified a latent interest in global affairs in general. She developed a love for research while writing her thesis, in which she addressed China’s status as a global power. Before joining the WANA Forum, Ms. Qabba’ah worked at Al-Ghad newspaper as a journalistic translator. Ms. Qabba’ah also translated Johan Norberg’s In Defence of Global Capitalism from English into Arabic – the first book to rebut, systematically and thoroughly, the claims of the anti- globalisation movement.

Salma Abbasi Aishah Abdallah Ali Rabi, President of the International University of Iran, Farabi Institute of Higher Education and Co-Chair of the Middle East Citizens Assembly (MECA), Iran Dr. Rabi started his career teaching at the University of Tehran, School of Architecture while practicing regional planning at the Plan and Budget Organisation. He also served as the senior advisor in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. After the revolution in Iran, he served at the Vice Chancellor and Dean of Education at Farabi University but went t to the United States where he established his own business. Ahmed Hassan Imran Riza

108 WANA Forum Report 2010 Imran Riza, Representative,United Nations Representative to Jordan, where he oversees High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a programme dedicated to protecting, Jordan assisting and finding solutions for mainly Mr. Riza has followed a long and varied Iraqi refugees. career in the United Nations, where he has dealt primarily with issues of displacement, Juho Saari, Professor of Welfare Sociology at humanitarianism and politics. He has the University of Eastern Finland, Finland served in a variety of duty stations, both Dr. Saari has worked as docent at the in the field (including Sudan, Vietnam, Universities of Turku, Kuopio, Jyväskylä China and Lebanon) and at Headquarters and Helsinki in Finland, as a Professor of (Geneva and Rome). Mr. Riza has worked Sociology at the University of Jyväskylä, and with several UN agencies, including the currently holds a Professorship in Sociology UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the at the University of Kuopio. He has also Office of the Personal Representative of the worked as a researcher at the Academy Secretary-General for Lebanon and the World of Finland, a Special Researcher and later Food Programme. He is currently UNHCR Officer at the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health. His research interests include the Finnish social political system, welfare and social divisions and European integration. He has written and edited some 25 publications in these fields. Currently he is doing research in altruism, justice and insecurity.

Jan Sadlak, Vice-Rector for International Coorperation, Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland Dr. Sadlak has more than 25 years of experience in the field of higher education, international relations and economics. He had a number of high level positions Mohammed Al-Arifi Lily Habash in international organisations as well as teaching and research positions in leading universities and research institutions, with an extensive record of publications. He has been Director of UNESCO-European Centre for Higher Education (UNESCO-CEPES) and Representative of UNESCO in Romania and was Chief of Section for Higher Education Policy at UNESCO in Paris. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of European Studies of the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. Dr. Sadlak was recently elected President of the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) Observatory on Academic Bakhtiar Amin Ahmed al-Mukhaini Ranking and Excellence.

WANA Forum Report 2010 109 for the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize for his achievements in participatory practices and urban management.

Walid Saleh, Regional Coordinator, MENA, United Nations University, International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), UAE Dr. Saleh is a water expert and regional coordinator at the United Nations University in Maha Yahya and Savas Zafer Sahin Dubai, and is responsible for managing the International Cooperating Savas Sahin, Urban and Regional Planner, Office in Amman. He develops, implements Department of Politics and Public and evaluates UNU-INWEH capacity-building Administration, Atilim University, Turkey projects in the region and communicates Dr. Sahin is a lecturer, practitioner and frequently and systematically with various NGO activist in the field of Urban Planning project partners and donor agencies. and Urban Management for 15 years. In addition, Dr. Saleh employs the He managed and developed some very resources available through the network important urban projects in Turkey and to develop and organise programs and wrote influential papers and articles in the projects that address water problems in the field. He has also been an influential NGO MENA region, adopting a multi-disciplinary, activist promoting sustainable development ecosystem approach to water and watershed and planned urban development for livable management. cities. For his achievements, he was awarded Dr. Saleh’s recent work revolves around the Most Successful Young Person of his new software to calculate carbon Turkey award in 2006 by Junior Chamber footprint with a view of Arab cities. He has International. He was recently nominated also put forth a proposal to members of

Walid Saleh and Ali Rabi Nadia Al-Sakkaf

110 WANA Forum Report 2010 the WANA Forum for a pilot extra-curricular countries overseas, Mr. Sasakawa works on programme in schools across the WANA the front lines of humanitarian aid, believing region. that effective support for public interest activities demands not only funding, but Nadia Al-Sakkaf, Publisher and Editor- personal commitment and participation. in-Chief of The Yemen Times,Yemen He has continually stressed that modern Ms. Al-Sakkaf has been an instrumental problems demand collaborative solutions, figure in media since she joined the Yemen and to this end has built wide-ranging Times ten years ago as first a translator and networks encompassing the political, reporter. governmental, academic and private sectors. The Yemen Times covers many social, environmental and economic issues that have Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of a direct bearing on people’s lives. It is also Alexandria, Egypt and WANA Forum influential in reflecting public opinion and International Senior Advisory Board Member influencing government. Dr. Serageldin is known worldwide as an Ms. Al-Sakkaf received the first Gebran inspiring humanist, social scientist and Tueni Award in Lebanon, which honours leading authority on the role of education an editor or publisher from the Arab region and of science and technology in promoting who has shown courage in defending press developing societies. freedom and demonstrated excellence in He serves as Chair and Member of a leadership, managerial and professional number of advisory committees for academic, standards. research, scientific and international Ms. Al-Sakkaf is a member of the board of institutions and civil society efforts, including World Editors Forum and Yemeni Journalists the Egyptian Academy of Science, Academy Syndicate and the International Journalists of Sciences for the Developing World Syndicate. (TWAS), the Indian National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the European Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Academy of Sciences and Arts. Foundation, Japan and WANA Forum Dr. Serageldin has also served in International Senior Advisory Board Member Mr. Sasakawa has from a young age been deeply moved by the fact that the world is full of injustice and pain, influenced by an early experience which brought him directly into contact with the hardship faced by those affected by leprosy. It was this exposure that bolstered his conviction to devote his life to this cause and, in a broader sense, to social justice. As Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Mr. Sasakawa has committed himself to work for social development around the world, striving to improve public health and education, to alleviate poverty, eliminate hunger and to help people with disabilities. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah Both within Japan and in countless and Ismail Serageldin

