Kingdom of Bahrain

As part of the “Microfinance” project, which is a joint project with Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development, a comprehensive training plan has been put in place to enhance the capacities of local Bahraini NGOs. The initiative aims to build the capacities of NGOs, who are new entrants to the field of microfinance, to develop the perspective and practical skills necessary to manage, improve, expand and monitor their microfinance services to the poor. The six-month training plan is to be developed by “Planet Finance” company, which has been awarded the contract through a competitive process. Out of the registered 11 NGOs registered to receive the training, six will be chosen upon the successful completion of the training plan to receive a small grant to establish their Microfinance Units within their NGOs.

UNDP and NOGA jointly commissioned a gap analysis and feasibility study for setting-up a national energy planning and conservation entity – Bahrain Energy Centre. The gap analysis and Feasibility Study report were presented to different stakeholders in the Stakeholders Workshop held on 14 June 2011. Representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, University of Bahrain, Economic Development Board, United Nations Environmental Programme, Central Informatics Organisation, Electricity and Water Authority, Ministry of Works, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, nogaholding and Mumtalakat attended the workshop.

The UN House hosted the pre-launching event of the National Youth Strategy 2011 – 2015. In his statement on the occasion, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Sayed Aqa said that the strategy was the result of a fruitful partnership between the General Organization for Youth and Sports (GOYS) and through it with ministries, the private sector and civil society. Mr. Aqa reinforced the importance of investing in youth saying that nations should consider “young generation as the citizens of today and not only the generations of tomorrow.”
The government of Bahrain was represented by the Director of the National Youth Strategy and Special Advisor of the General Orgainzation for Youth and Sports Mrs. Amal Aldossari.

The Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) representing Government of Bahrain and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a three-year project to jointly establishing a facility for capacity development to assess and enhance productivity in the public sector. Dr. Raed Benshams, Director General of BIPA signed on behalf of the government of Bahrain, while Mr. Sayed Aqa, Resident Representative signed on behalf of UNDP. All Arabic and English local newspapers were presented in the event.

UNDP Resident Representative, Sayed Aqa, met with the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), Ms. Hala Al Ansari and congratulated her on her appointment wishing her continued success.

For the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a National Childhood Strategy will be finalized that will ensure Bahrain’s sustainable development by addressing the rights of children and their access to healthcare, education and protection mechanisms, as well as their participation in decisions affecting them.

On the occasion of Human Rights Day, H.E. Dr. Nezar Al Baharna, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, launched the Government of Bahrain Report entitled “Foreign Workers and Labour Conditions in Bahrain”. The report details some of the issues related to foreign workers in the Kingdom, such as recruitment fees, wages, excessive work, passport and mobility as well as other forms of physical and psychological abuse. It further features solutions and protections currently available in the Kingdom, as well as future pledges for further improving working and living conditions of foreign workers in Bahrain.

Experts and policy leaders convened by the Regional Bureau for Arab States of UNDP in partnership with the Arabian Gulf University met under the auspices of the National Oil and Gas Authority to take stock of challenges and opportunities related to sustainable energy in the Arab countries.
The consultations, entitled Climate Change Impacts in the Arab Region: Toward Sustainable Energy focused primarily on the resources, challenges and opportunities for the Arab countries to make accelerated progress toward sustainable energy, contributing to increasing access to energy at home and around the world, while also playing a leading role in the drive to energy efficiency.

The Ministry of Social Development and UNDP signed a project document today to develop two national strategies; the National Childhood Strategy and the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. The agreement, which comes as a result of thorough discussions with different stakeholders, including government and non-government institutions, was signed by H.E. Dr. Fatima Al Balooshi, Minister of Social Development and Mr. Sayed Aqa, UNDP Resident Representative in Bahrain at a formal ceremony at the Ministry of Social Development premises. Also present at the signing ceremony were representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

The second phase of the joint UNDP and Ministry of Industry and Commerce Globalization Programme entitled: ‘Support to Enhancing Institutional Capacity for Global Economic Environment and Governance’. The Programme Document was signed by H.E. Dr. Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Mr. Sayed Aqa, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative at a ceremony held at the Ministry’s premises.