Strong partnerships are essential to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the overall potential of the Arab States: a dynamic yet turbulent region. This report is focused on the vital importance of one such partnership, and one that is vital to the pursuit of a brighter future in the region – the development alliance between the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Japan is one of the strongest partners for UNDP globally, yet it is in the Arab States region that the partnership is most vital for overall progress towards shared objective.

Japan is allied with UNDP in supporting national partners in their efforts to cope with these complex challenges, by building resilience, fostering stabilization, addressing climate vulnerability and more, within the overall framework of achieving the SDGs in the context of full and inclusive human security. Partnership with Japan has also been a lifeline for the region as it responded to the challenges of COVID-19. Indeed, Japan was the first partner to join UNDP in supporting the region to address the impacts of the pandemic on development.