IN THIS ISSUE:
EVENTS
1. Gender
2. Machreq-Maghreb/Environment
3. Machreq-Maghreb/ICT
NEWS
1. Gender
2. Gender/ICT
3. Human Rights
4. ICT
5. Lebanon
6. Machreq-Maghreb/Economics
REPORTS & BOOKS & ARTICLES
1. Gender
2. ICT/Governance
3. Machreq-Maghreb/Gender
4. Machreq-Maghreb/ICT
WEBSITES & RESOURCES
1. Gender
2. NGOs/Volunteers
3. People with Disabilities

EVENTS
1. GENDER:
Gender and ICT Awards
"Nominations will be accepted from Feb. 15 until April 30, 2005. Winners will be selected and announced in August. The target beneficiaries of the project must be women and/or girls. Special attention will be given to projects initiated by women themselves. The focus is on ICT initiatives that promote women's  economic empowerment. Two winners will be awarded for: Outstanding ICT  Project for Women's Economic Empowerment, cash prize is $8000."
http://www.un-instraw.org/mailman/listinfo/gainsnet

2. MACHREQ-MAGHREB/ENVIRONMENT:
Morocco: Advancing Implementation on Water and Energy
The 2nd International Forum on Partnerships for Sustainable Development is being organized by the
Moroccan Ministry of Territory Planning, Water and Environment (MATEE) in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA). The event will take place in Marrakesh on 21-23 March, 2005. For information about registration contact:
http://www.moroccoforum.org/

3. MACHREQ-MAGHREB/ICT:
Cairo: International Forum on Advancing ICT
Solutions for Development by the Global Knowledge Partnership
“The Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) will be organizing an international forum on cross-sector
partnerships for the advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions for development. The event is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Egypt) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. It is co-sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation. Professionals and leaders from businesses civil society groups, government and research institutions are invited to participate in the forum and to engage in discussions, presentations and to showcase related work.” The event will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Cairo on 4-5 May 2005.
http://www.globalknowledge.org/

1. GENDER
Call For Papers: Gender Equality in Economics "The International Training Center for Women celebrates its 15 year anniversary this year and invites participants to contribute to the third global conference. I.T.W. is an independent non-governmental organization run by and for women. I.T.W. welcomes papers, max. 250 words on the following workshops: employment, entrepreneurship, government policies and strategies for engendering economics."  www.awid.org

2.  GENDER/ICT
Crossing Feminism and ICT Technology
"Women's Information Technology Transfer launched today a portal site to link women's organizations and feminist advocates on the internet in Eastern and Central Europe." http://www.witt-project.net/

3. HUMAN RIGHTS
Indigenous Peoples Council on Bio-colonialism (IPCB)
“The IPCB is organized to assist indigenous peoples in the protection of their genetic resources,
indigenous knowledge, cultural and human rights from the effects of biotechnology.

”http://topics.developmentgateway.org/environment/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032519?int%20cmp=700&itemId=1032519

4. ICT
Persians Blogging Round the Globe
"For Iranians living outside of Iran, the internet has become a lifestyle; a way not  only to stay in touch with friends and family back home but also to stay connected to Iranian culture no matter where they are."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ict/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032653?intcmp...

Iranian Reform: Politician Goes Online
Iranian authorities have been clamping down on growing popularity of web-blogs. One reform politician has been reaching out to the youth through the  access of the internet. The government is trying to restrict access to major blogging sites from within the country. This reform politician remains popular."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ict/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032817?intcmp...

5. LEBANON:
Policy Outlook: Lebanon's New Political Moment
"In the wake of mounting political tensions in Lebanon after the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, Julia Choucair, the Carnegie Endowment's assistant editor to the Arab Reform Bulletin, chronicles events and challenges facing Lebanese civil society and it's political system. For more on Choucair's policy outlook: 'Lebanon's New Political Moment is available at:
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/programs/global/index.cfm?fa=proj&id=10...

