Latest news with #UNDP
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Strengthening the global fight against corruption: G20 ACWG meets in Brazil
Brazil's Minister of State for the Office of the Comptroller-General, His Excellency Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, delivered the keynote address, stressing the significance of inclusive approaches in anti-corruption efforts. He underscored the complex nature of corruption, requiring diverse perspectives and expertise. Carvalho called for a multi-agency strategy, urging the involvement of civil society, academia, and the private sector in shaping effective anti-corruption policies. At the heart of the meeting were the discussions of the draft G20 High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. These draft principles aim to provide a framework for G20 countries to manage seized assets, closing gaps identified by the ACWG to strengthen asset recovery. The group also considered the Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration, encapsulating the commitment of G20 countries to address corruption through prevention. This draft will be presented for adoption at the ACWG Ministerial Meeting to be held in Mpumalanga in October 2025. In addition to the main sessions, a side event — co-hosted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) — was held on measuring integrity in public procurement, exploring challenges in quantifying corruption, and the need for evidence-based methodologies. The UNDP announced that it was establishing a framework for measuring integrity, collecting data from 60 countries by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to provide objective tools to gauge the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Another side event — co-hosted by EL PACTO 2.0, a partnership with the EU focused on justice and security — was held to address the preventive dimension in the fight against corruption and new forms of organised crime. The G20 ACWG and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery held a joint meeting aimed at supporting the shared commitment to combatting the bribery of foreign public officials in international transactions. The second G20 ACWG meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange views, share experiences, and deepen understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption through the lens of the SA presidency's theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability'. The ACWG acknowledged that there remained considerable work ahead to fully realise the deliverables committed to at the start of the year, including timely responses to the questionnaires, substantive inputs towards the draft Ministerial Declaration, and the High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. Through these efforts, the G20 ACWG seeks to instil confidence in its commitment to combatting corruption and promoting sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. As SA and Brazil lead this charge, the hope is that the momentum generated from this meeting will translate into tangible actions that resonate beyond borders, creating a global environment where corruption has no place.
Mid East Info
20 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.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible knowledge impact in its first phase
Dubai, UAE - 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. For more information about the Future Skills Academy and to register for upcoming cohorts, please visit the website:
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Water Security' initiative: Coca-Cola Foundation partners with MGPO, UNDP
ISLAMABAD: A global philanthropic arm of a multinational beverage company partnered with Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization (MGPO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan has jointly launched Water Security and Building Resilience for Mountain Communities' initiative. This partnership aims to help ensure sustainable water access for agriculture and daily use, integrating water resource management for food security, ecosystem restoration, and community stewardship to promote sustainable use of water. Recognising this urgent need, the Coca-Cola Foundation partnered with MGPO and UNDP in Pakistan to launch the 'Water Security and Building Resilience for Mountain Communities' initiative. This partnership aims to help ensure sustainable water access for agriculture and daily use, integrating water resource management for food security, ecosystem restoration, and community stewardship to promote sustainable use of water. With a generous contribution of $120,000 from, 'The Coca-Cola Foundation' covering more than 80 percent of the project cost — a robust irrigation system was developed to serve not only Tholdi but also neighbouring areas, including Daghoni and Siksa. A 9,900-foot-long water transmission system now delivers water through 7,700 feet of underground piping and 2,200 feet of open, paved channels, minimizing water loss, and significantly improving agricultural productivity. Sourced from glacial melt, snow, and a perennial spring, the water is stored in a 7,000-gallon covered catchment chamber before being distributed through a gravity-fed irrigation system. As a result, 238 hectares of land are now irrigated, including 91 hectares that were previously barren, enabling the cultivation of wheat, corn, barley, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes. According to the MGPO, previously, nearly 50 percent of the water was lost due to transmission inefficiencies, leaving fields dry and limiting agricultural productivity. The inadequate water supply also prevented the community from utilising existing land to its full potential. The initiative has empowered 2,100 people with reliable water access for agriculture, helping improve their chances for better livelihoods and household income; economically uplifted 1,000 people, by expanding farming opportunities and transformed barren land into productive fields, contributing to environmental restoration. Community-led afforestation initiatives developed with plans to plant over 20,000 trees across the region. The life-changing water pipeline is ensuring year-round water availability for non-potable domestic use, a critical need during the harsh winter months when other water sources freeze. According to Aisha Khan, CEO of MGPO, 'I would say that with this new irrigation, previously barren lands are now producing crops. There has also been tree plantation. The local community has access to around 800 canals in the valley and every year they say they will plant more trees to increase forest cover and counter climate change.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Science
