NGO launches project to boost democratization in Arab world by focusing on socioeconomic policies

Beirut: "You cannot postpone the advancement of socioeconomic issues because

of the current political situation," says Ziad Abdel Samad, executive director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND). The ANND held a news conference on Friday to officially launch its latest project, entitled "Democratic Reform in the Arab region: A Focus on Socioeconomic Policies."

The ANND has been an active presence in focusing on regional issues ranging from trade and globalization to the role of democracy, human rights and social issues since its establishment in 1996.

"Our goal is to achieve an open dialogue between government, civil society and the media on issues relating to socioeconomic reform," said Cynthia Abi Rached, project coordinator for the ANND.

The network coordinates with 35 NGOs from 11 different Arab countries and has worked extensively toward promoting the role of civil society and improving democratic processes in the region.

Lebanon continues to be a focal point for the ANND's programs for political and democratic reform, but the organization has similar goals in otheer Arab countries as well .

"The focus of democratization in Arab countries has always been on political reform rather then socioeconomic issues, such as healthcare and the right to work," Abi Rached said.

The ANND's latest initiative aims at revitalizing democratic development within the Arab region and addressing civil society issues. The UN Democracy Fund, which itself was set up to support democratization, has made a pledge to finance the groups latest project.

"The project aims at strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations to be effective contributors - in principle and practice - to democracy and reform processes and consequently reinforce the fragile democratic process in the Arab region and thus both development and human rights realities," Samad said.

He said these goals cannot be achieved without a "constructive collaboration and potential partnership between the various stakeholders - governmental institutions, civil society, media, and private sector."

"Such processes are vital for the development of a strong and coherent understanding of, and position from, the democratization challenges [that] are facing the Arab region and initiating effective and efficient means and models to deal with these challenges," Samad added.

The ANND believes in the role of the media as a vital tool for bridging dialogue between parties on all levels and accelerating the democratic momentum in the Arab region. "The involvement of the media is very important to the process of our development," Abi Rached said.

"We depend on the media to be full partners with us and help us raise awareness," she added.

For Samad, both Arab and international institutions are not fulfilling their responsibilities in bringing reform to the region.

"The current political situation in Lebanon can't stall efforts to bring about socioeconomic change and it shouldn't," he said.

Given the political situation in Lebanon, Samad felt that the lack of media attention was inopportune given seriousness of the issues addressed.

Abi Rached concurred: "The current political situation in Lebanon does have an impact on our project. Support from civil society as well as the media lessens under the tense situation we are going through."

The project to address socioeconomic policies comes at a time when issues like public debt, poverty, and unemployment are on the rise in Lebanon. Given the impact of these issues combined with the current political instability, it is hard for the group to see any positive resolution in any direction.

In a written press release, the ANND emphasized that such challenges "need to be addressed not only by governments, but also by the private sector, civil society, and international organizations, such as the United Nations."