Photo: © UN/ RCO for UAE The UN’s in-country presence in the UAE dates back to 1972 when UNICEF established its UAE office in Dubai. The United Nations expanded its presence in the country following the establishment of the International Humanitarian City. Today, there are around 350 UN personnel in the UAE, supporting over 60 United Nations programmes and
projects in the country from 13 office locations. Another 9 UN entities engage with the UAE through their regional presence and headquarters. The UN’s engagement in the UAE is concentrated on policy-level technical cooperation and advisory support on a variety of issues. UN agencies also work closely with government counterparts and other partners in advocacy, outreach, and mobilization in support of shared objectives and internationally agreed development and cooperation
frameworks. In terms of thematic activities, UN engagement revolves around several programmatic areas of importance to national counterparts, such as international humanitarian relief operations, food security, climate change, gender equality, youth empowerment, among others. These priorities are being revisited to improve realignment with Agenda 2030 and the UAE’s development ambitions. 1. The UAE is an important regional and global partner with
active initiatives to promote peace and stability, respond to emerging crises, and support life-saving humanitarian operations around the world. 2. Advancing the wellbeing of people remains the cornerstone of the UN’s programming in the UAE. Different UN agencies have a series of policy-level engagements as well as technical assistance projects focusing on several socio-demographic groups, such as women, children and youth, and migrant workers. 3. A key element of UN
engagement with the UAE involves a wide range of interventions in relation to the natural sciences, biodiversity, and climate change. 4. In response to national priorities relating to economic growth and prosperity, UN entities engage with government counterparts in a range of initiatives intended to advise policymakers and strengthen engagements in related SDG targets. 5. The United Nations system engages with a variety of partners in the UAE, including governmental
agencies, private sector representatives, research organizations and think tanks, media partners, and social-cause organizations, all of which are vital to UN programming in the country. To learn more, visit: //unitedarabemirates.un.org/en Data about the work of the UN Country Team on COVID-19 is available on their Country Dashboard. Resident Coordinator Office Dena Assaf Resident Coordinator Katherine Lester Strategic Planning officer/RCO Team Leader UN Entities in United Arab Emirates ICAO Sorin-Dan Onitiu International Expert - MID FPP Programme
Manager ILO Ryzsard Cholewinski GCC Programme Coordinator ITU Adel Darwish Regional Director OHCHR Ansam Al-Abayechi
Regional Gender Advisor & Team Lead for GCC UNEP Sami Dimassi Director, West Asia Office UN Women Mouza Al Shehhi Director -
UAE Liaison Office for the GCC UNDP Hany Torky Chief Technical Advisor - Regional Programme UNDSS Amr El Nasharty Security Advisor UNHCR Mohamed Abdel Wahab OIC / Protection Officer UNRWA Lina Hijazi UNRWA Focal Point for UAE UNWTO Basmah Al Mayman Regional Director for the Middle East WFP Mageed Yahia Director WFP UAE & Representative to the GCC Region WHO Hala Sakr Regional Advisor / UAE Desk Officer World Bank Iva Hamel Representative United Arab Emirates
The UN in the United Arab Emirates
Cornerstones
UN United Arab Emirates Country Team
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