Millennium goals in focus at Qatar meet

QSA director al-Marzouqi

By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter

Qatar’s first Forum of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that concluded yesterday successfully engaged all key stakeholders like governmental agencies and  international bodies such as the UN, said Qatar Statistic Authority (QSA) director of administration and finance Mohamed Ali al-Marzouqi.

More than 100 participants representing governmental, non-governmental and international organisations participated in the two-day event,  organised by the QSA in co-ordination with the Diplomatic Institute.

The forum discussed a wide variety of issues, including the role and achievements of government bodies in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and what would be the next phase after all MDGs are achieved by 2015.

Al-Marzouqi, who spoke with Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event, said the main objective was engagement with stakeholders. He was pleased that Qatar already had done well in reaching  most of the MDGs.

However, challenges remain and the State of Qatar was doing its best to deal with them. “Progress doesn’t mean [we don’t have] challenges. We are facing challenges as a normal practice. If there were no challenges, then there would no work to be done,” he said.

One of the main challenges highlighted was concerning women participation. “[One of the challenges is] to empower the women and engage them in political procedures. That percentage is still less than four percent,” he said.

He praised HH the Emir and HH Sheikha Moza for their support, especially in empowerment of women and improving the education and health of citizens.

“It is now about us, the Qatari people, to react effectively, to act positively, to explore more opportunities in helping more people to participate [in government programmes and initiatives,]” he added.

At the end of the forum, a number of recommendations were made, including clarifying the role of the National Development Strategy (with regards to the period between 2011 and 2016); it was suggested that the execution of the strategy should be in sync with the MDGs. Adoption of initiatives that tackle Qatar’s challenges Qatar faces in realising the MDGs, especially those concerning human development, women participation in public life and environment sustainability were also one of the recommendations.

It was also suggested that all governmental bodies and NGOs should adhere to the MDG objectives by providing accurate data.

Also, a national work team headed by the QSA and including officials and experts from various institutions would be made which would prepare the next phase of development after 2016. The team was recommended to submit periodic reports to the secretary general of the Council of Ministers.

One other suggestions made was to connect the government initiatives and programmes with the UN goals in four key areas, including education, youth, immigration and media. Adoption of new innovative ways that contribute to fighting poverty, spreading education and improving health of children and women was also discussed.

The forum also recommended the early preparation for issuing the fifth National report of the MDGs in order to avoid shortage of data. An in depth research and analysis of Qatar’s foreign policy in assisting foreign countries, especially poor countries in the Arab region was also called for.

It was also decided that Qatar should convene another forum to state its level of commitment to realise the MDG objectives.