WANA Forum Report 2010 111 the local community.” The revival of this ancient practice in Lebanon began when Mr. Serhal and his colleagues came across old maps of the country, which featured hundreds of areas marked ‘himas’. He is the Founding Member and Board Member of the Hima Fund, based in Qatar. Mr. Serhal initiated the first Lebanese project for Protected Areas with the Lebanese Ministry of Environment and the IUCN in 1993 and became Manager and Founding Member of the Al Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve and Al Shouf Cedars Society. He coordinated the IUCN Sailing to Asaad Serhal Barcelona Project for West Asia in 2009 and has served as both Global Councilor and a number of capacities at the World Chairperson of BirdLife International for the Bank, including as Vice President for Middle East. Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development. Hu Shaocong, Director of the Department He is former Chairman of Consultative for Developing Countries Studies of China Group on International Agricultural Research Institute of International Studies (CIIS), (CGIAR), Founder and former Chairman of China the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and The China Institute of International Studies is the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest the think tank of China’s Ministry of Foreign (CGAP), a microfinance programme, and Affairs. It conducts research and analysis was Distinguished Professor at Wageningen on a wide range of foreign policy issues. University in the Netherlands. Mr. Hu Shaocong oversees research on the Educated at Cairo University and Harvard status and role of developing countries in University, Dr. Serageldin is an internationally world affairs and provides policy analysis published author of over 60 books and and recommendations. Over the years, 200 papers on economic development, he has served as Second Secretary and biotechnology, human resource issues, First Secretary and Director of Political the environment, architecture, urbanism, Section at the Chinese Embassy in Turkey, the Arab world, Islam and culture. He has Deputy Director of Asia-Pacific Security and received numerous international awards and Cooperation Department of CIIS and Vice- honors for his work and civil society efforts. Consul of Chinese Consultate-General in Vietnam. Asaad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for (SPNL), Lebanon Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Member on the Mr. Serhal, through his work with the Society International Senior Advisory Board of the for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, WANA Forum, Bangladesh has been spearheading regional efforts to The Centre for Policy Dialogue is a public revive himas which, according to him, means policy think-tank in Bangladesh considered ”sustainable use of resources by and for to be one of the top thirty non-governmental

112 WANA Forum Report 2010 International Economic Association. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Grameen Bank. He is currently Chairman of the Pratichi Trust set up by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. Prof. Sobhan has published 27 books, 15 research monographs and 140 articles in professional journals. His latest work, Challenging the Injustice of Poverty: Agendas for Inclusive Development in South Asia, is under publication.

Naseem Tarawnah, General Manager of 7iber Inc, blogger and social media enthusiast, Jordan Rehman Sobhan Mr. Tarawnah is co-founder of 7iber.com, an independent Jordanian online platform research organisations in the world. for citizen-generated content founded in Prof. Sobhan is a leading intellectual and 2007. 7iber (’ink’) offers an alternative to economist and plays an active role in the mainstream media, seeking to better inform civil society movement in South Asia. He its audience on unreported issues as well as played a major role in the Bengali nationalist providing local perspectives and first-hand movement in the 1960s, served as Member accounts of news, politics, arts and culture. in the first Bangladesh Planning Commission, 7iber is a community-driven civic platform and Member of the Advisory Council of where stories are told by the people, for the the President of Bangladesh in charge of people. Naseem is also the General Manager the Ministry of Planning and the Economic of the organisation’s business arm, 7iber Relations Division. Inc., a company focusing on Arabic content Prof. Sobhan began his working career development, as well as social media training at the faculty of Economics of Dhaka of NGOs, community leaders, journalists, University. He then worked variously Arab youth and any other entity that is able as the Chairman, Research Director, Director General and Emeritus Fellow of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, the Executive Director of the South Asian Centre for Policy Studies and as a Visiting Fellow at Oxford, Columbia and Harvard Universities. He has worked as President of the Bangladesh Economic Association and has served as a Member of numerous distinguished bodies and committees, including the UN Committee for Development Planning, the Board of the United Nations University, Tokyo, the Commission for a New Asia and the Executive Committee of the Naseem Tarawnah

