Arab Sustainable Development Week
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Arab Sustainable Development Week Towards an Effective Partnership Cairo 14-17 May 2017 League of Arab States Department of Sustainable Development & International Cooperation i | P a g e Arab Sustainable Development Week Towards an Effective Partnership Cairo 14-17 May 2017 Under the Patronage of His Excellency, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel-fattah El-Sisi ii | P a g e The Arab Sustainable Development Week (ASDW) highlights the challenges facing Arab citizens from in all Arab countries from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Gulf, and draws the roadmap of partnership and cooperation among different actors (governments, international organizations, NGOs, and private sector) with a view to implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan in this area of the world which faces serious and complicated challenges that threaten both the present and the future. Mr. Ahmed Abu El-Ghait Secretary General the Arab League of States 14 January 2017 iii | P a g e Arab Sustainable Development Week Towards an Effective Partnership Cairo 14-17 May 2017 Under the Patronage of His Excellency, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel-fattah El-Sisi iv | P a g e Table of Contents 1. Why do we hold the Arab Sustainable Development Week (ASDW)? ................................................ 1 2. What are the objectives of the ASDW? ................................................................................................ 4 3. The ASDW Program and Topics: ......................................................................................................... 5 4. 1. Details of plenary sessions, events and recommendations ................................................................ 9 Day 1: 14 May 2017 - General Secretariat of the Arab League ............................................................... 10 Opening Session of the ASDW: (Grand Hall 10:00 - 11:00)................................................................. 10 Speech of Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit - Secretary-General of the Arab League ..................................... 11 Speech of HE Mrs. Ghada Wali- Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity, On behalf of the President of the Republic ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Speech of Dr. Murad Wahba - Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations; President of the United Nations Development Group for the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab States; and Assistant Director and Director of for the UNDP Arab States Regional Bureau ................................. 16 Speech of Mr. Guang Zhe Chen, Water Global Practice Senior Director, WB .................................... 19 Speech of Ms. Khawla Matar - Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) .................................................................................................................. 22 High-level Plenary Meeting on "Global Concepts of Sustainable Development" - Grand Hall .......... 25 Water and vulnerability conference organized by the World Bank and FAO - Big Hall (15:30-17:30) ............................................................................................................................................................ 37 Arab Ministerial Forum on Health - Related Sustainable Development Goals - Headquarters of the General Secretariat Hall 2 and 3 (15:00 - 17:30)................................................................................. 41 A roundtable on management of the risks of draughts in Somalia and the Horn of Africa organized by The Horn of Africa and Sudan Department - Andalusian Hall (17:30-19:00) ................................. 43 Day 2: 15 May: Nile Ritz Carlton ............................................................................................................. 49 First Plenary Session: Human dignity and quality of life ..................................................................... 49 Second plenary Session: Climate risk linkages - Cairo Hall ................................................................ 51 Side Session: The role of soft power in sustainable development - Hall of Alf Leila .......................... 55 Round table: Arab Science and Technology Group - Al Kalaa Hall ..................................................... 57 Third Plenary Session: Promoting peace, security and justice ........................................................... 60 Side Session: Social vulnerability in the Arab region and capacity-building to improve social security - Hall of Alf Leila Wi Lila ....................................................................................................................... 64 Side Session: Building the resilience of cities - Al Kalaa Hall ............................................................... 65 Fourth Plenary Session: Science, Technology and Innovation ............................................................ 68 v | P a g e Side Session: Climate and environmental sustainability: an integrated vision - Al Kalaa Hall ........... 70 Fifth Plenary Session: Empowerment of women and protection of children and the family ............ 72 Side Session: Civil society techniques In support of the implementation of national plans for sustainable development, Maat's experience as a model - Al Leila Hall .......................................... 77 Dialogue Session: Climate Risk Interaction Initiative - Al Kalaa Hall ................................................... 81 Day 3: 16 May 2017 – Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel ......................................................................................... 84 Sixth Plenary Session: Towards sustainable economic growth in the Arab region ............................ 84 Seventh Plenary Session: Comprehensive and sustainable manufacturing, economic growth and infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 89 Dialogue session: The role of modern technologies in sustainable development in the Arab region - Alf Leila Hall ......................................................................................................................................... 92 Dialogue session: Water, food and energy interconnection - Al Kalaa Hall ....................................... 94 Eighth Plenary Session: Water and food security within the framework of 2030 Agenda in the Arab region .................................................................................................................................................. 96 Dialogue session: Egyptian Forum for Sustainable Development - Alf Leila Hall ............................. 100 Ninth Plenary Session: The Role of Civil Society in Implementing the Sustainable Development Plan 2030 .................................................................................................................................................. 102 Dialogue session: Arab Women and the 2030 Development Agenda towards supporting national and regional efforts to achieve a comprehensive and balanced development in the Arab region - Alf Leila Hall ............................................................................................................................................ 105 Dialogue session: Mitigation of the effects of land degradation Castle Hall .................................... 107 Dialogue session: Arab youth: challenges and aspirations - Alf Leila Hall ........................................ 109 Day 4: 17 May 2017 – Arab League Secretariat Premises .................................................................... 113 Final communiqué For the Arab Sustainable Development Week ................................................... 113 Annexes ............................................................................................................................................. 117 vi | P a g e 1. Why do we hold the Arab Sustainable Development Week (ASDW)? Preparation of the “2030 Sustainable Development Plan (SDP)” depended on a basic concept; to engage all Arab countries in the plan preparation provided that countries and stakeholders voluntarily participate in the implementation, determining date, place of the plan within less than fifteen years from now. This duration is supposed to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable brackets regardless of their gender, race, age, religion or any other factor. Arab countries are committed to the sustainable development objectives (SDGs), and like other countries, need answers to several questions such as: who are the most marginalized and most vulnerable brackets? How can current strategies and policies adaptable to suit the SDGs so that they can be practically achieved? What is the role of partnerships and how can they be effective? What is the role of science? How can we transfer, adapt, and localize technology? Then, how can we ensure enhancing ambition and determination to guarantee commitment in implementing the plan? The adverse situations in the Arab region and escalation of economic, social and environmental difficulties that impede focusing on long-term planning for the sake of the urgent daily demands and requirements and slow down the process of attracting investments required for the SD, as well as the rise of various forms of vulnerability, risks, conflicts and instability in the Arab region since the end of 2010