Governance and institution building

The Arab region suffers from several chronic deficits, and faces major challenges in terms of poor governance models and ineffective and unaccountable institutions.

This lack of good governance negatively affects the achievement of inclusive and sustainable development in Arab countries. ESCWA governance and institutional development programmes support Arab countries in enhancing their governance models to help accelerate the achievement of SDG 16, towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Our approach

ESCWA provides member States with substantive analysis, policy advice, technical assistance, capacity-building and knowledge sharing on a host of governance and institutional matters, including political reform and transition, crisis and conflict management, and damage and loss assessment. This holistic approach stresses the importance of laying the foundations for accountable, responsive and inclusive governance institutions, and for crisis management and post-conflict institutional rehabilitation. These programmes also focus on consensus-building and national dialogue, and international and regional governance collaboration.

Through its different projects and programmes, ESCWA helps member States develop transparent, accountable, inclusive and effective public sector institutions, and in turn improving core Government services. It disseminates best practices, particularly among crisis-hit, post-conflict and least developed countries, and runs innovative technical cooperation projects designed to bolster the governments capacity to respond to emerging crises. ESCWA also provide capacity-building and advisory services to its member States on the main elements of good governance, institutional development, and SDG 16.

Our partners

ESCWA is collaborating with UNDESA on institutional capacity building: Changing mindsets and strengthening governance capacity for policy coherence for a holistic implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Arab region

· ESCWA is collaborating with UNESCO (Arab Bureau) on normative work and research on governance and educational institutions · ESCWA collaborates regularly with ARADO on administrative reforms in Arab countries

· ESCWA collaborated with the League of Arab States and the International Organization for Migration on conflict and development in the Arab region

· ESCWA collaborates with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States on least developed countries

Our activities

• ESCWA developed a framework for fostering open government in the Arab region, customized to the needs of Arab countries
• ESCWA prepared and published capacity-building material on the main components of open data, participation, collaboration and citizen engagement in government decision-making, and published a report on the legal aspects of open government and open data
• ESCWA organized a number of regional and national capacity building workshops on open government and open data in the Arab region, and provided three advisory services on policy and strategy for open data for Arab countries
• ESCWA facilitates socioeconomic dialogue platforms in conflict-affected countries. It is preparing a substantive study on rethinking the Human Development Index from the perspective of governance, institutional effectiveness and accountability for the achievement of the SDGs.
• ESCWA issues a flagship publication entitled the Arab Governance Report, and technical and research papers on governance, institutions and sustainable development