ESCWA WEEKLY NEWS No. 60

18 February 2020



	ESCWA at the World Urban Forum ESCWA took part in the tenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF), held by UN-Habitat in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 13 February, on the theme “Cities of opportunities: connecting culture and innovation”. ESCWA Deputy Executive Secretary Mounir Tabet delivered presentations at four events during WUF, focusing on the importance of boosting partnerships at the local level to accelerate the transition to urban sustainability. Collaboration between citizens and State; different tiers of government; public and private sectors and civil society organizations is essential so that cities become again spaces where new opportunities are created and where cultural identities are preserved, including through innovation and technology. Tabet also called for people-focused leadership, joint planning and implementation, local government empowerment and increased innovation to achieve sustainable development. Read more

	Personal data protection in the Arab region On 10 and 11 February, ESCWA took part in a workshop on data protection organized in Beirut by the Digital Transformation Network in Lebanon and Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Haidar Fraihat, Senior Advisor to ESCWA Executive Secretary on Innovation and Technology, delivered a presentation in which he stressed the need for the Arab region to regulate protection of personal data and act to enforce it, as a key step towards sustainable development. Fraihat highlighted the experience of Jordan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates in that area. “The purpose of personal data protection is not merely protecting data but safeguarding people’s fundamental rights and freedoms,” he said. Read more

	ESCWA conducts a workshop on technology transfer ESCWA and the Higher Commission of Scientific Research of the Syrian Arab Republic jointly conducted a workshop on “Technology Transfer Legal Framework and Structure in Syria”, in Damascus, on 12 February. Nawar Al Awa, ESCWA Regional Adviser on Technology for Development, delivered a presentation on technology transfer in the Arab region. He highlighted the experiences of countries that have already established national technology transfer offices, and stressed the importance of leveraging technology, especially in conflict-affected countries, to increase revenue generation, boost economic development and create job opportunities. The workshop gathered 250 representatives from national institutions and non-governmental organizations who discussed a draft report on the legal framework and structure of technology transfer in Syria. Participants also agreed on a road map for establishing a technology transfer office in the country. Read more


	Did you know... … that social insurance schemes exist in all Arab countries? Coverage, however, is often limited since a high proportion of work takes place in the informal economy. Most social insurance schemes in the region include old-age pensions, disability benefits and survivors’ benefits. Read more