WANA Forum Report 2010 113 to wield the power of social media for social analysis, socio-urban evaluations, cultural good. Naseem also runs one of Jordan’s heritage, poverty reduction, housing and most prominent blogs, black-iris.com, which community development and post-conflict garnered a Brass Crescent award as the best reconstruction. She is a board member of Middle East blog two years in a row. several organisations including LCPS and the MIT-Enterprise Forum for the Arab region. Maha Yahya, Regional Advisor on Social Among other publications, she is the author Policy, United Nations Economic and Social of Towards Integrated Social Development Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), Policies in ESCWA Countries: A Conceptual Lebanon Analysis (ESCWA) and the co-editor of Dr. Yahya is a socio-urban specialist with Secular Publicities: Visual practices and the 15 years of academic and professional transformation of national publics in the experience. In her current role, she addresses Middle East and South Asia. social and urban policies and development issues in the 14 member countries of Mohammad Ehsan Zia, Chief Executive ESCWA. Prior to joining UN-ESCWA she Officer, TADBEER Consulting Inc. and was the director and principle author of Former Minister of Rural Development, the National Human Development Report Afghanistan at UNDP entitled Toward a Citizen’s State Mr. Zia’s has devoted his life’s work and of two supplementary works, Education to rural development and post-conflict and Citizenship and One Hundred and reconstruction, with an in-depth knowledge One Stories to Tell. She is also the founder of development theory, policymaking and and editor of the MIT Electronic Journal of practice. He continues to advise public and Middle East Studies (MIT-EJMES). Dr. Yahya non-governmental institutions in strategic worked as a consultant in Lebanon, Pakistan, planning, capacity building, participatory Saudi Arabia, Iran and others on a variety community development, poverty reduction of issues such as region-wide social policy interventions and conflict resolution and peace building. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) expanded five national programmes through increased focus on community based approaches and increased Afghan leadership and ownership of development at all levels.

Mohammad Ehsan Zia

114 WANA Forum Report 2010 annex 4: Groups

Working Group Participants

Reconstruction Working Group Ayad Altaai; Bakhtiar Amin; Ahmed Al-Atrash; Sultan Barakat; Alia Brahimi; Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen; Stephanie Elizondo; Habiba Hamid; Karen Janjua; Robin MacGregor; Sam Milton; Ahmed al-Mukhaini; Zhou Nan-Zhao; Ehsan Zia; Steve Zyck

Green Economy Working Group Hussein Abaza; Soubhi Abdulkarim; Chaled Abu-Gharbieh; Martti Antola; Liu Baolai; Alia Brahimi; Rafia Ghubash; Zafar Iqbal; Taher Kanaan; Hamed Kazim; Nayim Khemaies; Ahmad Mango; Najib Saab

WANA Forum Report 2010 115 Environment Working Group Aishah Abdallah; Sadoun Rashid Abdul Latif; Zafar Adeel; Noreddine Ghaffour; Bekir Gür; Laura Haddad; Ali Hamoud; Sawsan Hanish; Jehad Jaafar; Kazi Jalal; Odeh Al-Jayyousi; David Karashima; Ibrahim Al-Khader; Yehya Khaled; Jauad El-Kharraz; Habiba Al Marashi; Lama Masalha; Mutsuyoshi Nishimura; Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi; Khaldoun Al Omari; Alaa El Sadek; Savas Zafer Sahin; Nadia Al-Sakkaf; Walid Saleh; Asaad Serhal; Mohammad Shahbaz; Fatima Shawqi; Tatsuya Tanami; Kristian Ulrichsen; Hanan Zanoun

Social Cohesion Working Group Salma Abbasi; Aysha Alkysayer; Amal Basha; Omar al-Basheer; Sara Bazoobandi; Selin Bolme; Raghda Butros; Zeinab Burma; Jessica Dheere; Muchkund Dubey; Kamal Field; Hossein Godazgar; Lily Habash; Mohammad Al-Hamad; Sawsan Hanish; Khadija Hussein; Musa Keilani; Lahib Al-Khraisha; Mohsen Marzouk; Paul Mazza; Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi; Wafa Omar; Nour Qabba’ah; Ali Rabi; Ilari Rantakari; Juho Saari; Hu Shaocong; Rehman Sobhan; Cemal Usak; Masoumeh Velajati; Maha Yahya

116 WANA Forum Report 2010 annex 5: background

Beyond WANA Forum 2010: From Conversation to Partnership

“The West Asia - North Africa (WANA) Forum was initiated in response to the fact that nature abhors a vacuum. In our region, this vacuum represents the gradual loss of the noble art of conversation and the increased marginalisation of human beings who are the most important asset to stability and the most dangerous contributors to instability and violence.”

HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, WANA Forum Chairman

Introduction This brief provides a framework for the work is depicted as standing on the four pillars that lies ahead in progressing the WANA of society, environment, economy and Forum initiatives. It can offer direction, reconstruction identified by Forum Members promote a common understanding, inspire as issues of shared human concern in WANA. partnerships and set the groundwork for The final section looks ahead to the collective action and in-depth research efforts and partnerships needed to to move from ideas to concrete policy evolve links within WANA and between proposals. WANA and the emerging Pan-Asian The summary outline of the Forum framework of cooperation. Strategy is followed by adescription of the As Chairman HRH Prince El Hassan bin three phases of the process that were agreed Talal says to Members of the WANA Forum, upon by Forum “The region is not short of conference. The Members in the First Annual Forum in April real work is in between the annual forums, 2009. moving beyond rhetoric that focuses on what The matrix highlights the interdisciplinary is wrong in the world to produce concrete nature of the activities undertaken and the results aimed at realising opportunities that tasks ahead. The main platform of a regional will make a genuine difference in people’s conversation leading to a regional voice lives.”

