Middle East / North Africa and the Millennium Development Goals ...

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Markus Loewe
Overview 4 continued: Strategy papers of selected MENA countries that may
have been prepared under the influence of the MDGs or the world conferences
of the 1990s
Country Strategy papers and the goals they set out
Palestinian
Territories:
– National Plan of Action for Palestinian Children (1995):
Translation of the Declaration of the World Summit for
Children into national goals
– National Health Strategic Plan 1999–2003: Improvement of
the quality of the healthcare system, improved healthcare
with a special focus on reproductive health and the health of
children and youths
– The Five-year Education Plan 2000–2005: Development of
capacities in the education sector, improvement of school
curricula, improvement of school enrolment rates for girls
Syria
Tunisia: – Stratégie Nationale de développement durable / Agenda 21
national (1995): Improved water management, protection of
biodiversity, desert protection, air pollution control
– Stratégie Nationale pour la réduction de la mortalité maternelle
(1999): Accelerated reduction of maternal mortality
rates (first positive effects already visible)
Source: Egypt: PARC (2002). Jordan: Jordan MOPIC / UN (2004).
Lebanon: UN (2003a). Morocco: Royaume du Maroc (2003). Palestinian
Territories: UN (2002a). Syria: Syrian Arab Republic (2003).
Tunisia: UN (2003b)
As far as Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Morocco are concerned, observers note
that what is lacking is less official ambition in formulating goals than resolve
when it comes to translating them into practice (ESCWA 2005;
PARC 2002; Republic of Yemen 2003; UN 2003a; UN 2003b). As early
as in 2003 e.g. the Moroccan government presented a national MDG report,
repeatedly emphasizing the great importance it attaches to the Millennium
process in Morocco. But the implementation process is proceeding
at a far slower pace than many observers would have expected (GTZ /
KfW 2005b). To cite an example, Morocco’s recent literacy program was
very slow in getting underway. The case is similar in Jordan, where several
initiatives aimed at improving the legal status of women ran out of
steam before they had reached their objectives. In many cases official
planning documents are prepared purely for strategic reasons and are
German Development Institute