Kingdom of Bahrain

On the occasion of the UN Day, 24 October, His Majesty King Hamad paid tribute to the United Nations for its role in promoting social and economic development of the Kingdom of Bahrain and other countries across the world. This came as he received at Al Safriya Palace the new UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Peter Grohmann and congratulated him on the UN Day.

24 October 2011 marks the 66th Anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations in 1945. This year also marks 40 years of successful collaboration between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations under the direction of UN charter. Forty years ago, directly successive to the UN’s support to independence, Bahrain agreed to open the first UN office in the newly independent country back in 1971. The main aim of that office, then, was to serve the people of Bahrain build their institutions to provide better services to its people.

On the sad incident of the passing of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and in view of the state of official mourning that is announced in the Kingdom of Bahrain, UN Organizations and Offices would like to inform you that “UN Day Reception” has been postponed. The new date for the evening reception for UN Day will be next, Monday, 31st of October, from 19:30 to 21:30, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Al Ghazal Ballroom.

A cross-practice capacity assessment and M&E mission was carried out by Regional Center in Cairo and UNDP CO for the Royal Charity Organization (RCO) of Bahrain during the period 10-17 October 2011.
This assessment is crucial exercise given that the RCO is an emerging important partner to UNDP CO, especially within the current changing environment in Bahrain, and the organization’s desire to address the rising needs of venerable groups more efficiently and effectively. The mission aimed at assessing the capacities of the organization against its aspired goals of reengineering and restructuring, with an ultimate goal of enhancing its capacities and impact on the lives of the people. This is of particular importance since RCO is becoming more and more involved in international relief to countries in crises.

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.

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