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United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified enduring socio-economic challenges and exposed numerous vulnerabilities across societies, institutions and economies of the Arab region that are cause for concern. The ramifications of the pandemic are likely to be extensive and long-lasting, aggravating existing inequalities and increasing poverty among vulnerable groups and individuals. Recovering from the pandemic and building back better to be able to deliver on the SDGs requires limiting the multifaceted repercussions and mitigating these vulnerabilities. There is a clear need in the Arab region for an integrated policy approach that combines innovation, shifts in policy focus from traditional policy to more integrated and inclusive approaches. This should be coupled with rethinking the development strategies, restructuring institutional settings and coordination mechanisms to ensure policy coherence and respond effectively to future shocks, collaborating with all concerned stakeholders including ministries, parliaments, local authorities, private sector and civil society, and enhancing data collection processes and monitoring to better inform policymaking and strengthen accountability. As such, this side event is being proposed by ESCWA on the side-lines of the 2022 HLPF to engage policymakers, academic and government experts in focused discussions on the key policy directives and trade-offs for building back better and ensuring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Arab region. It will shed light on approaches and mechanisms needed for coherent and inclusive recovery; and identify practical, integrated and forward-looking policy solutions that reinvigorate the commitment to promoting equality, reducing poverty and delivering on the SDGs post-COVID.
