Arab Knowledge Report 2009: Towards Productive

include search engines, hyperlinks torelevant websites, and other advancedwebsite features.• Initially, Arabic and English will beused, with other languages to be addedsubsequently.• The database will be periodicallyupdated, and its contents developedand expanded in ongoing fashion.• Access to and utilisation of thedatabase and participation in itsinteractive features will be open to allwith the exception of some specificportals where access will be restrictedto specific groups who will be issuedpasswords.• Within the database website, a specialarea will be created for the ArabKnowledge Reports that will containthe published reports, their backgroundpapers, feedback from the discussionsand opinions of database users, andnews related to the reports. This areawill also contain a special section withaccess restricted to those preparing theArab Knowledge Reports and thosedirectly concerned with them. Workin progress, guidelines, the minutes ofmeetings, announcements, and othermaterial of use for those mentionedabove during the preparatory stages ofthe Arab Knowledge Reports will beplaced in this area.• A portal for dialogue, cooperation,coordination, and learning concerningknowledge in the Arab world will beprovided within the database’s website.• The database project will hold trainingworkshops and meetings of expertsand form working teams for producersand users of knowledge data to servethe goals of the project.• Statistical professional best practice,neutrality, and impartiality will befollowed in collecting, classifying, andpresenting data as in all aspects of thedatabase, with the aim of ensuringthat it is characterised by objectivity,accuracy, and efficiency.• The project will seek to cooperate withparties interested in data and indicatorsrelated to knowledge in the Arab region.The most important of these bodiesare, on the national level, the nationalstatistical agencies, on the regional level,the Economic and Social Commissionfor Western Asia (ESCWA), and, onthe international level, UN agenciesand the World Bank.The founding and sustainabilityof the proposed database require theprovision of the services of specialistsin statistics and ICT. This is on the basisof fulltime employment, part-time work,or on a project basis. This also requiresthe provision of computer hardware andsoftware, connection to the internet, a basefor those working on the database andits equipment, and facilities for holdingmeetings and workshops. Advantage shouldalso be taken of the experience of relateddatabases such as those of the World Bank’sKnowledge Assessment Methodology,the UNDP’s Higher Education Project,the UNDP’s Programme on Governancein the Arab Region (POGAR), as wellas others at regional institutions such asthe Mohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumFoundation on account of its particularinterest in knowledge as embodied inthe Arab Knowledge Reports, which itwill publish, and in its activities relatedto writing, translation, publishing, studyopportunities, and others.ANNEX 2. PROJECT FOR A DATABASE ON KNOWLEDGE IN THE ARAB REGION255