WANA Forum Report 2010 117 1. Revisiting the Strategy Outline moving beyond policies confined to The Strategy Outline1 of the West Asia – national agendas. North Africa (WANA) Forum, presented to g Advocate these initiatives and members in the First Annual Forum, lays the proposals at local, national and foundation for the working methodology of regional levels. the WANA Forum process. g Strengthen links with existing regional The WANA Forum is a non-governmental, initiatives. non-partisan volunteer driven civil society g Be participatory, incorporating initiative consisting of individuals from across stakeholder contributions and West Asia and North Africa and partners from empowering civil society. other parts of the world. The facilitator and guardian of the 2. The Three Phases: Identification, WANA Forum is His Royal Highness Prince Development and Dissemination El Hassan bin Talal who, as Chairman, During the First Annual WANA Forum, an participates in his personal capacity, not outline of the three phases of the WANA representing a state, political agenda or set Forum was presented to Members. The first ideology. The WANA Forum is sponsored by phase (2009-2010) involves the identification The Nippon Foundation in Japan. of issues to focus on selected themes, from The participatory nature of the WANA which initiatives are selected. Participants Forum is meant to create ownership by in the First Annual Forum selected themes Forum Members who are invited to take under the social, environmental and part at every stage, providing a space for economic dimensions. Five consultations participants to shape the process and its were held over the course of a year to outcome. Stakeholders are encouraged consider inter-disciplinary approaches to to bridge geographical and ideological these issues2. boundaries to build on each other’s work, Under the theme of “Pursuing adopt and contribute to the development Supranational Solutions to the Challenges of international standards and encourage of Carrying Capacity”, the outcomes of synergies instead of duplicate efforts. the consultations since last April will be The objectives of the WANA Forum, as presented in May for further development described in the Strategy Outline, are as into concrete policy proposals. In pursuing follows: supranational solutions, people across the 1) To strengthen regional multilateral region are beginning to address the carrying dialogue between decision-makers capacity at the national level. WANA Forum and civil society actors on shared 2010 will offer a multifaceted framework of human concerns. analysis for transcending national carrying 2) To work together on furthering capacity through regional thinking in the ideas and initiatives where regional context of population and displacement, cooperation would bring added value. poverty, social cohesion, environment, water In meeting its objectives, the WANA security, green economy and reconstruction Forum aims to: and recovery in West Asia and North Africa.

g Generate concrete policy proposals Beyond May, the working groups for cooperative regional instruments, propose collaborating with partners and

1- “Strategy Outline: Framework for a Participatory Process”, WANA Forum, 2009 (www.wanaforum.org) 2- All WANA Forum consultation reports can be found online at (www.wanaforum.org)

118 WANA Forum Report 2010 think-tanks within WANA as well as those in war frontiers have shifted from Europe to other parts of Asia. This vision from within what they define as the Greater Middle East. WANA must be articulated at the highest Redeployment to the new frontline in the technical and professional levels to ensure Islamic world has become their priority. a successful transition to the third phase of The alternative course is to create dissemination and implementation. Decision- a platform for a regional approach to makers in WANA often complain that no developing solutions while promoting supra- concrete alternatives or policy proposals nationalism, with a continuing respect for are provided by grassroots or civil society state sovereignty. movements. Their work is seen as mere The WANA Forum aims to turn regional rhetoric or inspired by agendas that do challenges into opportunities and provide not provide concrete and feasible policy a new coherent regional policy framework. proposals. The WANA Forum can contribute Progress in the consultations since the launch by filling this void. of the First Annual Forum in April 2009 has provided a sense of direction towards such a 3. Towards a Process for Regional process for regional cooperation, outlined in Cooperation the matrix on the following page. At the First Annual WANA Forum in April These pillars do not exist or operate in 2009, President Martti Ahtisaari, former isolation; if one is present in a society or president of Finland and Noble Peace Prize state, then there is every chance the other Laureate, said “Evidence of the benefits three are present as well. Consumption of regional cooperation is not hard to based political, social and economic find. Rather, it is political will which can structures (pillar three), for example, be hard to find as long as states do not not only have a bearing on poverty and recognise their interdependence and mutual unemployment, but social fragmentation as interest. In the world we are living in today, well (pillar one). Likewise, environmental interdependence shapes our reality more degradation, climate change and water than competition does.” scarcity (pillar two) are often instigators of Previous external initiatives to promote conflict (pillar four). security and cooperation in the region have Is a participatory process toward regional not yet achieved their objectives. Being conversation even possible in WANA? Arab-Israeli centric, they failed to address Professor Amartya Sen, in his book The the other numerous fault lines in WANA, Idea of Justice4, describes democracy as between its different sub-regions and within “government by discussion”. Rather than its states. The region’s continued inability to mere elections, he says, “Democracy has to discuss, let alone create, a regional process be judged not just by the institutions that for security and cooperation is one of the formally exist, but by the extent to which major destabilising forces in WANA today3. different voices from diverse sections of the Many strategists, especially in the post- people can actually be heard.” According to September 11 era, suggest that the cold Sen, justice must be free from the domination

3- HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal often refers to the Crisis Ellipse, which includes the regional oil transit chokepoints of the Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz and the Straits of Malacca. He warns, “The Strait of Hormuz leading out to the Gulf of Arabia and the Straits of Malacca linking the Indian and Pacific oceans could be threatened by war [in the next decade].” (WANA Forum, WANA-Led Reconstruction & Recovery Expert Consultation Report, p51-52) 4- Sen, Amartya. The Idea of Justice. London: Allen Lane, 2009.

WANA Forum Report 2010 119 WANA Forum: Towards a Process for Regional Cooperation

Regional Challenges Opportunities Policy Framework

Main Absence of Regional Regional Voice Platform Multilateralism Conversation

Carrying Capacity/ Recovery, Human Security, LEOP, Social Fragmentation Social Cohesion 1 Social Charter, Cohesion Fund & Index

Environmental Community of Education and degradation, water and energy leapfrogging 2 climate change and for the human to post-carbon water scarcity environment industrial revolution Pillars Consumption-based political, social and Pan Asian Production based economic structures: infrastructure structures 3 rentierism, poverty and green industry and unemployment

Integrating the Conflict, war and above pillars: Post-conflict 4 destruction achieving equity green reconstruction and social justice

of the will of majority and touch on the lives kingdoms centred around Cairo, Baghdad that people actually live. In the process, it and Istanbul, or in Iran, India or for that takes global concerns into account. matter Spain, there were many champions Countering the argument that Islam or of public discussion.” One example cited the “Middle East” is not compatible with by Sen dates back to the 1590s when the democracy, Sen depicts how Middle Eastern inquisitions were still raging in Europe. The history and the history of the Muslim people Mughal Emperor Akbar advocated religious include many accounts of public discussion and political dialogue between holders of and political participation through dialogue. different faiths, including Hindus, Muslims, The extent of toleration and openness to Christians, Parsees, Jains, Jews and even diversity of views was often exceptional Atheists. in comparison with Europe. “In Muslim

120 WANA Forum Report 2010 4. The Pillars that holds members of society together and The First Annual WANA Forum in April 2009 facilitates coexistence, development, progress gathered 70 individuals, from WANA and and prosperity. It should be understood partners from outside the region, to identify as an integral part of socio-economic regional challenges and discuss possible development that empowers everyone. opportunities and approaches for addressing Poverty, one aspect of social fragmentation, these concerns and advancing regional is not merely the lack of material resources cooperation. Two overarching themes arose: – it extends to lack of power and choice. 1. Cross-cultural exchange in WANA To address the dimensions of equality and to learn more about each other, inclusion in social cohesion, the Arabic break down stereotypes and share version of the Legal Empowerment of the knowledge of best practices. Poor (LEP) Report will be launched at WANA 2. Greening WANA – seeing the ‘green Forum 2010. lining’ in the global economic crisis Employment and social cohesion and making ‘green’ thinking a are considered as the bottom line in the lucrative part of the social, economic current global economic crisis. Premature and environmental recovery strategy. declarations of victory through the trillions of Since April 2009, WANA Forum dollars thrown at the World Economy have participants, with the support of the been dismissed by more sober assessments Secretariat, linked with regional experts of the ten per cent level of unemployment and conducted a series of consultations in wealthy nations. Within WANA, the to advance initiatives believed to embody Arab region has suffered a chronic level of the above overarching themes. The unemployment of about 12 per cent. The WANA Forum advocates a regional policy Arab region has to create at least 70 million framework that overcomes the multi-layered new jobs in the next two decades, according choke-points within WANA, seen as the (dis) to a recent study by Mr. Abdlatif Al-Hamad, connection and (dis)location in the social, Director General and Chairman of the Board environmental and economic spheres. of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social The roadmap of the four pillars can be Development.5 summarised as follows: What are the mechanisms for fostering cohesion and inclusion as opposed to 4.1 Society division and exclusion? What is the role of The WANA region is home to some of the the state, civil society and social networks? In earliest and most prosperous civilisations, the upcoming meeting in May, participants but is also a region with a marred history will provide examples of networks, tools of conflicts and displaced peoples. The and policy suggestions for enhancing social challenges posed by demographic pressures, cohesion. widespread inequalities, entrenched pockets The WANA Forum has embarked on an of poverty, chronic unemployment, deeply attempt to create a Social Cohesion Index rooted division and numerous political, that measures cohesion and factors that sectarian and religious conflicts present a contribute to it in WANA countries, such serious threat to local, national and regional as state capacity and security, equality, stability. participation and engagement, displacement, Social cohesion is the intangible bond social order, social networks, inclusion, as

5- Al-Hamad, Abdlatif. “Economic Crisis and Investments in the Arab Region”. Mediterranean (2010)

