LocationsS4IF Hosted its Second Community of Practice Webinar: “Growing AI Divide: Developing AI Skills for an Inclusive Future”
June 26, 2026
The session brought together global stakeholders to address the growing AI divide and explore strategies for developing inclusive AI skills.
Online, June 17, 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the European Training Foundation (ETF) hosted the second webinar of the Skills for an Inclusive Future (S4IF) Network Community of Practice. The online event brought together participants to discuss how to ensure the rapid advancement of AI creates opportunities for all, rather than deepening existing inequalities.
In her opening remarks, Sonia Jordan-Kirwan, Director of Gender and Economic Inclusion at EBRD, highlighted the dual nature of AI:
“AI offers real potential to raise productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and open new pathways into work, but only if people and businesses are equipped to use it. The central question is not simply how fast AI is adopted, but whether people have the skills, support and opportunities to adapt, thrive and help shape this transition themselves.”
Sahba Sobhani, Director of UNDP ICPSD, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the mission of the S4IF Network:
“Our mission is to unlock the transformative potential of public-private collaboration to ensure that no one is left behind in the rapid economic shifts we see today.”
Cristina Mereuta, Acting Head of Knowledge Hub for Skills and Jobs at ETF, highlighted the importance of learning from the past:
“Past transitions tell us that the countries and sectors that managed to invest heavily and anticipate changes were the ones who achieved an inclusive transition. We must learn from that and ensure proper management from a public policy perspective.”
Navigating the AI Skills Gap
Dr. Elcin Koten, Knowledge Management Coordinator at UNDP ICPSD, delivered a presentation on the growing AI skills divide and its implications for inclusive workforce transformation. The presentation highlighted that while AI is creating new opportunities for productivity, innovation, and employment, access to these opportunities remains uneven. Framing the challenge as an issue of inclusion rather than technology alone, it outlined a “triple AI skills gap” encompassing foundational digital skills, technical AI competencies, and human-centred capabilities such as critical thinking, creativity, and ethical judgement. It further noted that women, youth, low-income workers, persons with disabilities, and underserved regions face a heightened risk of exclusion from AI-driven opportunities. Drawing on emerging evidence of labour market disruption and the growing wage premium associated with AI skills; the presentation underscored the need for proactive action to ensure that the benefits of AI are broadly shared. It concluded by introducing S4IF’s 11 Strategic Guidelines, which provide a practical roadmap for governments, employers, education providers, and development partners to build inclusive, future-ready workforce ecosystems.
Reflections on AI and Skills Development
Ummuhan Bardak, Senior Human Capital Development Expert at the ETF, provided a keynote that framed the core challenge: AI is reshaping jobs by changing how existing skills are used and by creating demand for a new, specialized AI workforce. She highlighted two critical policy implications: the need for universal “AI Literacy” as a foundational competence, and the importance of developing stronger “human agency” through higher-order cognitive and socio-emotional skills.
“Knowledge is becoming cheap, but wisdom is scarce.”
From Policy to Practice: A Global Panel Discussion
A panel discussion, moderated by Biljana Radonjic Ker-Lindsay, Head of Access to Skills and Employment at EBRD, brought together global leaders to share practical insights on accelerating inclusive AI upskilling.
Maud Sacquet, Head of EU Public Policy at LinkedIn, shared data showing that while AI skills are the fastest growing on the platform, there is a significant gender gap, with men being twice as likely as women to list AI skills. She advocated for skills-based hiring to broaden candidate pools and create more equitable opportunities.
Jitka Tomkova, Global Lead – Education Strategy & Programs at HP, presented HP's internal strategy for upskilling its 50,000+ employees. She outlined a three-level framework for scaling inclusion: providing Access to learning (e.g., through HP's free courses on edX), Enablement of educators, and building an Ecosystem of partners to drive national-level change.
Samuel Goodger, Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre, argued for strengthening institutions to build labor market resilience. He highlighted the risk of “shadow AI” and called for robust social dialogue, investment in AI safety, and learning from national best practices like Denmark's “flexicurity” model to create "hybrid intelligence" curricula.
Olga Strietska-Ilina, Head of the Future Skills Unit within the Skills and Employability Branch of the Employment Policy Department at the International Labour Organization (ILO), stressed that AI's impact cannot be viewed in isolation. She noted that women are disproportionately exposed to AI disruption and outlined three key policy priorities: universal lifelong learning systems, enhanced labor market intelligence, and comprehensive social protection frameworks.
Key Takeaways
AI-related skills are among the fastest-growing competencies in global labour markets, with AI literacy increasingly becoming a foundational skill across industries. However, employers are seeking not only technical AI capabilities but also strong human-centred skills such as critical thinking, communication, creativity, and ethical judgement.
Speakers emphasized that the greatest challenge is not the technology itself, but the pace of change. Building workforce readiness therefore requires layered and continuous learning pathways that enable individuals to adapt throughout their careers.
The impacts of AI are not evenly distributed. Exposure to AI-driven change varies significantly by gender, age, income level, educational attainment, occupation, and geography, highlighting the need for targeted and inclusive policy responses rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
Panelists also highlighted emerging challenges such as the growing use of unsanctioned or “shadow AI” in workplaces, underscoring the importance of proactive governance, social dialogue, and responsible AI adoption strategies.
Across the discussion, speakers called for stronger lifelong learning systems, improved labour market intelligence, enhanced career guidance services, and more comprehensive social protection frameworks to help workers navigate AI-driven transitions.
What’s Next
The S4IF Network will continue its webinar series, translating these critical discussions into actionable tools and policy guidance to help build a more inclusive, AI-ready workforce.
About the S4IF Network
The Skills for an Inclusive Future (S4IF) Network is a joint initiative of UNDP and EBRD, designed to equip underserved populations with the skills needed for the future of work by unlocking the transformative potential of the private sector.
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