NEW YORK: Misk Foundation, the not-for-profit philanthropic organization set up by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has joined forces with the United Nations in a ground-breaking campaign to advance the cause of young people around the world.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony at the UN’s New York headquarters a day after UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres launched his own initiative to enlist young people in its strategy for global sustainable development.
The Saudi-UN partnership aims to reach and mobilize about 50 million young people around the world in support of the sustainable development goals (SDG), via a series of meetings and forums as part of the UN’s Strategy for Youth.
The UN’s SDG program is a set of targets for future development, ranging from the elimination of hunger and poverty, through education and gender equality, to action on climate change and energy. It coincides with Saudi Arabia’s own Vision 2030 strategy in many respects.
Misk is the first non-governmental organization to join the campaign. “Misk’s mission is to discover, develop and empower young people to become active participants in the knowledge economy both in Saudi Arabia and globally, through partnerships such as this,” said a joint statement from the Saudi organization and the UN.
“Under the initiatives, young people’s leadership, creativity and innovation skills will be harnessed to bolster their ability to be agents for positive change during the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the SDGs in 2020.
“Adding to the existing Young Leaders for the SDGs initiative, a ‘Youth Gateway’ central knowledge hub on SDGs is planned, including a platform to map existing initiatives and provide opportunities for engagement, aimed at motivating more young people to take action. Tools will be developed to measure and track global indicators on youth development and well-being,” the statement added.
Bader Alsaker, chairman of the board of the Misk Initiatives Centre, said: "The Misk Foundation is committed to helping as many young people around the world realize their potential in the future economy and to encourage active global citizenship. The strategic agreement that we are signing today shows our commitment to this mission.
“Partnering with the United Nations will greatly enhance its vital work around the world to help young people from all backgrounds to realize their potential and meet the SDGs,” he added.
Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN secretary-general’s envoy on youth, added: “This major contribution towards the UN Secretariat’s work on youth will be used to operationalize the new UN Strategy on Youth with a focus on advancing our collective efforts to support youth mobilization for the 2030 Agenda worldwide.
“It comes at crucial time, immediately after the public launch of the UN’s Youth Strategy, which shows the commitment and dedication of the Misk Foundation to supporting youth development globally,” she added.
Saudi Arabia has a big youth demographic, with 60 per cent of the country’s population under the age of 25. Many of the policies of the Vision 2030 strategy to reduce oil dependency focus on the need for more and better employment for young people.
According to a recent global poll for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, young people have a far more optimistic view of their own future, as well as that of their country, than older people. “Young people in these countries are more likely to believe they can affect the way their countries are governed and that their generation will have a more positive impact on the world than their parents' generation,” Gates found.
Sultan Al-Musallam, global ambassador of the Misk Foundation, told the UN: “The core belief held by youth, that our problems can only be solved together, in a way that is blind to race, religion or region, is also the bedrock of the UN.”
Saudi Arabia’s Misk partners with UN on youth empowerment
Saudi Arabia’s Misk partners with UN on youth empowerment
- The Saudi-UN partnership aims to reach and mobilize about 50 million young people around the world in support of the sustainable development goals
- Saudi Arabia has a big youth demographic, with 60 per cent of the country’s population under the age of 25
Saudi FM receives Bahraini counterpart in Riyadh
- During the meeting, the close relations between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and ways to strengthen them in various fields were reviewed
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Riyadh on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the close relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them in various fields were reviewed.
The ministers also discussed the latest regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them.
Outer Edge Summit in Riyadh explores AI, digital futures
- Experts highlight issues in data ownership and the revolutionary Web3
RIYADH: By owning our data, we will be empowered and safe, says Krista Kim at Outer Edge Innovation Summit on April 23 at The Garage in Riyadh.
Kim spoke in one of the summit’s panel discussions, titled “Web3 and AI for business and smart cities,” which included guest speakers Naif Al-Rabeah, director of Web3 and spatial reality portfolio at NEOM; Eric Pulier, founder & CEO at Vatom Corporation; and Kamal Youssefi, president at the Hashgraph Association.
