New York – During the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters, the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) and the Government of Egypt co-hosted a significant event titled ‘Enabling a Digital Arab States Region to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda’. This high-level gathering focused on utilizing digital innovations to bridge the digital divide and promote sustainable development across the Arab States.
The event, known as D4SD, included ministerial-level roundtable discussions that explored the role of public and private investments in enhancing digital public infrastructure to boost economic growth and resilience. Notable announcements included a groundbreaking report in collaboration with the World Bank on Digital Public Infrastructure in the Arab States, the launch of a “Futures Skills Academy” with the Mohamed bin Rashed Al-Maktoom Foundation, and a new partnership with Emirati telecommunications giant e& to boost digital inclusion and the application of AI in climate resilience.
Abdallah Al-Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of RBAS at UNDP, emphasized the necessity of international cooperation and partnerships to achieve the SDGs by 2030. He highlighted the D4SD as a burgeoning platform that supports the UN Secretary-General’s digital roadmap and the upcoming UN Global Digital Compact.
H.E. Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, outlined Egypt’s efforts towards creating a safe and sustainable digital society. He detailed Egypt’s strategy for building a participatory, paperless digital government, enhanced by robust infrastructure that ensures comprehensive access to government services, facilitated not only online but also through Egypt Post offices and call centers to ensure inclusivity.
This year’s D4SD meeting marks the second global convocation of the partnership, which aims to foster digital cooperation in the Arab States region, share best practices, and align initiatives to create a digitally inclusive society where no one is left behind.
