MBRF and UNDP tout knowledge as a crisis tool at UNGA 81

At a UN General Assembly side event in New York, MBRF, UNDP and the UAE mission argued that knowledge systems should help governments and institutions anticipate and absorb cascading crises. The discussion also pointed to tools like the Global Knowledge Index and Future Skills Academy as practical ways to build resilience across economies.

Why it matters: - The event framed knowledge as a practical tool for crisis forecasting, not just a policy concept. - Organizers tied that idea to real-world pressures, including economic, digital, climate and green transitions. - The discussion focused on the Arab region and the need to strengthen local and regional capacity to anticipate, absorb and recover from shocks.

What happened: - The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States and the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations hosted a high-level event at UN headquarters in New York. - The event took place today on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. - The session was titled “Knowledge as a Crisis Compass: Anticipate, Adapt, Advance.” - Policymakers, knowledge leaders, private-sector executives, young people, senior UN officials, Member State representatives and mission delegates took part.

The details: - MBRF CEO H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb said the partnership with UNDP is meant to turn knowledge into practical tools that help societies anticipate change, adapt to challenges and turn disruptions into opportunities. - Bin Huwaireb pointed to the Global Knowledge Index and Future Skills Academy as examples of that effort. - The Global Knowledge Index is being used to assess strengths and gaps in a country’s knowledge ecosystem. - The Future Skills Academy is designed to help people and institutions prepare for rapidly changing labor markets. - Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States, said crises now cluster and cascade across systems. - Al Dardari said knowledge must help decision-makers anticipate risk and adapt in real time. - Al Dardari described knowledge as core infrastructure for development. - Discussions also covered innovation, technology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship as tools for preparing institutions and businesses for transition.

Between the lines: - The event signaled a broader shift from reacting to crises toward building systems that can spot risk earlier and respond faster. - The emphasis on skills, data and ecosystem mapping suggests the partnership is aiming at institutional capacity, not just awareness campaigns. - By linking knowledge to development infrastructure, UNDP and MBRF are positioning information systems alongside more traditional foundations such as finance and logistics.

What's next: - The ideas and insights from the event will help shape the next Knowledge Summit. - The summit is a flagship part of the MBRF-UNDP Knowledge Project. - The Knowledge Summit has been held annually in Dubai since 2014. - Organizers are expected to carry the same themes into future programming on resilience, innovation and future skills.

The bottom line: - MBRF and UNDP used the UNGA stage to argue that better knowledge systems are a frontline defense against modern crises.