Bridging the Digital Divide: UN Technology Bank Mission to Saudi Arabia Highlights AI Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

RIYADH/JEDDAH – From 3 to 13 February 2026, the United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (UNTBLDC) conducted a high-level mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The mission aimed to strengthen South-South and Triangular cooperation, focusing on how science, technology, and innovation (STI) can be leveraged to accelerate development in the world’s most vulnerable economies.

A centerpiece of the mission was the "AI for Impact: Training Leaders in LDCs" programme, held at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). This initiative brought together 26 senior government officials from Cambodia, The Gambia, Lao PDR, Malawi, Nepal, Uganda, and Zambia.

Empowering LDC Leadership in the Age of AI

The training at KAUST moved beyond technical coding, focusing instead on the strategic governance and ethical frameworks required to integrate AI into national development plans. Participants engaged in deep dives into AI fundamentals, data readiness, and sectoral applications in healthcare, agriculture, and public administration.

Reflecting on the program’s practical orientation, Burcu Tamgaç Mörel, Associate Programme Management Officer at the UN Technology Bank, noted:

The collaborative environment allowed for critical peer-to-peer learning, where leaders from diverse regions shared common challenges regarding infrastructure and data governance.

Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem

Beyond the classroom, the UNTB delegation held strategic meetings in Riyadh and Jeddah with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). These discussions underscored Saudi Arabia’s emerging role as a global hub for innovation and a vital partner for LDCs.

The mission focused on three key pillars:

• Institutional Capacity: Exploring how Saudi centers of excellence and universities can support leadership development in LDCs.
• Development Finance: Aligning the Technology Bank’s "Technology Needs Assessments" (TNAs) with IsDB financing to create bankable STI projects.
• Regional Cooperation: Utilizing the OIC platform to scale STEM education and digital public services across member states.

Nazlı Avşaroğlu, Programme Management Analyst, emphasized the momentum generated by these high-level engagements:

Looking Ahead: Partnerships as the Engine of Growth

The mission concluded with a clear consensus: technology alone is not a silver bullet for development. Success depends on the strength of the partnerships that support it. By connecting LDC policymakers with advanced research environments like KAUST and financing partners like the IsDB, the UN Technology Bank continues to bridge the gap between technological potential and sustainable reality.

As the global economy is reshaped by rapid digital transformation, the UN Technology Bank remains committed to ensuring that LDCs are equipped not just to adapt to the future, but to lead it.

About the UN Technology Bank  

The UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries is dedicated to enhancing the contribution of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in the world’s 44 least developed countries. The least developed countries are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of human assets.  

The UN Technology Bank supports national and regional technological efforts in the least developed countries, reinforcing partnerships across sectors and helping nations identify and use appropriate technologies to transform their economies and improve livelihoods.