MANAMA — Bahrain yesterday (July 13) joined world leaders in drafting an international agenda for sustainable development projects in health, employment, environment protection and eradicating poverty. A delegation headed by Social Development Minister Faeqa Al Saleh is attending the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Ethiopia, which started Monday and continues until Thursday (July 16). United Nations (UN) resident coordinator in Bahrain and UN Development Program resident representative Peter Grohmann said it was a key summit for financing sustainable development projects worldwide. “Decisions taken in 2015 can set the world on a course of action to end poverty, promote prosperity and protect the planet,” said Grohmann during a press conference at UN House, in Hoora, along with newly-appointed UN Information Centre acting director Samir Aldarabi. “Bahrain is playing a major role by taking part in this meeting in Addis Ababa that will be attended by more than 50 heads of states, over 100 finance and foreign affairs ministers and more than 1,000 representatives from civil societies and business sectors.” During the meeting he said Bahraini authorities were taking steps by integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national planning and budgets. “The Bahrain parliament recently approved the government plan for 2015-2018 that already addresses many priorities that will help to achieve these goals in many areas,” he said. “Once the targets are defined, it is important that the investments that are necessary to achieve the SDGs that are relevant to Bahrain are incorporated into the budget.” He stressed it was the “joint responsibility” of the government, civil societies and the private sector to evaluate their contributions towards the SDGs, including investment in job opportunities, education and protection of the environment. Grohmann also highlighted Bahrain's humanitarian support for different countries, praising the work of the Royal Charity Organization in Palestine, Somalia and other countries. “Bahrain has provided exemplary support towards development and humanitarian aid to other countries, which is a key factor in the achievement of the SDGs worldwide and an example of solidarity,” he said. He revealed UN agencies were working with Bahraini authorities to develop a Strategic Cooperation Framework to help the country address its issues. “There are still some future challenges in the areas of protection of environment and women empowerment that need to be addressed in Bahrain and we will soon start working on them with the government,” he added. — Agencies
