The WANA Forum has embarked on an attempt to create a Social Cohesion Index that measures cohesion and factors that contribute to it in WANA countries, such as state capacity and security, equality, participation and engagement, displacement, social order, social networks, inclusion, as well as material and emotional wellbeing. Updated annually, the social cohesion index could offer state and non-state actors an analytical tool to guide the establishment of developmental priorities.
Diagnosing the problem is only the first step to solving it. For WANA to enhance social cohesion, the need for a social contract was also proposed by WANA Forum participants. A Charter has the potential to further the aims of advancing social development by promoting the concept of citizenship and equity, stimulating a process of dialogue within civil society groups and between civil society and governments.
Finally, a Regional Cohesion Fund is an important step toward establishing a more productive and forward-thinking mechanism for enabling supranational action to enhance social cohesion. Rooted in a code of conduct outlined in the Social Charter and informed by data from the Cohesion Index, the cohesion fund would advance social, environmental and economic development under the framework of sustainability.
Existing financial flows that are currently used on an ad hoc basis could be supplemented with an understanding of public policy that promotes social cohesion in all its facets. Such a regional fund, for example, can be a major financing vehicle for linking WANA to the European and Pan-Asian infrastructure networks and leapfrogging into the third industrial revolution by developing a modern green industrial base. Just as in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), social cohesion, employment, environment and economic recovery form, in reality, one cluster.
The WANA region is home to some of the earliest and most prosperous civilisations, but is also a region with a marred history of conflicts and displaced peoples. The challenges posed by demographic pressures, widespread inequalities, entrenched pockets of poverty, chronic unemployment, deeply rooted division and numerous political, sectarian and religious conflicts present a serious threat to local, national and regional stability.
Social cohesion is the intangible bond that holds members of society together and facilitates coexistence, development, progress and prosperity. It should be understood as an integral part of socio-economic development that empowers everyone. Poverty, one aspect of social fragmentation, is not merely the lack of material resources - it extends to lack of power and choice. To address the dimensions of equality and inclusion in social cohesion, the Arabic version of the Legal Empowerment of the Poor (LEOP) Report will be launched at WANA Forum 2010.
Employment and social cohesion are considered as the bottom line in the current global economic crisis. Premature declarations of victory through the trillions of dollars thrown at the World Economy have been dismissed by more sober assessments of the 10 per cent level of unemployment in wealthy nations. Within WANA, the Arab region has suffered a chronic level of unemployment of about 12 per cent. The Arab region has to create at least 70 million new jobs in the next two decades, according to a recent study by Mr. Abdlatif Al-Hamad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.1
What are the mechanisms for fostering cohesion and inclusion as opposed to division and exclusion? What is the role of the state, civil society and social networks? In the upcoming meeting in May, participants will provide examples of networks, tools and policy suggestions for enhancing social cohesion.