High-level side-event “SDG 16 and the Future of Government”

Topic: SDG16 and the Future of Government

Host Country: United Arab Emirates

Partners:

> Norway

> Rwanda

> Sierra Leone

> UNDP

> UN DESA

Overview:

Fast-paced technological change and the emergence of the 4th Industrial Revolution are reshaping government in multiple areas including service delivery, policy making, public administration, public engagement and others. Future-proofing governments will entail embracing these trends to take advantage of the opportunities they create and to address the challenges they impose.

The impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution will be felt everywhere. Bioengineering sciences will impact water and food security; advanced renewable energy technologies will determine energy access; the health sector’s efficiency can greatly improve drawing on innovations in biotech; cutting-edge technology will transform our urban spaces from infrastructure to transportation;  economic growth will depend to a much greater extent on the digital economy and the penetration of blockchain technologies in financial transactions and services.

Undeniably, the disruptive technologies that the 4th Industrial Revolution will bring about will also result in immense societal shifts that will have to be managed. Challenges around inequality and access to technological advances will also remain high on governments’ agendas in managing this rapid change.

However, ensuring that our governments are well-prepared for the 4th Industrial Revolution will also maximize their ability to deliver on the SDGs agenda and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Speakers and panelists:

H.E. Ohood Alroumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing and Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, United Arab Emirates

H.E. Nikolai Astrup, Minister of Digitalisation, Norway (invited)

Elliot Harris, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development and Chief Economist

H.E. Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and communications technology and Innovation, Rwanda (invited)

H.E. Dr. Francis Kai Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone

Heerad Sabeti, CEO The Fourth Sector Group

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator