In response to the World Bank invitation, the director of the Child Protection Initiative CPI, Dr. Gamal M. Hamid attended a workshop in Washington D.C. during 16 and 17 June 2004 titled “Reaching Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Children in the MENA region”. He made a presentation under the title ‘CPI: Progress and Challenges’ which provided sufficient content and thoughts that triggered insights and comments from the audience, which will enrich the work plans for the next steps of the CPI.

The participants of the workshop included the general director of the Arab Urban Development Institute AUDI, Mayors of Amman and Sana’a and other several heads of childhood councils, World Bank officials and advisors, UNICEF and concerned NGOs. The AUDI general director and CPI director, held a series of meetings that aimed to seek support to both AUDI and CPI.

 The CPI and AUDI directors held a meeting with Mr. Michal Rutkowski, the Human resources director in MENA region where they discussed preparations for the Children and Youth Conference to be held in Dubai April 2005 as well as the joint projects and initiatives with the World Bank. They also held a meeting with Mr. Jean Louis Sarbib, Chief deputy director of the World Bank and another meeting with Mr. Christiaan Poortman, Deputy World Bank Director for MENA region.