By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: Under the patronage of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Qatar Social Work Foundation (QSWF) is gearing up to host from tomorrow an Arab conference on the Role of Civil Society in the sustainable development agenda 2030. The two-day event will take place at Qatar National Convention Center.
The conference is Qatar’s initiative launched by QSWF to increase awareness about the global sustainable development agenda, adopted by 193 member states of the United Nations in New York last September.
It is being organised in collaboration with the United Nation Development Programme, UN Population Fund/Arab Region, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the Arab League and other entities. More than 200 participants representing local and international civil society organisations will participate in the conference, in addition to representatives from the private sector and specialists in the development field.
Amal Abdullatif Al Mannai, CEO, QSWF, told a press conference: “The conference is a chance for Qatari civil societies and other Arab societies to exchange experiences, especially in the current Arab situation, where many civil societies are assuming humanitarian roles in many countries, which even some governments are not able to take.
The conference will offer a platform for civil societies to discuss their issues and lessons from their policies, Al Mannai said, adding “we have sent invitations to all Arab countries and some international organisations.” It is first time Arab civil societies will meet after the announcement of the global development sustainable agenda, which included 17 goals to be achieved by 2030.
On the first day of the conference, a public session will focus on the sustainable development agenda, and a dialogue session on issues such as challenges in implementing the global sustainable development agenda 2030, with a focus on the Arab region. Qatar, in its presentation, will focus on the best practices, integrated by the government, civil society organisations and the private sector, Al Mannai said.
“We have established a coordination committee to follow up on implementation of recommendations. The panel will meet every month to discuss any developments and includes a member from Arab League,” she added.The Peninsula
