The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the Arab Development Portal. The collaboration seeks to improve data accessibility and support evidence-based policymaking to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arab region.
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Strengthening data-driven decision-making
The Arab Development Portal serves as a regional knowledge and data platform that aggregates reliable development data from various credible sources. The agreement will upgrade the portal by integrating artificial intelligence tools, user-friendly dashboards, and predictive analytics. These improvements aim to provide deeper insights into economic trends, global benchmarks, and SDG indicators.
Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UN-ESCWA, stated that this partnership is a significant step towards strengthening data-driven decision-making. “By enhancing data dissemination and accessibility, we empower policymakers and researchers with the insights needed to address critical challenges in economic development, public health, unemployment, climate resilience, and other key areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Objectives of the partnership
The three-year partnership will focus on several key areas:
- Conducting hands-on workshops to equip stakeholders with data management skills.
- Developing knowledge-sharing resources to enhance understanding of development trends.
- Implementing innovative strategies to improve development indicators.
- Strengthening the portal’s connection with its data sources.
- Offering specialised training on artificial intelligence tools for data management and analysis.
These initiatives aim to enhance the accessibility and usability of development data, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions.
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Role of the Arab Coordination Group
The Arab Development Portal was established by the Arab Coordination Group (ACG), an alliance of 10 Arab development institutions, including the Arab Fund. The ACG plays a key role in supporting development initiatives in Arab countries.
Bader Alsaad, Arab Fund’s Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasised the importance of collaboration in achieving development goals. “Partnership is at the core of our new strategy to maximise our impact on social and economic development across member countries. Together with UN-ESCWA, we will use our expertise and resources to create a data-driven approach that helps policymakers make informed decisions.”
Enhancing regional data infrastructure
The upgraded portal will integrate AI-powered tools to improve data analysis and forecasting capabilities. The enhancements will allow users to track economic, social, and environmental indicators more efficiently. Predictive analytics will offer insights into future development trends, assisting policymakers in planning for long-term economic and social strategies.
The portal will also feature interactive dashboards that enable users to visualise data trends and compare regional performance against global benchmarks. These tools will be designed to improve accessibility and facilitate better understanding of complex development challenges.
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Training and capacity building
A key component of the partnership is the development of training programmes to enhance data management skills. Specialised training will focus on artificial intelligence applications in data analysis, equipping users with the skills needed to leverage AI-driven insights for policy planning.
Hands-on workshops will be conducted across the region to ensure that government officials, researchers, and development professionals can effectively utilise the portal’s new features. Knowledge-sharing resources will also be created to promote best practices in data governance and usage.
Impact on development policies
By improving access to reliable data, the partnership aims to enhance the effectiveness of development policies across Arab countries. The upgraded portal will provide policymakers with the tools needed to address critical issues such as economic growth, healthcare, education, and climate resilience.
The initiative aligns with global efforts to promote data transparency and improve evidence-based decision-making. By leveraging advanced analytics and AI, the Arab Development Portal will play a key role in supporting sustainable development efforts in the region.
The three-year collaboration between the Arab Fund and UN-ESCWA underscores the importance of data in shaping development policies. With enhanced tools and resources, the Arab Development Portal is expected to become a more powerful platform for supporting progress towards the SDGs.
