• Institutions and policy processes

Institutions and policy processes

The absence of a unified Arab perspective towards the sustainability approach and a lack of local capacity to generate a knowledge body which can contribute to the global debate on this, prompted the development of a regional forum to consolidate a south-based perspective with a special emphasis on Arab countries.

Issues discussed include: looking at the concept of sustainable development, human security, the role of the private sector, the use and influence of culture, institutional frameworks, and a look at relationships between the environment and economy.

Participant recommendations include: 

• Governments: use of current institutional structures such as the Arab League and the Arab Summit for Development to highlight sustainability challenges, develop practical programmes and monitoring indicators; establish national institutional frameworks for sustainability and link these to highest level of decision making; provide economic and tax incentives for the private sector 
  
  
• Private sector: institutionalise and expand social and environmental programmes and ensure these include cultural and social values of solidarity and support; promote best practice and success stories linking sustainability and profitability 
  
  
• Civil society: target advocacy at Arab leaders and high profile events, such as the Arab Summit; respond to local problems while spreading awareness of the larger global issues 
  
  
• Educational and media institutions: highlight successful examples of sustainability and pursue public campaigns to spread a culture of sustainability; develop curricula to eradicate negative stereotypes and support
  

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