ESCWA WEEKLY NEWS No. 49

Impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on Development in the Arab Region

Accelerated technological developments, which have come to be known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), have proven disruptive in all areas of life. However, the convergence of technologies is enabling accumulated improvements in the economy and people’s lives.

The recently published ESCWA report on the subject maps 4IR-related endeavours and initiatives in Arab countries. It highlights the threats arising from the envisaged productivity benefits of 4IR, and proposes a road map for the local implementation of its related technologies.

The report concludes with key messages to Governments, the private sector, civil society, universities and schools, and regional organizations, on giving purposeful direction to the acceleration of technological development.

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Women in the Judiciary in the Arab States: Removing Barriers, Increasing Numbers

This study, produced by ESCWA in partnership with ICJ and OHCHR Regional Office, sheds light on women’s presence in judicial institutions in the region.

It reveals that, despite an increasing number of female judges and public prosecutors in Arab countries in recent years, women remain starkly underrepresented in judicial institutions in the region, with strong disparities between and within countries. With the State of Palestine as the only exception, female judges do not sit on religious courts. 

The study presents good practices based on case studies where a comparably higher presence of women in judicial institutions has been achieved, and offers a series of policy recommendations.

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Social Protection Reform in Arab Countries

This ESCWA report discusses recent and ongoing social protection reforms in Arab countries. Social protection is a human right for all members of society. Moreover, social protection systems shape trust in government, and increase social cohesion, social justice and social solidarity in any given society.

The report argues that an integrated “systems approach” to social protection will ensure better coherence across the different core components, such as social insurance, health care services and social assistance. It further views that social protection systems need to be well integrated into other social policies, such as those pertaining to the labour, education, poverty alleviation, rural and urban development, and social services sectors in general. 

Finally, the report concludes that social protection systems require broad-based social dialogue to be perceived as fair and reliable.

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Aquacrop training in Amman

The “First Jordanian National Training Workshop on Aquacrop for Irrigation Water Management” was organized by ESCWA in Amman, from 27 to 31 October, in cooperation with the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Lands and Dry Zones (ACSAD).

The training introduced the Aquacrop model to participants from the ministries of agriculture, transportation, and water and irrigation in Jordan, and to researchers from the National Agriculture Research Center. 

Participants delivered presentations on the national data they are collecting for the preparation of case studies to deepen knowledge and assess gaps.
 

Did you know...

… that the share of manufacturing in least developed countries’ total GDP increased by 2.5% annually between 2015 and 2018? However, it is still too slow to achieve a doubling of the share in GDP by 2030. 

In the Arab region, the share of manufacturing in GDP is the second lowest in the world, standing at about 10%. Expenditure on research and development as a share of GDP has doubled since 2013 but remains 63% less than the world average.

^{Photo credit: Mohamed Ahmed Yousry, Egypt}

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