09:00 - 10:30

Opening Session

Welcoming remarks Main Hall

WELCOMING REMARKS

Ms. Rola Dashti

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

More Info View Biography

Ms. Amina J. Mohammed

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group

More Info View Biography

H.E. Mr. Muhammad Ali Tamim

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning of the Republic of Iraq, Chair of AFSD-2025

More Info View Biography

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit

Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS)

More Info View Biography

H.E. General Joseph Aoun

President of the Lebanese Republic

10:30 - 11:00

Break

11:00 - 12:30

HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE

Sustainable development and the emerging geopolitics: lost and found opportunities for the Arab region Main Hall

Moderator

Noha El-Mikawy

Professor of Practice in the Public Policy and Administration Department and Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo, Egypt

Panelists

Karim Haggag

Professor of Practice, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo, Egypt

Marwa Fatafta

MENA Policy and Advocacy Director, Access Now (virtual)

Hala Bsisu Lattouf

former Minister of Social Development, Jordan

Mahmoud Mohieldin

UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Nizar Yaiche

former Minister of Finance, Tunisia

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 15:00

MINISTERIAL DISCUSSION – PACT FOR THE FUTURE: GLOBAL DIGITAL COMPACT

Towards an inclusive, open, sustainable, safe, and secure digital future for all Main Hall

Special session 1:

Women’s roles in recovery and post-conflict reconstruction MZ

Women’s roles in recovery and post conflict reconstruction

Moderator

Nadya Khalife

Regional Advisor for Gender Equality, ESCWA

Panelists

Moez Doraid

Regional Director for Arab States, UN Women (Opening Remarks)

Hilde Haraldstad

Ambassador of Norway to Lebanon

Loubna Ezzedine

Community leader, mediator, social and environmental activist, Lebanon

Amal Hamidosh

Executive Director, Snack Souri, Syria

Fadia Jouma’a

Journalist, mediator, and environmental activist, Lebanon

Ahmed Luabei

Director General, Ministry of Justice, Iraq

Samia Qasem Melhem

Head of Warjin Organization, Iraq

FLYER

15:00 - 15:15

Break

15:15 - 17:15

THEMATIC SESSION – SDG 8 REVIEW

Decent employment in support of economic growth Main Hall

15:15 - 16:45

Special session 2:

Behavioural science as a pathway to development impact in the Arab countries MZ

17:15 - 17:30

Break

17:30 - 18:30

Ceremony:

ESCWA Digital Arabic Content Award for Sustainable Development 2024-2025 Main Hall

9:00 - 10:30

ARAB SDG BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE

Advancing financial inclusion in the Arab region Main Hall

Special session 3 – A youth led special session

Children’s voices, sustainable futures: protecting child rights in times of conflict CR-I

Access to and use of financial services can foster entrepreneurship, empower vulnerable populations, and alleviate poverty and inequality. Yet, 197 million people in the Arab region remain financially excluded. This roundtable – the second in the Arab SDG Business Roundtable series – will explore policies and innovative solutions to enhance financial inclusion for underserved groups, particularly women, persons with disabilities, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Discussions will focus on financial literacy, the potential of fintech and the role of the private sector in achieving this goal.

Moderator

Mohammad Ibrahim Fheili

Executive in Residence, Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Panelists

Nasser Al Kahtani

Executive Director, Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)

Sherif Lokman

Sub Governor, Financial Inclusion Sector, Central Bank of Egypt

Maher Mahrouq

Director General, Association of Banks in Jordan

Fatma Triki

Director of Research and Development, Enda Inter-Arabe, Tunisia

Heba Hagrass

United Nations Special Rapporteur for the rights of persons with disabilities.

