The 5th MENA Development Forum tackles a series of topics on reforms in the MENA region

Panelists included H.E. Dr. Hazem Beblawi of the Arab Monetary Fund, H.E. Dr. Rima Khalaf Hunaidi of the UN Democracy Fund, Jordan and Dr. Mustapha Nabli, MENA Vice Presidency, World Bank.

The panelists discussed the importance of political reforms as a platform for achieving economic and social reforms, for political reforms could not be achieved without which freedom of speech, opinion.

Friday's agenda continued with a series of energetic workshops and side meetings covering a broad range of topics related to MENA region reforms. The workshops included sessions on: a prospective working agenda for judicial reform; sustainable development and poverty alleviation through local governance reform and community empowerment; rethinking the role of the state; fostering the implementation of trade reforms; strengthening corporate social responsibility.

The first day also included a number of side activities covering the role of the regional youth in promoting good governance, best practices and models of change; the UN convention against corruption and related legislative reforms in the MENA region; poverty and human development trends; sustainable development of poverty alleviation through local governance reform and community empowerment; RIMES meeting.

The Forum will continue through Sunday April 9, with a number of diverse themes revolving around the issue of MENA region reforms. The Forum will include key initiatives and country case studies to include good governance, transparency, institutional reforms, legal and regulatory measures, equal gender participation and more.

MDF5, which is being held under the patronage of H.E. Fouad Siniora, Lebanon's President of the Council of Ministers, is organized by the partnership of the World Bank, MENA think tanks, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, as hosting partner, and the UNDP.