Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in cooperation with the Arab League and other international bodies, the meeting supports progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The analysis focuses on drinking water and sanitation, clean and affordable energy, and industry, innovation and infrastructure, and sustainable cities and communities.
The sessions will also discuss other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and regional priorities, notably poverty, inequality and gender equality.
The AFSD ends tomorrow and will be chaired by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; Arab League leader Ahmed Aboul Gheit; the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Republic of Yemen, Waed Abdullah Badhib; and the director of the Escwa, Rola Dashti.
At the opening ceremony, the senior representative of the multilateral organization pointed out that the meeting is the first step to overcoming inequality, fighting the climate crisis, investing in progress and creating hope for the future.
Noting that recent crises have exacerbated situations such as food security in the region, Mohammed called for greater cooperation and new approaches to address these complex realities.
In his speech, the UN authority emphasized that the consequences in the Arab world are food insecurity and increasing poverty, which is almost 50 percent in the poorest countries.
Despite these challenges, the region is making strides towards sustainable development in the areas of renewable energy, internet access and social protection, he acknowledged.
However, Mohammed added that the collective debt burden of the region’s nations has risen dramatically, pointing to the failure of the global financial system.
In line with the global theme and focus of the 2023 high-level political forum on the SDGs, the meeting in Lebanon will discuss solutions and inspire action to accelerate the recovery from Covid-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Under the title “Solutions and Action”, the AFSD provides a space for dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and experiences with the aim of uniting the messages and aspirations of the region into the world.
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