The Korean Canadian artist has a goal to raise awareness of the importance of each person owning their data: “I believe that data is power. You need to allow people to be empowered by owning their own data and to give them a choice of what projects they want to be involved in.”
Kim highlighted that data ownership “is one of the greatest human rights issues in the 21st century.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Topics at the Outer Edge Innovation Summit in Riyadh include smart cities, gaming, esports, art, culture, and more.
• The panel discussion titled ‘Web3 and AI for business and smart cities’ included guest speaker Naif Al-Rabeah, the director of Web3 and spatial reality portfolio at NEOM.
• Last month, Krista Kim presented ‘Heart Space,’ the first collaborative generative AI biometric artwork in history, commissioned by Julius Baer at Art Dubai.
“Right now, in the Web2 system, our data is taken for free. The companies practice surveillance capitalism and they take your data and they monetize on your free data.”
Scott Lawin, CEO of Candy Digital, a gaming and fan engagement company focused on sports and entertainment, attended the summit to support Web3: “Web3 really gives people that opportunity to authenticate their data and share it in a selective way where necessary. And also benefit from the contribution of that data.”
Lawin attended the panel discussion highlighting the importance of the harmony of web3 and smart cities. Web3 is a term used to describe an idea for the next stage of internet development, which incorporates concepts such as decentralization, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics.
I’m really excited about the Kingdom’s push forward and support for Web3. And I wanted to come and sort of see it here at first hand and meet the community here.
(Data ownership) is one of the greatest human rights issues in the 21st century.
Krista Kim, Contemporary artist
“As it relates to smart cities, (they) are designed and built around data. And understanding how the personalization of that data can help improve citizens’ lives,” he explained. “But ownership of that data and giving each individual the ability to sort of turn on and turn off the way that data is utilized is also quite important. From a privacy perspective and just a self-determination perspective.”
Meanwhile, Kim hopes to raise awareness of the global issue through personal projects and artistic efforts.
Last month, she presented “Heart Space,” the first collaborative generative AI biometric artwork in history, commissioned by Julius Baer at Art Dubai.
Within the exhibition, visitors take their heartbeat measurements with an app that will create a heart signature to be used an artwork in the immersive space.
“So, you are contributing through your heartbeat to the experience of the artwork, and you have the opportunity to create the NFT of your heart signature on the app,” the artist explained. “This is a project that I'm creating for people to take the first step to create your heart signature and then from that first step, you can start the movement toward that privacy and identity on the chain.”
The line between real and fake is being blurred further, creating ramifications in various fields. “AI can now create fake articles and they can fake your identity ... in three years, AGI (artificial general intelligence) is going to automatically just create stories,” Kim said. “So, we need to differentiate between what is real and what is fake, and also what is made by a human being who is what is made by the machine.”
Technology can be used to its advantage. Blockchain provides a solution of creating verification for newspapers, journalists and online media outlets, Kim says.
Speaking about how it works, she added: “On-chain media is very important, so that you can see the verification of this story on the blockchain. To bring it a step further — biometrics. So, your heart signature that I spoke about, as a journalist, you can use your heart signature to sign your story online.”
Outer Edge Innovation Summit brought together some of the biggest names in the blockchain, AI, and gaming ecosystems from all over the world.
In partnership with Animoca Brands and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, the summit highlights advances in Web3 and the gaming ecosystem development in Saudi Arabia.
Topics at the summit will include smart cities, gaming, esports, art, culture, and more.
For more information about the Outer Edge Innovation Summit in Riyadh, visit outeredge.live/riyadh.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli war crimes in Gaza
- Palestinian authorities reported finding hundreds of bodies in mass graves at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis this week after it was abandoned by Israeli troops
- Ministry renewed Kingdom’s demand that international community assume its responsibility toward stopping Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned Israeli war crimes being committed in the Gaza Strip without deterrence, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The condemnation comes after Palestinian authorities reported finding hundreds of bodies in mass graves at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis this week after it was abandoned by Israeli troops.
Bodies were also reported at the Al-Shifa medical site following an Israeli special forces operation.
The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the failure of the international community to hold Israel accountable for violating international law will only result in more violations and the exacerbation of human tragedies and destruction.
