2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Nexus ...€¦ · 2030 Agenda for Sustainable...

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E/ESCWA/SDD/2017/Technical Paper.18

29 December 2017

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Nexus approach:

“Planning and implementation at the national level”

Draft of December 2017

United Nations

Beirut, 2017 ____________________

Note: This document has been reproduced in the form in which it was received, without formal editing.

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Theory of Justice: Citizenship, Public policy and justice:

“in a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are taken as settled. The rights secured by

justice are not subject to political bargaining or to calculus of social interest” John Rawls

“Citizenship as a common identity that transcends particularism and an integrative principle

which corrects the disparities of social order and prevent segregation” Marshall

“Considers that justice is a human construction and could never be fulfilled by a single

procedure” Micheal Walzer

………………………………………………………………

Based on the theory of justice of Rawls, the main principle of justice is fairness. Each person

possess an inviolable rights based on justice, which should not be transgressed in the name of the

common and collective wellbeing. A society is fair when it is not conceived only to favorite the

wellbeing of its members, but when it is bounded also to a certain public conception of justice.

That’s why the justice should play a positive role in the social cooperation and the consolidation

of the social institutions. Social institutions that should have a common acceptance from all

citizens and stakeholders. The cooperation social system that should be built to support the 2030

agenda should be efficient and stable and fair.

Social justice nowadays and based on the philosophy of 2030 agenda and its SDGs, constitutes

the basic structure of the society, which the most important social institutions create positive

balance between the fundamental rights and duties, and play also a role in the distribution of the

advantages produced by the social cooperation. In the economic language, the social justice is

conceived here as an adequate equilibrium between the different stakeholders.

In order to succeed the 2030 agenda on the long-term, we need to build the right and solid social

institutions based on the basic principles for any society. This principles could be built on the

theory of contract, itself built on the rational choice theory that lead an equilibrium between

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rights and duties. But from the theory justice point of view (Rawls), the theory of justice as

fairness is a larger concept of the theory of contract. The conception of “rightness as fairness” is

much larger from the simple constitutional and legal approach of the theory of contract.

The social justice here is conceived as a tool to maximize the common wellbeing, in order to

satisfy the maximum the rational desires of the individuals. We suppose here that all individuals

are free, or that they should be free.

Here there is a dilemma when it comes to development and to its 2030 agenda. The scarcity of

the resources doesn’t allow to any society to tackle on the same time all the social justice

problems related to the social and economic inequalities. These problems must be tackled on a

long-term to compensate the marginalized social groups.

In an ideal world, the social institutions based on the formal justice, should remedy to these

inequalities. The social institutions as a public systems of rules, defined by their rights and duties

functions. It is important to make a clear distinction between the constitutive rules of the

institutions that establish the rights and duties system in one hand and the strategies that identify

the best possible utilities of these institutions in the other hand.

Based on Rawls theory of justice, there are two main principles for justice:

1- Each person has the legal right to the wider system of basic liberties, which is the same

for everybody.

2- The social and economic inequalities must be organized in a way, (a) that we can

reasonably give same advantages to everyone, and (b) and social and economic equality

should be attached to positions and functions opened and accessible to everyone.

Based on the definition, social justice is conceived as equality of chances, built on meritocracy.

A meritocracy that can’t be established unless there is a very strong education system able to

break social and economic determinism. The education here is a social institution that should be

fair and equal specifically for the less advantageous. It is the procedural aspect of the justice. The

inherited inequalities must be corrected and modified. The social and economic inequalities

inherited from the family background as well as the naturel gifts don’t have any merit and should

be compensated.

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ESCWA, Beirut-Lebanon SDGs, Agenda 2030

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I- Introduction

Transforming our world! is the motto of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which

was endorsed by the world leaders in their historic UN Summit held in September 2015 and

officially adopted by the United Nations in January 2016. As part of the 2030 action plan, the

seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will shape international and national

development agendas for the coming 15 years, as in the case of the Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) between 2000 and 2015. If the final MDG Report (2015), and despite successes

and developments in many sectors, many experts still believe that the poorest and most

vulnerable people have been left behind.

Although the 2030 Agenda and its seventeen SDGs are inscribed in a continuity of the MDGs,

and its aim to eradicate poverty in all its forms, they offer a wider and more complex framework.

It is also important to mention the fact that the international development agenda is closely

related to the rest of the UN provided effort and agendas. In addition, this new international

development agenda is closely related to other United Nations’ initiatives. The Sustainable

Development Agenda has been facilitated by the “Rio Process” and the UN Conference on

Environment and Development (UNED 1992), commonly known as the “Earth Summit” as well

as by subsequent events, such as… (WSSD or Rio+10, 2002, or Rio+20 in 2011). In addition,

aspects of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological

Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification are covered either directly or indirectly

by the logical framework of the MDGs and SDGs, and constitute either targets or goals of the

Sustainable Development Agenda.

Nexus Approach Paper

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It is noteworthy to mention that the 2030 Agenda is “explicitly grounded in the […] Universal

Declaration of Human Rights”1 and, as such, SDGs targets, like MDGs, “are closely aligned

with human rights standards.”2 Furthermore, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

adopts a people-based approach and offers a road map for the planet, in order to “strengthen

universal peace in larger freedom.”2

The SDGs and their 169 targets constitute a global agenda based on partnership. Hence,

governments are expected to take ownership of the 2030 Agenda in order to adapt SDGs to their

national contexts and incorporate them in their policies, strategies and plans. Member States are

expected to elaborate the necessary tools for executing national programs and plans, and

assessing their progress.

Given the comprehensive and complex nature of the 2030 Agenda and its seventeen SDGs,

finetuning regional and national strategies is a challenging task for national leaders and policy

makers across the region, especially when it comes to improving coordination between

institutions, organizations and stakeholders. As SDGs are indivisible, they should be understood

and approached holistically in order to guarantee coherence and effectiveness. Therefore, it is

now vital for Member States to understand and maintain the synergy between the different goals

and targets, as well as to take into account best-practices and lessons-learnt from the MDGs era.

Within this context, ESCWA’s Regional Office aims to develop a strategy for the application of

SDGs in the region; this paper will address the challenges of and opportunities for the application

of the SDGs in the national strategies, policies and programs of ESCWA’s Member States. For

this purpose, ESCWA has adopted a Nexus Approach in order to conform to the indivisibility

and complementarity of the SDGs, and to the synergy between them. Three Nexus/Clusters have

been proposed:

1- Poverty Reduction – Decent Employment – Sustainable

Growth.

2- Water – Energy – Food Security. 3- Equality – Inclusion –

Justice.

This Nexus approach must embrace all seventeen Goals and 169 Targets and should be

developed according to the national contexts and institutions of each country. The objective of

the Nexus approach to facilitate the different phases of national strategy and program

development: preparatory, planning, policy elaboration and implementation. The suggested

frame should be flexible and adaptable and take into consideration specific constraints,

limitations and changes before and during implementation.

1 The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Transforming Our World: Human

Rights in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/MDGs/Post2015/TransformingOurWorld.pdf 2

OHCHR, Transforming Our World: Human Rights in the 2030 Agenda. 2 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015 (A/70/L.1), General Assembly, and 21st

October 2015.

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In order to provide guidelines for the application of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs in the region, the

specific objectives of the global paper are the following:

1- To conduct a desk review on the SDGs and Nexus Approach (Available Literature),

essentially covering reports/studies developed by ESCWA. The aim is to build a solid

approach based on existing data and literature.

2- To expand and elaborate on the Nexus Approach and its relevance to the application of

SDGs, with a focus on the Equality-Justice-Inclusion Nexus (EJI).

3- To develop the new Nexus EJI based on the following: a- To create a better understanding

of the interlinkages between the seventeen SDGs, and examine synergies and

complementarities.

b- To highlight the link between the 2030 Agenda and National Development Plans, and

discuss opportunities for contextualizing and applying the Agenda at the national level.

c- To investigate the influence of SDGs on existing national policies, strategies and

programs in the Arab region, specifically, on Lebanon and Jordan.

d- To assess the capacity of ESCWA Member States to develop National, Sub-National

and Sectoral Plans.

e- To suggest avenues and methods for decision makers to build their strategies, plans and

policies based on proposed coordination mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation

tools.

4- To provide recommendations relating the development and implementation of national

plans based on SDGs at the policy and Institutional level, CSO participation form, actors

and stakeholders dynamics, financial resources, etc.

The first section of this report will discuss the historical context and rationale, the applicability of

the Goals and the evolution of MDGs into SDGs; in addition, this section will offer some

theoretical considerations. The third Section will address the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs through

the three proposed Nexus approach in the Arab World with a focus on the EJI Nexus. As for the

fourth and last section, and based on literature review, field visits and in-depth interviews, the

report will lead a comparison between Lebanon and Jordan with the EJI Nexus frame, based on

Laws, Programs and Policies.

The limitations in the report are several. First, the report will build on the existing and available

data and will not produce potentially needed data. Second, the report will offer a review of

existing literature and include in-depth interviews with a number of ESCWA Experts and

Jordanian Stakeholders only. The third limitation is related to the complexity and political

instability of the situation in the Arab countries that doesn’t allow to generalize our findings.

Therefore, attention will be given to the methodology, analytical frameworks, approaches and

tools of the 2030 Agenda. Finally, the current report will offer a road map for future studies on

the regional, national and sub-national levels, as well as on sectoral and inter-sectoral ones. The

report is ambitious and the scope of coverage is limited to the time allocated. A future

consultation will be needed to elaborate more detailed findings based on empirical data and a

national participatory process.

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Section II: From MDGs to SDGs

The United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000 set the basis for the formulation of the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Declaration brought together Member States to

endorse a global strategy for development aimed at reducing extreme poverty and its different

manifestations and adhere to the fundamental values are freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance,

respect for nature and shared responsibility.3 These values set the basis for devising global

development strategies aimed at promoting justice, freedom from poverty, hunger and fear of

violence, gender equality, inclusion, protection of the environment, and economic, social and

human development. The Declaration was endorsed by all member states, who established their

commitment to combat extreme poverty and hunger through devising national strategies,

programmes and policies as well as global partnerships in order to promote gender equality,

health, access to education and protection of the environment.. The declaration aimed “to spare

no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing

conditions of extreme poverty”2 put forward a global plan with eight goals, 21 targets and 60

official indicators targeting different sectors. As such, the MDGs became a vast anti-poverty

movement and the main framework to combat and alleviate the poverty in all its manifestations

and direct consequences across the globe.

Post-cold war debate has been centered on globalization, free-trade agreements, efficient and

liberal markets, democratization and women participation, privatization and minimal state

intervention and on the best strategies to ensure long-term economic growth and shared

prosperity. By the end of the first millennium, global economic indicators showed developments

in new parts of the world, such as in China, India and Latin America. Although global economic

performance was improving, inequality increased and poverty prevailed in many countries. These

social and economic disparities were the main targets of the United Nations and world leaders in

the MDGs plan.

As World Bank and UN reports on MDGs in 2015 have mentioned, the MDGs plan was

successful in reducing extreme poverty worldwide (from 47% in 1990 to 14% in 2015, most of

the progress occurred after 2000). However, poverty is still widespread in some region,

especially in Africa. The number of out-of-school children of primary school age worldwide has

fallen by 43% between 2000 and 2015 (from 100M to 57M), and the literacy rate among youth

(aged between 15 and 24) has also increased from 83% to 91%. When it comes to gender

equality, all indicators have shown a net improvement. More girls are enrolled in school in

primary as well as in secondary school. Women in 2015 constituted 41% of the non-agriculture

labor force with a 35% increase in comparison to 1990. Also, women participation in other

economic sectors, civic society and political life has increased significantly.

Reduction of child and maternal mortality as well as new HIV infections rates have reduced, as

provision of vaccination, prevention of infectious diseases and treatment are now reaching a

larger portion of the global population. There have also been improvements in sources of and

3 United Nations Millennium Declaration, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly A/55/L.2. 2 The Millennium Development Report 2015, p. 3.

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access to drinking water and sanitation. However, disparity across countries and regions and

inequalities between different communities across the globe continue.. Environmental

sustainability has shown an improvement in many of MDG 7’s targets and indicators (Ozone,

nature, drinking water and sanitation, and percentage of people living in slums). Finally, global

partnership for development has increased its contribution by 66% between 2000 and 2014 (from

81 USD billions to 135 billions), which constitutes the eighth and last goal of the MDGs.

Despite these improvements, poverty, disparities and inequality across countries and regions and

between rural and urban continue. The MDGs process tended to bypass some categories, such as

women and other disadvantaged social categories. There is still a long way towards achieving

total poverty eradication.

