Minister of State for Int'l Cooperation Meets UN Under-Secretary-General, ESCWA Executive Secretary

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met with HE Dr. Rola Abdullah Hussein Dashti, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

The meeting addressed areas of cooperation between the State of Qatar and ESCWA in sustainable development, empowering the most vulnerable groups, and supporting humanitarian efforts in the region, along with a number of topics of common interest.

Strengthening International Partnerships

During the meeting, Dr. Al Misnad reaffirmed the State of Qatar's interest in strengthening its partnerships with regional and international organisations in order to achieve shared goals in development and economic prosperity.

For her part, Dr. Dashti has previously praised Qatar's active role in supporting development and humanitarian work, and emphasised ESCWA's commitment to expanding avenues of cooperation with the country.

About ESCWA

ESCWA is one of five regional commissions established by the United Nations to advance the economic and social goals set out in the UN Charter by promoting cooperation and integration between countries in Western Asia. Its region covers 18 Arab countries, including Qatar, alongside Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, the State of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The commission's work is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, spanning economic and social development, regional integration, gender and women's issues, governance and conflict, and the sustainable management and development of natural resources.

The Officials

Dr. Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad was appointed Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Amiri Decree No. 4 of 2024, and also serves as Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Fund for Development. She previously served as Minister of Social Development and Family, and has been widely recognised for her work in social responsibility and international humanitarian affairs.

Dr. Rola Dashti, a leading Kuwaiti economist and long-standing advocate for women's rights and gender equality, was appointed Executive Secretary of ESCWA by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in January 2019. She previously served as Kuwait's Minister for Planning and Development and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs from 2012 to 2014, and in May 2009 was among the first four women elected to Kuwait's parliament.

Ongoing Engagement

The meeting forms part of a pattern of sustained engagement between Qatar and ESCWA. The two sides have met previously to discuss cooperation on sustainable development and humanitarian priorities, including on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, reflecting Qatar's broader commitment to working with regional and international bodies on development and humanitarian objectives.