WANA Forum Report 2010 121 well as material and emotional wellbeing. 4.2 Environment Updated annually, the Social Cohesion Index The region’s environment is drastically could offer state and non-state actors an effected by water scarcity and drought, analytical tool to guide the establishment of pollution and resource degradation6. developmental priorities. Effective management of water resources Diagnosing the problem is only the first within WANA requires a transnational step to solving it. For WANA to enhance framework. Energy-rich countries tend to social cohesion, the need for a social have very limited natural water supplies, contract was also proposed by WANA Forum while areas with an abundance of water tend participants. A Charter has the potential to be poor in energy resources. Thus, water to further the aims of advancing social and energy have the potential to create a development by promoting the concept of positive mutual dependency similar to coal citizenship and equity, stimulating a process and steel in Europe after the Cold War. The of dialogue within civil society groups and quest for redistribution of these resources between civil society and governments. can create more cooperation than conflict Finally, a Regional Cohesion Fund is an with effective dialogue and cooperation. important step toward establishing a more The environmental concerns related to these productive and forward-thinking mechanism resources also necessitate cooperation. for enabling supranational action to enhance Climate change, environmental degradation social cohesion. Rooted in a code of and water scarcity can be best addressed conduct outlined in the Social Charter and by a vision for a community of water and informed by data from the Cohesion Index, energy that promotes and safeguards the the Cohesion fund would advance Social, human environment in WANA. environmental and economic development HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal under the framework of sustainability. addressed the workshop on Water Security Existing financial flows that are in the Middle East in Montreux, Switzerland7 currently used on an ad hoc basis could where he stressed the need for a supra- be supplemented with an understanding national concept, such as the coal and steel of public policy that promotes social community out of which the European cohesion in all its facets. Such a regional Economic Community grew. His Royal fund, for example, can be a major financing Highness hopes that such a concept may vehicle for linking WANA to the European initiate regional cooperation in WANA that and Pan-Asian infrastructure networks could lead to an outcome comparable to and leapfrogging into the third industrial European integration. HRH Prince Hassan revolution by developing a modern green also warned that the world’s dry areas will industrial base. Just as in the framework of be severely affected by climate change, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation putting at high risk agricultural production, and Development (OECD), social cohesion, food security and human livelihoods employment, environment and economic in these already vulnerable areas and recovery form, in reality, one cluster. stressed that urgent coordinated efforts are

6- For background reading: Meadows, Donella H., Dennis L. Meadows, Jørgen Randers, and W. W. Behrens III. 1972. The Limits to Growth. New York: Universe Books (Second Edition, 1974) 7- “Water Security in the Middle East” report of Montreux, Switzerland workshop, Strategic Foresight Group (February 2010)

122 WANA Forum Report 2010 essential to both develop effective climate that involves a cross-section of countries in change adaptation strategies and mitigation the region, linking with existing initiatives of measures. extra-curricular education and establishing The workshop was organised by the a WANA EESD network that is open to Strategic Foresight Group (SFG), based in and accessible by people of all ages and India, in cooperation with the Swiss Agency backgrounds. for Development and Cooperation (SDC) A proposal will also be presented to and the Swedish International Development develop a three-part modular training kit Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and with the linked to sustainable development in WANA. support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. In collaboration with the 4.3 Economy WANA Forum, SFG is organising a session The WANA region has the world’s lowest in the May Forum on “Our Common Future: employment rate, with an estimated Water, Environment and Energy Community”. unemployment rate among young people A report on water scarcity and drought in standing at 25 per cent, double the the WANA region will also be presented by world average. The likelihood of being WANA Forum members. unemployed is ten times as high for a Environmental Education for Sustainable new college graduate as for someone with Development (EESD) is another initiative a primary education. The Arab region is that the WANA Forum is taking forward. expected to experience labor force growth One of the most effective ways to foster and of three and a half to four per cent over consolidate change is to facilitate increased the next 10 to 15 years. The World Bank awareness concerning the value of a sound, estimates that to keep up with that growth, safe and ecologically balanced environment, the region will have to create 55 to 70 one that involves the transformation of million new jobs by 2020 – 55 million just social, economic and cultural models. to keep up and 70 million to bring the In spite of the recent achievements employment rate up to the global norm.8 in EESD, the development process of The high level of unemployment in the environmental education in the region has Arab world is explained in HRH Prince El its challenges. Some of these include the Hassan bin Talal’s article in Europe’s World9: lack of sufficient and sustained economic “In a rentier economy10, huge revenues support, contradictions and gaps in the from oil or external financial transfers usage of concepts and methods, insufficient actually create a disincentive to work. A teaching capacity, scarcity in the production de-linking occurs between wealth and and distribution of teaching materials, and work, and this de-linking applies to most the lack of evaluation mechanisms and industrial and agricultural activities. Social continuity of initiatives. and political mobility become extremely At the upcoming meeting in May, WANA limited, and societies turn from production to Forum participants will present a proposal consumption.” for an experiential learning pilot programme Prince Hassan also wrote, “Rent-seeking

8- World Bank, Middle East and North Africa Region, 2007 Economic Developments and Prospects (2007). 9- bin Talal, Prince El Hassan. “Policy options for modernizing the Middle East’s industrial base”. Europe’s World (Summer 2009) 10- An economy that depends on oil or foreign aid. For further reading, Kaldor, Mary; Karl, Terry Lyn; Said, Yahia. Oil Wars. Pluto Press: London (2007)