At the institutional level, commitment to MDGs has demonstrated that main stakeholders know

what to do and how to do it. However, further progress will require more serious political will

and commitment and collective long term efforts in order to Leave No One Behind (LNOB). The

lessons learned have marked the MDGs process. The situation of groups that were unable to

overcome poverty continues to be fragile due to factors like economic shock, food insecurity,

war and climate change. One of the lessons learned under Goal 2(Education) is that in order to

achieve universal primary and secondary education, MDGs should be able to tailor its targets

according to the needs of specific vulnerable groups, such as the poor, minorities, disabled,

women and people with special needs. Despite all progress within a 15 years period, MDGs

process did not overcome challenges in the same sectoral approach. Based on the lessons

learned, there was a need for a shift from an “anti-poverty” approach to a “sustainable

development” approach, following a more holistic and integrated planning and implementation

method.

OVERALL AIM OF THE SDGS: “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promote human dignity and prosperity while safeguarding the Earth’s vital biophysical processes and ecosystem services. They recognize that ending poverty and inequality must go hand-in-hand with strategies that support sustainable economic growth, peace and justice; address fundamental social needs, including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities; and do all this while also tackling climate change and enhancing environmental protection”.

In the 2030 Agenda (Transforming our World), it is clear that the shift from the MDGs to the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enriched the debate on the interrelation and

interconnectivity between multiple sectors and policies that are covered in the goals. This would

later be known as the Nexus approach. In the context of the 2008 global financial and economic

crisis, the 2030 Agenda now tackles the world in its complexity by taking on a multi- and

crosssectoral development approach, as indicated by its vision, principles and commitments.

People remained the focus of the 17 SDGs, but the discourse has paid more attention to the

planet and environmental issues, prosperity, war and peace and global partnership. For the first

time, discussions on “systemic issues” highlight challenges related to the application of SDGs

and Targets, and the necessary means of implementation to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

Hence, many SDGs remained partially sectoral in their approach; therefore, it is necessary to

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develop a implementation frameworks that factor in the interdependence among SDGs. This new

approach, which we will refer to as the Nexus approach, requires that policies, strategies, reforms

and plans integrate SDGs by establishing a different set of institutions and good governance.

Continuing to adhere to the MDGs’ sectoral approach has been so far perceived as suitable for

implementation and monitoring by decision makers, government institutions and civil society

members. However, it is argued that such an approach is likely to fail to take into account the

interconnectedness of the SDGs, as the goals of a policy or strategy in a certain sector might

hinder the achievement of another sector’s strategic goals.4 Guarantees

The indivisibility of the SDGs as well as the shift toward long-term sustainable development,

have added a new set of difficulties to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The 2030 Agenda

has sparked a debate over what methods of implementation within the Nexus approach will

facilitate the cross-sectoral institutionalization of the SDGs. This science-policy dialogue should

be built on objective norms and pertinent criteria, in order to justify the trade-off and synergy

between goals and targets. Therefore, clear standard indicators, sustainable statistical data

collection tools and solid and reliable data are essential prerequisites; these will pave the way

towards a rigorous, methodologically coherent and statistically robust Nexus Approach. The

interconnectedness between the SDGs and the Nexus Approach is the main feature that

differentiates the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from that of the

MDGs.

MDGs/SDGs in the Arab World context:

The indivisibility and universal character of the SDGs should be endorsed by all countries (low,

middle and high income countries). The SDGs along with the new Nexus Approach provide an

integrated approach to development, which should be adapted to the national context and its

institutional configuration, resources and political constraints. In the Arab region, where

development in many countries is affected by conflict, fragmentation, institutional failures, weak

governments and lack of reliable data, contextualizing and adapting SDGs in the process of

formulating national strategies and policies constitute a major challenge toward achieving the

2030 Agenda.

At the global level, the process of monitoring the application MDGs in the past 15 years showed

that further and more reliable data accompanied by increased resources and strong political

commitment are indispensable elements of the development agenda.5 Although figures show that

the number of people living in extreme poverty has dropped by more than half,5 poverty,

economic deprivation and limited access to basic needs still are the biggest predicaments of the

new decade. In the Arab region, there have been developments in many MDGs in the health and

4 Howells (2013) [full reference needed]. 5 The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015, p. 10-13. 5

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015, p.15.

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education sectors,6 namely, female enrolment in education, and a general increase in literary and

primary school enrolment. However, poverty has increased due to political instability and

conflict, which have reversed progress and negatively affected achievements in other MDG

targets, such as maternal and child mortality, food security, and water and sanitation,7 especially

in rural areas. Although poverty is relatively low in the region, with extreme poverty incidence

estimated at 7.4 percent in 2012,8 UNDP, the League of Arab Nations and data collected by

ESCWA indicated that the 2015 MDG target was unlikely to be achieved.9 Arab countries face

great challenges in achieving all seventeen SDGs; therefore governments “must recognize that

absolute poverty is only one dimension of the problem”10 and that policies, national strategies

and programs should take into consideration the multidimensional character of poverty, and the

relationship between poverty, hunger and social exclusion. Also, accomplishing the 17 SDGs

will be a difficult task for Arab states; this is why there needs to be recognition of the challenges

faced by existing institutional frameworks and reform aimed at creating efficient institutions,

fostering rule of law and inclusive decision-making, and promoting access to justice and equal

opportunities.11

In Lebanon, recent national strategies, policies and programs reflect the country’s commitment to

fostering sustainable development and combatting extreme poverty. However, lack of reliable

and up-to-date data makes measuring poverty levels an extremely challenging task. According to

a 2008 study conducted by Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs and United Nations

Development Program (UNDP), “the share of households that have unsatisfied basic needs

accounted for 29.7 percent of total households (30.9 percent of the population). Out of these, 4.4

percent of households lived in extreme deprivation i.e. very low satisfaction of basic needs (3.9

percent of the population).”12 In recent years, however, these figures have changed dramatically,

as poverty levels in Lebanon have increased due to the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis, as the

6 United Nations and League of Arab States, The Arab Millennium Development Goals Report: Facing Challenges and Looking Beyond 2015. 7 MDG Monitor, “Category: MDG progress of the Arab States.” http://www.mdgmonitor.org/mdg-

progress/mdgprogress-arab-states/ 8 Assessment of poverty is based on the international poverty line of 1.25 dollar per day. However, the report also argues that “inequality in human deprivation has received far less attention than income inequality. Considering the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) at the subnational level gives some indication: there is a close correlation between urban and rural MPI, but the relationship varies across countries, depending on their income levels.” See United Nations and League of Arab States, The Arab Millennium Development Goals Report: Facing Challenges and Looking Beyond 2015, p. 6. 9 United Nations and League of Arab States, The Arab Millennium Development Goals Report: Facing Challenges and

Looking Beyond 2015, p. 3. 10 Adel Abdel Ghafar and Firas Masri, “The Persistence of Poverty in the Arab world,” Brookings Institute, February

28, 2016. 11 United Nations, “Identifying Social Inclusion and Exclusion.” In Leaving No One Behind,” p. 17.

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/2016/chapter1.pdf 12 United Nations, Lebanon Millennium Development Goals Report 2013-2014, p. 21.

http://www.un.org.lb/Library/Assets/2013-2014-Millenium-Development-Goals-Lebanon-Report.pdf

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country is host of 1,001,051 Syrian refugees registered with the UNHCR.13 There is a shortage in

access to work, livelihoods, education and services, such as primary health care, as well as lack

of decent living conditions and protection, especially among vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian

women and children. The World Health Organization reports that “Syrian refugees are, for the

most part, sheltered among the poorest communities of Lebanon, sharing scarce resources with

many Lebanese who live below the poverty line (85% of registered refugees are living in 182

locations in which 67% of the host population is living below the poverty line according to

preliminary UNICEF data). This situation is causing increasing tensions.”14 In addition to the

situation of the Syrian community in Lebanon, the Lebanese Government “estimates that 1.2

million Lebanese nationals are directly or indirectly affected by the crisis.”15 This means that

there is currently an increased demand for services, as well as growing tensions and competition

over services and jobs between the Lebanese and refugee communities. Vulnerable Lebanese and

Syrian refugees often seek services provided by the government, which are generally

overburdened by increasing demand for work and social services, such as primary health and

education.

Jordan also committed to achieve all eight Millennial Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.16

According to UNDP, “the first National MDG report was released in 2004 and made an effective

contribution to the country’s policy-making as the goals, targets and indicators were adapted and

aligned with national plans and development priorities”17 in Jordan and some MDGs were

accomplished (MDG 2). It is observed that developments in the achievement of some sectors,

such as education, where MDGs “were translated into executive programs with direct impact,

wider coverage for the targeted groups and sustainable funding.”18 However, Jordan faces great

challenges due to the impact of global economic crisis, high unemployment rates and conflict in

the region. According to the World Bank, “14.4 percent of the population in Jordan lived in

poverty during 2010,”19 and 18.6 of the population experienced transient poverty. The World

Bank also recently reported that “unemployment reached an historical high of 15.3 percent in

2016.”19 Jordan is currently host to 655,000 Syrian refugees and, hence, continues to be affected

13 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Website. “Syria Regional Refugee Response.” Last

updated: June 30, 2017. http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=122 14 WHO, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean (WHO-EMRO), “Improving health care services in Lebanon in the

context of the Syrian crisis: the EU/IfS Programme.” 2017.

http://www.emro.who.int/pdf/lbn/lebanonnews/improving-health-care-services-in-lebanon-in-the-context-of-

the-syrian-crisis.pdf?ua=1 15 WHO, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean (WHO-EMRO), “Improving health care services in Lebanon in the

context of the Syrian crisis: the EU/IfS Programme,” 2017. 16 UNDP, “Integrating MDGs within National Priorities.”

http://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/post2015/mdgoverview.html

17 UNDP, “Integrating MDGs within National Priorities.”

http://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/post2015/mdgoverview.html 18 Mutasim Al-Kilani, Chief Sustainable Development Ministry of Planning, Sustainable Development in JORDAN,

May 2015. United Nations. 19 The World Bank, “Jordan’s Economic Outlook - April 2017.” 19 Jordan Economic Monitor, “Moderate

economic activity with significant downside risk,” Fall 2013, p. 18.

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by the Syrian refugee crisis and high levels of unemployment; these indicate that there is a high

risk of an vulnerability and poverty among host and refugee communities. Therefore, promoting

job creation and strengthening policies and programs aimed at alleviating poverty and

unemployment remain some of the main challenges in Jordan’s efforts to implement the 2030

Agenda and achieve SDGs.

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Section III: Nexus Approach, what is the best methodology?

2030 Agenda and Institutional challenges:

The 2030 agenda is one and indivisible. Its goals and targets must be approached

holistically. The close synergies between SDGs pose a major challenge to decision-

makers in planning strategies, policies and programs. The holistic approach is a

difficult exercise for policy and decision makers, especially in today’s global societies

where technology plays an important role in social & economic field.

In global and complex societies, where people are no easily sacrificed for an order that

transcend them (Chartounie), and where individual and collective behavior are most of

the time unpredictable, shaping strategies and policies is becoming an extremely

difficult task. One of the major sources of political and economic difficulty is the fact

that policy and strategies are conceived by a centralized, highly bureaucratic states

where the national and local problems are diverse and fragmented. The level of

uncertainty in any long-term planning process affects the success and achievement of

expected outcomes of strategies and public policies.

Although the level of informality is very high, individuals have become more

dependent in their everyday lives on the State and bureaucracy when it comes to

services. The idea of the welfare State that plays a major role in building organic

solidarities, providing public goods, reducing inequalities through the redistribution

and subsidies has become the inspiration for a large part of the population. Synergy

According to the 2030 Agenda’s values and principles, democracy and participation

are crucial to the achievement of SDGs.. The moral, social and civic dimensions of a

functioning democratic system are essential for supporting and accelerating any

development process. If the moral and social dimensions are more comprehensive, the

civic dimension remains vague yet. Yet, the central government itself will not be able

in the future to respond alone to all the society needs and challenges unless citizens are

part of the planning and implementation processes. Although the governmental

institutions and organizations must complement each other in the 2030 Agenda’s

implementation, still a smart and adequate decentralization of power and competences

can provide major complement for the SDGs road map and communities’

empowerment. Although governmental institutions are required to work together in the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda and adaptation of SDGs to national and regional

contexts, adequate decentralization is necessary in order to empower the community

and increase citizen participation in the process of achieving all SDGs. Decentralizing

decision-making powers, transferring competencies, building partnerships and creating

complementarities between all stakeholders are essential for promoting civic

involvement and widening the scope for civic society participation. Development

should be enforced by democracy; “there is no democracy without power limitation

and there is no democracy also without the search for the good life” (Touraine Alain,

1994). Good life isn’t reachable without sustained development. In this sense,

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development goes in parallel with democracy and citizen’s empowerment through their

local authorities and CSOs.

