Page 48 - MBRF ENGLISH PR REPORT - November 2024

Press Release

“Today, we reach the end of the first phase of FutureSkills4All, the pioneering initiative that

provided thousands of educational and training opportunities for Arab youth and equipped
them with the best and latest digital and personal skills and expertise. We announce the

opening of registration for the second phase of the initiative, represented by the Future Skills
Academy, through which we aspire to reach 10 million beneficiaries by 2030 so that we can

continue with our partners in this project, UNDP and Coursera, to carry the message of
spreading knowledge and education and contributing to preparing future generations to face

the challenges of the future in the best possible way,” His Excellency said.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and

Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States, spoke during the meeting about the
importance of focusing on enhancing productivity and building a sustainable knowledge

economy in the Arab region, pointing out that the region suffers from low productivity, a
problem that is not limited to poor countries but extends to rich ones, where productivity

levels are equal on both sides, reflecting the urgent need for a deeper understanding of the
idea of productivity as a real addition to knowledge and the economy.

His Excellency explained that building a strong knowledge economy requires clear and
effective economic policies, in addition to a solid infrastructure that supports this approach,

stressing the need to empower youth and provide them with the necessary skills to be major
contributors to building this economy. He emphasized that the partnership with MBRF

represents a pivotal step in achieving this goal, as it contributes to opening horizons for
millions of young people who can contribute to the knowledge economy.

For his part, Dr. Andrew Ng, Chairman and Co-Founder of Coursera, stressed that the

platform is proud to be part of this important coalition, which seeks to enhance human

capabilities and enable individuals to acquire skills that meet the requirements of the future.
He expressed his appreciation for the joint efforts made by the partners to identify the most

in-demand skills in different regions, ensuring the provision of effective training courses that
are in line with the needs of local and global markets.

Dr. Andrew explained that one of the most prominent challenges facing accelerated growth
is the large number of people who need vocational training in light of the rapid
transformations witnessed by the global economy, pointing out that achieving a strong and