6. MACHREQ-MAGHREB/ECONOMICS:
MENA-OPED Investment Program
“The MENA-OPED Investment Program seeks to mobilize investment- foreign, regional and domestic as a driving force for growth, stability and prosperity   in the MENA region. The program aims at helping upgrade investment policy.”
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/fdi/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032506?intcmp...

1. GENDER:
Developing Power: How Women Transformed International Development
"In this book, Developing Power, women from around the world tell how they fought to ensure that the
unprecedented political and economic changes in the   developing world would benefit women as well as men. Published by Feminst  Press, New York"
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/culture/rc/ItemDetail.do~1031794?in...

2. ICT/GOVERNANCE:
E-Newsletter: Dubai School of Government
“The Dubai School of Government is a leading Knowledge Institution. This issue of the newsletter
talks about how the Dubai School of Government, the first institution in the region dedicated to the study of public sector management, is set to enhance public governance and national growth.”
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/egovernment/rc/ItemDetail.%20%20%20...

3.MACHREQ-MAGHREB/GENDER:
Outlook for Women in Iraq: Uncertain on International Women's Day
"A recently released report from Amnesty International calls on Iraqi authorities and members of the National Assembly to ensure that the new constitution and all Iraqi legislation contain prohibitions
on all forms of discrimination against women."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/gender/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032575?int...

U.S. Projects for Women in Iraq
"A Press release from the US State Department (22 Feb. 05) describes recent   initiatives in Iraq that have supported the participation of Iraqi women in the  democratic process, the training and education of women and women's health issues."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/gender/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032098?int...

Women's Rights in the Arab World
"This paper discussed the status of women in marriage and family law which includes numerous aspects relevant to women's issues and status. The paper points out possibilities for reform processes."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/gender/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032557?int...

4. MACHREQ-MAGREB/ICT:
New Publication: Building the Information Society in the Arab Region
"Committed in helping the Arab region's countries on their way to social, political  and economic development UN-ESCWA published a new study entitled: "Proposed Regional Plan of Action for Building
the Information Society." The study acknowledges and seeks to build upon all such efforts in promoting an integrated plan of action for a future information society in the Arab region.
http://www.escwa.org.lb/

1. GENDER
GenderStats
"This database of gender statistics and indicators provides user-friendly, menu-driven features with data in each module that is presented in ready to use formats  and country views that can be downloaded for use in reports. Genderstats is  updated as new information is available."
http://genderstats.worldbank.org/home.asp

3. NGOs/VOLUNTEERS:
New Volunteer Matching Website Launched
“Justvolunteers, a website that matches non-profit organizations and volunteers was recently launched. The site aims to help “everyone find a great place to volunteer,” and it is offered for free to support a growing community of nonprofit, volunteers and business professionals. Volunteers can enter their location by area postal code and quickly find volunteer opportunities. The service connects people to
organizations worldwide and organizations can post their opportunities free of charge.”http://www.officialwire.com/

The World Crafts Council (WCC)
"The WCC is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Its purposes are, according to strengthen the
status of crafts as a vital part of culture and economic life and to promote fellowship among craftspeople of the world, to offer themencouragement."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ngo/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032663?intcmp...

Program on Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR)
“POGAR is dedicated to the promotion and development of good governance practices and related reforms in the Arab states. The objective of this site is to provide resources on specific reforms.
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/egovernance/rc/ItemDetail.do~103226...
 

The Lebanese Villages Portal
"Baldati: My Village. Baldati is a national development and environmental and cultural association
which works to develop simple and practical methods bywhich to revive Lebanese villages, reunite their communities and institutions."

http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ngo/rc/ItemDetail.do~1032868?intcmp...

4. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Access to Water and Sanitation for Disabled People
"For the most part it has not been realized in the debate around water and sanitation that disabled people have a stake in the issue. There is a webpage that offers information on the topic."
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/foodsecurity/rc/ItemDetail.do~10323...