This document discusses sustainable development in the Arab world and progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It notes that while Arab countries made insufficient or moderate progress on many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they show opportunities for improvement on select SDGs like access to water, sanitation, and electricity. Achieving the holistic vision of the SDGs will require investing in human capital, resilience, infrastructure, and data systems while leveraging finance from public and private sources. Strong national implementation and localization efforts are also important for sustainable development.

1. On the Sustainable
Development Goals in
the Arab World
Oman, November 26, 2018
Mahmoud Mohieldin
Senior VP, World Bank Group

2. 12
71
1
35
1
40
6
67
5
38
0
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1
15
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67
7
36
0
11
0
8
4
12
0
10
1
18
0
9
0
3
0
5
1
7
0
7
0
4
1
11
0
7
3
16
5
23
1
11
1
2
0
7
0
2
1
13
3
17
2
11
3
37
3
28
4
20
2
12
2
14
2
27
12
52
4
40
7
28
5
34
9
77
11
88
7
40
5
58
3
27
3
33
3
25
25
2
22
0
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2
0
8
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
Arab Countries
Developing Countries
MDG1.1-
Extreme
Poverty
MDG1.9
Under-
nourishment
MDG2.1-
Primary
Completion
MDG3.1-
Education
GenderParity
MDG4.1-
Under-5
Mortality
MDG4.2-
Infant
Mortality
MDG5.1-
Maternal
Mortality
MDG7.8-
Improved
Water
MDG7.9-
Improved
Sanitation
Target Met Sufficient Progress (by 2015) Insufficient Progress Moderately Off Target Seriously Off Target Insufficient Data
Looking back: MDG progress
Comparing Arab Countries to Developing Countries

3. Demographic
transitions
Urbanization
Fragility and
violence
Climate change
Market volatility
and commodity
cycles
Technological
changes
Shifts in the
global economy
Renewed debate
about
globalization
3
Global Megatrends
Opportunities and Challenges

4. Global development agendas serve as a guide for countries to determine their national development path
MDGs (2000-2015) SDGs (2016-2030)
Goals/ Targets/Indicators 8/21/60 17/169/~230
Priority Areas Human Development Holistic: Economic, Social, Environmental
Scope Developing Countries Universal
4
The SDGs present a major opportunity for transformation

5. 5
12%
81%
87% 89%
11%
68%
88% 87%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Prevalence of undernourishment
(% of population)
People using at least basic
sanitation services (% of
population)
People using at least basic drinking
water services (% of population)
Access to electricity (% of
population)
SDG 2 SDG 6 SDG 7
Progress on select SDGs, Arab world and the World
Arab World World
How are Arab countries progressing on the SDGs?

6. Adapted from: WDR 2019 Changing Nature of Work, World Bank, 2018
Invest in resilience
(incl. social
protection)
Invest in
infrastructure
Invest in human
capital
Enablers
Achieving the SDGs
Finance Data Implementation
6
Leveraging the potential of disruptive changes requires a
comprehensive policy framework

7. Invest in human capital
The Human Capital Project
Three main objectives:
1. Build demand for more and better investments in people
2. Help countries strengthen their human capital strategies and investments for rapid
improvements in outcomes
3. Improve how we measure human capital
Three main indicators, reflecting building blocks of human capital:
1. Survival – Will kids born today survive to school age?
2. School – How much school will they complete and how much will they learn?
3. Health – Will kids leave school in good health and be ready for further learning and/or work?
"Human capital" – the potential of individuals – is going to be the most
important long-term investment any country can make for its people’s future,
prosperity and quality of life
7

8. Invest in human capital
8
Rank Economy Lower
Bound
Value Upper
bound
47 Bahrain 0.65 0.67 0.68
49 United Arab
Emirates
0.64 0.66 0.67
54 Oman 0.61 0.62 0.63
60 Qatar 0.60 0.61 0.63
73 Saudi Arabia 0.57 0.58 0.60
77 Kuwait 0.56 0.58 0.59
79 Jordan 0.54 0.56 0.58
82 West Bank & Gaza 0.54 0.55 0.56
86 Lebanon 0.52 0.54 0.55
93 Algeria 0.51 0.52 0.53
96 Tunisia 0.50 0.51 0.52
98 Morocco 0.49 0.50 0.51
104 Egypt 0.47 0.49 0.50
129 Iraq 0.38 0.40 0.41
139 Sudan 0.37 0.38 0.39
145 Yemen 0.35 0.37 0.38

