Latest news with #UnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
El Chorouk
20-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Arab Vision 2045 Project to Support and Enhance National Plans
The Arab Summit, held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, earlier this week, adopted the 'Arab Vision 2045' document, a roadmap prepared by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the League of Arab States, under the supervision of ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Arab Vision 2045 represents a strategic vision for the future of the Arab region, based on six pillars: security and safety, justice and fairness, innovation and creativity, prosperity and balanced development, diversity and vitality, and cultural and civilizational renewal. Following the adoption of the vision by Arab leaders gathered in Baghdad, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, emphasized that 'Arab Vision 2045 constitutes an ambitious framework for establishing a clear, long-term development path that offers hope to the region's youth for a brighter and more stable future, and reflects a collective awareness that development is the foundation of security and stability in the Arab region.' Regarding how to keep pace with the implementation of this strategy at the country level, especially in light of the developmental and political disparities within the region, ESCWA's Commission and information Secretary, Karim Khalil told Echorouk: 'Arab Vision 2045 does not seek to replace existing national plans, but rather aims to support and enhance them by providing a guiding regional framework that facilitates coordination between Arab countries and stimulates the exchange of expertise'. He explained that 'the vision was formulated using a flexible methodology that considers developmental and political differences between countries, allowing each country to draw on it in line with its priorities and local realities. The document also stipulates the establishment of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms based on measurable performance indicators, developed in collaboration between governments, the League of Arab States, and ESCWA. Through joint task forces, periodic progress reviews will be conducted, and implementation will be adapted to the national context, allowing for intelligent interaction with challenges without imposing a single model on all'. Regarding ensuring that the initiatives proposed in the document, such as the shift to AI-based education, are feasible and not merely theoretical aspirations, Karim Khalil added, 'The vision does not merely present ambitious ideas, but is based on a solid institutional foundation. A large number of the initiatives included in it have already undergone extensive discussions within specialised ministerial councils within the Joint Arab Action Framework, such as the Ministers of Communications and others, giving them political momentum and initial technical consensus. These initiatives have received their due scrutiny and review. They are not theoretical proposals, but rather a natural evolution of paths already being implemented or previously proposed.' 'In contrast, the vision also includes a set of new initiatives built on in-depth analytical studies conducted by ESCWA, think tanks, and academic partners in the region, enhancing its credibility and applicability. For example, the transition to Education 4.0 is presented as a gradual process that begins with developing digital infrastructure, updating curricula, and training personnel, rather than implementing pre-existing models that do not take into account the differences in capabilities between countries. The vision also calls for activating partnerships with the private sector and research institutions to secure the required resources and technology, within the framework of a monitoring system that ensures feasibility and adaptability,' he added. Regarding issues of social and economic justice, such as bridging gaps between marginalised groups and ensuring inclusiveness, Karim Khalil emphasised that 'social justice is one of the six fundamental pillars of the Arab Vision 2045, and the document devotes significant space to proposing policies and initiatives aimed at bridging economic and social gaps. These policies include enhancing social protection, expanding educational and employment opportunities for marginalised groups, empowering women and youth, and achieving equitable wealth distribution. The vision emphasises the need to adopt a comprehensive development model based on equity and equal opportunity, while asserting that there can be no sustainable development without integrating all segments of society into the decision-making process and benefiting from the fruits of development.'
Observer
16-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
60% of adults in Arab region still unbanked: ESCWA
MUSCAT: Nearly 60 per cent of adults in the Arab region remain excluded from formal financial systems, according to a new report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Annual SDG Review 2025 paints a sobering picture of persistent financial exclusion that is undermining the region's ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline. The report, which focuses on financial inclusion as a cross-cutting enabler of sustainable development, reveals those inequalities continue to lock millions out of economic opportunity. 'The Arab region cannot afford to treat financial services as a luxury,' said Economic Affairs Officer at ESCWA Mario Jales, the lead author of the report. 'Without inclusive finance, we cannot hope to lift people out of poverty, support small businesses, or achieve equitable growth.' Women remain among the most excluded, with only 29 per cent having access to bank accounts or mobile money — making the Arab region the worst-performing globally on women's financial inclusion. The gender gap stands at a staggering 13 percentage points. Persons with disabilities fare no better: just 21 per cent have access to financial services, often due to discriminatory practices, inaccessible infrastructure, or lack of supportive regulation. The data also show sharp rural-urban divides. In many countries, rural populations are up to twice as likely to be unbanked compared to urban residents. Youth, informal workers and refugees face additional barriers, compounding cycles of vulnerability. Mobile finance has seen rapid growth, with mobile money accounts doubling between 2020 and 2023. Yet, the report warns of a 'digital divide within the divide': poor connectivity, limited smartphone access and weak digital literacy prevent the most marginalised from benefitting. In conflict-affected countries, mobile services are often disrupted or unavailable. Access to credit also remains a major challenge. Fewer than one in five adults in the region have borrowed from a formal financial institution. For micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), this financing gap restricts innovation and job creation. ESCWA calls for urgent reforms. These include strengthening consumer protection, promoting financial literacy, integrating gender and disability perspectives into financial regulation; and improving digital infrastructure. It also advocates for interoperable digital ID systems to facilitate safe and inclusive access to services. The report places financial inclusion within the broader SDG context. With only 18 per cent of global targets on track — and stagnation or regression in several Arab countries — ESCWA emphasises that inclusive finance is essential for progress on poverty, education, gender equality and decent work.
