Sustainable Development Tools and the SD Initiative in the Arab Region (SDIAR)

1. Sustainable Development Tools and the SD Initiative in the Arab Region (SDIAR) Presentation: Hend Zaki

2. Presentation outline: 1. Sustainable Development Tools 1.1 What are Sustainable Development Tools? 1.2 The Importance of Sustainable Development Tools 1.3 European Research and Sustainable Development Tools 2. Sustainable Development Initiative in the Arab Region (SDIAR) 2.1 Objectives 2.2 Areas of Focus 2.3 Obstacles 2.4 Other Obstacles & General Observations

3. 1.1 What are Sustainable Development Tools? • A range of practical tools to support decision-making Example: • Modeling and Simulation Software • Accounting Frameworks and Codes of Practice • Impact Assessment, Performance Monitoring and External Cost Estimation Tools

4. Sustainable Development Tools-Continued • Decision-making can only proceed in a sustainable way if the effects of new policy measures are explored and understood before they are introduced • Impact analysis and assessment are familiar processes. A strategy for sustainable development must take into account its financial costs and benefits as well as its potential environmental & health impacts and its social acceptability.

5. 1.2 The Importance of Sustainable Development Tools? • They enhance the capacity of policy-makers, managers, planners, public authority and enterprises to identify practical measures that will be most effective in promoting and achieving a level of sustainability suited to their own circumstances

6. 1.3 European Research and Sustainable Development Tools • European research has developed a very wide range of tools to facilitate the successive steps of the decision-making process. They include tools and methods for ‘vision-making’, impact assessment, defining objectives and targets, as well as the planning, implementation, monitoring, benchmarking and transfer of good practice.

7. 2.1 Sustainable Development Initiative in the Arab Region-Objectives • This initiative aims at addressing the challenges faced by the Arab Countries to achieve sustainable development. • The initiative seeks to enhance the participation of the Arab countries with the aim of strengthening their efforts in realizing sustainable development, particularly in the light of globalization and its impacts, as well as finding a mechanism for financing the programs for environmental protection and sustainable development.

8. 2.2 Sustainable Development Initiative in the Arab Region-Areas of Focus • The Initiative focuses on eight areas: -Peace and Security -Institutional Framework -Poverty Alleviation -Population and Health -Education, Awareness, Scientific Research & Technology Transfer - Resources Management - Production and Consumption -Globalization, Trade and Investment

9. Resources Management

10. 2.3 Obstacles-Some of the mentioned Obstacles in the Initiative • Absence of Peace and Security • Continuation of Foreign Occupation in Some Arab lands, • Poverty, Illiteracy, and Population Growth • Scarcity of Water Resources • Limited Agricultural Land • Moderate Capabilities of the Academic and Research Centers • Relatively recent experience of Civil Society

11. 2.4 Other obstacles & General Observations • No clear usage of sustainable development tools • All areas do not have a clear overall objective, measurable targets, financing, means of implementation…etc • Implementation usually includes holding experts meeting, holding a series of workshop to address a specific topic or mentioning that a program of action will be designed.