It renewed the Kingdom’s demand that the international community assume its responsibility toward stopping Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip and holding it accountable for the massacres that it has committed there.
UN rights chief Volker Turk said earlier on Tuesday he was “horrified” by the mass grave reports at Gaza hospitals.
Hima forum concludes following conservation discussions in Riyadh
- Local and international experts shared their expertise at event
RIYADH: Local and foreign companies said their farewells following the Hima protected areas forum.
The forum, which was organized by the National Center for Wildlife, took place in Riyadh from April 21-24.
The event showcased topics related to efforts made by the Kingdom in the conservation field, and included various discussions, workshops, and presentations.
The concept of protecting and preserving natural habitats and wildlife dates back to the pre-Islamic era, when Bedouins in the Arabian Peninsula would cultivate land and claim ownership.
Those who cultivated plants on a specific piece of land could eventually claim ownership of that land.
Hasan Nasser Salman Al-Nasser, an agricultural specialist at the Environment Agency, said: “It is an area of special interest, designated by a legislature to be used for agriculture. This concept dates back to the pre-Islamic era.”
Al-Nasser explained the concept of “hima,” which means a protected area, and how it evolved over time, ultimately reaching its current understanding in Saudi Arabia.
He said: “The first hima protected during the time of Islam by the Prophet was a natural reserve used for horses.
“During the time of Khalifah Omar, there were the hima of Al-Sur and Alrabathah. After that, each tribe was responsible for protecting their natural reserves.”
The forum featured the participation of several official entities and projects, including NEOM, Red Sea Global, and Catmosphere. A community-led organization, the Northern Rangelands Trust, was also present.
Issa Ismail Gedi, chief programs officer at the Kenya-based Northern Rangelands Trust, said: “When I was in primary school, I used to help my family. Wildlife has been thriving on our land, alongside our livestock.”
The organization focuses on building resilient community conservation regions that transform lives and help the natural environment.
The body has safeguarded a number of areas, including national parks in Kenya. Gedi said the organization is also supporting 50 to 60 percent of wildlife located outside protected areas.
The forum was the first of its kind, and hosted by the National Center for Wildlife and supported by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The event provided an opportunity for local and international experts to share their expertise, with the aim of exchanging information and discussing outcomes to develop strategies for better preserving and protecting Saudi Arabia’s nature and wildlife.
Who’s Who: Abdulrahman Abaalkhail, CEO of Dan Co.
Abdulrahman Abaalkhail is the CEO of Dan Co., a Public Investment Fund company dedicated to promoting agritourism, ecotourism, and adventure tourism in Saudi Arabia.
As CEO, he uses his expertise in strategic planning, business model design, investment and business development, operations management, and project delivery to guide the company's growth and achieve its strategic objectives.
Under his leadership, the company offers top-notch agritourism, ecotourism, and adventure tourism experiences, fostering the development of a robust local tourism industry that drives positive change and contributes to the growth of the Kingdom's hospitality sector.
In addition to his role with Dan Co., Abdulrahman Abaalkhail currently serves as chairman of the board at Al-Fadhili Housing Co. (a joint venture between Masic Logistics and Saudi Aramco), chairman of the board at Mumtalakat (a joint venture between Al Akaria, PECSA, and POSCO Korea), vice chairman at Alrajhi Ekhwan, and as an investment committee member at Maharah Human Resources and Awj Holding Co.
Throughout his career, he has held board and committee member positions at several organizations, including Abdullah Al-Othaim Investment Co., Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Company, and Sand Saudi Arabia.
Abaalkhail was CEO of MASIC Logistics from 2020 to 2022 and of Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Co. between 2013 and 2020.
Previously, he served as group head of business development at Al-Faisaliah Group Holding for four years.
Abaalkhail began his career at Ernst & Young, where he honed his skills in audit, tax, and consulting before moving into corporate finance consulting, focusing on the real estate industry during his nine-year journey with the company.
He holds an MBA in finance from the University of Wales and a bachelor’s degree in finance from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
He has also completed several executive education courses and diploma courses from IMD and INSEAD on topics including strategic management and board governance.
