Several modern technologies lend themselves to novel enterprise and employment creation, and subsequently, poverty reduction. Through well-designed and integrated packages of modern technology inputs impoverished communities may be improve their competitiveness and profitability on the national and international markets. Several modern technologies will also be essential for economic diversification, a key issue for many developing countries throughout theMiddle East.

This presentation will describe recent community-targeted initiatives undertaken by UN-ESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) in selected member countries and will also look at possibilities for expanding the scope of present activities in order to achieve wider benefits for other countries in the region.