Economic and Social Development

The immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine is of utmost importance and at the center of global attention. Early estimates by the Humanitarian Country Team indicate that nearly 30 percent of the population are likely to require life-saving humanitarian assistance. In its current scale and direction, 18 million people are projected to become affected and more than 7 million people internally displaced. The development impacts of the war in Ukraine remain too much below the waterline of public visibility, in Ukraine, regionally and globally. Early UNDP projections suggest that already in the short- to medium term, the development setbacks for Ukraine will be significant. Poverty and inequalities will rise; the country’s economy, its social fabric, and the environment will suffer.

ألحقت حرب 2024 على لبنان أضراراً جسيمة وخلّفت تداعيات عميقة طويلة الأمد. ويقدّم هذا التقرير تحليلاً شاملاً لهذه الآثار، بهدف رسم مسار واضح للتعافي الفوري وتوجيه جهود الإصلاح على المديين المتوسط والطويل. ويتناول التقرير الخسائر المباشرة التي ألحقتها الحرب بالبنية التحتية والنظم الاقتصادية، ويكشف عن التكاليف البشرية والاجتماعية الباهظة. كما يقيّم التداعيات على الاقتصاد الكلي، مسلطاً الضوء على تفاقم التحديات البنيوية، وما أسفر عنها من مخاطر اقتصادية واجتماعية. ويختتم التقرير بسلسلة من التوصيات على مستوى السياسة العامة، هي بمثابة أساس صلب لجهود التعافي الشامل وبناء المستقبل.

The Arab region is facing significant challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with progress towards gender equality being particularly slow and uneven. Despite a doubling of data availability, substantial gaps persist in various areas. The present statistical brief provides a snapshot of gender disparities across various sectors, and presents data-driven insights for policymakers, researchers and advocates. The key topics covered include women in politics, finance, education, employment, child marriage, and violence against women. The statistical brief underscores both the progress achieved and the critical need for further efforts to accelerate change.

تواجه المنطقة العربية تحديات كبيرة على مسار أهداف التنمية المستدامة، والتقدّم المُحرَز في تحقيق المساواة بين الجنسين بطيء ومتفاوت. وعلى الرغم من توفُّر البيانات بكميات مضاعفة، لا تزال فجوات كبيرة قائمة في مجالات مختلفة. يقدّم هذا الموجز الإحصائي لمحةً عن التفاوت بين الجنسين في مختلف القطاعات، ويعرض رؤية تسترشد بالبيانات، يستفيد منها واضعو السياسات والباحثون ومناصرو قضايا النوع الاجتماعي. ويستعرض مواضيع تتناول المرأة في السياسة، والتمويل، والتعليم، والعمل، وزواج الأطفال، والعنف. ويسلّط الموجز الضوء على التقدّم المُحرَز والحاجة الماسة إلى بذل مزيد من الجهود لتسريع التغيير.

The Accelerator Lab conducted an online survey to collect data on segregation and recycling, particularly of plastic. This report highlights some key results. Results suggest that households and businesses prefer their recyclable waste to be collected at their doorsteps, instead of taking it to recycling points. Typically, this is linked to issues of accessibility (location of recycling points), affordability (perceived costs of the journey to recycling points - including time), and the existence of alternatives (including whether there is a recyclable waste collection service in place).

The migration-development nexus has witnessed increasing attention in recent years, both globally and regionally, reflecting the profound impact that population movements have on both countries of origin and of destination, both within and beyond the region. The 2024 edition of the Situation Report on International Migration in the Arab Region examines the critical nexus of migration and development in a region undergoing transformative demographic, economic, social and technological shifts. It offers an analysis of migration trends, challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the dual role of migration as both a driver and a product of development. Key insights highlight the potential of migration to contribute positively to host societies and countries of origin. Migrants bring valuable skills, knowledge and cultural diversity, while remittances support families, reduce poverty, and spur economic growth. However, achieving these outcomes requires policies that safeguard migrants’ rights and maximize their contributions to development. Regional cooperation is also essential, as the interconnected nature of Arab countries means migration policies in one country can significantly affect neighbouring nations. The present report provides a road map to harness migration’s potential, while addressing its challenges. By adopting a holistic and forward-looking approach, the Arab region can position migration as a source of strength, resilience and shared prosperity.

This policy brief draws attention to the value of external audits to Governments’ efforts to leave no one behind. It highlights some impacts of audit reports on equity, equality and inclusion. It then presents observations and examples from a review of audit report recommendations, which can inform and guide Governments in strengthening their work in this area.

The post-electoral survey presents the most important facts and results about 2021 Parliamentary Elections. The main purpose of the survey was to measure the impact of civic education campaigns of voters aimed at changes in voters’ perception of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training (CCET) activity. The data are analyzed in comparison with three other poste-electoral surveys: Presidential Elections held in November 2020, Parliamentary Elections held in February 2019 and Local General Elections held in October 2019. The research was conducted on the basis of a nationally representative sample, covering both rural and urban areas. The target group included the population with the right to vote aged 18 years and over, residing in 314 localities across the country. 70% of questionnaires were developed in Romanian, and 30% in Russian. The sampling error is ± 2.6%. The data were collected in August – September 2021. The opinion survey has been conducted in the framework of the “Enhancing Democracy in Moldova through Inclusive and Transparent Elections” project implemented by UNDP Moldova, with the financial support from the American people provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The expressed points of view belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the UNDP, financing institution or Government of the Republic of Moldova.

Thirty years ago, Member States gathered at the first World Summit for Social Development recognized that good health is both a consequence and a driver of social development and committed to reducing mortality rates among children under age 5. Since then, levels of child mortality have fallen significantly (United Nations, 2024). Yet, as the world prepares for the Second World Summit for Social Development in November 2025, profound disparities in child health and survival persist within and among countries, making it difficult for those furthest behind to break out of mutually rein-forcing cycles of poor health, poverty and social exclusion. This policy brief explores disparities in child mortality within and among countries and provides a series of recommendations aimed at ending preventable child deaths and reducing inequalities in child survival in different contexts.