United Arab Emirates

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

UNDP-UAE Co-Organizes an unprecedented workshop in the region bringing delegates from 5 less developed countries.

the United Nations Development Programme – UAE, and in collaboration with The Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation, organized an unprecedented workshop in the region at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi to assess developmental projects proposals in Afghanistan, Comoros, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Palestine. The workshop was attended by members from both organizations, delegates from each UNDP country office and Ms. Suzanne Kim Siu from UNDP’s headquarters in New York.

The workshop started with welcoming notes from Dr. Mohamed Haji Al Khoury, Executive Director of Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation and Dr. Khaled Alloush, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative.

From the situation of Afghan children, the deteriorating healthcare in the Comoros, the well known hardship that the Sudanese population in Darfur to Sierra Leone and finally Palestine and the extreme conditions that the population in Gaza is living under, each delegation presented information about the UNDP country offices and their work as well as the projects proposed by the Foundation. Each presentation was followed by a discussion about the needs, challenges and sustainability of the projects, giving the attendance information about UNDP’s long experience and technical expertise in those fields noting that it is operating on the ground in 166 countries around the world.

The foundation identified several projects in those countries, including digging water wells in Darfur and Sierra Leone, building an orphanage and providing humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, equipping a hospital in Comoros.

At the end of the workshop Dr. Al Khouri expressed his gratitude to all the attendance and especially the delegations coming from five different countries as well as his appreciation for the efforts which contributed in the success of the workshop through which the Foundation aims to tighten its relationships with the United Nations in general and the UNDP in particular, Dr. Al Khouri added that the Foundation is giving special attention to strengthen its collaboration with the United Nations agencies.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

UNDP-UAE Signs an MoU with Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed on Sunday the 25th of May 2008 a Memorandum of Understanding with Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation.Under this agreement, the Foundation will benefit from UNDP's experience in the capacity buliding of its own staff, consultancy and newtorking.

The foundation was founded by a governmental decree on August 2007, under a direct request from H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, the president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The foundation is funded by the government of Abu Dhabi and from personal donations by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa. It has the status of an NGO. It is managed by an executive board, with H.H. Sheikh Khalifa as an honorary member.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Khaled Alloush- UN Resident Coodinator and UNDP Resident Representative, and Dr. Mohamed Haji Al Khoury- Executive Director of Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

UNDP-UAE Mobilizes USD 1 Million to UNDP-Borma Donated By Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed on Sunday the 25th of May 2008 an Agreement with Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehayan Foundation for a donation of US$1,000,000 in support of people who were affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. The donation will be used by UNDP Myanmar as part of its efforts to meet the immediate relief needs of the affected households and communities for the provision of temporary shelters, repairing of village health centers, and revival of fishing livelihoods.

The United Arab Emirates donations to date reached 100 metric tons of relief supplies donated by the Red Crescent and Dubai Cares and two local NGOs. The UAE is also being used as a hub for sending relief and aid supplies by the United Nations agencies as well as international NGOs.

Monday, January 21, 2008

UNDP-UAE Signs MoU with Zayed Foundation

UNDP-UAE Signed yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding with Zayed Foundation for Humanitarian Care, special Needs and Minors Affairs. Under this agreement, the Foundation will benefit from the experience of the Program through training the Foundation's staff to international levels. The agreement was signed by Mohammed Al Hamili, deputy director of the Foundation, and Khaled Alloush, UNDP Resident Representative & UN Residnet Coordinator in UAE.   

Sunday, November 25, 2007

UNDP UAE, HIV/AIDS Regional Program in the Arab States (HARPAS), UNFPA and (JWIDF) joined together and organised a three-day workshop entitled " Women Creating the Future"

UNDP UAE, HIV/AIDS Regional Program in the Arab States (HARPAS), organised a three-day workshop regarding Women NGO's and HIV/AIDS. The event was endorsed by UNFPA and the Japan Women Development Fund (JWIDF).

The workshop was opened with a welcome note by the UNDP Program analyst for HIV/AIDS-Gender Ms. Giulia Senigaglia on behalf of the UNDP UAE Resident Representative, followed by a speech by the Minister from the Embassy of Japan Mr. Kazuo Sunaga and Dr. Ehab El Kharrat, Consultant/Senior Technical Advisor, HARPAS.

