Overview
The Arab Forum for Equality (AFE) brings together political leaders, concerned ministers, the private sector, experts, civil society organizations, and youth from the Arab region to address regional priorities to tackle inequality, review national and international experiences, and engage multi-stakeholders in a dialogue focused on practical solutions and policies to reduce inequality.
The Forum is held annually by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and other partners, as well as hosts multiple national and regional organizations.
Building upon the discussions initiated during the
first (Amman, 2022) and second (Beirut, 2023)
forums, the AFE-2024 will examine inequality in times of polycrises, demonstrating how the compound effects of overlapping crises in the region are having a devastating impact on the most vulnerable and on the ability of Governments to protect their citizens; while exploring policy solutions to reduce or mitigate inequality in times of crisis, and ensure that policymakers can exit crisis mode over the medium term. The AFE-2024 will also recap the progress made towards achieving the
“Josour initiative”
which aims to address youth unemployment in the Arab region.
Opening Session
The Executive Secretary of ESCWA
will deliver the welcome remarks to launch the Forum.
The Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development will address the Forum.
The Minister of Social Solidarity in Egypt will address the Forum and the participants with welcoming remarks and aspirations about outcomes and discussions.
An Expressive Lyrical Piece by
Ziad Abdelsalam
9:30 - 10:00 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
Rola Dashti
Executive Secretary of ESCWA and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Noura Selim
Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development
Mehrinaz Elawady
Master of ceremony
Director, Cluster Leader, Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development, ESCWA
Plenary Sessions
DAY ONE
Session 1
Global and regional drivers of the polycrises and inequality
10:30 - 11:45 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will discuss the global scene and its implications for the Arab region, including the war in Ukraine and the war on Gaza, tightened fiscal space, and the change in global financial architecture. It will introduce the concept of polycrises, highlighting its effect on the increasing risk of inequality.
Moderator
Tarek Masoud, Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Governance, Faculty Director of the Kennedy School's Middle East Initiative, Harvard University
Speakers
Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, Chief Executive, South African Institute of International Affairs
Louis Kasekende, Executive Director, Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI)
Marwan El Abbassi, Former Governor of Central Bank, Tunisia
Rizwan ul Haq, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)
Session 2
Polycrises and inequality in the Arab region: an unpleasant mix
12:15 - 13:30 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Tuesday, 4 June 2024 In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will discuss how the simultaneous occurrence of multiple crises can increase their intensity and impact inequality inside the country. It will explore the interplay between these crises and the challenges they pose to inequality.
Moderator
Luna Abuswaireh, Director, Center for Arab Unity Studies
Speakers
Eleonora Nillesen,Professor and Key Domain Chair at the School of Business and Economics, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance; and Research fellow at United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT)
Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development, State of Palestine
Ahmed Adam Bakhit, Minister of Social Development, the Sudan
Soltan Aljorais, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia
Session 3
Everyday realities in times of crisis
13:30 - 14:45 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Tuesday, 4 June 2024 In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will discuss the different human manifestations of inequality in the Arab region and how they have been driven by the polycrises. It will include a discussion about perceptions of Arab people on inequality and their views on how it has been changing over time, and how inequality in access to opportunities is heightened by the multiple crises using country examples.
Moderator
Maha Yahya, Director Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Speakers
Nivine El-Kabbag, Minister of Social Solidarity, Egypt
Hector Hajjar, Minister of Social Affairs Lebanon
Laila Bint Ahmad Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development Oman
Brahim Ben Driss, Head of the General Authority for Social Promotion, Ministry of Social Affairs, Tunisia
DAY TWO
Session 4
Protecting equality in times of crises
9:00 - 10:15 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Wednesday, 5 June 2024
In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will focus on short-term solutions (including emergency humanitarian aid and disaster risk responses) to protect people and prevent widening inequalities in times of crisis.
Moderator
Yasser Akkaoui, Editor in Chief and Publisher, Executive Magazine
Speakers
Wafaa Al-Kilani, Minister of Social Affairs, Libya
Yusuf Mohamed Adan, State Minister for Social Affairs and Labour, Somalia
Sheikha Jasem Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Development and Family, Qatar
Yasser Al-Ahmad, Assistant Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Syrian Arab Republic
Session 5
Leaving no one behind: preventing crises from deepening intergenerational inequalities
10:45 - 12:00 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Wednesday, 5 June 2024 In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will consider the long-term impact of crises on inequality and will present policy solutions to protect long-term sustainable development given the changing global landscape. By delving into various policies, the session will shed light on successful interventions and lessons learned. The discussion will encompass policies adopted in the Arab region, offering a comprehensive view of regional practices, while also examining global approaches deployed in diverse regions.
Moderator
Roberto Cardarelli, Assistant Director in the Middle East and Central Asia Department (MCD) of the IMF, and mission chief for Morocco
Speakers
Ibrahim Elbadawi, Managing Director, Economic Research Forum
Adeel Malik, Globe Fellow in the Economies of Muslim Societies, and Associate Professor, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Oxford University
Deon Pierre Filmer, Director, Development Research Group, World Bank
Attiya Waris, Professor of Fiscal Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi in Kenya and UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt.
Turki Abalala, Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia
Session 6
Solidarity and coordination
12:00 - 13:15 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Wednesday, 5 June 2024 In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will highlight the role of various actors, including the international community and international financial organizations, in ensuring that inequality is addressed during times of multiple crises, and in reducing the vulnerability of countries when facing polycrises.
Moderator
Lamia Moubayed Bissat, Vice-Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration
Speakers
Azza Fahmy, Owner, and Founder of Azza Fahmy Jewellery
Khaled Mahdi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, Kuwait
Moneef R. Zou’bi, Co-Founder and Member of the Board of Directors, World Sustainability Forum
Mohamed Hannachi, Program Director, Al Arabiya
Special EVENT
AFE3 Special Event
Launch of Josour Chapter in Egypt & Update on the Josour regional initiative
10:00-10:30(Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
The session will launch the country chapter of Josour in Egypt and review the progress made to date in the Josour initiative that was launched at the first Arab Forum for Equality.
Moderator
Maysoon Azzam, Senior News Presenter at Al Arabiya
Speakers
Abu, Famous Egyptian Singer
Abdelrahman Nagy, Head of Learning & Strategy Division, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development
Souhaila Gabr, Josour Youth, Egypt
Closing Session
Closing session
13:00 - 13:15 (Cairo Time - GMT+3)
Wednesday, 5 June 2024 In-person, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
Closing remarks and main conclusions of the Third Arab Forum for Equality (AFE-2024).
Maysoon Azzam, Senior News Presenter at Al Arabiya
Media Corner
Trello Board
3rd Arab Forum for Equality Tackles Escalating Inequality Amid Multiple Crises
Social Media
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AFE 2023
- Playlist of the Third Arab Forum for Equality (AFE-2024) Watch
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