A Newsletter by UNDP ForwardFIRST ISSUE/ APRIL 2012/ UNDP KUWAIT

BAN KI-MOON ARRIVES UNDP SUPPORTS IN KUWAIT, MEETS AMIR KUWAIT TO BECOME FIRST GULF STATE TO IMPLEMENT WRACATI PROJECT

Kuwait has become the first gulf country to implement the WRACATI project with support of the UNDP. Kuwait will implement the project as the seventh country in the Arab region and the first in the Gulf. The project will help Kuwait to advance women’s rights as provided for in the Kuwaiti Constitution, national legislation and Kuwait’s international obligations. The project will apply a multi- faceted comprehensive approach that combines auditing, compilation and dissemination of legal information, as well as capacity building of key The United Nations Secretary-General visits Kuwait’s stakeholders and increasing awareness among the public of UN House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs while reaffirming issues facing women in Kuwait. The project will contribute to his commitment to the country UNDP Kuwait’s current efforts to The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, spent a day in Kuwait to meet empower women and to facilitate His Highness the Amir prior to attending the Arab Summit in Iraq. During their effective participation in the the visit, the Secretary-General hailed progress in bilateral ties and urged country political, economic, and Baghdad to fulfill its longstanding obligations resulting from its 1990 social development. invasion of the state. “The relationship between Iraq and Kuwait has always WRACATI project is a key initiative been very sensitive, and there are many pending issues that have not yet under UNDP’s Human & Social been resolved. I urge Iraq to fulfill its longstanding obligations to Kuwait… Development programme. especially in regards with the missing people, Kuwaiti property, compensation” and maintenance of border marks between the two nations, Ban said at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UN chief welcomed the “progress in the normalization of relations between Iraq and Kuwait”, adding that the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to Kuwait earlier in March was a positive step. Regarding the Arab Summit, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Al- Advisory Board member Jarallah said “Iraq insisted on having the Summit in Baghdad, which we becomes Minister supported. Their persistence confirms Iraq’s sincerity to contribute actively UNDP Advisory Board member, in the work of the summit.” Mr. Jamal Shihab, has been He added, “The relationship between Kuwait and Iraq is important, and is appointed Minister of Justice based on mutual understanding.” Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also and Minister of Awqaf and attended the Summit in Baghdad, in the first visit by a Kuwaiti head of state Islamic Affairs. The RCRR met since Saddam Hussein’s invasion of August 1990. with Mr. Shihab recently to During his visit to Kuwait, the SG met with Sheikh Sabah to discuss the discuss possible cooperative projects and pipeline initiatives crisis in Syria, relations with Iraq and the Arab Summit in Baghdad. that would interest both parties. (KUNA)

