In collaboration with three Iranian NGOs (namely, Hamyaran – Ghada; Nutrition, Health and Development Institution (NHDI), and Donya Child Research Center), the MENA CPI co-organized a workshop entitled "Child-Friendly Neighborhood: Holistic Development and Growth of the Child". The workshop was held at Varsho Park Auditorium, Tehran, during 8 – 9th September 2007. The objectives of the workshop were: (i) to review the status of children and institutions concerned with their welfare in Tehran as documented in an assessment conducted for the CPI by the Iranian scholar Prof. Parviz Piran; (ii) to develop a draft plan of action to enhance children's welfare through development of pilot child-friendly neighborhoods; (iii) to strengthen relationships between concerned government agencies, NGOs, regional and international organizations.
The workshop engaged about 70 participants, including the Resident United Nations Coordinator, Mr. Knut Ostby; the Deputy UNICEF representative, Ms. Patrizia Di Giovanni (both of whom addressed the workshop); representatives of Tehran Municipality, H.E. Dr. Marandi, ex-minister of Health and member of the global Social Determinants of Health Commission, as well as representatives of governmental departments and NGOs.
Dr. Gamal Hamid, CPI Director, presented the MENA CPI program to the workshop participants highlighting its objectives and key achievements. Prof. Osman Nour, CPI Consultant, and Dr. Yasir Awadelkarim, CPI Program Officer, presented a joint paper entitled Highlights of the Status of Children in MENA Cities.
The workshop was also addressed by H.E. Dr. Marandi; Dr. Ahmed Mohit, former WHO Regional Advisor; Dr. Parviz Piran, and by Dr. Robaba Sheikholeslam, Director of NHDI, and Dr. M. Baquer Namazi, Managing Director of Hamyaran-Ghada.
The workshop participants were then subdivided into three groups to discuss in depth the elements of the proposed plan of action and the collaborative arrangements needed to implement it.
On the second day the groups presented the results of their deliberations and suggestions for implementation of the plan of action. There was wide agreement on the need to adopt holistic early childhood development as a focal point for the proposed Child-friendly neighborhood program. The participants also agreed to select three neighborhoods (of different income levels) for this pilot phase of the program.
The next steps agreed upon by the workshop participants are to form a task force (led by the organizing three NGOs and including concerned governmental and other non-governmental institutions) to develop the PoA further, and to present, by the end, of the year, an advanced plan. Furthermore, the task force will strive to engage more actively key partners– particularly Tehran Municipality, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education – in formulation and implementation of the plan.