ESCWA WEEKLY NEWS No. 34

29 July 2019



	Competencies of senior servants from the perspective of Agenda 2030 On 15-17 July, ESCWA held in Cairo, Egypt, a regional workshop to discuss and approve “The Common Arab Regional Job Competencies Framework for Senior Public Servants from the Perspective of the Agenda 2030 and Public Policy.” Participants included senior civil servants from public institutions in 10 Arab countries. Participating teams gave a brief on the experience of their institutions in the use of information technology in public administration and how it can be used to develop and implement the Common Framework. In conclusion, participants agreed to: finalize and design the Common Framework; prepare for a high-level ministerial meeting to introduce and approve the Common Framework; develop training manuals on the competencies of the Common Framework; and develop an online training program. Read more

	Strategic environmental impact assessment in Ramallah In line with its efforts to promote the environmental component of Agenda 2030 in its member countries, ESCWA organized on 14-18 July a workshop for Palestinian officials in Ramallah on the “Means of Conducting a Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA).” Participants included around 50 senior and technical officials from the Palestinian national committee for environmental assessment and the Environmental Quality Authority (EQA). The topics of the workshop revolved around best ways and approaches to support Palestinian officials in making environmental management decisions while taking into consideration socio-economic factors. It is worth noting that Palestine has already listed SEIA in its environmental laws and legislations, however they had never applied it so far due to the lack of knowledge about its scope and modalities. Read more


	Secrets and strengths of writing ESCWA, in collaboration with the United Nations Office at Geneva and Bilarabiya, held an IAMLADP joint training venture (JTV) on Arabic and English writing and translation at the United Nations House in Beirut, on 22-24 July. The training attracted language professionals from several United Nations entities and academia. Participants focused on the daily challenges of writing, while exploring creative solutions. They considered the shifts in language professions in the light of technological developments, and the new skills required to communicate effectively with the various audiences of the United Nations. The last day was marked by the participation of Arabic language expert Bassam Barrak, who addressed the strengths and secrets of writing. Read more

	Energy efficiency policies and the buildings sector in Jordan ESCWA and the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) jointly organized on 22 July a national workshop on the methodologies for developing, applying and evaluating energy efficiency policies in the buildings sector in Jordan. This workshop is part of the United Nations Development Account (UNDA) project on “Up-scaling Energy Efficiency in the Residential and Services Sectors in the Arab Region” to improve and optimize energy efficiency and up-scale its programs in the building stock. The workshop provided technical assistance to relevant national institutions and experts for the development of short, medium and long-term strategies and appropriate energy efficiency for the existing buildings, including necessary Monitoring Review and Verification schemes. Read more


	UNSG report on the Israeli occupation in Palestine and the Golan ESCWA presented on 23 July to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York the Note of the UN Secretary-General on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan. The note highlighted the continued violations against Palestinians and the illegality of the annexation of the Syrian Golan and reaffirmed the position of the UN that there is no alternative to adherence to international law and the lack of impunity for peace and justice for all peoples of the region. Read more


	Did you know... …that, due to its geography and development path, the Arab region is particularly vulnerable to the multi-faceted impacts of climate change? Evidence shows that temperatures in the Arab region are increasing and are expected to continue to increase through the end of the century and maybe beyond. Although the Arab region contributes only about 5% of total global CO2 emissions, it is one of the regions most affected by climate change but working hard on improving energy productivity and investing in renewable energy technologies. Arab States have put in place renewable energy targets, namely: Morocco committed to 52% by 2030; Egypt 42% by 2035; Algeria, KSA, Qatar and UAE are committing to 20 to 30% within the next 20 years. Read more