UNDP official: 4IR, AI to affect employment rates in Arab states by 40% to 50%

04 / 11 / 2019

By Mohamed El Ghobashy - - | Edited by Marwa Nassar

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative Randa Aboul Hosn said the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – which is manifested in artificial intelligence and digital transformation – will largely affect employment rates in Arab countries.

This technological development will affect all walks of life in Arab states, she said. According to World Economic Forum estimates, digital transformation and modern technology will affect employment rates by 41 percent in Kuwait, 46 percent in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, 47 percent in the UAE, 49 percent in Egypt and 50 percent in Morocco.

She made the remarks while delivering a speech on behalf of UNDP Assistant Administrator and UNDP Regional Director for the Arab States Mourad Wahba during the Arab Sustainable Development Week which kicked off in Cairo on Sunday under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

She said the UNDP is joining hands with several Arab countries to help them cope with such changes associated with the Fourth Industrial Development, noting that the UNDP seeks to draw up mechanisms that would help empowering the largest number of youths in the Arab world as represent two thirds of the Arab world population is under the age of 30.

The UNDP works on honing skills of youths and encouraging them to be innovative so that they would not miss the march of technological development, she said, noting that the program managed to secure jobs for 7,000 youths in the Arab world.

Meanwhile, she underlined the importance of equality in communities with regard to gender, race and ethnicity in order to push forward the wheel of sustainable development., noting that there are inequalities in some Arab states.

She expounded that the UNDP is laying down policies, working out future programs and secure needed data to move ahead towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

She said the UNDP is committed to cooperating with the Arab League to promote regional economic cooperation and help Arab states confront the fallout of climate change and realize the SDGs, especially gender equality.

Aboul Hosn said attaining the 17 SDGs requires unprecedented coordination by states’ executive and legislative bodies, NGOs, civil society and citizens, especially youths.She called for carrying out long-term reforms and furthering cooperation between the private and public sectors in Arab countries.

She highlighted the youths’ pivotal role in building the future of the Arab region, referring to UNDP programs for helping youths develop their capabilities.