Page 94 - MBRF English PR Report - September 2024

initiatives, including the Digitalisation for Sustainable Development (DT4SD)
programme. This collaboration underscores the synergy between UNDP initiatives
and the Foundation's commitment to bringing about positive social change
through educational initiatives.

The academy will play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of younger
generations across sectors such as health, education, environment, governance,
and policy-making. This is particularly significant given that youth constitute
nearly half of the region's population, with nearly a quarter of this segment facing
unemployment and a still bigger proportion preparing to enter the workforce.
Recent statistics highlight the growing gap between individual skills and labour
market demands in the Arab region. Despite 70 percent of the population having
internet access since 2022, only 1.7 percent are recognised as 'digital talents.'

The Knowledge Summit is the leading annual knowledge event in the Arab world,
providing a dynamic platform to highlight insights that drive modern
technological trends and the evolving knowledge ecosystem. It brings together
leaders, experts, visionaries, and policymakers to exchange ideas, explore the
future, and address key themes from the knowledge and developmental
perspectives.

The 'Knowledge Project' is the result of a strong and strategic collaboration
between the UNDP and the MBRF. Its mission is to guarantee accessibility to
knowledge-based societies and promote sustainable development. Additionally,
the initiative seeks to facilitate meaningful dialogue and enhance awareness
around the significance of knowledge and knowledge-driven policies. It also
fosters the use of knowledge outputs, with a special emphasis on the 'Global
Knowledge Index' (GKI) as a catalyst for transformation.

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/274651409/mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-
knowledge-foundation-launches-future-skills-academy-as-part-of-the-knowledge-project