Empowering People and Building Peaceful Societies: Cooperation Between the EU and UNDP in the Arab States Region

First report on the partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Arab States was released today in Brussels.

Entitled “ Empowering people and building peaceful societies”, the report showcases results of the many initiatives carried out by the EU and UNDP, impacting the lives of millions of people across the region.

“From constitutional change that finally recognizes the voices of women, to democratic elections, to innovative programmes that help turn the young away from the siren song of violent extremism, our joint work is at the forefront of change in the Arab world”, said Mourad Wahba, Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States, in the foreword to the report. “Together, the EU and UNDP are agents of peace and stability, relief and resilience for a region that has suffered more than most in the turbulent twenty-first century”.

The report demonstrates how UNDP and the EU are natural partners, sharing the same values and objectives for advancing peace and security, human rights and development. A guiding principle of the partnership is the joint effort to help countries eradicate poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 universal goals to achieve a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future by 2030.