9. 9
• Broadly defined as the ability to manage
the wide range of shocks and stresses
which may occur. These are categorized as
natural; technological; or socioeconomic
• Examples of investments include:
o Expansion of social protection coverage
while giving priority to the poorest people
o Strengthening of all aspects of climate
and disaster resilient development,
including coordinating institutions, risk
identification and reduction,
preparedness, financial and social
protection, and resilient reconstruction
Invest in resilience
Source: WDR 2019 ; Building Resilience Report; and Investing in urban Resilience Report

10. Invest in infrastructure
10
Source: Global Infrastructure Hub, 2018
1E+11
1.5E+11
2E+11
2.5E+11
3E+11
3.5E+11
4E+11
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Infrastructure Outlook: Africa
Current trends Investment need
Investment need inc. SDGs
1.3E+12
1.5E+12
1.7E+12
1.9E+12
2.1E+12
2.3E+12
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Infrastructure Outlook: Asia
Current trends Investment need
Investment need inc. SDGs

11. Invest in digital infrastructure
11
In low income countries, only 12 percent of people use the internet, but usage is growing.
Source: SDG Atlas 2018
1. High prices, low speed: limited
access to broadband internet
2. Good backbone networks, lack of
investment in local access;
monopolies in international access
3. Affordability constraints deepen the
digital divide across regions and
people
4. Highly concentrated markets
5. Challenges with storage capacity
6. Lack of competition in international
and data communications
7. Outdated business model
8. Lack of investment in broadband
Features of digital
infrastructure in MENA

12. 12
The role of the government is to ensure a balance and the
best use of finance for development

13. 0
2E+10
4E+10
6E+10
8E+10
1E+11
1.2E+11
ODA and FDI to the Arab World
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$)
Net official development assistance and official aid
received (current US$)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Foreign Direct Investment
(net inflows as % of GDP)
Arab World World Developing Countries
Finance will need to come from multiple sources

14. Financing sustainable development
Source: World Bank, 2018
When a project is presented, you should ask:
“Is there a sustainable private sector solution that limits public debt and contingent liabilities?” If
the answer is...
Promote such private sector solutions
•The World Bank could play an important role in supporting the government to advance
appropriate private sector solutions. i.e. though analytical support, technical assistance for
relevant reforms and capacity building, project identification and preparation support, project
structuring, and support to the government in negotiations with the private sector
Ask whether its because of:
• Policy or regulatory gaps or weaknesses? If so, provide WBG support for policy and
regulatory reforms.
• Risks? If so, assess the risks and see whether WBG instruments can address them.
YES
NO

15. 15
Consumer/ Investor
Protection
Effective Regulations
Financial
Literacy
Financial Innovation
Mobilize Savings and Allocate Investments
Legal framework to enhance trust, confidence in financial contracts and transactions
15
The role of the government is to ensure a sound financial
sector

16. 16
The SDGs are interlinked
Data is critical to understanding those relationships
Japan’s goals interlinked to SDG 1

17. Data availability is a universal
challenge
0
5
10
15
20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Seventy-eight of 169 SDG targets describe
potentially assessable outcomes for Canada
Quantified SDG target Canadian national target
Proxy target Not able to assess
17
Source: “Counting who gets Left Behind” Brookings report, 2018

18. 18
Good Data Informs Implementation
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
South Asia East Asia & Pacific Latin America & Caribbean Europe & Central Asia Middle East & North Africa
Statistical Capacity Score (scale: 0-100)

19. The role of the government is to implement robust
data systems
Source: Data for Development: An Evaluation of World Bank Support for Data and Statistical Capacity, Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank, 2018
Institutions
Based on
Organizations that
Have
Data that Are Users Who Are Data Uses
• Open data
laws
• Rights to
privacy
• Accountabilit
y to users
• Broad
outreach to
society
• Harmonized
data
conventions
• Budgetary
autonomy
• Trained staff
• Adequate
installations
• Connected
databases
• Early warning
systems
• International
partnerships
• Up to date
• Disaggregated
• Easy to manipulate
and visualize
• Accessible in
remote areas
• Georeferenced
• Contestable
• From integrated
data sets
• Connected
• Data literate
• Diverse (e.g.,
• academics, CSOs,
media, local and
central
governments)
• Planning
• Policy making
• Monitoring
• Targeting
• Research
• Advocacy
• Lobbying
• Citizen
empowerment

20. 103 countries have presented VNRs to date during
the High-Level Political Forum
8 countries presented more than once