Therefore, development process should be participative, representative and

communicative in order to assure optimal outcomes and results. Hence, civil society

movement is the cornerstone of any development process and should supplement and

not supersede the political and institutional system. Civil society organizations (CSOs)

should contribute to democratic participation at all levels by promoting human rights

within the public sphere, and by contributing to the accountability and transparency

processes.

Hence, in order to increase chances of success in implementing the 2030 Agenda,

governments should empower citizens and communities by pushing control out of its

bureaucratic machine focusing on outcomes rather than only on inputs. Generally,

governments have centralized bureaucracies with very complex systems of rules and

regulations, and rigid chains of command. Therefore, most of the time government

interventions are totally or partially disconnected from the needs of the knowledge-

intensive society from one side, as well as of the needs of the informal sectors.

In this paper, the policy & strategy development will be approached taking into

consideration both democratic participation patterns: the individuals’ participation and

community-based participation. The first one is based on human and civil rights

oriented liberalism, while the second is based on direct democratization movement at

the local level. This approach takes into consideration a myriad of situations in specific

to the Arab world, such as the interaction between traditional and modern trends,

disparity between rural and urban areas, and the imbalance between formal and

informal systems. There is a need for a better understanding of both national and local

dynamics. The social and cultural structures should be in coherence with the

development imperatives. Any lack in participation, communication and transparency

may lead to reverse results of the development process, and may also create identity

crispation and brutal resistance on the local levels. At the same time, social and

cultural particularism within each national frame should be respected, but also

transcended through integrative principles and values, in order to build a common

ground and vision for sustainable development. These principles and values must be

inclusive and able to address disparities and social inequalities, prevent segregation

and social fragmentation, and strengthen national social cohesion.

2030 Agenda: The best interaction between the central government and the rest of the

stakeholders

- To shift from rigid, standardized policies to flexible and customized frameworks.

- To combine vertical integrated cooperation with horizontal networks and

collaboration.

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- To expand decentralization patterns and increase flexibility in planning and

implementation.

- To define the relationship between the local and national levels on the one hand,

as well as the relationship between national, regional and international levels on

the other.

Although the 2030 Agenda tackles long-term, equal and sustained economic growth

versus exponential growth, and promotes self-sustaining development paths, there is no

clear methodology that integrates all 17 goals and their targets in a holistic manner

capable to address all opportunities for and obstacles to sustainable development at the

regional and national levels.

SDGs: Nexus approach, indivisible agenda and policy coherence:

The Latin term “nexus” denotes the act of binding things together or making links

between different things. The term nexus was introduced for the first time during the

1980s by the UN University FoodEnergy Nexus programme, (Sachs and Silk 1990),

and gained more importance in the Bonn2011 Nexus Conference on the “Water,

Energy and Food Security Nexus.” The Nexus approach holds that integrating

“management and governance across sectors and scales,” reducing trade-offs and

building synergies, promote overall sustainability and a transition to green economy

(Hoff 2011).

While the Nexus approach has been increasingly used by UN agencies since 2015 to

consider the 17 SDGs with coherence and following a holistic approach, there is no

consensus on the most suitable and effective methodology for integrating SDGs into

regional and national strategies; however, some serious contributions have been made

so far. The interaction between SDGs has become a key element in the implementation

of the 2030 agenda, due to the implications it has on the effectiveness of these

objectives and on the prioritization model. Most of the countries are facing difficulties

in elaborating their own strategies and policies, and have so far ended up focusing on

procedure and institutional arrangements (UN 2016b), rather than focusing on

integrating SDGs into national agendas.

In the following section, a complement of theories and approaches will be added to the

Nexus approach, in order to enrich it, mainly based on the contribution of the

“Systemic approach” in this field. If the nexus approach focus on the

interconnectedness between goals/targets to build synergy and priorities, the systemic

approach focus more on the context and its institutions, actors and social structures.

Hence, in this paper we will look at the three clusters of the Nexus approach:

https://www.water-energy-food.org/about/bonn2011-conference/




17


1- Poverty reduction – decent employment –

sustainable growth.

2- Water – Energy – food security. 3- Equality –

inclusion – justice.

We will mainly focus on the third cluster, the EIJ Nexus, based on UN literature

mainly. But in order to strengthen the methodology, the paper will present some

additional approaches that might complement and reinforce the applicability of the

Nexus Approach in regional and national strategy planning and implementation. We

recognize that there are some limitations in applying the Nexus approach on the first

and third clusters because of their broad thematic nature, which are more normative

rather than relatively positive sectors, unlike water, energy and food security Nexus.

The Nexus Approach is supposed to facilitate the process of shaping policies, plans

and strategies, actions and interventions. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this paper is to

highlight the coherence between the 2030 Agenda’s goals, in order to simplify these

and their synergies to the benefit of regional and national planning and

implementation.

Hence, coherence is a keyword and an underlying objective of the Nexus Approach.

Coherence as defined by Nilson (2012) is “an attribute of policy that systematically

reduces conflicts and promotes synergies between and within different policy areas to

achieve the outcomes associated with jointly agreed policy objectives.” It is a

significant challenge to create and preserve policy coherence, while the 17 SDGs and

their 169 associated targets are individual goals, and while there is room for

interpretation and contextualization at the national level. Therefore, part of the

challenge is empirical, and enough effort should be given to produce sustainable and

long-term data in order to measure the relationships, causalities, correlations, as well as

horizontal and vertical interactions between different SDGs. The policy coherence

levels could be summarize based on the following coherence levels:

1- Sectoral coherence

2- Transnational coherence

3- Governance coherence

4- Multi-level coherence

5- And implementation coherence

In the context of the SDGS, there is a tendency to adopt a homeostatic approach,

which is based on the ability of the different stakeholders to behave cooperatively to

produce a desired results based on the goals and targets already settled. This most of

the time could be counterproductive if stakeholders do not incorporate the different

dimensions and complexity of the society. Sometimes, in order to reach the fixed

targets, we may go through a non-linear, counter-intuitive and gradual process. The

nexus approach should not be transformed into a pure technical quantitative approach,

18


which might allow decisionmakers to tradeoff between targets. The Nexus Approach

should and must be accompanied by a methodology that takes into account the

systemic challenges, uncertainty of the future and supra-national constraints. All these

aspects should be clear, so as to enable the appropriate space for policy dialogue and

implementation of the 2030 Agenda, before the latter is translated into fiscal and cross-

sectoral policies.

In the discussion below, some theories are presented that contributes in drawing a

framework for the Nexus Approach methodology. The theories will be surveyed

briefly, highlighting their main arguments and gaps, and we will make the case for the

Analytical and Systemic approach, which will be discussed at the end of this

subsection.

SDGs & Nexus approach, an on-going construction:

Based on previous discussion on the different theories, the Nexus Approach is both a

matter of clustering SDGs based on their interaction and complementarity, and an axis

upon which states should build policies and strategies. Literature on the Nexus

Approach shows that the debate revolves around the ways different targets interact

with each other. This is based on empirical exercises that differ from a context to

another. It presents an approach to assessing systemic and contextual interactions of

SDG targets, using a typology for scoring interactions in a cross-impact matrix and

using network analysis techniques to explore the data (Nina Weitz, Henrik Carlsen,

Mans Nilson and Kristian Skanberg- IR3S, 2017). Understanding the different

interactions between Goals and Targets is an unprecedented challenge, because it

requires binary information on the one hand, and a holistic approach when treating the

SDGs on the other. A lot of effort must be exerted into addressing the scientific gaps in

this field.

Though, there are many quantitative methods that could be applied to the SDGs (like

cumulative effects assessment, multi-criteria decision analysis, etc.), empirical research

that explain the SDGs interactions and their policy implications still very limited. This

limitation could threat the 2030 agenda implementation on two levels:

• By ending up working on some specific policy areas, through focusing on SDGs

(Goals and Targets) as entry point. While we should deal with SDGs as one and

indivisible agenda.

• By being unable to contextualize the SDGs interactions: Specific institutional

arrangement, governance, technology paradigm, social structures, etc.

The nexus approach should not be limited only to the dichotomy trade-off/synergy of

the goals and targets; rather, a more elaborated models should be devised. For

example, Weitz et al. (2014) as well as

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Coopman/UNESCO (2016) applied three levels of interactions between goals and

targets in their analysis:

a- The interdependence

b- Imposing conditions

or constraints c- And

reinforcing

As Nilson et al. and ICSU (2016) adopted a seven-point typology of interaction with a

grading system for each SDG area:

Nb Interaction Description Grade

1 Cancelling makes it impossible to reach another goal -3

2 Counteracting Clashes with another goal -2

3 Constraining Limits options on another goal -1

4 Consistent No significant positive or negative interactions 0

5 Enabling Creates conditions that further another goal +1

6 Reinforcing Aids the achievement of another goal +2

7 Indivisible: Inextricably limited to the achievement of another goal +3

Cross-impact matrix:

In this method the analysis is done at the level of targets, not at goal level. Since targets

are more specific and their interaction is contextual and so easily comprehensive. In

this method, and based on the national vision, we choose the most relevant (data

availability, relevant to the actors) two or three targets per goal in order to analyze their

interactions. This method could adopt Nilsson et al. (2016) typology of interactions

ranging that have been previously mentioned. (annex)

The cross-impact matrix allows to have a more comprehensive view of the 2030

agenda. Because, we didn’t select in advance a certain focus area as an entry point, but

we built our analysis on how the selected targets interact with each other. This method

is totally different from the most common way that explore one-to-one interactions

from one sector to others, without being able to understand the complexity of the whole

system.

Still this method is not completely quantitative, because the targets interactions to be

scored need to be judged. The scoring remains a qualitative and judgmental based on a

variety of strategies, criteria, purpose, resources, legal frame, etc.

20


If some patterns of interactions are possible to be discerned based on the cross-impact

matrix, the capacity to understand more in-depth the systemic properties of interactions

may need more sophisticated methodology and techniques brought from the network

theory.

Network theory:

The network is a structure consisting of a set of nodes and links. A methodology that

has become more used in analyzing systems (biological, food, social, technological,

information, etc.).

To build our network model we need to translate the cross-impact matrix to nodes and

links, based on the direction, strength of interaction, positive/negative interaction.

The translation of the cross-impact matrix into network will create a visualized model

that simplify the debate on the complexity of the SDGs interaction.

The analytical aspect of the network could be very complex too, by elaborating more

nuances influences of the network and sub-network based on the negative/positive links

and their density, as well as the weight of the nodes and influences. By analyzing the

network, which constitutes the complexity of the system, based on the first, second and

third order network, it is possible to depict the systemic impact, the strong positive

connections, on which we can assume that a Nexus in this area could have a multiplier

effect. (annex)

Analytical and systemic approach:

Both approaches complement each other’s though they are not the same. If the

analytical approach deconstruct the system to its elementary components so a better

understanding could be delivered on the interaction that exist between them; the

systemic approach address the highly complex systems where the diversity of elements

and density of interactions between them are very complex. The systemic approach

analyze the systems in their totalities and complexities, by understanding their

dynamics and their impacts and mutation over time.

Therefore, the systemic approach could embrace all the above concepts (Utility

paradigm, theories of change, institutional analysis, level of interventions, and the

stakeholders map and mode of interactions) and provide an advanced understanding in

order to build policies and strategies for each SDGs Nexus.

21


If the nexus is an approach to cluster goals and targets, by justifying complementarities

and interconnections between them, in order to synergize and prioritize, the systemic

approach is all this in addition to the procedure that follows and related to the

elaboration of policies and strategies in harmony with each country context.

Systemic approach is strongly related to the context, which take into consideration the

following dependency:

1- Directionality of any policy and strategy of development.

2- Place and level specific dependency.

3- Governance and institutional dependency.

4- Technology and technical dependency.

5- Time frame dependency.

Systemic, systems, system dynamics, systemic analysis, systematic, cybernetic,

synergetic, complex, etc. many terms belonging to the same semantic field, which is

the systemic approach. There is too much confusion around these notions. The

systemic approach most of the time is confused with the tools used it is methodology.

The vocabulary used contributes also to the confusion.

The systemic approach is still new and in need to be elaborated though that has already

contributed positively to the scientific research. The notoriety of the systemic approach

comes from its transversal and interdisciplinary aspect. The first generation of the

systemic approach was built on an advanced quantitative modeling, hence the second

generation is more focused on the system thinking and more analytical and qualitative.

The naissance of the systemic approach is intrinsically related in the XX century to the

“thinking” of the “complexity” notion (Complexity of the cosmos, human being

organism, human societies, and artificial systems as firms, technical and economic

innovation). The globalization phenomenon of financial, cultural, and commercial

exchange has increased the weight of such complexity. Becoming more aware of the

world complexity and the limitation somehow of the classical approaches to discern it,

have pushed to have a better understanding of the “complexity” and on how influence

can be exercised on that “complexity”. The origin of the systemic approach came from

the fields of math, neurophysiology and biology. That’s why the systemic approach

could be perceived as a scientific paradigm, as well as an operational method or an

intellectual approach.