45 participants from Civil Society Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain attended the event with the main objective of raising awareness about the underlining causes that fuel the HIV epidemic globally, with special focus to the Arab world.
The workshop objectives were the following:

- To project the HIV response as on of the key human rights and developmental changes facing the woman in the Arab region.
- To point out that the underlying causes that fuel the HIV epidemic are similar to those contributing to the woman disempowerment.
- To mobilize and empower CSO's and all woman leadership bodies in responding to HIV.

As the workshop came to an end the participants all expressed a change of heart towards HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, an eagerness to make a change, and the hope for a better tomorrow.The workshop was closed with a statement by Dr. Khaled Alloush, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE and Dr. Khadija Moalla, Regional HIV/AIDS Practice Leader in the HIV/AIDS Regional Program in the Arab States (HARPAS).

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

UAE join millions around the world in the Stand Up Campaign against Poverty and Inequality

UNDP UAE organized the Stand Up campaign on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in association with the art of living (AOL) and the International Association for Human values (IAHV). The event was endorsed by Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Chair Person of the International Humanitarian City and recently appointed UN Ambassador of Peace.

94,678 people in UAE join millions around the world in the Stand Up Campaign against Poverty and Inequality

As the deadline closed for the largest number of people Standing Up Against Poverty and Inequality in the world, UAE registered a total of 94,678 people from all walks of life as they put aside their priorities to Stand Up for two minutes and remind their leaders about their commitment to the UNMC Millennium Developmental Goals for 2015. These included 40,100 students from schools and educational institutions, 45,428 from corporations and organisations, 7,500 from labour camps, 875 from banks and 775 at shopping malls.

In schools and organisations all over the country, the excitement was palpable as participants found innovative ways to demonstrate their commitment to ending poverty and inequality. In organisations and in malls, people stood in creative formations while taking their pledge towards a better world by 2015. In schools, students made banners and placards drawing attention to poverty, hunger and universal education.

The campaign was organised by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) along with IAHV and the Art of Living. The ‘Stand Up and Speak Out’ Campaign comes with the endorsement of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, UN Messenger of Peace and the International Humanitarian City.

At a press conference to announce the results of the campaign last evening, Dr Khaled Alloush, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE, said “ Successful cases demonstrate that MDGs can be attained, only if, concentrated additional actions are taken immediately and sustained until 2015, especially the financial support from developed to developing countries. On the other hand, achieving MDGs requires the full commitment and collaboration of governments, UN and other multilateral organizations, NGOs and the private sector.”

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

UNDP Signs MoU with Sharjah Tatweer Forum

UNDP UAE will work with Sharjah Tatweer Forum to provide consutations, technical assistance and institutional support especially in the implementation and evaluation of joint partnerships for current and future projects between the public and private sectors in the emirate of Sharjah.

This was stated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNDP and Sharjah Tatweer Forum (Tatweer) signed on Wednesday 26th. of September 2007 in Sharjah and focuses on the following:

• UNDP technical Assistance in institutional and capacity development;
• Development of Tatweer’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) and;
• Tatweer’s ongoing youth leadership initiative and the development of project(s) focused on youth and leadership needs

The MoU was signed by Dr. Khaled Alloush, UNDP Resident Representative & UN Resident Coordinator, and Mr. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Chairman of Sharjah Tatweer Forum.

Mr. Hussain Al Mahmoudi said," We are pleased to sign this MoU with the UNDP's Representative, as this agreement will help us benefit enormously from the UNDP's international expertise and its available capabilities. This will help us reach Tatweer's objectives of sponsoring and highlighting the role of young UAE leaders, and motivating them to achieve excellence in administrative and leadership practices, and expanding their private sectors and facilitating the execution of innovative projects and ideas, in an effort to enhance the competitiveness of the Emirate of Sharjah as a prominent center for business, education, culture and tourism."

Dr. Alloush said," Though this agreement with Sharjah Tatweer Forum, we aim to encourage the sustainable economic and social development of the emirate of Sharjah. We intend to achieve this by facilitating the roles of both public and private sectors and developing local leaders, capacity building and scientific capabilities. We hope that this agreement will open new horizons of collaboration and netwrorking for all parties."