- Business Recorder
Rethinking Pakistan's water crisis through data-driven action
Can Pakistan's plastic waste really stack up to twice the height of the K2? That's the claim made in 'Rethinking Pakistan's Relationship with Plastics1'report by the UNDP Innovation Accelerator Lab (2021). The report states that Pakistan generates 3.9 million tons of plastic waste annually, enough, it says, to form a pile 16,500 meters high, or twice the height of the K2, the second highest mountain on Earth. As a researcher committed to scientific integrity, I decided to test this striking metaphor using basic volumetric analysis. Let's start with the numbers. The average density of mixed plastic waste is approximately 900 kilograms per cubic meter. Using the basic formula for volume (Volume = Mass ÷ Density), we can estimate the total space this waste would occupy. For example, 3.3 million tons of plastic waste, equivalent to 3.3 billion kilograms, would occupy about 3.67 million cubic meters. Now, imagine stacking this volume vertically on a square base measuring 100 meters by 100 meters, roughly the size of a city block. Using simple math (Height = Volume ÷ Area), the UNDP estimate would produce a plastic tower about 367 meters high. Even with this higher UNDP estimate, the pile wouldn't reach even 5% of K2's height of 8,611 meters, let alone the 16,500 meters claimed. If we instead use the more recent 2-million-ton estimate from the SWITCH-Asia 'Plastic Policies in Pakistan (2025) report', it will take up approximately 2.22 million cubic meters and the pile shrinks further to just 222 meters in height.2 For perspective, even if we consider K2's topographic prominence, how much it rises above its immediate surroundings, which is 4,017 meters3, the plastic stack will still fall drastically short. In fact, you'd need nearly 18 towers of the 222-meter kind stacked on top of one another just to match K2's rise above its local terrain. While such vivid analogies may be intended to raise public awareness, they can often backfire. Exaggerated statistics presented without clear methodology risk undermining public trust and fuelling scepticism, even when the underlying concern is valid. For a country like Pakistan, whose global image is already challenged by environmental and developmental narratives, maintaining credibility is crucial. Overstated claims, no matter how well-intentioned, can weaken the impact of both research and advocacy efforts, making it harder to engage policymakers, investors, and the public in meaningful action. Environmental communication must therefore strike a careful balance between urgency and accuracy. The real crisis is not just the sheer volume of plastic waste but the systemic failure to manage and recycle it effectively. According to the SWITCH-Asia 2025 report, only 3% of Pakistan's plastic waste is currently recycled, highlighting a profound gap in sustainable waste management systems. This sobering fact, more than any metaphorical 'plastic mountain,' should guide our efforts to address the country's environmental challenges and improve its standing on the world stage. No matter whether Pakistan produces 2 million or 3.9 million tons of plastic waste yearly, it is obvious that proactive action is needed. Based on World Economic Forum, 70 percent of this waste is not handled properly4 that lead to pollution in rivers such as the Indus and burning of plastics also causes air pollution risking the health of people. What makes the crisis serious is the excess waste as well as the lacking management capabilities. Cities such as Karachi create a lot of waste and it exceeds the ability of current collection and recycling systems. The main sources are open dumps and informal recycling which increase the risk to both the environment and health.5 Such waste mismanagement also brings in major economic costs. In regions where tourism matters such as Azad Kashmir, pollution from plastic waste makes visiting less attractive, putting local jobs and important services at risk.6 Although laws banning single-use plastics have been introduced, enforcement is poor, and they do not have much impact because they are not consistently followed and monitored.7 Efforts to control plastic waste in Pakistan must involve multiple sectors collaboration. Precise waste collection and processing can be promoted with Public-Private Partnerships. Helping the informal waste sector grow through recognized cooperatives and official dealings with cities will support both good working conditions and higher recycling rates. It is important for the government to put in place a National EPR Framework, including setting achievable recycling targets to make manufacturers responsible for all core aspects of their products. Furthermore, people should be educated to reduce waste and dispose of it correctly by launching targeted campaigns. By joining waste sorting efforts, communities can take control of how their environment is managed. Additionally, SMEs play a key role in providing recycling services at the local level and can help with pioneering ideas for bigger impact. Still, to be effective, action should rely on reliable data, not on feelings or hype. A transparent and regularly updated national database is needed immediately in Pakistan to properly monitor the amount of plastic waste produced, processed and recycled. Without consistent and accurate information, policies risk falling short or, worse, diverting focus from the systemic solutions that are truly essential. For citizens, businesses, and policymakers to engage meaningfully with the plastic crisis, our starting point must be facts, not exaggerations. The mountain we face is real, but its height is measured not in meters, but in missed opportunities for sustainable change. Email: [email protected]|[email protected] Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
