Hariri discusses with Saab AFED report and programs, Beirut, 3 December
Prime Minister Saad Hariri received AFED Secretary General Najib Saab, who presented him with the results of the AFED report on Financing Sustainable Development in Arab Countries, and the recommendations of the annual conference. Saab also discussed with Hariri, who is Founding Member of AFED Board of Trustees, work program and financial situation of the organization. The meeting was attended by the prime minister's advisor for Development Affairs Fadi Fawaz. http://bit.ly/2U9Gq5I
AFED report and conference, Beirut, 8-9 November
AFED 11th annual conference was held on 8-9 November 2018 at Le Bristol hotel, Beirut under the Patronage of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Former Prime Minister Fuad Siniora delivered keynote speech. AFED report entitled Financing Sustainable Development in Arab Countries was presented and debated. The conference brought together about 400 delegates from 40 countries, representing governments, international and regional organizations, leaders from public and private sectors, academics, students and civil society. A highlight of the conference was AFED’s Future Environment Leaders Forum (FELF) which attracted 50 students from member universities across the region. Recommendation of the conference were circulated at the close of the event. http://bit.ly/2Sr4W0l
Media coverage, Beirut, November
AFED report and conference received favorable reviews, covered by over 60 media networks.
Samples of print media coverage can be accessed through this link: http://bit.ly/2E1Xg0O
Sample of TV reports can be accessed through this link: https://youtu.be/wJyq7bhUOuY
Sample of radio reports from Monte Carlo: http://bit.ly/2QA55l8
Feedback from Delegates to AFED 2018 Conference, Beirut, November-December
AFED Secretariat received positive feedback from delegates who attended the conference and organizations which received the report. One message from an international organization described the report as “a piece of art, impressive in methodology, content and set of actions.” A selected list of messages can be viewed on the following link: http://bit.ly/2RBv0pM
AFED report at SwitchMed Connect 2018, Barcelona, 13-15 November
The third edition of SwitchMed Connect, the joint EU-UNEP program, gathered over 400 leading start-ups and entrepreneurs, together with policy and financial institutions, who met in Barcelona to discuss the "Circular Economy in Action in the Mediterranean." Najib Saab, AFED Secretary General presented the main findings of AFED 2018 report and the recommendations of the annual AFED conference. Young entrepreneurs from SwitchMed had presented their vision and action on green economy at AFED conference in Beirut. http://bit.ly/2zOdY0F
AFED at the annual meeting of Green Growth Knowledge Platform: Transition to Green Growth, Paris, 27-29 November
Inclusive Solutions for Green Transition was the topic of the annual meeting of Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP), hosted this year by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. AFED Secretary General Najib Saab talked about the relation between Energy Pricing and Competitiveness. His conclusions concurred with those of researchers from the World Bank, OECD and Berlin University that realistic higher prices of energy, when applied in a just manner, trigger efficiency and innovation, and ultimately boost sustainable economy and better quality of life. Findings of AFED report on Financing SDGs were also discussed with delegates. OECD had participated in the latest AFED report and conference on Financing Sustainable Development. AFED is a founding member of the GGKP http://bit.ly/2BTiQDj
AFED at ESCWA conference on Curbing Illicit Financial Flows, Beirut, 28-29 November
ESCWA organized an International Conference on “Financing Sustainable Development: Curbing Illicit Financial Flows” on 28-29 November 2018, in Beirut, during which AFED presented its annual report on “Financing Sustainable Development in Arab Countries”. Dr. Ibrahim Abdel-Gelil, AFED senior advisor and report co-author, presented the main findings of the report during the session on “Private Finance, Development Cooperation, Trade and Debt Sustainability”. AFED report was also distributed to all delegates. ESCWA had contributed the overview chapter of AFED report and actively participated in AFED conference, crowning years of cooperation. http://bit.ly/2SuuMkd
