Regional Programme for Arab States

The Regional Programme for the Arab States 2026–2029 is UNDP’s principal framework for advancing regional initiatives that complement country programmes across the Arab States. It addresses the region’s most pressing challenges, including limited economic diversification, gender inequality, climate vulnerability, and youth unemployment, while leveraging regional opportunities in digital transformation, renewable energy, demographic change, and economic reform.

Building on UNDP’s trusted regional presence, technical expertise, and ability to operate across the humanitarian development peace continuum, the Programme leverages regional cooperation to deliver regional public goods, manage cross border challenges, and foster multi country dialogue on emerging development issues. Fully aligned with the UNDP Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals, it advances integrated solutions across governance, resilience, planet, and prosperity, guided by three accelerators digital and AI transformation, gender equality, and sustainable finance.

Together, the Regional Programme translates regional cooperation into scalable solutions, shared learning, and tangible development impact across the Arab States.

Regional Programme for Arab States in Numbers

20

Countries

+122.8

USD Million

9

projects

Regional Programme Portfolios

The UNDP Regional Programme for Arab States encompasses a diverse portfolio of projects and initiatives, each designed to address the region’s most pressing development needs. Our projects focus on key areas such as climate resilience, economic empowerment, good governance, social inclusion, and digital transformation. Through these initiatives, we bring together expertise from across the UNDP network and collaborate with local and regional partners to create tailored solutions that respond to unique country contexts.

The projects focus on advancing integrated solutions across governance, resilience, planet, and prosperity, with particular attention to regional public goods, cross-border challenges, and policy innovation. Through regional cooperation, they support countries in responding to climate vulnerability, economic inclusion, youth employment, and gender equality, while leveraging opportunities in digital and AI transformation, renewable energy, demographic change, and economic reform. The projects provide a practical entry point for regional collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint action in support of the Programme’s priorities across the Arab States.

Our Team

The UNDP Regional Programme for the Arab States builds on UNDP's trusted regional presence and technical expertise to support regional cooperation and collective action across the Arab States.

Projects & Initiatives

The UNDP Regional Programme for Arab States encompasses a diverse portfolio of projects and initiatives, each designed to address the region’s most pressing development needs.

2018 – East Jerusalem. UNDP supporting students going to school in the old city of East Jerusalem to have quality education

Knowledge Products

Adapting to a New Climate in the MENA Region

This report addresses the risks of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the resulting economic impacts, and how banks are responding to climate risks.

Mobilising islamic banking for climate action

This guide was developed by UNEP FI in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI)

Arab Future Energy Index

The Youth Empowerment, Engagement & Knowledge Project – SHABABEEK is a transformative UNDP initiative designed to ignite the potential of youth across the Arab region and empower them to lead the charge toward sustainable development

Climate change and social vulnerability

This study was conducted by AWC and WFP, it contributes to the development of integrated and multi-sectoral methodologies to measure and address climate change impact, looking particularly at the way in which climate change intersects with social vulnerability

Climate, Peace and Security Programming in the Arab States: Considerations for integrated programming in Jordan, Yemen, Iraq and Somalia

This research was initiated by UNDP and WFP to investigate integrated climate, peace and security programming in the Arab States, focusing on Jordan, Yemen, Syria, Somalia and Iraq.

Journey to extremism in Africa: Pathways to recruitment and disengagement

The surge in violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa undermines hard-won development gains and threatens to hold back progress for generations to come.

The Arab States Digital Day at the Mobile World Congress drives digital transformation in the Arab States

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), marked a milestone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 with a high-level Arab States Digital Day,

UNDP and SAMENA Telecommunications Council forge digital alliance to accelerate progress on digital-led sustainable development in the Arab States

The nexus between digital transformation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is crucial for the Arab States region.

UNDP and Kistpay unite to drive digital inclusion and sustainable development in Arab States

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Kistpay aimed at advancing digital inclusion and sustainable development in the Arab region

MBZUAI and UNDP partnership to advance use of artificial intelligence for sustainable development

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) inked a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2024 (WGS)

The UAE’s AI Office signs an agreement with UNDP to enhance the adoption of artificial intelligence

The Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications in the UAE government signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance research and development in artificial intelligence technologies and empower talents in the Arab region and beyond.

UNDP and MBRF partner with Coursera to launch an initiative to enhance skills for future job markets across the Arab States region

The new FutureSkills4All initiative is tailored to address needs of a fast-changing workforce

Transformation through knowledge and data: Honouring 15 years of partnerships for sustainable development

As we stand at the midpoint of realizing the 2030 Agenda, the objective of this event is to underscore and advocate for the paramount significance of knowledge, skills and data as enablers for advancing progress on the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Unlocking potential: the remarkable rise of EduBolt

Bryan Youssef, a 22-year-old medical student, embarked on a transformative journey when he founded EduBolt, an ed-tech startup born out of his personal struggles with the traditional learning experience.

Leveraging young people’s skills to shape the Arab region’s future

Youth play a central role in the development of their countries and societies. The many faces and experiences of young people from the Arab region carry hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better future

CIRCL: turning waste into opportunities in Akkar

In the heart of Akkar, in Lebanon, a region known for its resilience and beauty but often overlooked and underserved, two determined women, Hiba Mikhael and Elya Rizk, returned to Lebanon from Europe with a fervent desire to ignite change in their marginalized community.

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