WANA Forum Report 2010 123 tends to lead to policy failure in the form 4.4 Reconstruction of an intense political competition aimed at Conflict has cost the region around US$12 gaining short-term access to revenues and trillion in missed economic growth and benefits, as opposed to political competition development over the last two decades, over what policies might be in the long-term according to the Cost of Conflict in the public interest.” Middle East 2009 report by the Strategic With no modern industrial base, and Foresight Group11. WANA-led approaches rentier economic structures based on oil to reconstruction and recovery have and aid, investment is usually limited to real the potential to create a supranational estate and service sectors – non-traded goods mechanism for addressing conflict and its sectors, which do not confer the same effects aftermath in the context of territory, identity as a more diversified pattern of investment and movement (TIM).12 that other more industrial countries have, The primary objective of the in terms of upgrading technology and Reconstruction and Recovery Expert productivity. Consultation in October 200913 was to extract In Europe’s World, Prince Hassan key lessons from previous experiences in suggested that a regional industrial policy the region and beyond in order to identify to develop a modern industrial base in the barriers to and opportunities for innovative, next generation is a top priority for WANA. WANA-led approaches to reconstruction, “WANA missed the first industrial revolution integrating multidimensional thinking and based on coal and the steam engine, and planning into reconstruction strategies. then the second industrial revolution based The three pivotal areas of focus were (i) on oil and the internal combustion engine. social and economic reconstruction and The silver lining now is that the absence of development, (ii) green reconstruction and a modern industrial base means that WANA (iii) effective donorship and accountability. has no ailing industries to rescue.” Lessons revolved around the importance Can working groups of the WANA of state sovereignty, ownership of consultations together with partners and reconstruction efforts, local participation, think-tanks in Asia provide a vision for capacity building and regional cooperation. WANA to link with European and pan-Asian In his opening remarks, Ambassador infrastructural networks and leapfrog into the Lakhdar Brahimi, former Under-Secretary third industrial revolution of the post carbon General of the United Nations, spoke of economy? In Europe’s World, HRH Prince “looking a little bit more to the East and El Hassan called for a change in policy a little bit less to the West” and called for orientation from the national to the regional: developing “home-grown” solutions to the “Without this sort of regional focus, WANA region’s problems. “Although some of us countries risk sleepwalking into a new phase are contributing significantly to the work of of conflict and economic decline.” managing conflict and reconstruction, the contribution of our region as a whole is not sufficient and not visible enough,” he said.

11- Strategic Foresight Group. Cost of Conflict in the Middle East (2009) 12- Agnew, John. “Mapping Political Power Beyond State Boundaries: Territory, Identity, and Movement in World Politics”. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Vol.28, No. 3, 1999. For further reading: John Agnew, Globalization and Sovereignty. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (2009) 13- WANA-Led Reconstruction & Recovery Expert Consultation Report. WANA Forum (October 2009) www.wanaforum.org

124 WANA Forum Report 2010 Placing the people and capacities of donors tend to separate reconstruction from the WANA region at the centre of efforts development, focusing on the rebuilding to prevent conflict and rebuild war-torn of destroyed infrastructure rather than on societies has the potential to transform some a comprehensive long-term development of the deep and inter-connected challenges strategy. As U.N. Secretary-General Ban facing WANA and provides an opportunity Ki-Moon reiterated in his opening remarks for building a new reality. at the International Donors’ Conference The “reconstruction” of the status-quo- Towards a New Future for Haiti: “Our goal is ante that in the first place led to conflict not just to rebuild. It is to build back better. is futile and counterproductive. The It is a plan to create a new Haiti.” endless string of “donor conferences” for the region is witness to that. Participants 5. Looking Ahead: Pan-Asian Framework in past consultations drew upon lessons A main outcome of the various consultations from post-war reconstruction in Japan and was the recognition that a Pan-Asian Finland as they did not merely rebuild what framework of cooperation is necessary for was destroyed but rather focused on the regional prosperity and progress in WANA. construction of their production base. In The four pillars are intimately intertwined Finland, integration of alienated trade unions under such a framework. Infrastructure was achieved by making them stakeholders development, for example, can be important in the new industries which were partly for poverty alleviation if it means increasing financed by social security funds. In Japan, local trade opportunities for areas that the moral hazard of the “Dodge Line”14 of have the potential for surplus production foreign exchange allocations was overcome and increasing access to health care and to rebuild a modern industrial base and education. infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank Institute In this sense, post-war reconstruction (ADBI) working paper on “Restoring the in WANA can spearhead the transformation Asian Silk Route: Towards an Integrated of affected communities based on Asia”15 invokes the symbolism of the good governance, green industry and ancient Silk Route of Asia which was, infrastructure, socially cohesive policies until the 13th century, the world’s most and an understanding of how to enhance important cross-border artery at a time carrying capacity. when Asia was a major trade and economic At the recent United Nations centre of the world. It connected Eastern, donors conference (April 2010) for Southern, Central and Western Asia with the the reconstruction of Haiti, where the Mediterranean, including North Africa and international community pledged a total Europe. In the ADBI report, however, the of US$9.9bn, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary vision of an Asian Highway (AH) and Trans- Clinton said that reconstruction efforts should Asian Railway (TAR) networks connecting meet the long-term development priorities Asia to Europe only reaches as far as Iran of Haiti and not just rebuild the damage and Turkey in West Asia. The rest of WANA caused by the earthquake. This contrasts is a blank. No reference is made to the with the experience of WANA where preliminary work by the Economic and

14- The Dodge Line, announced in 1949, was a financial and monetary policy provided for Japan to gain economic independence after World War II. 15- “Restoring the Asian Silk Route: Towards an Integrated Asia”. Asian Development Bank Institute, 2009.

