Latest news with #AlDardari
Mid East Info
16 hours ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible knowledge impact in its first phase
As part of its commitment to empowering 10 million Arab learners with job market skills by 2030 The Future Skills Academy, one of the pioneering initiatives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Coursera, has recorded significant engagement and promising results in its first phase. This marks a strong start towards its mission to empower Arab learners with future-ready job market skills. The wide interaction received by the academy in its first phase underscores the growing demand for individuals to develop digital and vocational skills in the Arab world. As part of its ambitious goal, the academy aims to enable 10 million learners in the Arab region to acquire the most in-demand job market skills by 2030, targeting 25,000 learners in 2025. It offers curated courses in high-demand fields such as data analysis, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship, in addition to developing transferable skills. Within one month of its launch, the academy witnessed a surge of interest from thousands of learners across various Arab countries. Learners completed 4,721 courses, viewed more than 191,419 educational videos, read more than 126,136 educational materials, and completed over 108,568 assessments, totaling 45,385 hours of effective learning. Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP), said: 'According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, nearly 59% of the global workforce, including Arab graduates, young people, women, and marginalized groups, will require training and skills development within the next five years. With 39% of basic job market skills projected to change by 2030, the necessity to strengthen educational and vocational reskilling programs to prepare future generations for the changing requirements within the labor market is critical.' He continued: 'The Future Skills Academy is a strategic response to these shifting dynamics in the Arab region. By empowering 10 million Arab learners, including young graduates, with future skills by 2030, our academy contributes to economic recovery, enhances prosperity, and supports sustainable development through inclusive, future-focused education. With a focus on continuous learning, we seek to bridge basic skills gaps and unlock the potential of Arab talent to lead innovation.' Al Dardari also added: 'This academy not only develops skills but also enhances the competitiveness and strength of the workforce and economies in Arab countries.' His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said: 'The strong response to the academy reflects the Arab world's growing commitment to acquiring digital and professional skills as well as lifelong learning. It also underscores learners' passion and interests to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for their countries, foster sustainable development and advance a competitive, knowledge-based economy.' H.E. added: 'At MBRF, we believe that cultivating talent is the cornerstone of both intellectual and socio-economic progress. Through this initiative, we seek to empower 10 million Arabs by 2030, inspired by our wise leadership's vision to prioritize human development and knowledge advancement. In collaboration with our strategic partners, we reaffirm our commitment to empower as many young talents across the Arab world as possible, equipping them to compete and lead in the knowledge economy and sustainable development across all sectors.' Kais Zribi, Coursera's General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: 'As industries transform rapidly under the influence of technology, access to high-quality, market-aligned education is more essential than ever. The Future Skills Academy opens doors for thousands of Arab learners to gain practical, in-demand skills, supporting personal and professional growth as well as regional economic development. We are proud to partner with UNDP and MBRF on this impactful mission.' The academy builds on the earlier FutureSkills4All program, which enabled 10,000 learners to complete 15,000 training programs, totaling 114,000 hours of learning. With this new phase, MBRF and UNDP aim to deepen their impact and foster knowledge sustainability across the Arab world. The Future Skills Academy offers flexible digital learning through an advanced electronic library featuring content and programs from leading global universities and institutions. Looking ahead, the academy plans to expand its strategic partnerships, further enhance content quality and broaden access for diverse communities.
Daily Tribune
19-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
UNDP Arab States Chief to Visit Bahrain for Launch of New Development Cooperation Programme
The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Abdallah Al Dardari, will visit the Kingdom of Bahrain from April 20 to 22, marking a significant step in deepening the country's development partnership with the UN. The visit comes as Bahrain and UNDP embark on a new phase of cooperation with the official launch of the Bahrain Country Programme Document (2025–2029), which was approved by the UNDP Executive Board in January 2025. The new Country Programme outlines a roadmap to support Bahrain's national priorities, focusing on inclusive and diversified economic growth, strengthening governance and human rights institutions, and advancing environmental sustainability and climate action. These initiatives are aligned with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During his visit, Al Dardari will meet with senior government officials, civil society leaders, and development partners to discuss strategic areas of cooperation and explore ways to further deepen collaboration. Key focus areas include entrepreneurship development, climate change resilience, and data-driven policymaking. UNDP has been a long-standing development partner of Bahrain since the early 1970s, supporting the Kingdom in various sectors including human development, governance reform, youth empowerment, climate resilience, and gender equality. The visit will also serve as a platform to explore innovative partnerships, resource mobilization strategies, and opportunities for regional knowledge-sharing that can benefit other Arab states. The launch of the new cooperation cycle is expected to further strengthen Bahrain's position as a proactive player in regional development and sustainability efforts
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rebuilding the Middle East: enormous challenges, staggering costs, no peace in sight
BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 27 (UPI) -- Rebuilding the Middle East, shattered by more than 15 years of devastating wars, requires urgent, massive funding that could be stalled by reduced and conditional foreign aid, regional power struggles, the failure to end the raging conflicts and unwillingness to achieve peaceful settlements. The wars, particularly the ongoing devastation in Gaza, have caused unprecedented levels of destruction and humanitarian suffering. This also includes Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, which together constitute more than one-third of the Arab countries. Reconstruction could take decades and recovery even more, with post-war efforts needed that are described as the largest since the end of World War II in 1945. A major concern is emerging about who will finance post-war restoration and how. Can such massive funding be possible without achieving a sustainable peace settlement? And is funding the only challenge? The fear is that limited resources, reduced aid and inability to end the conflicts would only increase instability and prolong sufferings in the Arab region. Initial estimates reveal a staggering cost for rebuilding the Middle East that could range from $350 billion to $650 billion, including some $53 billion for Gaza, $11 billion for Lebanon and $400 billion for Syria. Such figures are "average estimations," according to Abdallah