Page 39 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

iData Platform in Iraq Pioneers Data-Driven Innovation for Sustainable

Development

Data digitalization is crucial for driving The iDATA platform, powered by KAPITA addresses this gap by aggregating official
informed policies and sustainable Business Hub, aims to revolutionize data from the Iraqi government and the
development in Iraq, enabling faster data access and utilization across both World Bank, and presenting it through user-
analysis for evidence-based decision- public and private sectors. It stands as friendly, interactive dashboards. Currently,
making, fostering transparency, and a testament to the capabilities of local iDATA features six dashboards, including
bridging information gaps across various solutions in addressing critical issues, the State Budget Dashboard, the Country
sectors. The UNDP Accelerator Lab in such as youth unemployment, ecosystem Profile Dashboard, and the Digital Economy
Iraq has supported the expansion of the development, and education reform. One Actors Mapping in Iraq Dashboard. These
iDATA platform, an initiative that aligns of the most persistent barriers to growth tools have already attracted significant
with the Lab’s mission to explore, test, in Iraq is the lack of accessible, reliable, user engagement, with over 1,000 visitors
and scale local solutions to the country’s and interactive data. Key sectors, including during the first week of the platform’s beta
most pressing development challenges. education, entrepreneurship, and digital launch. The iDATA platform is more than
In an era where data drives progress, transformation, often suffer from data just a digital tool—it’s a transformative
Iraq is making significant strides through scarcity, which hinders stakeholders from initiative that has the potential to reshape
homegrown solutions that place data at fully understanding ecosystem needs and Iraq’s data and innovation landscape. By
the heart of innovation and development. opportunities. The iDATA platform directly centralizing sectoral data and presenting it
in an accessible, interactive, and actionable
format, iDATA empowers policymakers,
researchers, entrepreneurs, and citizens
to make more informed decisions.
To further enhance the platform, the
UNDP Accelerator Lab supported the
development of two new dashboards: The
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Dashboard:
Tracks startup activities, investment trends,
innovation hubs, co-working spaces, and
regulatory frameworks, becoming an
essential resource for understanding
and strengthening Iraq’s startup
environment. The Education Ecosystem
Dashboard: Provides insights into student
demographics, university specialization,
skill development, and technology
integration in education, aiming to bridge
the market-skill gap that contributes to high
youth unemployment rates in Iraq.

Morocco Highlights Digital Transformation Progress at Regional Congress in

Jordan

Morocco’s strides in digital transformation organized by Jordan’s Telecommunications 2024. This strategy aims to drive digital
were showcased at the regional congress Regulatory Commission in partnership economic growth, develop local tech
“Towards a Digitally Accessible Arab with the UN Economic and Social solutions, create jobs, and fast-track the
Region – ICTs for All 2025,” held in Amman, Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) digitization of public services. Key elements
Jordan. Safaa El Alaoui, Head of the and the International Telecommunication of the roadmap include modernizing public
Universal Digital Access Service at the Union (ITU), focused on promoting digital administration, enhancing interoperability
Moroccan Digital Development Agency accessibility across the Arab region. El between services, improving the user
(ADD), presented the country’s strategic Alaoui highlighted that the ADD’s roadmap experience, and fostering digital adoption
roadmap for advancing digital inclusion and aligns with Morocco’s “Digital Morocco among citizens, especially vulnerable
public service digitalization. The congress, 2030” strategy, launched in September populations.

39 MAY 2025