The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UNDP Headquarters in New York alongside the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.
The agreement establishes a new framework for collaboration to enhance scalable, secure, and resilient Internet infrastructure and digital ecosystems across the Arab States and beyond. It brings together UNDP’s development mandate with RIPE NCC’s technical expertise as a Regional Internet Registry to promote inclusive digital transformation, support digital public infrastructure, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"Digital transformation is no longer a choice; it is a development imperative. Through this partnership with RIPE NCC, we are reinforcing our commitment to scalable, inclusive, and secure digital ecosystems that empower communities and accelerate SDG achievement across the Arab States and beyond", Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator, Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States.
Hans Petter Holen, CEO of the RIPE NCC, said: "At RIPE NCC, we believe that robust Internet infrastructure is the backbone of sustainable digital transformation. By working hand in hand with UNDP, we aim to build technical capacity, strengthen resilience, and ensure that connectivity serves as an engine for inclusion, innovation, and growth across the region."
The signing was part of Digital@UNGA Week and preceded the UNDP High-Level Roundtable on Digital for Sustainable Development held on Friday, 26 September, where partners announced the launch of Morocco’s Digital for Sustainable Development (D4SD) Hub. RIPE NCC CEO Hans Petter Holen contributed to the roundtable, emphasising the important role of the Morocco Hub and the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in enabling inclusive digital growth.