Arafo Hassan Barbad

General Secretary, Network of Ambitious Djiboutian Entrepreneurs (REDA)

Discussant

Dani Ibrahim

Founder and General Manager, EA Advisory LLC, United Arab Emirates

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES

10:30 - 11:00

Break

11:00 - 12:30

MINISTERIAL DISCUSSION – ON THE ROAD TO THE SECOND WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (WSSD2)

Upholding inclusive social development in the face of new inequalities, conflict and shrinking fiscal space Main Hall

Special session 4:

Promoting a human-centred approach to artificial intelligence and digitalization in the Arab region MZ

Thirty years after the first World Summit for Social Development, the aspirations embodied in the Copenhagen Declaration to eradicate poverty, achieve full productive employment and decent work, and promote social integration seem out of reach for the Arab region. This session aims at preparing and positioning the region in the context of the forthcoming Second World Summit for Social Development, due to take place in Doha, Qatar, in November 2025. It will discuss the zero draft outcome document of the Summit with a view to assess its suitability to the regional context and identify additional elements that the Arab countries could push for in the political negotiation process.

Moderator

Hania Sholkamy

Associate Professor, Social Research Center, American University in Cairo, Egypt

Video Message

Omar Hilale

Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, and co-facilitator of the intergovernmental preparatory process for the Second World Summit for Social Development

Ministers

Wafaa Bani Mustafa

Minister of Social Development, Jordan

Hind Kabawat

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Syrian Arab Republic

Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi

Minister of Social Development and Family, Qatar

Haneen Sayed

Minister of Social Affairs, Lebanon

Naima Ben Yahia

Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, Morocco (virtual)

Ahmed Kouchouk

Minister of Finance, Egypt (virtual)

Panelists/Discussants

Maher Johan

Undersecretary, Ministry of Planning, Iraq (virtual)

Jassim Al-Hamrani

Director of Strategic Planning and Communication, Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States

Hanouf Abdulrahman N. J. Al-Thani

Director of the International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar

Heba Hagrass

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

Tarek El Nabulsi

Director of Development and Social Policies Department, Social Affairs Sector, League of Arab States

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 15:00

MINISTERIAL DISCUSSION – ON THE ROAD TO THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT (FfD4)

Advancing a renewed global FfD framework and reforming the international financial architecture Main Hall

Special session 5:

Re-imagining the future of women in food systems: harnessing science, technology, and partnership to advance the SDGs MZ

The Arab region faces major financing challenges that contribute to an SDG financing gap exceeding $660 billion annually. The upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) presents a pivotal opportunity to advance Arab positions on reforming the global financial architecture. This ministerial discussion aims to strengthen the Arab region’s position ahead of FfD4, which will take place in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. The session will assess the conference’s draft outcome document, review initial negotiations, and discuss the region’s key priorities to help shape the global financing agenda.

Moderator

Ibrahim Ahmed Elbadawi

Founder and Managing Director, Gulf Economic Policy and Research Center

Panelists

Yassine Jaber

Minister of Finance, Lebanon

Abbas Kadhom Obaid

Chair of the Group of 77 and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations

Jesús Ignacio Santos Aguado

Ambassador of Spain to Lebanon

Mahmoud Mohieldin

United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Discussants

Navid Hanif

Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (virtual)

Dima Al-Khatib

Director, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (virtual)

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES

15:00 - 15:15

Break

15:15 - 17:15

THEMATIC SESSION – SDG 5 REVIEW

Five years to 2030: Is the region on track to achieve gender equality? Main Hall

15:15 - 16:45

Special session 6:

Supporting young people’s learning, skilling and transition to decent work in the Arab countries MZ

9:00 - 11:00

THEMATIC SESSION – SDG 3 REVIEW

Delivering healthcare in emergencies Main Hall

THEMATIC SESSION – SDG 14 REVIEW

Integrated management of marine ecosystems in the Arab region MZ

The Arab region is achieving good progress towards SDG 3 on good health and wellbeing. Healthcare systems, however, are impacted by emergencies such as conflicts, natural disasters and pandemics. This session will assess progress towards SDG 3 in the Arab region, focusing on the drivers of progress and the causes of regression. The session’s theme is health systems under emergencies, with a focus on several aspects such as universal health coverage, integrated primary healthcare, digital technologies, and regional solidarity.