WANA Forum Report 2010 125 Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) cohesion initiative. The ASEAN Regional on developing interregional land transport Forum, and other regional forums, such linkages in WANA.16 From a European as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation perspective, the Euro-Mediterranean (APEC) Forum, are also potential networks stops at the Jordan-Iraq border. The EU for sharing best practices and spearheading and Pan-Asian visions seem to end at the areas for Pan-Asian cooperation. The Western border and eastern border of Iraq “Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, 2009- respectively. 2015”18 highlights themes compatible with (Dis) locations in WANA can be perceived the WANA Forum initiatives, mainly: as starting with the term “Middle East” – it 1. Infrastructure development is only east from the perspective of Europe, describing a geographical position in 2. Poverty alleviation relation to Europe rather than its location 3. Social safety net within Asia. Today, unlike ancient periods of prosperity, the “Middle East” is not part 4. Responding to climate change of an interconnected Asia and Europe. A 5. Environmental education for framework that links WANA with Euro- sustainable development Asian developments complements Euro- Mediterranean and Atlantic initiatives for Another example from Asia includes the cooperation that have yet to achieve their Chiang Mai Initiative involving ASEAN+3 desired goals. nations, which provides a US$120 billion Regional infrastructure and other linkages currency swap facility. rooted in Pan-Asian thinking do not serve as As the “power shift” moves eastward, objectives in themselves but as instruments WANA and the rest of Asia share a for meeting the larger goal of addressing complementary interest to evolve a Pan- shared human concerns. A United Nations Asian framework for cooperation that is Economic and Social Commission for Asia inclusive of the WANA region and outward and the Pacific (UNESCAP) study17 on looking to Europe and the Atlantic. This infrastructure in developing Asian countries could serve to promote cohesion and illustrates how infrastructure development (in enhance the regional commons by opening transport, information and communication communication lines and facilitating trans- technologies and energy) plays a key role in boundary movement of people, ideas, capital social development. and goods. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has begun to expand poverty reduction programmes and is laying the groundwork for a system to provide social security for its citizens, which is in line with the WANA Forum’s social

16- EuroMed Transport Project. Proposal for a Methodology for the Elaboration of the Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network. Document presented at the Euro-Mediterranean Transport Forum (Brussels, 12 December 2008) 17- UNESCAP. Toward an Asian integrated transport network (2007) 18- ASEAN Secretariat. “Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015” (Jakarta, April 2009)

126 WANA Forum Report 2010 annex 6: Secretariat

Hamzeh Abaza Baker al-Hiyari WANA Forum Logistics Coordinator WANA Forum Team Leader and Protocol Officer, Majlis El Hassan Ahmad Mango Martti Antola WANA Forum Moderator and Advisor Advisor to the WANA Forum and to HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal Officer for External Relations and Governance Support, Institute for Siham Mas'ad Democracy and Electoral Assistance, WANA Forum Volunteer and Director Sweden of the Secretary General's Office, Arab Thought Forum Sultan Barakat WANA Forum Moderator, Advisor Manal Nayfeh to HRH Prince El Hassan bin WANA Forum Volunteer Talal and Director of the Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit, University of York, United Nour Qabba’ah Kingdom WANA Forum Researcher

Michelle Bouchebel Mohammad Shahbaz WANA Forum Part-Time Researcher WANA Forum Environment Working Group Facilitator and President of the Jordan Badia Research and Laura Haddad Development Centre WANA Forum Programme Coordinator Nancy Tannous Dima Hamarneh WANA Forum Volunteer and Office Communications Consultant Manager, Royal Institute for Inter- Faith Studies Marwan Hamdan Press Secretary of HRH Prince El Hadeel Al-Zoubi Hassan bin Talal WANA Forum Volunteer and Public Relations and Information Officer, Feras Herzallah Arab Thought Forum Website Developer

WANA Forum Report 2010 127

CONTACTS

WANA FORUM SECRETARIAT MAJLIS EL HASSAN ROYAL PALACES AMMAN, JORDAN TEL: +962 6 464 9185 FAX: +962 6 463 4755 [email protected]

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WANAFORUM.ORG “Until uprooted communities, irrespective of labels are afforded autonomy over their lives, regional and global human security will be threatened by a growing hatred industry borne of human suffering and our collective failure to act.” El Hassan bin Talal, WANA Forum Chairman

“What makes the WANA Forum unique is its focus on the human element.” Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation

“The Arab world often looks to the North, but not enough to the East although there are perhaps more adaptive lessons to learn from Asia.” Lakhdar Brahimi, Former Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and Foreign Minister of Algeria

“We are all part of this global network of lives, of societies, of communities and of nations. Yet regional cooperation is predicated upon people’s perceptions that they are part of a single region. It is not about a map or acronym but about ensuring that the so-called ‘person on the street’ feels that he or she is a citizen of WANA.” Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

“It is about time we find the faith and commitment to take actionable steps to fight poverty and work toward social justice for the men, women and children of WANA.” Khadija Hussein, Founding Chairperson of Sudanese Mothers for Peace

“Development is much more about freedom, justice and participation than about physical resources.” Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Alexandria

“Finance should be a servant to the economy, not its master. When we fail to connect our financial system with the limits to growth and when we fail to live within our ecological and financial budgets, we fail to act in the interest of all people.” Ann Pettifor, Director of Advocacy International and Fellow of the New Economics Foundation

“WANA countries will require above-average level policy changes to bring their ecological footprint to a sustainable level. Physical laws always prevail over political goals.” Dennis Meadows, President of the Laboratory for Interactive Learning and co-author of The Limits to Growth MAY 2010

ISBN 978-9957-419-10-3

Building Trust Together 9 789957 419103

Building Trust Together