The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is spearheading a new initiative aimed at designing climate risk-based insurance policies to provide broad protection for farmers across the Arab region. The project, led by Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) at the UNDP, targets 100 million farmers, who collectively produce 70% of the region’s food supply.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai, Al Dardari stated that the first farmer insurance policy under this initiative is expected to be issued before the end of 2025. The official launch of the project is scheduled to take place during the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, in July. The initiative will be implemented through a coalition of governmental bodies, private entities, and global insurance firms, allowing for the expansion of coverage as more organizations join the alliance.
The UNDP, which allocates approximately $900 million annually in aid and grants for climate change, economic management, and human development in Arab nations, plays a pivotal role in regional development efforts. Al Dardari emphasized that the introduction of tailored insurance policies aligns with the broader goal of enhancing agricultural resilience in the face of climate change. Discussing the role of artificial intelligence (AI), Al Dardari highlighted its significance in accelerating economic growth and advancing global development agendas.
He noted that AI contributes to approximately 70% of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is increasingly becoming a central component of UNDP’s strategic initiatives. As part of its engagement in the World Government Summit, UNDP continues to build partnerships with key stakeholders, including e&, formerly known as Etisalat, to enhance digital infrastructure across the region.
The organization also collaborates with the UAE’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence to develop a regional AI knowledge base and has partnered with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to create AI models tailored to the needs of Arab nations. Another flagship initiative of the UNDP in the UAE is the Global Knowledge Index, which serves as a benchmark for shaping knowledge-based economic policies worldwide.
The index plays a critical role in guiding governments across the Arab region in their efforts to strengthen education, technology, and innovation. Al Dardari further revealed that UNDP plans to sign two additional agreements with UAE government institutions in the coming period. These agreements are expected to further bolster developmental cooperation between the UNDP and its regional partners, reinforcing commitments to sustainable growth and digital transformation in the Arab world. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.