The Second Meeting of 9 Arab developmental organizations emanating from the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) was held today in Cairo under chairmanship of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, the AGFUND President. In the meeting, Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendance pointing out importance of the meeting in helping the poor in the Arab world through "banks of the poor". He underscored the role played by these civil organizations in supporting development projects and programs that may form a model to be followed by other organizations, beside common cooperation and coordination in planning, policy-support, and programs and projects general application. Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz stated that AGFUND supports 17 international development organizations. The meeting discussed several topics including countering development challenges under economic changes in the region due to the international financial crisis, and the mechanisms reached through unifying efforts and resources among the 9 organizations, and integration in plans, projects and programmes particularly in women and children fields. The meeting was attended by AGFUND; Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD); Center for Arab Women Training and Research (CAWTAR); Arab Network for Private Organizations; Arab Open University; and the 4 banks of the poor in the Arab world.