Al Dardari, regional director for Arab States of the United Nations Development Program. "No comprehensive on-the-ground assessments of the impacts of the conflicts have been conducted to date," Al Dardari told UPI in an interview from New York. He said that the estimations rely mostly on analyses of satellite imagery to provide approximations of the scope and scale of destruction and "mathematical modelling" to assess other impacts. They are also based on different assumptions for recovery, including assessments of physical and infrastructure damage, the time needed for reconstruction and extent of socio-economic recovery. The U.N. official noted that the cost of recovery will be "much larger," as it also requires reviving war-devastated economies, restoring efficient government functions and institutions, rebuilding social cohesion and trust, and strengthening the resilience of local communities to withstand future crises. The estimate for Gaza, for example, may refer primarily to costs related to address immediate rebuilding needs, he said. Earlier this month, Arab leaders adopted Egypt's $53 billion-plan for Gaza reconstruction in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's vision of taking over the war-ravaged Strip, rebuilding it by relocating permanently its inhabitants and turning it into a "Middle East Riviera." The idea includes a six-month recovery phase during which temporary housing would be provided for 1.5 million displaced Gazans inside the Strip, to be followed by two stages of reconstruction. The process is expected to run until 2030. According to a recent U.N. damage assessment, it could take 21 years and $1.2 billion to clear Gaza's 50 million tons of rubble caused by Israel's relentless and intensive airstrikes. In addition, the Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates that some 10,000 bodies remain buried beneath the debris. Securing the much-needed funds emerged as a major challenge after the United States and many Western countries decided to cut foreign aid. They simply have higher priorities. "In many of the traditional donor countries, we are witnessing a tide of political change that seems to be favoring national interest over international solidarity," al Dardari said. "We do live in a world of poly-crises that are requiring greater investments from leading economies, such as climate change, alongside major conflicts like the war in Ukraine." A study released in February by the government of Ukraine, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations estimated the cost of Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery after three years of Russia's invasion at $524 billion over the next decade. Would that impact reconstruction efforts in the Arab region? Expectedly, oil-rich Gulf countries would bear the burden of funding reconstruction in the region. Al Dardari emphasized that Gulf countries have "important roles" to play in supporting and financing reconstruction of war-ravaged Arab countries. "This goes beyond solidarity. ... It is an investment in stabilizing a region that is key for global peace and security and that plays important economic functions," he said, referring to UNDP's efforts to help countries build partnerships and collaborate with international bodies for "effective and inclusive rebuilding efforts." He said the focus should be on diversifying funding sources, beyond traditional donors, developing innovative development financing arrangements with international financial institutions and emphasizing the role of regional cooperation to "sustain a momentum for recovery and reconstruction." The UN official, however, warned that reduced financial support will slow the delivery of humanitarian aid, rebuilding of essential infrastructures and economic recovery, which "may prolong instability in conflict-affected Arab states." Moreover, what could further delay reconstruction is the increasing linkage of funding to political conditions and anti-corruption reforms. International and Arab donors have made it clear that disarming Hezbollah and implementing necessary reforms are prerequisites for releasing financial aid to help rebuild corruption-plagued Lebanon. Syria's conditions for sanctions relief and reconstruction include, among others, formation of an inclusive government, maintaining order, dismantling any remaining chemical weapons, combating terrorism and curbing Islamist jihadists. Gaza's situation proves to be more complicated: Hamas must relinquish its control of the Strip, stop attacking Israel and disarm, amid concerns over Israel and Trump's plan to force displacement of its population. Al Dardari emphasized that achieving political settlements "that pave the way for peace and address the most urgent life-saving humanitarian needs of populations affected by war are key priorities." Reforms, he said, are critical to restoring core government functions, revitalizing institutions, maintaining the rule of law and promoting national reconciliation. He cautioned that funding conditionalities may incentivize governance reforms, but could "reinforce political deadlocks rather than resolve them." At the end, what is needed is to address the root causes of the conflicts and prevent future violence. However, the region remains far from achieving peace and stability, as regional and international powers continue to compete for influence and control.
Emirates 24/7
11-02-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
UNDP working on designing insurance policies for broad protection for farmers in Arab region: UN official
Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has unveiled a new project targeting 100 million farmers in the Arab region. The initiative aims to design insurance policies based on climate risks specific to each area, providing broader protection for farmers, who are responsible for producing 70% of the region's food supply. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the first day of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai, Dr. Al Dardari stated that the first insurance policy for farmers is expected to be issued before the end of 2025, with the project set to be officially announced during the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, in July. He explained that the project is a coalition comprising dozens of governmental and private entities as well as global insurance companies, allowing the insurance coverage to expand as more organisations join the alliance. Dr. Dardari highlighted that the UNDP allocates approximately $900 million annually in aid and grants to Arab countries for climate change, economic management, and human development, making it a key development partner in the region. Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), Dardari emphasised that it has become an essential tool for achieving high growth rates. He pointed out that AI contributes to nearly 70% of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On UNDP's participation in the summit, Al Dardari affirmed that the organisation regularly takes part in the World Government Summit and expressed his pride in representing the UN Secretary-General this year. He noted that the UNDP has extensive partnerships with various summit participants, including governments and the private sector. Among these partnerships is a strong collaboration with e& to enhance the region's digital infrastructure, as well as cooperation with the UAE's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence to build an AI knowledge base. Additionally, there is an agreement with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to develop advanced AI models tailored to the Arab region. Al Dardari further highlighted one of UNDP's key projects in the UAE—the Global Knowledge Index, which helps shape technology and knowledge economy policies worldwide, including in Arab countries. He also revealed plans to sign two additional agreements with UAE government institutions to further strengthen developmental cooperation in the region. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
