ESCWA is the main general economic and social development forum within the United Nations system for the ESCWA region. It aims to promote economic and social development in Western Asia through regional and subregional cooperation and integration. It was originally called the Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) and then renamed the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in order to acknowledge more fully the social aspect of the Commission’s activities.
The main activities of ESCWA include:
- formulating and promoting development assistance activities and projects to meet the needs and priorities of the region.
- preparing economic and social studies and reports
- organizing meetings and training workshops as well as field projects
- coordinating with major departments/offices of the United Nations at Headquarters and with specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations in order to avoid duplication and ensure synergy and exchange of information.
The majority of ESCWA’s activities are regional in dimension. There are, however, a limited number of activities that are country-specific, but have regional implications. ESCWA implements its activities through several divisions which include the Globalization and Regional Integration Division (GRID), ESCWA Center For Women (ECW), Social Development Division, Sustainable Development and Productivity Division, Information and Communication Technology Division, and the Economic Analysis Division.
ESCWA publishes recurrent reports, surveys, studies, manuals and handbooks related to economic and social development issues in the region.
The ESCWA website includes more information about these publications as well as details about ESCWA activities. The website features an online catalogue of publications. Selected publications can be downloaded, while other publications can be ordered online. The ESCWA and the UN newsletter, as well as press releases and the ESCWA weekly news are also downloadable through the website. Other features of the website include:
- an online ESCWA Library catalogue available in Arabic and English, including summary descriptions of ESCWA publications
- events and conferences related to ESCWA
- information about job openings available at the ESCWA headquarters
- links to other ESCWA networks and programs.