Key Action from UN World Summit for Social Development: WDTA and UNRISD Sign Cooperation Agreement to Co-host 2026 Digital World Conference

2025-11-25 17:48:00

The Second World Summit for Social Development was successfully held from April 4-6, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. The World Digital Technology Academy (WDTA), jointly with the Republic of The Gambia and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), successfully convened the session "Bridging the Digital Divide: AI for Inclusive Development in the Global South." Participants explored innovative pathways to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for promoting inclusive and sustainable development in the Global South.

During the session, Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, Director of UNRISD, and Dr. Melan Xu, Executive Director of WDTA, formally signed a cooperation agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. The agreement announced their joint commitment to prepare for the inaugural Digital World Conference (DWC), scheduled for April 2026 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. This signing ceremony, witnessed by H.E. Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M. O. Kah, Chair of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), and Academician Li Yuhang, Executive Chairman of the Board of WDTA, marks a new stage of in-depth collaboration between the two parties in advancing global digital inclusive development.

Digital World Conference: Accelerating Inclusive Digital Transformation: Innovation, Security, and Shared ProsperityThe Digital World Conference (DWC) is a pivotal

international platform for global dialogue and cooperation in the digital age. It aims to translate the UN's "Pact for the Future" and the "Global Digital Compact" into sustainable global collaborative practices, thereby building an inclusive, equitable, and secure digital future. Coinciding with the UN Science and Technology Conference in 2026, DWC 2026 will bring together representatives from governments, industry, academia, investment, and civil society. Under the theme "Accelerating Inclusive Digital Transformation: Innovation, Security, and Shared Prosperity," the conference will carry forward the vision of the UN "Summit of the Future" and practice WDTA's "3S" philosophy of "Speed up innovation, Security & trustworthiness, and Sharing & inclusiveness" to drive global technological development and innovative solutions.

DWC 2026 will feature discussions on key topics such as AI and data governance, the digital economy and social development, and digital talent development and education. Furthermore, the conference will host multiple high-level panel discussions, tech leader forums, education leader forums, and industry leader forums. These sessions will address critical issues including transnational cooperation, interconnectivity, standards alignment, security and compliance, mutual trust in technology, educational collaboration, and green infrastructure, ultimately providing policy recommendations for global digital governance.

The signing of the cooperation agreement between WDTA and UNRISD signifies the full launch of the 2026 Digital World Conference. The two organizations will join hands to ensure the successful hosting of the conference, providing a bridge for exchange and cooperation among global youth, educational institutions, and the digital technology industry. This collaboration will inject new momentum into the development and application of global digital technologies, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.