If the Cartesian methodology were able to discern the stable system and its limited

linear interactions (able to be translated into mathematical laws), nowadays it is not

sufficient to understand the complexity of the big existing systems. The systemic

approach has been evolved as an approach capable to tackle the new realities of the

systems, and their instable aspect, exposure, fluctuation, chaos, disorder, volatility,

22


contradiction, ambiguity, paradox, and continuous innovation. All these aspect

previously considered as a none-scientific by the positivism. As Albert Einstein used to

say: “if we don’t change our thinking pattern, we won’t be capable to solve the

problems we are creating with our actual thinking pattern”.

The systemic approach has started mainly in USA during the 1950th and has been

applied to many domain such biology, ecology, economy, firm and organizations,

urbanism, territorial development, etc. it is based on a concrete understanding of the

numerous concepts such: systems, interactions, retroactions, regulations, organizations,

finality, global vision, evolution, etc. Most of the time the systemic approach take form

through modeling, by usually using graphical language to express qualitative model,

quantitative and dynamic models. That’s why, this approach is built on a learning

process of concepts and practices by all actors (researchers, decision makers,

professionals, stakeholders, politicians, citizens, etc.). The systemic approach combine

knowledge & practice, in parallel to the Greek philosophy, where the plutonian

conception of the world has been based on the theory of ideation, in contradiction to

the Aristotelian conception defending the priority of the experience in knowledge

access.

Systemic /

Knowledge

4 basic concepts: Globality, complexity, interaction and

systems

other concepts: variety, finality, information, level

of organization, retroaction, regulation,

responsiveness, black box, etc.

Systemic / Practice

Prudent approach

tools: triangulation, analogy, categorization,

graphical language........... leading to modeling and

simulation.

Learning: alterning concepts/practice,

gradually progress, prudent conclusions, etc.

23


A definition of the systemic approach: new discipline grouping many theories,

practices and methodologies, relative to the study of complex systems, that causes

frontiers problems, interactions, structural, pattern and laws, observation mode,

representation, complex modeling and simulation. l' AFSCET (Association Française

des Sciences des Systèmes Cybernétiques, Cognitifs et Techniques)

The systemic approach as a knowledge:

System: etymologically, the system comes from the Greek word Sustema, meaning

coherent ensemble. Lesourne define the system as a group of elements in dynamic

interaction. As Joel de Rosnay define the system as a group of elements in dynamic

interaction, organized based on objective function. The last definition put the light of

the finality of the systems.

Many typology could be presented:

Opened systems/closed systems, Natural/artificial social systems, hierarchical/network

systems, symbolic systems, etc.

- A system has activities, exchange information with its environment and capable

to preserve its identity for a certain finality (Self-organization property).

- A system is homeostat, which has tendency to reproduce with the same

properties.

- A system is arborescent (Tree-like), links the sub-component based on logical

order of complexity. Each sub-component is a sub-system, which could be an

independent system. (The principle of recursive, systems construction).

- The value sum of a system is greater than the sum of the sub-component (The

suboptimization). Optimizing the outcome for a subsystem will in general not

optimize the outcome for the system as a whole. This intrinsic difficulty may

complexity interaction

gloablity system

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degenerate into the "tragedy of the commons": the exhaustion of shared

resources because of competition between the subsystems.

- A multi-agent system finds its equilibrium based on the Cournot-Nash

principle, which is a sub-optimal equilibrium, in which none of the actors or

agents know the strategy of the others, hence none of these agents and actors

are able to optimize their own strategies.

- A system could have an ergodic behavior, means predictable. Or none-ergodic.

Globality: it is one of the propriety of the complex systems. Here the final sum exceeds

the sum of the parties. This globality explains the interdependence and the coherence

of the system. Means problems are tackled progressively and not sequentially through

a global vision in order to have a better understanding of the details, and through

iterations and backward movement to modify and improve.

L'information : this concept comes from the cybernetic and previous to the systemic

approach. The information plays a major and permanent role in the exchanges within

the system. There is a distinction between the channeled information (simple flow) and

structured information (embedded to system memory as DNA in the cell).

Retroaction : feed-back and auto-correction

Diachronique and synchronique

The systemic approach as a method (practice or experiment):

This approach goes through different steps: observation of the system by many actors,

analyzing the interactions and regulation patterns, modeling based on a learning and

evolving process, simulation and confrontation with the reality, in order to reach a

consensus.

Tools:

1- Systemic

triangulation

: a-

Historical

aspect b-

Functional

aspect c-

Structural

aspect

25


2- Decoupage

scientific

Complement theories and approaches:

1- The utility paradigm, the economic theory and its exponential growth must be

addressed carefully in the Arab countries (oil and none oil countries). First of all,

because in most of these countries, the informal economy is a significant reality

and though fiscal and monetary policies are not sufficient themselves to generate

the expected results. The fiscal and monetary policy should find a policy space

for the 2030 development agenda on the long-term, in order to avoid to increase

the crony capitalism aspect and decrease all kinds of disparities. The rent-seeking

model of some Arab-countries reduce economic efficiency, widen social

disparities, reduce government taxes collection and weaken the social cohesion.

Therefore, a policy coherence should find a balance between the

Observation

systemic investigation

Qualitative modeling

Dynamic and Quantitaive dynamics

Simulation

26


macroeconomics policy and the cross-sectoral policies related to the 2030

Agenda. In another world, the fiscal and monetary policy should not aim only to

increase the GDP quantitatively but also qualitatively, through a redistributive,

sustained and fair policies. The nexus approach, when it needs to tackle this

issue, should trade-off between different patterns of subsidies, money transfer

mechanisms and investments. Though, the 2030 Agenda tackle the issue of

economic growth, but it talks about sustained growth, generating jobs and its

outcomes are fairly distributed. Therefore, the national economic and social

policies should not continue doing business as usual, but they should integrate

the imperatives of the SDGs in their priorities on the level of planning, resources

allocation and implementation tools. As Veblen (Alternative theories of

Economic Development) suggests, knowledge exists on two different levels.

Highly abstract and esoteric, which carries much prestige but bring too little into

practice. As, in the other hand, there is the exoteric knowledge, which is very

useful knowledge, based on facts and people experience. When it comes to SDGs

and Nexus related to economic and social development, we do believe that

participation, empirical data, CSOs and field studies should led progressively to

the practical knowledge.

2- Social Change Theories: there are several theories that have tried to explain the

social change. We can put them into two main categories. The first category

related to the “direction” of change and contains the evolutionary and cyclical

social change theories. The second is category is related to the “causation” of the

change, and contains Economic theory of change, conflict and technological

theories of change. In the second category, there is two sub-categories: one

explaining the change by the endogenous factors, as the second explaining it

through the exogenous factors.

Though there are many differences between one category and another, the

methodology should keep away any dogmatic approach and adopt instead an

eclectic one depending on the target, Nexus and the policy. The SDGs nexus

approach is an evolutionary one, and in the same time cyclical, because 2030

Agenda is aware of the potential crisis and disasters that may occur in any

country, and the agenda has integrated the notion of “resilience” to face these

ups and downs. Also, the 2030 agenda admit the importance of the economy

and sustained growth through reclaiming to provide public goods, build

infrastructure and create jobs. In addition to the Economic factors, the 2030

agenda believe strongly in innovation, scientific research and education, which

lead toward technological innovation. Finally, the conflict theory of social

change is indirectly embedded in the spirit of the SDGs, where the agenda give

importance to the peace consolidation, civil peace and conflict resolution and

the importance also of the participation that lead to pacification and

stabilization.

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In order to conclude about some key issues in the social change theory, the

paper emphasis on the multidisciplinary aspect in dealing with the nexus

approach and SDGs. Having better understanding about the social, political,

economic and cultural dynamics will strongly facilitate shaping better plans

and strategies. Therefore, below some concepts supporting our methodology:

a- Endogenous and exogenous factors that play role in elaborating strategies

and plans.

b- The “direction” and “causation” of the change could be translated into the

“synchronic” and “diachronic” planning phases in any future strategies and

policies. c- The “heterogeneous” aspects are the characteristics of any modern

society. Therefore, any policy and strategy, should be able to deal with this

complexity.

d- The multi-disciplinary approach in consolidating a nexus as well as in the

elaboration of strategies and policies.

3- The Institutional analysis: the myriad of the situation in the Arab countries are

reflected by the myriad of institutional configuration proper to each society and

its own history. Studying the “Institutions” is part of the social sciences (Law,

political sciences, economy, sociology, anthropology, history and philosophy).

The institutional analysis try to understand the structures and the mechanisms of

each social order, according to the formal rules and law from one side, and to the

informal rules (norms). The institutional approach deal with “how” and “why”

individuals and groups build institutions, how institutions function and interact

with each other’s. In the Arab countries, studying institutional arrangement is

very rich and challenging, because of the multitude of Typology of institutional

settings depending on the country (Monarchy, republic, constitutional

Monarchy, war-transitional countries, etc.). For each nexus, there is a set of

institutions that should treated in order to facilitate the achievements of the

SDGs.

4- Le level of intervention: though the dichotomy of National/Local is part of the

development literature, which brings us to the problematic of

centralized/decentralized government and public administration. The economists

have a tendency to go Macro and tackle the national topics, as the sociologist

and anthropologist have a tendency to go local. The today “going local” (Merilee

S. Grindle) is becoming a rhetoric in all the development literature, and

decentralization promise for a better governance and deeper democracy through

the local community engagement is foresting. Hence, based on many case study,

going local can face unanticipated problems and may not lead to the

expectations. Going local and power decentralization means not only more

responsibilities and complexity, but also a change in the relationship dynamics

that may intensify the local political competition. Any precipitation toward

28


immature decentralization, without the modernization of the public sector and

empowering the civil society, may lead to inefficiency and unproductivity.

Concerning the level of intervention also, going local means most of the time

going toward small communities (neighborhood, villages and small towns). It

is a misleading “level”. The local level should not be resumed to the smaller

entity in the society. The “local” must be bigger enough to embrace the

minimum potentials in order to synergize and leveraging in any development

process (demography, geography and natural resources, market size, factors

complementarity, etc.). Also in this section, we do believe that the dichotomy

of National/local should integrate a third aspect which is the “Meso” level. This

intermediate level that has a total different logic. If most of the time the Micro

level self-adapt to the macro level and vis-versa, the meso level could influence

both the micro and macro level. In our Arab case, the meso level is either the

regions or the big cities. Knowing the demographic trends In the Arab World

and the rapid urbanization, we do believe that any SDGs nexus should have an

“urban mainstreaming”.

5- Multi-agent context (stakeholders), complexity of interactions and

cooperative games: In most of the time, SDGs and 2030 agenda will face a

significant resistance, based on the existing contradictory interest of a large

number of stakeholders, groups and communities. The result lead to a status-quo

as a result of a zero-sum game (game theory) where no one loose or gain. If the

institutional arrangement and policies don’t take into consideration the

stakeholders dynamics (conflicts, common interest, etc.) no progress could be

achieved. In a development context, policy and strategies, should promote

cooperation instead of competition, sharing experience instead of hidden

information tactics, self-organization and complementarities instead of

fragmentation and divisions. Hence the nexus approach should incorporate this

dimension as a key issue toward the harmonization of the different actions and

projects during the implementation.

Hence, a cooperative game is when stakeholders are committed to work

together, a commitment enforced externally by a third party institution. In our

case, where the horizontal and local cooperation is very important in the

development process, the State and donors should create incentives for a higher

level of cooperation and coalitions between the different stakeholders.

Relating to orthogenesis, evolutionary process in which a character is changed

in steps in the same direction. The cognitive paradigm arises from the technical

separation between codified communication processes and pragmatic

communication process. « Codified or syntactic communication»: It consists of

transmitting information in a context characterized by the existence of a

predetermined code and shared between sender and recipient. In this case, the

29


significance of a signal (information) is equivalent for the sender and for the

recipient.

« Dialogic communication or pragmatic »: exchange of information in a

context that does not presuppose the existence of a shared code between

transmitter and receiver, but that does not exclude the production of a meta-

code, capable of transforming noise to information:

Since the central passage in the production of an innovation/development

consists in the ability to invent a meta-code, which is able to transform the

sound to information, the problem then becomes to verify if the society

constitutes an environment suitable for meta-code construction, and thereby for

the introduction of innovations/development.

