The Knowledge Summit 2025, organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted a high-level ministerial roundtable focusing on knowledge pathways for sustainable communities. The session brought together ministers, policymakers, and development leaders to discuss how knowledge, data, and community-driven approaches can advance sustainable and resilient societies worldwide.
The roundtable featured distinguished speakers including H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF; H.E. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sierra Leone; and H.E. Hibo Moumin Assoweh, Minister of Youth and Culture, Djibouti. Additional participants included ministers from Gambia, Chad, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia, along with representatives from organizations such as AGFUND and UNEP. The session was moderated by Stephanie Boustany.
Participants explored critical priorities including embedding sustainability and digital literacy within education systems and workforce development. The discussion emphasized leveraging research and data to drive inclusive, evidence-based policymaking and empowering communities by integrating local, indigenous, and scientific knowledge into national sustainability efforts. Speakers stressed the importance of aligning government, academia, and the private sector to ensure knowledge translates into measurable, sustainable impact.
H.E. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie highlighted the urgent need to integrate sustainability, digital literacy, and green practices into educational curricula, enabling students to contribute meaningfully to global climate action. This approach recognizes that future workforce readiness depends on environmental awareness and technological competence. H.E. Prof. Pierre Gomez emphasized reengineering higher education systems to be digitally forward, embedding sustainability principles, and leveraging open educational resources available through platforms like https://www.undp.org.
Dr. Motaz Khorshid highlighted lifelong learning and national strategies to foster innovation, personality development, and community engagement as essential components for building knowledge-based economies. The session underscored that environmental transitions require strong government systems, behavioral change, and inclusive education for rural and vulnerable populations, as noted by Sami Dimassi and Dr. Houda Babah Sid M'hamed.
Community-driven approaches emerged as a central theme. H.E. Hibo Moumin Assoweh emphasized combining traditional and modern knowledge to foster entrepreneurship and empower youth, while Tom Erdimi spoke about designing institutions that reflect local culture and traditions. Dr. Magued Osman and Dr. Yassen Alfoteih noted the importance of citizen participation and equipping students to understand societal challenges through comprehensive education reform.
The ministerial roundtable concluded that advancing sustainable societies requires a holistic approach integrating knowledge, digital skills, environmental awareness, and active community engagement. This comprehensive strategy ensures that development efforts are inclusive, culturally relevant, and capable of addressing complex global challenges while leaving no one behind. The insights from this high-level discussion will inform policy development and implementation across participating nations and organizations including https://www.mbrf.ae.