Forward 1 Forward SG attends Town Hall meeting at UN House in Kuwait During his recent visit to Kuwait, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, participated in a Town Hall meeting at the UN House attended by staff of the United Nations Country Team and the two peacekeeping missions represented in Kuwait, UNAMI and UNAMA. The SG stated: “Kuwait is an important and very strong partner of the United Nations in the areas of peace and security, RCRR Newsdesk Additional notable mentions By Asmae Aitssi development and human rights. As you will agree, Kuwait is a very vibrant, democratic country with a free press. I’m very pleased and encouraged to see that the recent Parliamentary election was 27 February 2012: The Resident Coordinator conducted successfully in a credible and democratic way. They have set a good example at this time and Resident Representative of Kuwait (RCRR) of momentous change in the Arab world.” paid a courtesy visit to the new State Minister of Staff members had many pressing issues to address to the SG, including concerns about a planned Planning and Development and Minister of regional support center, job security and maternal rights in the workforce. Public Works H.E Dr. Fadel Safar, to brief him on the collaboration between the UNDP CO and Supreme Council for Planning and Development Private Sector (SCPD). 04 March 2012: The RCRR and the Programme Team met with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) mission to representatives discuss the support of the Strategic Country Programme Document and how to familiarize the Supreme Council for Planning and Development and counterparts in sector interested in ministries with ESCWA's regional mandate and strategic priorities, as well as its technical cooperation programme and explored with CSR SCPD some of their key priorities over the next two years, and consider areas where ESCWA advisory and capacity building services are best suited. development 06 March 2012: The RCRR met paid a courtesy UNDP Kuwait recently met with representatives visit to the New Minister of Justice and Minister from the private sector to discuss possible of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs H.E Attorney Jamal ✈✈Work Itineraries✈✈ partnership with regards to building a Corporate Shihab (UNDP Kuwait Advisory Board Member). Social Responsibility (CSR) network. Many 08 March 2012: The RCRR and UNCT Members The Gender Programme Analyst and Youth established companies in the country have paid a courtesy visit to the new Minister of Social Programme Associate attended the Regional expressed interest in collaborating with UNDP Affairs and Labor H.E Admiral Ahmad Al-Rujaib. Meeting on Mainstreaming HIV and Health. Kuwait to further their CSR aspirations. The RCO supported the visit of The Special UNDP Kuwait Youth Programme Associate In working toe establish the CSR network, UNDP Representative of the SG for Disaster Risk travelled to the UNDP Bahrain CO on a study Kuwait sent out an Introductory Note, which Reduction, Ms. Margareta Whalstrom. Ms. tour to learn about their experience considers some of the relevant issues and proposes Whalstrom was invited by the Kuwait Fund for th developing and implementing the National a range of activities and services that it would Arab Economic Development to attend the 70 Youth Strategy. The Associate also attended a undertake. UNDP Kuwait will shortly convene a Coordination Group meeting of the Arab Aid Regional Working Meeting on Youth formal inaugural meeting to launch the Business Consortium, held in Kuwait between 12 and 14 organized by the Regional Center in Cairo Sustainability Network in 2012. March. The SRSG also held a series of meetings The Human Rights Programme Associate This initiative, called the Business Sustainability with Government officials during her mission. undertook a study tour to OHCHR HQ, Network, will link Kuwaiti and international 28 March 2012: The RCRR hosted the SG on his one day visit to Kuwait and accompanied him to focusing on the subject of OHCHR operations businesses, local universities and other interested groups with the purpose of collaborating and a range of meetings with Kuwaiti authorities. The and UN human rights mechanisms. sharing best practices on business sustainability visit included a meeting with HH the Amir of The Youth Associate also attended the Global and corporate social responsibility issues facing Kuwait at Bayan Palace, meetings with the Youth Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. actors in the private sector and Kuwaiti society at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a press large. conference among other engagements. Forward / April 2012 2 Forward JANUARY 17, 2012

UNDP Pamphlets Kuwait completed New, reader-friendly pamphlets celebrates designed to introduce members of the public, partner agencies Earth Hour, and other actors to our work Environmental have been completed and will soon be ready for distribution. Month

In cooperation with Kuwait Global Warming Team, UNDP Kuwait supported the celebration of Earth Hour during Kuwait’s Environmental Month along with several other agencies and actors. During Earth Hour, local businesses where encouraged to turn off their electricity for an UNDP hour to raise awareness of the need to improve management of conducts SRSG Margareta Whalstrom pays energy resources. Participants in the event included shopping National Youth visit to Kuwait, addresses national malls, residential buildings, schools, public spaces and Survey disaster risk reduction governmental offices. However, During her meeting with the United Nations Country Team, the SRSG gave the highlight of the event UNDP Kuwait has embarked an overview of her work of the International Strategy for Disaster Risk occurred when the monuments symbolically on a new project to help cater Reduction (UNISDR) and the purpose of the visit to Kuwait. Disaster risk turned off its lights for the to the needs of youth reduction (DRR) has moved up the agenda in the past couple of years as duration of the hour, which is nationally. The youth States are more aware of the impact of DRR on their economic situation. now celebrated all over the world programme has been working UNISDR has been involved primarily in advocacy and information-sharing; since its inception in Sydney, hard to develop a National the RC network has played an important role in this work, linking with Australia. Youth Survey that is set to parliaments, civil society and other agencies. The SRSG noted that while spearhead the programme’s many UN agencies are concerned with aspects of disaster management, future initiatives. ISDR is the only one that handles it as a priority. The aim has been to Considering the fact that 60% generate demand for change from civil society and local governments. of Kuwait’s population is under Part of this activity has been the “safe schools” and “resilient cities” the age of 25, this project will help in supporting future programmes (in conjunction with UN Habitat). ISDR aims also to build the projects that pertain to this engagement of the private sector in DRR work, as Governments, important demographic. businesses and individuals all pay for the consequences of natural Ensuring that youth disasters and this should be mitigated through proper risk reduction. The perspectives are included in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015 is a voluntary framework for development agenda will countries to mitigate their disaster risk. Although not legally-binding, it advance economic growth, has proved very successful and has led to the establishment of a range of social inclusion and general national laws. political stability. Additionally, the National Youth Survey has been approved by Kuwait University Professors Dr. Yagoub Al- Kandari, Dr. Shafeeq Al- Ghabra and Dr. Ghanim Al- Najar. The survey was also referred to an academic committee of seven members active in the social and behavioral field.

