Page 6 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA Council On

Digital Inclusion & Transformation

During Mobile World Congress 2025, SAMENA Council Facilitates a Critical,
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue at UNDP Roundtable on Digital Inclusion &

Transformation for the Arab States

The SAMENA Telecommunications Coun- Development, and Ethical Use of Technolo- the importance of responsible governance
cil, in partnership with the United Nations gies – the session stressed that digital to prevent exacerbating existing inequali-
Development Programme (UNDP) and the transformation is no longer optional but a ties. Moreover, AI-driven solutions must be
GSMA, convened a high-level roundtable critical necessity for socio-economic prog- designed with inclusivity at their core to
session at the Mobile World Congress ress and innovation. BA called for new ensure accessibility and fairness, particu-
2025, titled "Empowering the Arab States: financing mechanisms and strengthened larly for marginalized communities. The
Advancing Digital Inclusion for a Connected partnerships between public and private discussions aligned with the objectives of
Future." The event was designed to delin- the D4SD initiative, which seeks to harness
eate the need to accelerate digital transfor- Experts called for greater digital technologies to accelerate the
mation and attain ICT maturity in the Arab achievement of the SDGs. One of the most
region to achieve the United Nations Sus- alignment in digital poli- pressing challenges discussed was the sig-
tainable Development Goals (SDGs) within cies, particularly in areas nificant financing gap in digital infrastruc-
the next five years. A central theme of the ture, estimated at $446 billion globally; an
roundtable was the need for regional policy such as data gover- issue that SAMENA Council has repeatedly
harmonization to ensure seamless digital nance, e-commerce, and highlighted over the last four years. Experts
transformation across the Arab States. such as Michael Kende of the Data Sphere
Experts called for greater alignment in digi- fintech, to create a uni- Initiative and Philippe Defraigne from Cul-
tal policies, particularly in areas such as fied digital ecosystem. len International called for innovative
data governance, e-commerce, and fintech, financing models to bridge this gap and
to create a unified digital ecosystem. Regu- Regulatory collabora- ensure that digital transformation is inclu-
latory collaboration across borders was tion across borders was sive and equitable. The importance of
highlighted as a critical enabler of digital expanding the pool of financial contribu-
inclusion, allowing for more efficient invest- highlighted as a critical tors, beyond traditional telecom operators,
ments and stronger regional cooperation. enabler of digital inclu- to include major technology firms, OTT
The roundtable brought together a diverse platforms, and cloud service providers, was
group of policymakers, international orga- sion, allowing for more stressed as essential to scaling invest-
nizations, the private sector, and efficient investments ments. The experience of the UAE, a
thought-leaders to explore actionable strat- regional leader in digital transformation,
egies for overcoming the digital divide and and stronger regional was also shared as a case study of how
fostering an inclusive digital economy in cooperation. public-private partnerships can be lever-
the Arab region, with positive implications aged to scale digital inclusion and public
on the neighboring regions. This session service delivery. The roundtable also
marked an important milestone in advanc- sectors to expand digital infrastructure and emphasized the importance of addressing
ing the Digital for Sustainable Development bridge the digital divide, particularly in the digital gender divide and youth unem-
(D4SD) Initiative, which is central to pro- underserved communities. Artificial intelli- ployment. With over 60% of the Arab
moting digital inclusion as a driver of sus- gence (AI) and other emerging technolo- region’s population under 30, ensuring that
tainable growth in the Arab States. The gies were highlighted by participants from young people are equipped with digital
opening remarks, delivered by the CEO of e& and ITU. Specifically, Dena Al Mansoori, skills for the future of work was seen as
SAMENA Council, Bocar BA, set the stage Chief AI and Data Officer at e&, and ITU BDT essential for sustainable economic growth.
by highlighting the urgency of addressing Director, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, discussed Similarly, the gender digital divide remains
digital inclusion. With a focus on the Global the transformative potential of AI in sectors a significant barrier, with women in many
Digital Compact (GDC) principles – i.e., Dig- such as education, healthcare, and finan- regions still less likely to access digital
ital Inclusion, Human Rights, Digital Coop- cial services. As AI continues to shape the tools and opportunities. Targeted interven-
eration, Cybersecurity, Sustainable digital landscape, the roundtable reaffirmed tions were called for to empower women

6 MARCH-APRIL 2025