21. High-Level Political Forum
UN mechanism for the follow up and review of SDG implementation
1. Sequencing implementation of goals within context of national priorities
2. Working in partnership to determine national development strategy
3. Coordination within governments; across and within ministries
4. Securing enough financial resources and efficiently allocating them
5. Data availability and institutional capacity
6. Localization and implementation of the goals at the local level
7. Incorporating and mainstreaming gender
8. Integrating action on climate change
Countries’ Most Frequently Identified Priority Areas*
* Based on SVPMM analysis

22. The role of the government is to enhance
localization of development
Kenya:
A government funded drought insurance
program brings satellite based insurance to
Kenyan pastoralists and farmers using
mPesa.
Indonesia:
A program is being
implemented to enhance the
capacity of local governments
to improve efficiency and
effectiveness of local public
spending.
Also implemented the PNPM
program: community driven
development
U.K. Midlands
Successful locally owned
businesses help develop local
markets, create innovation,
success and redistribution in a
self-reinforcing cycle
Colombia:
22

23. Source: Municipal Finances Handbook: Managing Local Expenditures, Morrell and Kopanyi
1. Preschool education
2. Primary and secondary school
3. Health care
4. Social assistance and poverty alleviation
5. Public order and civil protection
6. Infrastructure and public services
7. Environment protection
8. Social, cultural, recreational expenditures
9. Local economic development
10.Social housing
11.Urban development
12.Civil security
13.Transfer to sub-local government entities
14.(subsidies, grants, equity, in-kind)
15.Loan repayment
16.Interest charges
17.Guarantees called (paid by the municipality)
Sample municipal budget
1. Property tax (rates) on land and/or buildings
2. Tax on the transfer of immovable property
3. Tax on motor vehicles
4. Local sales tax and/or tax on the sale of local products (or surcharge)
5. Tax on local businesses and services
6. Tax on electricity consumption (surcharge)
7. Tax on nonmotorized vehicles
8. Tax on tourism, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment
9. Tolls on roads, bridges, etc., within the limits of the local government
10.Charges for public works and public utilities such as waste collection, drainage, sewerage,
and water supply
11.Charges for markets and rents for market stalls
12.Charges for the use of bus stations and taxi parks
13.Fees for approval of building plans and erection and re-erection of buildings
14.Fees for fairs, agricultural shows, industrial exhibitions, tournaments, and other public
events
15.Fees for licensing of businesses, professions, and vocations
16.Fees for other licenses or permits and penalties or fines for violations
17.Fees for advertisement
18.Fees on sales of animals in cattle markets
19.Fees for registration and certification of births, marriages, and deaths
20.Fees for education and health facilities established or maintained by the local government
21.Fees for other specific services rendered by the local government
22.Rent from land, buildings, equipment, machinery, and vehicles
23.Surpluses from local commercial enterprises
Expenses Revenues
23

24. The role of the government is to leverage the
impacts of technology
24
•Boundaries of the firm
Changes in industrial relations (capitalism without capital)
Demand for skills
The future of the informal economy
Scenarios of robots replacing workers
Expectations vs. perception vs. reality

25. Digital education creates
classrooms at scale and
connects world-class
teachers to students who
need them most
E-health can serve some of
the neediest patients in the
world’s hardest to reach
places
Digital financial services
provide new opportunities
for SME savings, credit,
and insurance thereby
spurring expansion
Digital payments and
monitoring enable off-grid,
renewable energy sources
to be deployed years in
advance of traditional
approaches
Source: International Finance Corporation
25
STI for SDGs

26. 26
STI for SDGs

27. World Bank strategy for MENA
27
Boost Shared ProsperityEnd Extreme Poverty
Build Human Capital
Education, skills, health, social protection,
youth and female inclusion
Digital Transformation
Research and innovation, investment in high
speed networks
Maximize Finance for
Development
Role of state, unleash private sector,
access to finance
Renewing the Social
Contract
Resilience
to Shocks
Regional
Cooperation
Recovery and
Reconstruction
Meeting the Aspirations of MENA’s Youth -
Reinventing the Economic Model
Rapid and Inclusive Job Creation for The Youth

28. 1944
International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD)
1960
International
Development
Association (IDA)
1956
International
Finance
Corporation (IFC)
1988
Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency
(MIGA)
1966
International Center for the
Settlement of Investment
Disputes
(ICSID)
The World Bank Group
lends to governments of middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries
provides interest-free loans, or credits, and grants to governments of the poorest countries
provides loans, equity, and advisory services to stimulate private sector investments in developing countries
provides political risk insurance and credit enhancement to investors and lenders to facilitate FDI in emerging
economies
provides international facilities for conciliation and arbitration of investment disputes

29. Thank You
worldbankgroup.org/sdgs
Follow us on twitter @WBG2030
Mahmoud-Mohieldin on
29