Capacity Development

Capacity Development in the Arab States

Arab countries, while rich in diversity, face common obstacles to their long-term development. These include poverty, illiteracy, population growth, a high debt burden, scarce water resources and limited agricultural land, and the moderate capabilities of academic and research centres, as well as the relatively recent participation of civil society.

Renewed political will is needed to mobilise human and financial resources, promote sound governance, address social exclusion and poverty, and undertake significant reforms to promote citizen participation, and build national human and institutional capacities. Progress has been uneven across countries, with just a third on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Looking towards that deadline, key areas in which efforts must be accelerated include women's empowerment; knowledge and freedom; intra-regional cooperation; corruption and governance; and socioeconomic and political exclusion.

Conflict and crisis is also a reality that must be dealt with in the region. Development in the Arab States has been greatly affected by humanitarian catastrophes, particularly in Iraq, Sudan, Palestine, Somalia and recently Lebanon. Throughout the region, renewed calls for indigenously-driven political and economic reform have provoked tangible changes in Egypt, Jordan and elsewhere, but have also highlighted the need for more effective support to good governance mechanisms.

Regional Strategies
Development effectiveness is directly linked to greater involvement of local communities and systems of local governance. For this to materialise, capacity challenges must be addressed, not only in government bodies but also civil society organisations that have long been outside the policy-making process. Advancing decentralisation and improving public service delivery, empowering local communities, and bringing MDG-based planning to the forefront of the national and local policy debate are some of the mechanisms that can help achieve this.

• In Jordan, Tunisia and Lebanon, UNDP is piloting programmes to develop capacity for national dialogue, statistical analysis and data gathering, and strategic planning.
• In Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Iraq, UNDP has carried out capacity assessment and leadership trainings for journalists, women, youth, and other civil society leaders.
• At the regional level, UNDP forged a partnership with the League of Arab States to promote youth empowerment and involvement in the MDGs.