CairoScene
08-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Saudi Arabia Ranks First in the MENA Region for E-Services
Saudi Arabia scored 96% in the 2024 Government E-Services Maturity Index for the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia has secured the top position in the 2024 Government E-Services Maturity Index for the Middle East and North Africa, as issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). With an overall score of 96%, the Kingdom maintains its lead for the third consecutive year. According to Hisham Al-Sheikh, Deputy Governor for Strategy and Partnerships at the Digital Government Authority, this achievement reflects Saudi Arabia's growing global stature in digital governance. He emphasised that the Kingdom's continued progress is driven by inter-agency collaboration and the strategic adoption of advanced technologies, establishing Saudi Arabia as a model in the field. Outperforming 16 regional peers, Saudi Arabia scored 99% in both the 'Service Availability and Development' and 'Public Access' categories, and 93% in 'Beneficiary Satisfaction', reflecting a high level of efficiency, accessibility, and user-centric design in its digital public services.
Muscat Daily
07-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman improves ranking in UN index of digital governance
Muscat – Oman has improved its ranking in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMS) with a score of 72%, compared to 66% in 2023, according to a report released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Monday. The report covers 17 Arab countries and assesses digital government performance across three key dimensions – service availability and development, service uptake and satisfaction, and government outreach and engagement. Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates led the index with scores of 96% and 95%, respectively, reflecting strong progress in national digital transformation. The index covers a wide range of sectors, including health, education, transportation, finance, justice, trade, tourism and social affairs. The index highlighted gains in Oman's performance across the key pillars of digital maturity. The sultanate's score in the service availability and development pillar rose to 80%, up from 76.64% in 2023. Service uptake and satisfaction increased to 63%, compared to 51.95% last year, while the score for government outreach and engagement rose from 73.78% to 78%. The index also showed a sharp rise in Oman's evaluation indicators. The level of service development for electronic portals improved to 94% from 84.45% in 2023. User satisfaction with these portals was 89%, up from 76.44%. Mobile application availability also improved to 60%, compared to 49.97% last year, while user satisfaction of mobile platforms increased to 62%, up from 47.76%. Nawar al Awa, ESCWA's GEMS project lead, noted that despite overall progress in the region, a significant digital divide remains between countries with advanced digital infrastructure and those in the early stages of digital development. This gap widened from 91% in 2023 to 95% in 2024, largely due to disparities in resources and challenges in adopting emerging technologies.
Observer
07-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman sees strong gains in digital government services
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has recorded significant progress in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index (GEMSMI), advancing by six percentage points to reach a 72% score, up from 66% in 2023. The index, issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), assesses the maturity of digital government services delivered via electronic portals and mobile applications across Arab countries. The evaluation covered 27 government institutions in Oman and reviewed a total of 94 services across diverse sectors, including health, education, transportation, police, finance, justice, municipal and social affairs, trade and industry, labor, and tourism. The 2024 results highlight notable improvements across all key performance pillars of the index. In the pillar of Service Availability and Development, Oman achieved an 80% score, up from 76.64% last year. Service Usage and User Satisfaction also saw a marked improvement, reaching 63%, compared to 51.95% in 2023. Public Access rose to 78%, up from 73.78% the previous year, reflecting expanded outreach and digital inclusiveness. Moreover, Oman recorded a 94% performance level in service development on electronic portals, a notable rise from 84.45%. User satisfaction with the electronic portals climbed to 89%, compared to 76.44% in 2023. On the mobile side, application availability improved to 60%, from 49.97%, while mobile user satisfaction grew to 62%, up from 47.76%. The GEMSMI report underlines Oman's steady advancement in e-government transformation, positioning it among the leading countries in the Arab region in terms of digital maturity. ESCWA developed the index as a benchmarking tool to track and encourage the development of digital government services and to guide policymaking and strategic planning in support of national digital transformation programs. A total of 17 countries took part in this year's index evaluation. The 2024 edition also saw an expansion in the number of government services assessed and the inclusion of new performance indicators to better reflect the evolving landscape of digital public services in the Arab world. — ONA