30


31


Section IV:

The Nexus Approach and its Clusters: Poverty - Decent Work - Sustainable

Growth, Water - Energy - Food Security, and Equality - Integration - Justice. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has rested great importance of taking ownership

of national development strategies and national leadership in the design and implementation of

development programmes. In other words, the 2030 Agenda should be integrated into national

strategies as the core principles for national policies and a reference framework for setting

priorities and measuring progress through a list of objectives, targets and indicators. Global

goals enshrined in the 2030 Agenda, namely, SDGs, should be prioritized in the formulation of

national strategies, policies and programmes, so as to contribute to the achievement of SDGs

everywhere.20 In addition to this, the last SDG (17) focuses on the need for strengthening the

means of implementation and revitalizing global partnership. Achieving this goal “will require

coherent policies, an enabling environment for sustainable development at all levels and by all

actors and a reinvigorated Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.”21 Efforts by

member states must include focusing on funding and financial considerations, increasing

information and communications technology, focusing on capacity-building, addressing

systemic issues, generating necessary and accurate data and monitoring systems, and

establishing and maintaining accountability.22

The full adaptation process of the 2030 Agenda and all 17 SDGs requires that the logic and

content of the plan be represented and then reprocessed in the form of a national plan, inspired

by the guiding principles of the Agenda. The guiding principles contained in the Agenda’s

preamble and declaration should be taken on as a transformational plan aimed at accomplishing

universal human rights-based development in order to establish peace, justice and equality in all

countries.4 In order to facilitate the development of national, sectoral and subnational strategies

and policies that endorse the 2030 Agenda’s guiding principles, and adapt and incorporate the

SDGs, ESCWA has developed three cross-sectoral models that address some of the most

pressing and important challenges in the Arab region:

1. Poverty - decent work - sustainable growth; 2.

Water - energy - food security;

3. Equality - integration - justice.

20 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the

national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 21 United Nations Economic and Social Council, Report of the Secretary-General, "Progress towards the Sustainable

Development Goals", May 11, 2017 E/2017/66, p. 18. 22 United Nations Economic and Social Council, Report of the Secretary-General, "Progress towards the Sustainable

Development Goals", May 11, 2017 E/2017/66, pp. 18-19.

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=E/2017/66&Lang=E

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=E/2017/66&Lang=E

32


The three models or clusters are based on the premise that SDGs are intertwined and indivisible.

As such, Nexus Approach reflects the links between the different SDGs and adopts the same

logic. Also, the Approach reflects the clear synergies between the three clusters, and between the

different sectors and principles within each cluster. Any national development plan would have

to show Integrity, Coherence, Correlation, Synergy and Effectiveness, all of which are best

done by following a Nexus Approach in planning that entails systemic thinking when designing

national policies. Such an approach should be integrated in nature and comprehensive in such a

way that links thinking, knowledge creation and implementation in a coherent and applicable

way.23

Poverty reduction – Decent employment – Sustainable growth (PEG)

Overcoming development challenges entails the formulation of transformative reforms at various

economic, political, institutional, social, environmental and cultural levels. Specifically,

sustainable development requires economic reforms aimed at transforming economies towards

the creation of jobs and decent employment. Economic reform should be geared towards

inclusive economic development, in a way that fostering economic growth becomes a

component of a comprehensive development strategy and contributes to the achievement of the

overall sustainable development goals. This shift is supposed to strengthen the links between

growth, employment and poverty reduction to the benefit people and the environment. This is at

the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, where the strong correlation

between economic growth and employment, poverty reduction and inequality is evident. The

main idea is that achieving the required development objective requires the promotion of

sustainable economic growth and structural transformation. In this way, sustainable growth will

enable job creation and decent employment in sectors with high added value, and, in turn, have a

direct positive effects on income for those least privileged. At the same time, a good strategic

framework is needed to redistribute resources to reduce poverty and inequality as well as to

build the resilience among the poor and marginalized. In other words, the overall objective of the

23 [I think the last 4 lines were taken from ToR, or from Nexus Approach paper in Arabic]

33


Third Decade can be formulated as follows: the transition to sustainable and

environmentfriendly economic growth that generates decent work for all and contributes to

reducing poverty and inequality, and promoting social welfare.6

The three components of this cluster (sustainable growth, decent employment, and poverty

reduction) incorporate the following highly interdependent goals: SDG 1: End poverty in all its

forms everywhere; SDG 8: Promote Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth,

Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All; and SDG 9: Build resilient

infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. SDG 8

constitutes the foundation of this cluster, while SDG 9 is complementary and necessary for

achieving SDG 8 and achieving SDG 1. These three interlinked goals must also meet SDG 12 on

ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns, a goal that can only be achieved

through synergy of all

strategies and policies, as well as between clusters.24 [Elaborate briefly on interlinkages between

these and other SDGs? Or rather: include a brief discussion that focuses on means of

implementation and policy dialogue? –Just to keep it general. Or maybe we can include

something on how this can be applied or is applied in the Arab world or what are the challenges

in implementation relating to this cluster?][…]

Water – Energy – Food security (WEF)

The water, energy and food production sectors are closely interrelated, as [reasons…]. More

importantly, changes in these three sectors affect people directly, as these “involve resources

upon which all people depend, but which billions of people lack access to.”25 However, these

sectors broadly fall under separate mandates in most countries, which, in turn, leads to often

disconnected plans and policies. The focus on the interrelationship between water, energy and

food security in pursuing the 2030 Agenda and its associated goals provides opportunities for

achieving sustainable development in these sectors and other equally important sectors and

pertinent goals. The Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF) refers to “the comprehensive and

sustainable management of water resources, in close coordination with the management of

agricultural activity, which contributes to the provision of food security, coupled with the

restructuring of the use of sustainable energy resources. The overarching objective of the WEF

24 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 25 Stockholm Environment Institute, “Cross-sectoral integration in the Sustainable Development Goals: a nexus

approach – Discussion brief,” 2014, p. 1. See also UNESCAP, “The Status of the Water-Food-Energy Security Nexus

in Asia and the Pacific Region - Position paper commissioned by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission

for Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand, 2013.

34


Nexus approach is to create a strong link between the three sectors that will, in turn, contribute

to the protection of the environment and the sustainability of natural resources, while improving

people’s living conditions and increasing general welfare.9

Availability of water, energy and food varies from one country to another; water and energy

resources and levels of consumption, as well as levels of food security also vary across countries

and regions. [interdependence between countries for resources, especially water and energy

(Arab world for the latter) at the regional level, i.e. issue of the provision of sustainable energy

and oil and prices, all of these regional and international elements; and that all the Arab

countries are food importers, which makes them all share some of the features of the problem of

food security, and differed in other features.] The regional nature of resources and problems

requires the adoption of regional approaches to policies and solutions, particularly for water

resource management, as well as for food security. The diversity of agricultural and climatic

environments and capacities among Arab countries can be a positive element in ensuring

mutually beneficial solutions. In addition, institutionalizing and projecting this interdependence

between the three sectors in regional and national plans and policies will create a develop a

common vision and help

35


overcome disparities in natural resources and economic capital between countries and across

regions. Regional and national policy frameworks, strategies and implementation plans should

be driven by the SDGs and human rights, in order to combat hunger and marginalization through

granting access to water and food for all, and protecting the environment.

The WEF Nexus largely integrates three main SDGs: SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security

and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture; SDG 6: Ensure availability and

sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; and SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable,

reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. SDG 2 rests at the heart of the WEF Nexus, as

efforts to eliminate hunger and provide nutrition for all necessitates an increase agricultural

productivity, especially for small producers, and establishing sustainable food production

systems and robust agricultural practices.26 SDG 2 is also directly connected to SDG 8: Promote

sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and

decent work for all, both of which interact with SDGs 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote

wellbeing for all at all ages and SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and

promote life-long learning opportunities for all; the latter emphasize the importance of economic

diversification and increased productivity in related sectors of high added value and labour

intensive activities. These are also broadly related to SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption

and production patterns, particularly to pillars relating to global corporate responsibility and

sustainable resource management.27 These are also It is also closely related to SDG 9: Build

resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation,

specifically, in the energy, agriculture and water management sectors. Regional and international

cooperation and partnership is also needed and effective means of implementation are necessary

in the process of integrating these sectors and promoting sustainable development, as directed by

SDG 17.

Equality – Inclusion – Justice (EIJ)

The conversion of inclusion, equality and justice into generative principles of international,

regional and national strategies and into practical guidelines for the management and reform of

public policy is one of the greatest challenges of our times. The United Nations defines social

inclusion as “the process of improving the terms of participation in society for people who are

disadvantaged on the basis of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or

other status, through enhanced opportunities, access to resources, voice and respect for rights.”28

Social inclusion is primarily concerned with the reduction of poverty and vulnerability, which is


national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 27 United Nations, “Sustainable Development Goals: 17 Goals to transform our world - Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumptionproduction/ 28 United Nations, “Identifying Social Inclusion and Exclusion,” in Leaving no One Behind, p. 20.

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/2016/chapter1.pdf

36


embedded in SDG 1 and highly related to the concept of social protection. Under this

framework, combatting poverty and vulnerability involves several courses of action, such as the

combatting unemployment and establishing sustainable and productive efficient labour markets,

which generate employment opportunities, and match professionals and workers with suitable

jobs. Inclusion is concerned with reducing risk to poverty and vulnerability reduction among

different groups, as well as promoting women and youth participation in social, economic and

political activities, protecting children, women and youth, promoting labour rights, combatting

child labour and regulating the employment of minors, addressing vulnerability due to gender,

sickness, disability and old age through health, family and gender policies, and ensuring equal

access to social services for all members of society.

The principle of equality is intrinsically related to justice and social inclusion. Justice is

essentially concerned with equity and rule of law; as follows, equality and non-discrimination

are some of the founding principles of the rule of law. Rule of law is the affirmation that “all

persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to

just, fair and equitable laws and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the

law.”29 Member States’ commitment to the rule of law means that they recognize that all people

are entitled to equal rights without discrimination based on sex, race, religion, nationality or

language.30 International legal instruments and the human rights legal framework have been

designed to “combat specific forms of discrimination, including discrimination against

indigenous peoples, migrants, minorities, people with disabilities, discrimination against women,

racial and religious discrimination, or discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender

identity.”15 The link between these justice, inclusion and equality is unmistakable, as the absence

of one of these principles undermines the existence of the others. Inequality, marginalization and

inability to exercise one’s rights freely lead to social exclusion and absence of justice and

dignity; similarly, absence of rule of law and access to justice and social exclusion undermine

people’s ability to exercise their rights and hold governments accountable.31

Bridging the disparities gap between people, regions and countries, and reducing inequalities at

various levels are the ultimate goals of the 2030 Agenda and “Leaving No One Behind.” The

Agenda aims to put people at the centre of sustainable development by focusing on ending

29 Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels, Resolution

adopted by the General Assembly A/67/L.1, November 30, 2012, para. 2; Simon Chesterman, Ian Johnstone and David M. Malone, “Chapter 14: The Rule of Law and Transitional Justice,” in Law and Practice of the United Nations

(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016).

