Page 81 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

Figure 1

Middle East countries to varying degrees, establish the country as a world-leading The emergence of new technologies,
have embraced digital technologies hub in innovation-driven food security. such as artificial intelligence, robotics,
as consumers and have policies and Initiatives such as these have enabled UAE blockchain, and especially their
initiatives in place to achieve SDGs. Non- to achieve a 10-place leap on the Global convergence is expected to disrupt many
exhaustive examples of selected digital Food Security Index, moving from 31st existing paradigms and bring about a
initiatives which support SDGs by industry rank in 2018 to 21st rank in 2019. radical change. For example, automation
are highlighted in Figure 1. may negatively impact the labor market.
The key hurdles that are preventing Whilst new technologies are expected to
The virtual school project in the southern countries in Middle East from achieving improve the employment structure such as
border of the KSA is a notable example, SDGs are shortcomings in institutional create jobs in computer and data science,
this initiative involves virtual digital mechanisms that deliver SDGs, insufficient considerable re-skilling of large parts of the
classes launched for schools to ensure clarity on benefits, gaps in the evidence population is crucial to truly benefit from
the continuation of education. Such digital base, and lack of earmarked and adequate this. Technology capability development
education initiatives along with digital financing. Digital technologies can in particular is a major challenge faced
health and e-government services are help alleviate these challenges too as in the Middle East and new technologies
widely seen across the GCC countries. nations can establish digital platforms to may further exacerbate inequalities and
Smart technologies that drive efficiencies collaborate between the entities better, and generate negative externalities.
in production and consumption such as develop tools to closely track and monitor
3D printing and Smart grid projects in the outcome of various initiatives. While New policies and measures are critical
UAE, precision agriculture in Qatar and it cannot directly address the financing to navigate and steer this change into
renewable energy programs in KSA are all gap, digitalization can help optimize a direction that benefits the SDGs
supporting SDGs. investments and bridge the funding gap individually. This requires more awareness
by employing innovative digital financing and adaptability by governments which
Examples, such as UAE’s Agricultural technologies and encouraging private adds another layer of complexity to
Technology Adaptation Accelerator sector participation. the implementation of the SDGs. The
Program, which fosters the adoption and importance of coordinated whole-of-
development of sustainable technologies Digital paradox exists but must be government action with cooperation
to promote agriculture in marginal managed effectively by the governments among countries at a regional level, now
environments through an interactive The impact of digital on the SDGs may not acquires more heightened importance
platform, are much less rare. This reflects be all positive, there are downsides that where even developed regions feel the
the efforts of the UAE government to need to acknowledged and acted upon. need to act together.

81 SEP-OCT 2020