Starts: Nov 4, 2016      Ends: Nov 4, 2016

Location: Villa Méditerranée, Marseille, France

A multi-partner dialogue to try to answer the following questions: What is the impact of digital technologies on economic development? How can digital technologies provide solutions to operational improvements to promote growth, employment and fight against discrimination and poverty?

Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), Agence Française de Développement, World Bank

Event organized in the context of the Mediterranean Economic Week.

The digital revolution is changing lives and modifying development paths. Young people are impacted by it. They actively contribute to build the ever-growing digital jobs market, and are actors for change and development, making their voice be heard globally.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has had its – rather timid but promising – share of success stories, mainly: the creation of start-ups, entrepreneurs’ mentorship, and partnership with the private sector.

But the large youth unemployment ratio is threatening the MENA Region. Promising economic sectors such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) should therefore be identified and exploited, raising questions about investment in connectivity infrastructure and suitable legal and regulatory environment.

Moreover, ICT can provide efficient tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This includes for instance providing education and services to refugees, empowering citizens and stimulating public life participation.

The objective of the multi-partner dialogue is to enable a discussion around the contribution of ICT to development in the MENA Region and recommend concrete actions for policy-makers and development institutions to maximize youth’s potential through digitization projects and skills building programs.

The meeting will therefore include two main axis of discussion:

1. 1. Digital Technologies for Youth Inclusion in the Mediterranean
2. 2. Digital Technologies and Development: Which Implementation?

The meeting will be conclude with a Mediterranean ministerial panel.  Ministers will respond to the points highlighted by the panels and discuss solutions of relevance to their country’s context.

Pre-registration to the meeting is mandatory, through the following link

Program, available in English and French

Photos

See full album here

Videos

Video of the Ministerial Session on Digital Technology for a Connected Mediterranean (EN, FR)

Youth Cam Interview with Abdallah Absi (EN, AR)

Youth Cam Interview with Mohamed Sameer (EN, AR)

This event organized as part of the Mediterranean Economic Week, held in Marseille on November 2-4^th, 2016, on the topic of « Digital Technology for a Connected Mediterranean »