Spatial development objectives should complement the overarching direction of economic and social debates, said Alex Kremer, principal author of "Poor Places, Thriving People: How the Middle East and North Africa Can Rise above Spatial Disparities," during a panel discussion at the Dubai School of Government.
Kremer added Dubai is a good model of a city that has leveraged its endowments to produce a metropolis and, subsequently, an international business hub.
Drawing upon the participation of an elite group of thought leaders, the session focused on policy issues for promoting human development, connecting and facilitating economic clusters in lagging areas, and exploring institutional arrangements for local and spatial development.
The panel discussion analyzed topics including education, health and social protection, transport, telecommunications and information technology links, institutions and systems for local development through territorial development planning, as well as needs-based allocations of fiscal resources, deconcentration, decentralization and area-based programs.
Alex Kremer said: "During the two-day panel discussion, several regional success stories illustrated that pragmatic actions can overcome geographic disadvantages. The economic and social problems that are faced by a particular zone in the region can be relevant to other countries. It is particularly important to understand that the countries which succeeded in overcoming their disadvantages were better able to focus on the development of human capital, connectivity and local competitiveness.
"Dubai stands as an excellent model. Despite numerous disadvantages, it has overcome these problems by educating its population, connecting to the world and linking business and government. Although no country in the MENA region is the same, we have to look at the success stories and use them as learning examples for others to follow."
The panel discussion coincided with the launch of a World Bank report at DSG titled "Poor Places, Thriving People: How the Middle East and North Africa Can Rise above Spatial Disparities." The report presents a policy agenda to minimize the development gap between leading and lagging areas and mitigate spatial disparities in light of the growing agglomeration in the region.
The event was attended by members of the research and policy community in the MENA region. Experts including Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Vice-President (MENA) of World Bank, and Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government, took part in the two-day event along with other prominent individuals.
Dr. Tarik Yousef said: "The report and panel discussion on social disparities bring focus attention on several important matters that are unique to the region. We thank the World Bank for launching their report and conducting the two-day discussion at DSG. It should serve as a tool for our policy makers to make decisions and overcome the gaps between living standards in the region."
Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is committed to the creation of knowledge, dissemination of global best practices and the training of policy makers in the Arab world. It conducts various programmes that seek to promote good governance through enhancing the region's capacity for effective public policy.