30 Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels, Resolution

adopted by the General Assembly A/67/L.1, November 30, 2012, para. 3; United Nations, “Equality and

Nondiscrimination.” https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/thematic-areas/human-rights/equality-and-non-

discrimination/ 15 United Nations, “Equality and Non-discrimination.” https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/thematic-

areas/humanrights/equality-and-non-discrimination/ 31 United Nations, “Access to Justice.” https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/thematic-areas/access-to-justice-and-rule-

oflaw-institutions/access-to-justice/

http://ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Declaration.aspx




http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Migration/SRMigrants/Pages/InternationalStandards.aspx



http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Minorities/Booklet_Minorities_English.pdf



http://ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/ConventionRightsPersonsWithDisabilities.aspx



http://ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CEDAW.aspx



http://ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CERD.aspx




http://ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/Standards.aspx

http://ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBTUNResolutions.aspx



37


“poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can

fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.”32 This can be

achieved through inclusive policies, which primarily target the people, especially the poorest and

most marginalized groups, and by institutionalizing justice and eliminating all forms of

discrimination against individuals, groups or communities.33 In the light of these principles, the

Equality– Inclusion–Justice Nexus is founded primarily on the interaction between SDGs 1, 3, 4,

5, 10 and 16. The three dimensions of the EIJ Nexus not only focuses on reducing inequalities

between people by combatting poverty and its many manifestations (SDG 1), but also involves

the creation of the appropriate environment that enables all peoples to achieve their potential

through sustainable education (SDG 4), health services (SDG 3) and employment strategies and

policies. In addition to this, appropriate political, institutional and legislative frameworks that

ensure everyone has equal access to rights and protection are necessary (SDG 5). Also, the EIJ

Nexus approach implies that participation by all groups within and between countries at all

levels (SDG 5 and SDG 10), including decision-making processes, as well as transparency and

accountability are necessary to achieve dignity, equality and justice. Under the EIJ Nexus,

poverty, deprivation and marginalization are multidimensional. As such, SDGs 3 and 4, as well

as Target 11 on the right to housing (inclusive and sustainable cities) are complementary to SDG

1 from a broader perspective on poverty, as access to basic social services, health and education

are necessary for human development and general welfare. The same applies to the right to

access public utilities from water and sanitation (Target 6) and electricity (SDG 7).34

For ESCWA, SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 10:

Reduce inequality within and among countries are the core objectives under the EIJ Nexus

Approach.35 Under this framework, there are clear synergies between the former and SDG 10,

which is necessary to achieve gender equality. Other clear correlations can be drawn between

SDG 10 and SDG 1. The eradication of poverty in all its dimensions is a desired outcome in the

road towards equality, justice and inclusion. From the policy perspective, SDG 1 relates to the

first dimension of the 2030 Agenda, the “people.” Namely, policies and interventions must aim

reducing current disparities by combating deprivation in its most powerful manifestations:

poverty and lack of social protection. In particular, eradicating absolute poverty and hunger, in

particular establishes the area of intersection between EIJ Nexus with the WEF Nexus, which is

also needed to hunger and ensuring food security for all.36

32 United Nations, General Assembly, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development -

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015 (A/70/L.1), “Preamble.” 33 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 34 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the

national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 35 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the

national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 36 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the

national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic).

http://undocs.org/A/70/L.1



38


SDGs 3 and 4 as well as Target 11 also complement SDG1, as access to social services and

infrastructure are fundamental rights, and lack of which is major component of multidimensional

poverty and deprivation. In the same vein, SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable

economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all is also directly linked

to SDG 1. Prevailing economic policies in Arab countries are key factors create social

polarization mechanisms in society that lead to greater inequality and may lead to widespread

poverty. If economic policies are committed to development trends and principles, their role will

be positive and help reduce social gaps. SDG 8 specifically addresses the need for decent work

opportunities for all. This is also a fundamental right and one of the main means of

empowerment for all groups in general and for the poor in particular. To this end, the eighth

objective is highly relevant to the EIJ Nexus. SDG 8 is the point of interaction between equality

- inclusion - justice with poverty, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.37

The aforementioned goals, also interact with SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and

production patterns, as sustainable lifestyles relates to equality and justice between generations.

[too general; needs more analysis: look at targets of SDG12] Finally, SDG 16: Promote peaceful

and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build

effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels is also strongly linked to the EIJ

Nexus; the Nexus integrates SDG 16 in two ways. On the one hand, the EIJ integrates SDG 16

by endorsing the assumption that peace is a necessary condition for development and for

achieving justice, equality and participation of all people in public life; in times of war, these

cannot be achieved. On the other hand, the Nexus recognizes that good governance, rule of law,

democratic institutions and commitment to human rights are preconditions for achieving justice,

dignity and equality. This aspect of the EIJ Nexus demonstrates the need for efficient, effective

and transparent human rights-based international, regional and national strategies, policies,

legislation and monitoring systems in efforts to ensure participation of all, equal opportunities

and justice.38

EIJ Nexus and Cluster Focus: Equality, Inclusion and Justice in the Arab World

[Propose a new approach for this cluster taking into consideration the Arab context (especially in

the MENA region and more specifically in Lebanon and Jordan].

Inequality is a global phenomenon and it is so vast and pervasive. [Add here: global figures on

inequality, unequal distribution of wealth], [link to economic crisis and global wealth

distribution in the past 2 decades]. [Main challenges in the Our World Declaration (Preamble)

and 2030 Agenda]. However, most issues that Arab countries currently face have emerged from

their regional context. Disparities between Arab countries have exacerbated due to conflict, and

political and institutional crises, whose devastating effects have inevitably led to poverty,

deprivation and exclusion; also, conflict has widened gaps within countries as well as between

social groups and localities. Conflict and humanitarian crises has also tarnished the Arab region,

37 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic). 38 UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach: Planning and implementation at the


39


which hosts “more 53 per cent of all refugees and 37 per cent of displaced persons.”39 The

current Syrian refugee crisis has affected both host and refugee communities, increasing poverty

rates since the start of the conflict in Syria. According to a 2015 World Bank Group and

UNHCR report, approximately “nine in ten registered Syrian refugees living in Jordan are either

poor or expected to be in the near future; […] about half the refugees are children, and the

majority are women.”40

At the regional level, poverty affects “more than four in ten households and children.”41

According to the 2017 Arab Multidimensional Poverty Report, 13.4% (38.2 million) live in

acute poverty, but this figure does not show the entire picture. The regional Multidimensional

Poverty Index includes different dimensions and a number of indicators for measuring poverty,

such as education (school attendance and years of schooling), health, nutrition, child mortality,

early pregnancy combined with female genital mutilation, access to electricity, adequate

sanitation, safe drinking water, clean cooking fuel, having suitable floor and roof, no

overcrowding, and minimum assets of information, mobility, and livelihood.42 Based on these,

the study revealed that “the regional weighted poverty headcount is 40.6% (116.1 million) while

the poverty MPI (Multidimensional Poverty Index) is 20.6%.”43 In addition, lack of self-

sufficiency and scarcity in vital resources like water and food are a major issue in the region.44

[Development] At the regional level, development differs greatly from one country to another.

Some enjoy very high levels of development, especially the small, oil rich Gulf countries; most

Arab countries show high and mid-level development, and a few are considered least developed

countries under international standards. While the average per capita GDP in 2014 is about $

4,800 per year, it is about $ 22,000 in the GCC, less than $ 900 in the least developed countries,

$ 3,200 in Morocco and $ 2000 in Morocco, and the disparities Between individual states is

higher than that. The same applies to disparities in poverty, health, education and other welfare

indicators. Vertical and horizontal disparities are also significant within countries. They include

social disproportions between the rich and the poor and are expressed in terms of poverty and

deprivation. The share of the top five to the lowest fifth in some Arab countries - not including

the Gulf - ranges from 4.4 times in Egypt to 7.8 Times in Mauritania), ranging from close to

20% and below, to over 60% in the poorest countries. This is accompanied by other composite

inequality indices between women and men, for example, the share of women in the labour force

varies between 15% and 30% by country, with a record of unequal wages and rights, even in the

presence of appropriate legal frameworks. Regional disparities, most notably the disparities

39 UN-ESCWA, “Arab Development Outlook: Vision 2030,” 2015, p. 4. 40 The World Bank Group and UNHCR, “Syrian Refugees Living in Jordan and Lebanon: Young, Female, at Risk,”

2015. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2015/12/16/syrian-refugees-living-in-jordan-

andlebanon-caught-in-poverty-trap 41 UN-ESCWA, League of Arab States, UNICEF & University of Oxford, Arab Multidimensional Poverty Report 2017,

p. 13. 42 UN-ESCWA, League of Arab States, UNICEF & University of Oxford, “Constructing the Arab MPI and MODA,” in Arab Multidimensional Poverty Report 2017, p. 9. 43 UN-ESCWA, League of Arab States, UNICEF & University of Oxford, “Arab Multidimensional Poverty Report,”

2017, p. 13. 44 UN-ESCWA, “Arab Development Outlook: Vision 2030,” 2015, p. 5.

40


between rural and urban areas, are still significant in the various development indicators, starting

with poverty, which is clearly higher in the rural areas, to the provision of social services and

infrastructure (in the less developed countries, 5 and 6% in Djibouti and Somalia and 34% in

Yemen). [Check latest figures and insert sources]

Inequality, marginalization and exclusion in the Arab region comes in many ways and shapes: it

affects specific areas (isolated rural areas or border areas) or specific groups (youth and women)

with unemployment rates of two to three times the overall average. Participation of women and

young people in economic activities, as well as participation rates in decision-making at various

levels, including parliamentary representation, are still very low compared to men and have

improved only through legislative reform in some countries, i.e. the quota system. In addition,

exclusion is particularly high for some special groups, such as persons with disabilities in the

absence of inclusive policies and special measures. The categories of displaced persons, refugees

and migrant workers suffer from multiple forms of exclusion and discrimination. This is why the

EIJ Nexus approach is equally applicable to the Arab region as a whole and as well as to most

Arab countries, they are also in the Arab region and in each Arab country alone, although some

of the specific manifestations of inequality, exclusion and injustice may differ from country to

country.45

[…]

Promoting Equality, Inclusion and Justice in the Arab region: Avenues for policy reform

[Excerpt from UN-ESCWA, “Sustainable Development Plan 2030 and the Nexus Approach:

Planning and implementation at the national level,” Draft of January 2017 (Arabic)]:

Achieving the ultimate development objective requires the adoption of a variety of policies that

respond to the sub-dimensions of today’s predicaments. These policies can be grouped into three

axes as follows:

1. The first axis: Equality

Making equality priority in national strategies requires the adoption of policies and the design of

programmes and interventions aimed at targeting current inequalities and reducing poverty,

deprivation and marginalization by means of establishing context-specific performance

indicators.

2. The second axis: Inclusion



41


Inclusion is primarily related to enabling policies that guarantee equal opportunity and allow

stakeholders to develop and use their capabilities to their full potential, so they are empowered

and able to improve their standards of living through their own efforts. This necessitates an

enabling policy environment and legal frameworks as well as assistance mechanisms that will

contribute to reducing social gaps, polarization and poverty.

3. The third axis: Justice

Attaining justice at the policy level relies primarily on fostering rule of law and creating

appropriate institutional and legislative frameworks, as well as application and monitoring

mechanisms, that establish people’s rights and ensure the prevention of violations and

discrimination against any individual or group. This axis is also concerned with ensuring the

sustainability of processes of inclusion and achieving justice for all through institutionalization

and legislation.

[…]

Regional formula for the application of the EIJ Nexus Issues of equality, justice and inclusion need to be primarily addressed at the national level;

however, policy orientations of one specific country tend to branch out and may have an impact

on other countries in the region. The EIJ Nexus Approach itself can be reconfigured to become a

regional approach that pragmatically addresses and finds solutions for the most pressing regional

issues relating to equality, inclusion and justice. ESCWA proposes to redefine EIJ Nexus

regionally as follows: Migration and displacement - Social protection - Social cohesion. A

regional approach to policy founded on the EIJ Nexus can be developed and, as such, should

address the following problems:

1. The situation of refugees and displaced persons is a national issue for host countries as well as

a regional concern and a global responsibility. A regional policy framework is necessary to

reduce

and remedy the effects of the crisis;

2. Social protection policies for the most vulnerable and excluded groups, in particular migrant

or migrant workers, need to be covered by social protection systems. These should be formulated

as part of regional cooperation and integration policies;

3. Effective strategies for maintaining social cohesion in each country are necessary. Social

cohesion at the national level is also highly sensitive to regional factors. The various factors of

disintegration, including extremism, are transnational and have become a regional and

international phenomenon (international and regional), which means that maintaining social

cohesion within nation-states is a great challenge for decision-makers in the region.

In this sense, issues inequality, exclusion and discrimination must be tackled through a regional

framework, which will set regional priorities for policy action and consistent intervention.

42


[elaborate/review]

Strategic, multi-sectoral axis/areas of intervention at the national level under the EIJ

Nexus

The application of the EIJ Nexus in development and policy strategies at the national level in

Arab countries needs to be reformed taking into consideration the intersection and

complementarity of the sectors that, during the first decade of the millennium, were generally

approached separately by policy-makers in the region. Although there have been developments

in the process of intersecting the sectors in millennial national strategies and programmes, more

efforts need to be made towards the consolidation of all-comprehensive national strategies,

policies and programmes under the umbrella of equality, inclusion and justice. The following

proposed multisector, crosscutting areas of intervention have been formulated with the view of

redirecting current trends in policy-making and programme design, implementation and

monitoring systems in the Arab region:

1. Education - People – Employment 2. Economic Growth - Employment/Decent work - Social

protection and social justice systems (access to services and rights) 3. Institutional Reform –

Partnership - Participation

1. Education - People – Employment Based on the EIJ Nexus, education rests at the centre of sustainable development for the

application of the SDGs, because education has many direct implications for human and

personal development, job opportunities, decent employment and public welfare. In this

sense, education is revisited and approached as a comprehensive, multi-dimensional,

allinclusive sector. As follows, policy reforms, revisited and new national strategies and

specific projects and programs should create:

a. Accessible, affordable, high quality, skills-oriented, citizenship-oriented public education

at the primary, secondary, technical and vocational, and tertiary education levels that

reaches and assimilates all social categories without discrimination (youth, women,

children, people living with disabilities, refugees, migrants).

b. Educational opportunities that are directed towards increasing participation in economic

activities by preparing pupils for the future, promoting employability and targeting all

groups without discrimination, reducing dropout rates and building technical, practical and

social skills.

c. Curriculums that concentrate on and reinforce social cohesion and civil participation

through a redefined understanding of culture based on these two principles. At the same

time, these principles should be reconstructed based on established and accepted norms.