Forward / April 2012 3 Forward

Human E-Services for UNDP Launches UNDP Kuwait has launched an e-services portal for all Third employees. The online portal will help assist all staff in Development Report making sure all their paperwork, including pay slips, leave forms and other information, is documented Advisory in process of online. The service will also facilitate easy-to-use methods to register information regarding Country implementation, set Office work. The new service will help the synergy in the office and Board improve communications with regards to operational to pave road for issues. Summer AlAnzi, the Human Resources Associate, explained: “The new e-services system will help us by meeting development creating a quicker process for operations registrations and will make it easier for everyone in the office to keep track of their annual leave allowances.” She added, “It is held also very environmentally friendly!” The Advisory Board of the United The e-services implementation is now completed and ready for use by the staff. Nations Development Programme in Kuwait held its third meeting at UN House on February 1st, 2012. The event was hosted by Dr. Adam Abdelmoula, Resident Representative of UNDP Kuwait. The Board reviewed and assessed the initiatives in the UNDP country programme, including continuing Kuwait's Minister of Public Works and Minister of projects and pending initiatives. State for Planning and Development Affairs H.E. Dr. The presentation included an Fadel Safar hailed as an "impressive achievement" evaluation of the current state of the initiation of the human development report by a the programmes and future constellation of national academics and experts in expectations. collaboration with UNDP Kuwait. "The growing number of population requires The Board also discussed constant studying of the relationships among people opportunities to strengthen and building up the capacity of the workforce in cooperation between UNDP and keeping with the surrounding changes and HR Update the Government of the State of developments," the minister, also the Chairman of the Kuwait. The Resident Consultative Council of the national report, On the operations side of the workforce, Human Representative and the explained. Resources is working hard to meet the growing He made the remarks in an address at a workshop demands of the Country Office. programme team provided the organized by the Arab Planning Institute (API) on the UNDP Kuwait has dedicated a page on its website Board with detailed presentations first report, to be issued late this year in collaboration to regional and national job recruitment. The on activities in the four programme with experts from UNDP Kuwait. page includes vacant job positions and internship areas of democratic governance, "Development of the report is an impressive opportunities. human and social development, achievement that comes at a time when we are on the For more information regarding this subject, threshold of launching an ambitious development please visit our website below. environment and energy and economic development. plan," Dr. Safar noted. ------About UNDP Contact “If one is going UNDP is the UN’s global development network, UN Building, , Block 7, Diplomatic to err, one advocating for change and connecting countries to Square, , Kuwait. knowledge, experience and resources to help people Telephone: +965 2530 8000 should err on build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 Fax: +965 2539 9357 countries, working with them on their own solutions Website. the side of to global and national development challenges. As Facebook. they develop local capacity, they draw on the people Twitter. liberty and of UNDP and our wide range of partners. Google+ Be environmentally friendly! Please recycle this newsletter freedom.” after usage. - Kofi Annan

Forward / April 2012 4