The Emirates is one of the best-prepared nations to handle challenges and risks in the coming future, as per a report released by the United Nations Development Program and The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF).
The report, ‘The Future of Knowledge: a Foresight Report,’ did a study on 40 countries, including seven Arab nations and disclosed major differences in the ability of each country to change when required and their lack of preparations to face risks.
It further highlighted that while low-income nations in the Arab, African and Central Asian regions are very slightly prepared, high-income nations, especially those that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), are the best equipped and prepared.
The study that compared the readiness of nations to face risks related to the environment, health and technological risks in the future discovered that a country’s preparedness to handle risks depends on the efficiency of workers as per their skills and advancements in various fields of knowledge, which includes innovation, education, economics, research and development, science and technology and development and the enabling environment.
It also disclosed that the country’s capacity to innovate and cooperate is important in evolving its capability to invest in knowledge dimensions and the workforce.
The study further describes the outcomes of the analytical study, which showed how most nations were not sufficiently ready to face future concerns, putting a serious burden upon their social and political, economic as well as ecological systems.
This makes it problematic for nations to assure the sustainability of services in the fields of health and education, which will also impact the way towards achieving sustainable development goals.
The United Nations Development Program, partenered up with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, established the 3rd edition of ‘The Future of Knowledge: A Foresight Report’ in the 7th session of the Knowledge Summit held at Expo 2020 Dubai in March.