43


d. Long-term investment in social and human capital with the aim of building self-reliance

on the economic and social levels; this means that education will not only allow people to

become financially independent and self-reliant, but also create individuals who are

knowledgeable about avenues to access and demand rights and services, and are free, vocal

and active within a social setting.

e. Sustainable ways to reduce poverty and marginalization on the economic and social

aspects of life.

f. High quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET), through reforming

the sector, boosting existing structures and creating incentives for the youth, as well as

female and male adults of any nationality and socio-economic background, to enroll in

TVET. This intervention should aim at substantially increasing enrolment and retention

rates, and reducing dropout rates, and creating a new labour force of skilled workers that

will be matched with economic activities needed in the country to advance in its

sustainable development process.

g. Spaces to promote and revamp research and innovation in public and private universities

and research institutions as well as the role of universities and centers in producing

knowledge in different disciplines (i.e. social, political, development, environmental and

economic sciences, health sciences, medicine, engineering, urban planning, architecture,

arts, and so forth) and in linking the community with the government, and the academic

community with policy-making. The reform of the educational sector in this regard will

promote participation and partnership through collaboration between hubs of knowledge

creation, the community and the state, and, in turn, lead to knowledge-based and people-

centered policies and programs.

2. Economic Growth - Employment/Decent work - Social protection and social justice systems

(access to services and rights)

Following the interlinkages proposed by the EIJ Nexus, reforming the education sector and

redefining it as a multi-, cross-sectoral axis (as explained above) will contribute to sustained

economic growth by fostering employability and self-reliance among all groups. We propose

that any national policy and strategy for employment, job creation and economic growth that

takes into consideration the people and the environment, should be designed based on the

following activities and objectives:

a. Designing and adopting a long-term sustainable economic growth model focusing on local

economic development in different sectors, i.e. agriculture, industry, handcrafts, traditional

crafts, intangible cultural heritage, -the latter will preserve and promote localities and

regions as touristic destinations, as well as protect of the environment and natural resources

across localities.

b. Boosting decentralized economic initiatives and projects that reduce territorial

inequalities, generate alternatives to informal settlements around main cities and change

current economic patterns that lead to inequality. Interventions must create

44


complementarity between the regions, but, at the same time, avoid monopolization of

economic activities by specific regions or localities.

c. Facilitating skills matching and reducing unemployment and vulnerability among the

unemployed and informal labour through the design and effective implementation of mid-

term informal social protection programs (namely, improving access to high quality social

and health services whereby no one is left behind, technical and vocational training, access

to market and finance systems, social (youth, men and women) entrepreneurship programs,

health packages, economic incentives, micro-level enterprise support programs, etc.). Mid-

term protection programs should aim at tackling current predicaments with the view of

paving the way towards ending vulnerability in the long run and fostering sustained

individual/human as well as national development. Finally, reducing pressures on the

informal sector through mid-term interventions will incentivize informal workers and

create transitional passages for them.

d. Institutionalizing the national employment strategy for the informal and formal labour

market, providing support for the active and inactive national labour force, including the

highly skilled and trainees from all social categories.

e. Reforming public sector employment packages in order to attract highly skilled

professionals, through establishing meritocratic selection systems, incentives, rule of law

(accountability and transparency), less complex bureaucratic and more efficient

administrative procedures.

3. Institutional Reform – Partnership - Participation In line with the 2030 Agenda and the EIJ Nexus’ integration of SDG 16, we propose that

future efforts towards institutional reform in the region be overwhelmingly focused on

promoting partnership and participation at the national and local levels. Through this type of

approach, justice, inclusion and equality will be established through participation of all

members of society. This will entail the reform of existing institutions and establishment of

additional formal avenues/bodies aimed to not only merely create links between the

community and decision-makers, but also grant them a voice in decision-making processes

that affect communities, groups and individuals from all walks of life. Efforts to promote

participation oriented and partnership based institutions entail the following:

a. Reform of national strategies and policies based on partnership with civil society from

inception to implementation and monitoring stages of programs and projects targeting the

population. In order to accomplish this, initiatives should be first directed towards

consolidating links between civil society actors, and local and national authorities, as well

as strengthening communication, support and information sharing between civil society

and community based actors and organizations.

b. Promoting corporate social responsibility, as well as making investment in local economic

development, and environmental projects a priority.

c. Creating mediating institutions and intermediary actors that will maintain synergy and

establish communication between government and community stakeholders, incentivizing

women to take up leadership roles in these institutions or activities.

45


d. Creating community-based cultural institutions, associations and organizations that

represent people’s voices and promote participation, and sustain constructive policy

dialogue.

e. Conducting referendums on a regular basis and implementing alternative instruments to

involve all social groups in the decision-making processes and public discussion on issues

that affect the population directly; these consultation processes will not only promote trust

in national and local authorities, but also foster local solidarity among all members of the

society by coming together on issues that have a direct or indirect impact on their lives and

well-being.

f. Strengthening the role of unions and associations, as well as their participation in decision-

making and promotion of rights and services among different groups, i.e. labour,

categories of workers, women, youth, trade, industry, commerce, agriculture, syndicated

professions.

46


Chapter V: Comparative case study of the cluster EIJ between Jordan and Lebanon: (8 to

10 pages)

Subsection: Jordan

[Description]: The section offers an overview of Jordan’s transition from MDGs to SDGs (+

socioeconomic background + impact of Syrian crisis + figures), discusses Jordan’s efforts to

adopt and mainstream the 2030 Agenda and SDGs thus far, and identifies and analyses the

country’s institutional arrangements and national strategies and plans under the Equality-

InclusionJustice Nexus, while highlighting current opportunities and challenges. […]

Context

[Poverty] [Employment]

[Education]:

- Jordan “has high enrolment rates for primary, secondary, and higher education

compared to countries of similar income levels. Jordan had already achieved gender parity in

primary enrolment in 1979, in contrast to the average upper middle income country which

still enrols more boys than girls, and has one of the highest female literacy rates in the region,

at 95.2%.46

-“There is an oversupply of university graduates and chronic undersupply of skilled craftsmen

and technicians. As a result, youth unemployment is running at 31.8% total workforce

participation is only 41%, one of the lowest rates in the world.” 47

- Among the main challenges of reforming primary and secondary education in Jordan

is a “curriculum and assessment system that is outdated and does not meet the requirements

of today’s society and the labour market.”48 […]

[Refugees]

[Women]

[Participation]

46 UNESCO, EFA Global Monitoring Report 2015: Education for All 2000-2015 Achievements and Challenges.

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002322/232205e.pdf [check reference for more figures on education];

Education for Prosperity: Delivering Results -A National Strategy for Human Resource Development 2016 – 2025, p.

18. 47 Education for Prosperity: Delivering Results -A National Strategy for Human Resource Development 2016 – 2025,

p. 18. 48 Education for Prosperity, p. 26.

47


[Rule of law]

[Programmes/current challenges]

“We are all Jordan:” By strengthening capacity, the “We are all Jordan” programme aimed to

“address the imbalance in economic and social development activities/operations across the

Kingdom which led to poverty pockets in some provinces.”49 The declaration includes a number

of social security actions/initiatives related to public education, higher education, scientific

research, healthcare and poverty, including reform health policies and laws, supervision of

medical staff, a strategy to deal with the housing sector to provide suitable housing for citizens,

monitoring systems to improve quality of education, designing courses for students to increase

employability, support microenterprises, political, economic, legal and social reform to fight

poverty and unemployment, as well as other policies to encourage job creation.50

National Agenda: “The 2006-2015 National Agenda was developed to improve the quality of life

of Jordanians through the creation of income-generating opportunities, the improvement of

standards of living and the guarantee of social welfare,”51 through combatting unemployment

and legislative, financial and structural issues.52 The Agenda aimed to promote personal

freedoms and equality among citizens enshrined in the Jordanian Constitution provides for

equality between citizens in order to foster participation in political activities. Namely, the

Agenda would ensure “laws are in line with international human rights principles and

guaranteeing freedoms of speech and media,”8 and promote inclusion. In addition, the Agenda

aimed to develop and amend legislation with the view of promoting justice, foster job creation to

target unemployment, improve quality of vocational training, improve social security services,

and address issues such as shortage of healthcare professionals, operational inefficiency and cost

ineffectiveness of healthcare service provision, challenges faced by the public education sector,

including higher education, scarcity of water resources, poor infrastructure and transportation,

management of hazardous and chemical waste, and environmental threats.9 The Agenda put

forward the creation of National Council for Development and Poverty Alleviation, a Higher

Council for Human Resources Development, funding community colleges and curricula reform,

promoting scientific research and innovation, improving water supply and efficiency of water

distribution networks as well as exploiting unconventional resources, management of energy

resources, and strengthening institutional and legislative frameworks for environmental

49 “We are all Jordan Final Report,” Inform Government Website, Ministry of Planning and International

Cooperation, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. http://inform.gov.jo/en-us/By-Date/Report-Details/ArticleId/16/Weare-all-Jordan-Finaldeclaration?TSPD_101_R0=63e1451dfb27195b033f9eba76a94c76kfY00000000000000013ea77052ffff000000

0000 00000000000000000059b5480800312d0734 50 Ibid. 51 National Agenda, 2006-2015. Inform Government Website, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation,

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. http://inform.gov.jo/en-us/By-Date/Report-Details/ArticleId/5/2006-2015-

NationalAgenda?TSPD_101_R0=b5b4a18691e3b4e61c9f1178a7c5f4d2x6700000000000000013ea77052ffff000000

0000000 00000000000000059b54bf700b173883e 52 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 9

Ibid.

48


sustainability.53 Phase 1 of the National Agenda focused on targeting unemployment through

“Employment opportunities for all”. However, UNDP reported that “unemployment remained a

big challenge,”54 in the light of population growth. As 70% of the population is under 30 years,

“unemployment among young people (15-24 years) reached 27.7 per cent in 2010,”55 which is

more than twice the national unemployment rate of 12.5 per cent.56 The 2012 report reiterated

that as of 2011, “women make up only 15 per cent of the workforce, and of the women who are

actively looking for work 21.7 per cent are unemployed; the Government employs half of all

employed women, along with one third of all employed men.”14 UNDP further states that

“specially in rural areas the Government is the main provider of jobs. Vocational training

initiatives have gone undeveloped, and there has been insufficient support of small and medium-

sized enterprises. The mismatch between the quality of jobs offered and the expectations of

highly educated individuals has resulted in “voluntarily unemployed” people and emigration to

the Gulf. This has also led to a reliance on foreign workers to do lowpaid service jobs.”57

[…]

[MDGS-SDGs]

Jordan committed to achieve the eight MDGs by 2015.58 According to UNDP, “in Jordan, the

first National MDG report was released in 2004 and made an effective contribution to the

country’s policy-making as the goals, targets and indicators were adapted and aligned with

national plans and development priorities.”59 Two 2006 reports “articulated the vision of the

country and development planning, namely the “National Agenda” and the “We are all Jordan”.

This vision was operationalized into a three-year National Executive Programme (NEP)

specifying policies, programmes and projects for government institutions. UNDP supported the

integration of MDG indicators within those plans, related to social welfare; health care, poverty

53 Ibid. 54 UNDP in Jordan, “Country Programme Document for Jordan 2013-2017,” May 2012, p. 2.

http://www.jo.undp.org/content/dam/jordan/docs/Publications/2016%20Documents/CPD_Jordan_20132017.pdf

?download 55 Ibid. 56 Ibid. 14

Ibid. 57 UNDP in Jordan, “Country Programme Document for Jordan 2013-2017,” May 2012. According to 2009 figures, foreign workers make up 20 per cent of the labour force. While efforts have been made to improve the private investment environment, it needs to be strengthened at the local level in order to promote economic growth. http://www.jo.undp.org/content/dam/jordan/docs/Publications/2016%20Documents/CPD_Jordan_20132017.pdf?download 58 UNDP, “Integrating MDGs within National Priorities.”

http://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/post2015/mdgoverview.html. The eight Millennial

Development Goals included: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty; Achieve universal primary education;

Promote gender equality and empower women; Reduce child mortality; Improve maternal health; Combat

HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Ensure environmental sustainability; and Develop a global partnership for

development. 59 Ibid.

49


reduction and education.”6061 However, it is contended that “in general, significant challenges

still impede progress particularly in light of the repercussions of the global economic crises and

its impact on economic growth rates, public debt, government revenues and unemployment

rates.”62

[Institutions (overview)]

Jordan has established an institutional framework for participation of citizens and consultations

with CSOs, private sectors and line ministries. At the government level, the Ministry of Planning

and International Cooperation is one of the most important institutions in the shaping of national

strategies and plans. As a matter of fact, it is in charge of aligning sectoral strategies and plans

with overarching national strategies and vision. Recently, Jordan Vision 2025 and 3-year

Executive Development Plan. […]

The Higher National Committee for Sustainable Development (NCSD) has also been established.