Moderator

Sawsan Abdelrahim

Associate Professor of Public Health, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Panelists

Arash Rashidian

Director, Science, Information and Dissemination, WHO EMRO

Khuloud Al Mufarji

Director of Planning, Ministry of Health, Oman

Jilali Cherrouk

Head of Health and Nutrition Department, Planning Directorate, High Commission for Planning, Morocco (virtual)

Mohannad Al Nsour

Executive Director, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Jordan

Shereen Hussein

Professor of Health and Social Care Policy, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom (virtual)

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES

11:00 - 11:15

Break

11:15 - 12:45

ROUNDTABLE ON VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEWS

Voluntary national reviews of countries in conflict Main Hall

Special session 7:

Migration, employment, and the future of work: Changing dynamics in the Arab region MZ

Countries in conflict face a complex set of challenges that hamper their ability to undertake adequate follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda, including a meaningful Voluntary National Review (VNR). This roundtable will focus on inspiring approaches and practical solutions through which countries in conflict can produce VNRs that help advance the SDGs and contribute to building and consolidating peace.

Moderator

Ola Sidani

Economic Expert, Lead on Lebanon’s 2030 Agenda, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Lebanon

Panelists

Wafaa Al Mahdawi

National Expert for the preparation of the VNR report, Ministry of Planning, Iraq

Khaled Ismail Mohammed

Director of International Finance and Investment, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Sudan

Khaled Abu Khaled

Director General, Registers and Statistical Monitoring Directorate, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, State of Palestine

Mohamed Al-Hawri

Deputy Minister of Economic Studies and Forecasting, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Yemen

Nada El Agizy

Director, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation, League of Arab States

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES

12:45 - 14:00

Lunch

14:00 - 17:15

ROUNDTABLE – Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries 2022-2031

Main Hall

14:00 - 15:30

Special session 8:

Accessibility Assistant

Make Widget Bigger

Text to Speech

Text Controls

Visibility Options

Highlight Links (H)

Translate this page

Color contrast Checker

agenda

09:00 - 10:30

Welcoming remarks Main Hall

WELCOMING REMARKS

Ms. Rola Dashti

Ms. Amina J. Mohammed

H.E. Mr. Muhammad Ali Tamim

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit

H.E. General Joseph Aoun

10:30 - 11:00

11:00 - 12:30

Sustainable development and the emerging geopolitics: lost and found opportunities for the Arab region Main Hall

Moderator

Panelists

12:30 - 13:30

13:30 - 15:00

Towards an inclusive, open, sustainable, safe, and secure digital future for all Main Hall

Women’s roles in recovery and post-conflict reconstruction MZ

Moderator

Panelists

Moderator

Panelists

15:00 - 15:15

15:15 - 17:15

Decent employment in support of economic growth Main Hall

15:15 - 16:45

Behavioural science as a pathway to development impact in the Arab countries MZ

Moderator

Panelists and Discussants

Chair

Moderator

Panelists

17:15 - 17:30

17:30 - 18:30

ESCWA Digital Arabic Content Award for Sustainable Development 2024-2025 Main Hall

AWARD CEREMONY

9:00 - 10:30

Advancing financial inclusion in the Arab region Main Hall

Children’s voices, sustainable futures: protecting child rights in times of conflict CR-I

Moderator

Panelists

Discussant

Moderator

Panelists

10:30 - 11:00

11:00 - 12:30

Upholding inclusive social development in the face of new inequalities, conflict and shrinking fiscal space Main Hall

Promoting a human-centred approach to artificial intelligence and digitalization in the Arab region MZ

Moderator

Video Message

Ministers

Panelists/Discussants

Moderator

Panelists

12:30 - 13:30

13:30 - 15:00

Advancing a renewed global FfD framework and reforming the international financial architecture Main Hall

Re-imagining the future of women in food systems: harnessing science, technology, and partnership to advance the SDGs MZ

Moderator

Panelists

Discussants

Moderator

Welcoming notes

Panelists

15:00 - 15:15

15:15 - 17:15

Five years to 2030: Is the region on track to achieve gender equality? Main Hall

15:15 - 16:45

Supporting young people’s learning, skilling and transition to decent work in the Arab countries MZ

Moderator

Panelists

Moderator