Civil Society Consultation Workshop on the new UNSDCF for Bahrain

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain, Mr Khaled El Mekwad, has stressed the role of civil society in shaping an inclusive, sustainable, and safe society for all.

Speaking at a civil society consultation workshop organised on 29 April by the United Nations in Bahrain and the Bahrain Center for Strategic International and Energy Studies (Derasat), El Mekwad emphasised the importance of engaging civil society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Civil society is always looking for better engagement with the United Nations system, and it is essential for the United Nations to listen to, coordinate with, and engage with civil society," he said. 

The workshop was held as part of stakeholder consultations for developing the 2025-2029 United Nations Strategic and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Bahrain (UNSDCF). Participants were given an opportunity to contribute ideas and discuss potential collaborations in support of sustainable development initiatives.

"Your input is not just valuable, it is crucial. It will help us determine how we can best help Bahrain achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline," El Mekwad told the participants, briefing them on the preparations for the upcoming Summit of the Future (18-23 September 2024), including the United Nations Civil Society Conference that will be organised in Nairobi, Kenya on 9-10 May. 

Dr. Hamad Ebrahim Al-Abdulla, Executive Director of Derasat, highlighted the Centre's strategic partnership with the United Nations and emphasised the Centre's commitment to actively contributing to the global sustainable development agenda.