It is chaired by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and 22 institutions,

including the Ministry of Environment.63

[…]

[Adoption of 2030 Agenda and SDGs]

Jordan has already shown commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda and integrating SDGs into

future national policies and plans. Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda establishes that “Jordan readily adopted the 2030 Agenda

and the accompanying SDGs, renewing its commitment to the Universal Declaration for Human

Rights,”64 and UN conventions and declarations. The review is based on consultations with

Jordanian citizens, and aimed to raise awareness about and inform the community on actions

taken by the government to adapt the Agenda and SDGs to national plans, and discuss the role of

major groups and other stakeholders in monitoring the implementation of the Agenda and

attaining SDGs.65 According to the results of the “Our World Survey” areas of concern among

Jordanians include “strengthening the link between education and the labour market, and

supporting entrepreneurship to reduce unemployment and ensure decent work; achieving gender

equality and decrease geographical disparities through combatting stereotypes; reducing poverty

60 UNDP, “Integrating MDGs within National Priorities.” http://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/post- 61 /mdgoverview.html 62 UNDP, “Integrating MDGs within National Priorities.”

http://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/post2015/mdgoverview.html 63 The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, “Answers to the

guiding questions raised by ECOSOC for Member States’ input to the integration segment: Implementing the 2030

Agenda through policy innovation and integration,” May 2-4, 2016. UN Headquarter, New York, p. 2. 64 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, “Jordan’s Way to Sustainable Development: First National Voluntary review on

the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” p. 18. 65 “Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” p. 21.

50


and ensuring equal access to social services; enhancing accountability, respecting human rights

and contributing to regional stability; and enhancing awareness on environmental issues,

promoting renewable energy and addressing water scarcity.”66 Jordan’s current main strategies

and plans include: Jordan Vision 2025; Executive Development Plan (EDP); the National

Strategy for Human Resource Development 2016-2015 (Education for Prosperity Report);

Executive Development Programmes (EDP); and the National Strategy for Human Resource

Development 2016-2025 (Education for Prosperity Report); other notable sectoral plans include

National Education Strategic Plan (September 2017); the Governorate Development

Programmes; the Jordan Response Plan for the Syria Crisis (2017-2019); The Economic Growth

Plan (2018-2022); the National Employment Strategy (2011-2020), and the National Health

Strategy (2016-2020), among others. […]

[National strategies and plans, and SDGs: Opportunities and challenges]

The Jordan Vision 2025 is a a long-term strategic plan aimed at promoting rule of law and equal

opportunities, increasing participatory decision making, achieving fiscal sustainability and

strengthening institutions. According to Jordan’s First National Voluntary Review, this requires

improving infrastructure, enhancing education and health services, achieving water and energy

security, enhancing economic growth and decent work opportunities (especially for youth and

women), ensuring balanced local development, while strengthening the role of the private sector

and civil society organizations.67 The approach of Jordan Vision 2025, however, is based on a

new development model that prioritizes export markets and specific sectors to boost economic

growth and create employment. The approach also includes “building on existing strengths”25

that the government has identified as pharmaceuticals and mining (for exports), as well as

construction and engineering, transport and logistics, tourism, healthcare, business, and

educational and financial services. In the approach, elements of rule of law, participation,

sustainability and resources are depicted as tools to achieve sustainable development. The logic

behind focusing on economic development through markets is that, although Jordan saw a

reduction of poverty and inequality, this has not been accompanied by an improvement of the

Jordanian economy’s competitiveness.”68

The Jordan Vision 2025 was produced in 2014, before the SDGs and the Agenda 2030. 69As

such, it does not reflect the approach of the Agenda 2030 and the interconnectedness of SDGs.70

One of the main issues identified five years prior the completion of the MDG cycle is that Jordan

needed to adopt “a more holistic approach”71 in their efforts to achieve sustainable development

goals. Although Jordan has shown efforts in and commitment to achieving the goals of the 2030

66 “Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” p. 18. 67 “Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” p. 25. [See table p. 26] 25 Jordan Vision 2025, p. 68 Jordan Vision 2025, Chapter 2: Transforming our model of development, p. 48. 69 Interview with Ahmad Awad, Phenix Center for Economics and Informatics Studies, Amman, December 2017. 70 Interviews with Asma Khoder and Ahmad Awad, Amman, December 2017. 71 UNDP, “Integrating MDGs within National Priorities.”

http://www.jo.undp.org/content/jordan/en/home/post2015/mdgoverview.html

51


Agenda, “to date, few programmes have entered the implementation phase, and most efforts thus

far have been fundamentally theoretical and preparatory, rooted in policy-drawing and strategy

development, and have yet to materialize into concrete measures.”72 On the one hand, Jordan’s

vision is limited to economic development and growth by focusing on supporting specific sectors

at the national and regional levels as well as export capacity, where the element of job creation is

not prioritized, but rather understood as a characteristic and, at most, a potential outcome of a

larger development strategy and growth in specific sectors. On the other hand, the

implementation approach adopted by the vision focuses on targeting the most vulnerable, rule of

law73 and participatory processes through mainly increasing spending, “namely in the form of

subsidies and pensions, in tackling the challenges posed by rapid population growth and refugee

inflows,”74 microfinancing and medium enterprises, facilitating access to markets and adequate

housing, local development, water supply for consumption and agriculture, tax and cost

reductions, structural reforms, improving government practices, etc. The vision lacks important

aspects of the Agenda 2030 approach, characterized by placing people at the centre of economic

policies and growth. Also, the Vision is not fully designed with the view of fighting

unemployment comprehensively, promoting decent work and integrating justice and social

protection systems in all sectors. The educational services dimension is presented as one of

Jordan’s strengths, however focusing on the potential of the sector to establish itself regionally;75

however, the vision does not explicitly cover the need to improve the quality of the public higher

education sector,76 or transforming the role of the university and academic research institutions

as important contributors to policy reform and dialogue, sustainable development, rule of law

and accountability. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is approached in the

same manner at the regional level; in addition TVET reforms focus on narrowing the gap

between TVET outputs and the labour market and private sector, and granting scholarships,77 in

order to tackle the a mismatching between the market labor demand and the existing skills.78

The Jordan Vision 2025 is to “be implemented through a 3-Year executive development

programs, in addition to the regional development plans at governorate level.”79 The aim of the

Executive Development Programmes 2016-2018 (EDP) is to devise development programmes

for each governorate as part of the country’s decentralization drive, based on a participatory

bottom-up consultative approach, to address the needs and regional disparities among

governorates and combat poverty. The overarching objective of the development programmes is

to target poverty and unemployment challenges through increased regional investments80 in

72 Ahmad Awad, “Jordan: Pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals, Strengthening Protections and Ensuring Inclusion.” Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, p. 3. 73 Limited to improving the efficiency of the judicial system and law enforcement, as well as encouraging civic

engagement and participation through the creation of platforms for citizen-government dialogue and civic

education in schools. See Jordan 2025, Section Two, pp. 106-7. 74 Awad, “Jordan: Pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals,” p. 4. 75 Jordan 2025: A National Vision and Strategy, Section One, p. 56. 76 Awad, “Jordan: Pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals,” p. 9. 77 Jordan 2025, Section Two, p. 97. 78 Interview with Ahmad Awad, Phenix Center for Economics and Informatics Studies, Amman, December 2017. 79 “Implementing the 2030 Agenda through policy innovation and integration,” p. 1. 80 Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, p. 26.

52


twenty five sectors, including small and micro enterprises, agriculture, investment and industry,

construction, tourism.81 [Needs to tackle the informal sector and uncertainty within the sector].40

[Analysis-Challenges/in terms of]: Education

- People – Employment

Economic Growth - Employment/Decent work - Social protection and social justice systems


Institutional Reform – Partnership - Participation

[…]

Besides the national vision for 2025 and the implementation of development programmes,

sectoral national strategies have also been drafted. The National Strategy for Human Resource

Development 2016-2025 (Education for Prosperity Report) aims to ensure equal access to quality

early childhood, primary and secondary education, increase the number of qualified people who

have technical and vocational skills, promote employment and decent work, and provide access

to affordable higher education.82 The document identifies major gaps in Jordan’s early

childhood, basic, secondary, technical and vocational, and higher education sectors. These

include outdated curricula that does not meet the requirements of the labour market, lack of

training and continuing education for teachers, limited capacity to provide education to

vulnerable students due to demographic changes and Syrian refugee crisis, lack of accountability

and leadership within the system at the school and ministerial levels, and absence of data for

informed and effective decisionmaking.83

[Early, primary, secondary education]

[TVET]

[Teacher training]

Projects include elements such as: Implementing new initiatives: Develop and roll out new

services (e.g. careers, in-service training, apprenticeships) and design and introduce new

regulations (e.g. licensing technicians and craft jobs).84

[…]

81 Executive Development Programme 2016-2018. 40

Interview with Asma Khoder, Amman, Jordan. 82 Education for Prosperity: Delivering Results -A National Strategy for Human Resource Development 2016 – 2025,

p. 17. 83 Education for Prosperity, p. 26. 84 Education for Prosperity, p. 37. 44

Education for Prosperity, p. 32.

53


[Higher education]

Besides further facilitating access to higher education and establishing higher teaching and

learning standards, the programme also aims to “encourage universities to take greater

responsibility for making significant contributions to national economic and social goals [and] a

learning environment that promotes innovation and excellence, and cultivates a culture of

responsibility, respectful dialogue, fairness and national unity.”44 [Review KPI and projects

associated with these two goals].

[…]

[National Education Strategic Plan (September 2017)]

[…]

[Governorate Development Programmes]

[Description/situation]:

Governorate development programmes for each of the 12 governorates in Jordan. Overarching

objectives of these programmes include:

- Enhancing socio-economic growth in the governorate without harming the environment

- Minimizing the gap between governorates and regions

- community empowerment

- reducing poverty and unemployment, and

- strengthening local economies through government interventions, investment projects,

self-employment initiatives, small and medium-sized enterprises and pilot projects.

- Support the decentralization project and also the elected local councils throughout the

governorates to mainstream the SDGs within their development plans.85

[Challenges/Analysis in terms of]: Education


Economic Growth - Employment/Decent work - Social protection and social justice systems



[The Economic Growth Plan 2018-2022] [Description/situation]:

Includes economic, financial and sector-specific policies, as well as government interventions

with a focus on partnership with the private sector. This is accomplished through a range of

85 “Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” p. 28.

54


projects and investment opportunities that will stimulate growth in different sectors.86

[Challenges/Analysis in terms of]: Education - People – Employment

Economic Growth - Employment/Decent work - Social protection and social justice

systems (access to services and rights)


[…]

National Employment Strategy (2011-2020) [Description/situation/objectives]:






[…]

National Health Strategy (2016-2020) [Description/situation/objectives]:






[…]

The Jordan Response Plan for the Syria Crisis (2017-2019) [Description/situation/objectives]:

- Meet the humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees both in camps and hosted within

Jordanian host communities and of the Jordanian hosting population impacted by the

crisis

- Foster effectiveness of service delivery system in the areas of education, energy,

environment, health, justice, municipal services, social protection, water and sanitation.

[Challenges/analysis in terms of]: Education

- People – Employment Economic

Growth - Employment/Decent work -

Social protection and social justice

86 “Jordan’s First National Voluntary review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” p. 28.

55


systems (access to services and

rights)

Institutional Reform – Partnership – Participation

[…]

Other recent strategies and plans (sectoral and group-oriented):

1. The Comprehensive National Plan for Human Rights (2016-2025)

2. The National Strategy for Human Resources Development (2016-2025)

3. The National Strategy for People with Disabilities

4. The National Strategy for Women (2013-2017) with a new one for (2018-2022) under

development

5. The Jordanian National Action Plan to Implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325

(2017-2020), under finalization

6. The National Strategy for Youth Empowerment (2017-2025), under development

7. The National Climate Change Policy (2013-2020)

8. The National Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production

(20162025)

9. The National Policy and Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2013-2017)

10. The National Plan for Green Growth

11. The National Plan for the Elderly (2016-2020)

12. The Demographic Dividend Policy Document

13. National Social Protection and Poverty Eradication Strategy (2018-2025), under development

14. National Plan for Green Growth (2017-2025)

15. National Solid Waste Management Strategy (2015-2034)

16. National Water Strategy (2016-2025)

17. National Energy Strategy (2015-2025)

18. National Integrity Executive Action Plan (2014-2018)

19. Digitizing Jordan (2018-2020) for E-Citizen & E-Business services and Reach 2025 strategy

to digitize the economy

[…]

56


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