Page 10 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

The Arab States Digital Day at MWC 2024

UNDP and SAMENA Telecommunications Council Forge Digital Alliance to
Accelerate Progress on Digital-led Sustainable Development in the Arab
States

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
SAMENA Telecommunications Council announced the signing
of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on
advancing Digital for Sustainable Development (“D4SD”) initiative
in the Arab region.

Effective collaboration among governments, private sector, and
international organizations is vital for advancing sustainable
development initiatives. In this context, the partnership between
UNDP and SAMENA Telecommunications Council under the D4SD
initiative aims to leverage digital technologies to address key
sustainable development challenges in the Arab region. Through
this collaboration, both organizations are committed to working
towards promoting digital inclusion, advocating for sustainable
development goals, and enhancing connectivity and digitalization
initiatives in the region.

The Parties have identified several areas of cooperation under
the D4SD initiative including collaboration on leveraging digital
technologies to improve access to education, healthcare,
essential services, and foster digital innovation in the Arab region.
The MoU also aims to work towards ensuring accessibility of
digital technologies to all, especially underserved communities,
through initiatives focusing on digital literacy and connectivity
enhancement.

Both organizations aim to jointly advocate for the promotion of the
SDGs, with a focus on green ICT development, reduction of carbon
emissions, and engagement with governments, businesses, civil
society, and other stakeholders.
Council to be important for building the region’s digital economies.
The MoU also includes knowledge sharing and capacity building He stated, “Digital inclusion can be strongly accelerated by
activities and connectivity and digitalization initiatives. engaging multiple stakeholders and building capacity to adopt and
aid new collaborative approaches across multiple areas of digital-
Ms. Marina Walter, Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy development endeavor. This collaboration between SAMENA
Regional Director for UNDP in the Arab States, expressed her Council and UNDP can help create such approaches and new
enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "This collaboration outcomes, in support of the region's digitalization needs going
represents a significant step towards harnessing the power of forward.”
digital technologies to accelerate progress towards sustainable
development in the Arab region. By joining forces with SAMENA The signing of the MoU between UNDP and SAMENA
Telecommunications Council, we can drive meaningful change Telecommunications Council marks the beginning of a promising
and foster innovation that leaves no one behind." partnership that seeks to leverage digital technologies for the
benefit of the Arab region, paving the way digital innovation and
Mr. Bocar BA, CEO & Board Member of SAMENA Council, considers a more sustainable and inclusive future.
the framework of collaboration between UNDP and SAMENA

10 JANUARY-MARCH 2024