Dubai - The Knowledge Project, a joint initiative between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), signed on 11 April a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, Morocco, setting the foundation for long-term collaboration in education, science, culture, and innovation across the Islamic and Arab world. 

The MoU outlines a bold vision to harness the strengths of the three institutions to accelerate progress toward sustainable development and future-ready knowledge societies. 

The strategic partnership will focus on building institutional and human capacities, facilitating evidence-based policymaking, enhancing data ecosystems, and fostering global policy dialogue through high-level events and regional initiatives. 

Several activities and new initiatives will take place under the framework of the MoU. 

In partnership with Coursera, UNDP, MBRF and ICESCO will co-launch the second phase of the “Learning Sprint”, an intensive digital upskilling programme focused on equipping youth and professionals with the skills most needed in a rapidly evolving global labour market. 

Ahead of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNDP and ICESCO, along with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), will co-host a high-level event on “The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Future Skills,” scheduled for 8 September 2025, in New York. The forum will convene policymakers, technologists, and education leaders to shape a global discourse on AI, digital equity, and next-generation learning. 

Furthermore, a regional conference for Ministers of Higher Education will be organized, in October 2025, to explore strategies for strengthening national knowledge ecosystems. Discussions will be guided by insights from the Global Knowledge Index and other data-driven policy tools developed under the Knowledge Project. 

The organizations will launch a joint data capacity-building programme. It will support the development of national data strategies, bolster the role of national knowledge centres, and enable more effective SDG tracking and decision-making. 

The three partners will, additionally, collaborate to design and implement a ‘Joint Programme’ to support education in crisis-affected countries. 

"This partnership is about unlocking collective knowledge and creating inclusive pathways to a resilient and empowered future. This new collaboration is key to unlock new opportunities to leverage the skills programme, including digital skills, across the region and reach vulnerable people who are deprived from education in crisis affected countries" said Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Arab States. 

The signing ceremony in Rabat marks the first formal agreement between UNDP in the Arab States region and ICESCO, further amplifying ICESCO’s global leadership in education and UNDP’s commitment to inclusive, knowledge-based development in the Arab States and beyond. 

The Knowledge Project will serve as the lead interlocutor on behalf of UNDP to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the initiatives under this MoU. 
 

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About UNDP 

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries and territories, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at https://undp.org or follow at @UNDP. 

About the Knowledge Project 
The Knowledge Project is a joint initiative between the United Nations Development Programme’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP) – RBAS and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), dedicated to supporting countries across the Arab region and beyond in building inclusive, knowledge-based societies to drive sustainable development. Launched in 2009, the project encompasses a wide array of pioneering knowledge products, including the Arab Knowledge Reports, Arab Knowledge Index, Knowledge4All portal and mobile app, Arab Reading Index, Future of Knowledge Foresight Reports, and the Global Knowledge Index. 

Entering a new phase in 2021, the partnership has been renewed through 2030, with an increased focus on digital transformation, advancing workforce engagement, and forging global partnerships. A key initiative under this phase is the Future Skills Academy, which aims to equip citizens in the Arab States region, including youth, with the essential future skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market. 

The Knowledge Project plays a critical role in identifying gaps and opportunities within national knowledge systems, offering evidence-based insights that inform policy and empower future generations.