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New York, March 20, 2024 – Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia top the list of 143 countries in the World Happiness Report 2024 and some of them have been there since before the Covid pandemic, particularly the Nordic countries.

Issued on the annual International Day of Happiness, the report showed Finland remaining at the top while Afghanistan ranked last in the list this year.

Following the top 10 are Eastern European countries, Czechia, Lithuania and Slovenia, where the report said happiness is rising. But the United States and Germany have fallen in the rankings.

Other rankings, including developed countries, are: the United Kingdom (20th), the United States (23^rd), Germany (24^th), France (27^th), Singapore (30^th), Japan (51^st), China (60^th), Russia (72^nd) and India (126^th).

Read World Happiness Report 2024.

Editors of the World Happiness Report said it reflects a “worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and well-being as criteria for government policy” and to review the state of happiness today and to show how the science of happiness explains personal and national variations of happiness.

The report is a partnership of Gallup World Poll, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the report’s Editorial Board.

March 20 each year was proclaimed The International Day of Happiness by the UN General Assembly in 2013 by adopting a resolution sponsored by Bhutan. The UN said Bhutan recognized the value of happiness as the foundation of an inclusive and equitable society, and in 2008 it enshrined Gross National Happiness in the country’s constitution as the primary goal of the government, rather than the pursuit of economic indicators such as Gross National Product.

“Longitudinal studies have shown that happiness can have positive effects on health and life span,” the UN said. “Of course, there are many factors that impact how long we live but having a positive outlook and a general sense of well-being have been linked to longevity. So what will make you happy, according to studies?  It’s not money or material things, at least not in the long run.  Studies have shown that the things that bring lasting happiness include strong relationships, helping others, expressing gratitude and meditating.”

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A new report issued by the UN Development Program says all 38 countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have achieved higher human development while more than half of the 35 least developed countries (LDCs) have declined in the last three years. This uneven progress in human development between rich and poor has widened inequality and inflamed political polarization. Following is a press release from UNDP.

New York, 13 March 2024 – Uneven development progress is leaving the poorest behind, exacerbating inequality, and stoking political polarization on a global scale. The result is a dangerous gridlock that must be urgently tackled through collective action, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The 2023/24 Human Development Report (HDR), titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarized world”, reveals a troubling trend: the rebound in the global Human Development Index (HDI) – a summary measure reflecting a country’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, education, and life expectancy – has been partial, incomplete, and unequal.

Read the full report https://hdr.undp.org/human-development-report-2023-24

The HDI is projected to reach record highs in 2023 after steep declines during 2020 and 2021. But this progress is deeply uneven. Rich countries are experiencing record-high levels of human development while half of the world’s poorest countries remain below their pre-crisis level of progress.

Global inequalities are compounded by substantial economic concentration. As referenced in the report, almost 40 percent of global trade in goods is concentrated in three or fewer countries; and in 2021 the market capitalization of each of the three largest tech companies in the world surpassed the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 90 percent of countries that year.

“The widening human development gap revealed by the report shows that the two-decade trend of steadily reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations is now in reverse. Despite our deeply interconnected global societies, we are falling short. We must leverage our interdependence as well as our capacities to address our shared and existential challenges and ensure people’s aspirations are met,” said Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Program.

 “This gridlock carries a significant human toll. The failure of collective action to advance action on climate change, digitalization or poverty and inequality not only hinders human development but also worsens polarization and further erodes trust in people and institutions worldwide.”

The report argues that advancing international collective action is hindered by an emerging ‘democracy paradox’: while 9 in 10 people worldwide endorse democracy, over half of global survey respondents express support for leaders that may undermine it by bypassing fundamental rules of the democratic process, as per data analyzed in the report. Half of people surveyed worldwide report having no or limited control over their lives, and over two-thirds believe they have little influence on their government’s decisions.

Political polarization is also a growing concern with global repercussions. Along with a sense of powerlessness, report authors say, it is fueling inward-turning policy approaches – starkly at odds with the global cooperation needed to address urgent issues like the decarbonization of our economies, misuse of digital technologies, and conflict. This is particularly alarming in light of 2023’s record-breaking temperatures, which emphasize the immediate need for united action to tackle the climate crisis, or in the advent of artificial intelligence as a new and fast-evolving technological frontier with little or no regulatory guard rails.

The report highlights that deglobalization is neither feasible nor realistic in today’s world and that economic interdependence remains high. It points out that no region is close to self-sufficiency, as all rely on imports from other regions of 25 percent or more of at least one major type of goods and services.

“In a world marked by increasing polarization and division, neglecting to invest in each other poses a serious threat to our wellbeing and security. Protectionist approaches cannot address the complex, interconnected challenges we face, including pandemic prevention, climate change, and digital regulation,” Steiner added. “Our problems are intertwined, requiring equally interconnected solutions. By adopting an opportunity-driven agenda that emphasizes the benefits of the energy transition and of artificial intelligence for human development, we have a chance to break through the current deadlock and reignite a commitment to a shared future.”

The report emphasizes how global interdependence is being reconfigured and calls for a new generation of global public goods. It proposes four areas for immediate action:

–        planetary public goods, for climate stability, as we confront the unprecedented challenges of the Anthropocene;

–        digital global public goods, for greater equity in harnessing new technologies for equitable human development;

–        new and expanded financial mechanisms, including a novel track in international cooperation that complements humanitarian assistance and traditional development aid to low-income countries; and

–        dialling down political polarization through new governance approaches focused on enhancing people’s voices in deliberation and tackling misinformation.

In this context, multilateralism plays a fundamental role, the report argues, because bilateral engagements are not able to address the irreducibly planetary nature of the provision of global public goods.

More key data from the report:

•       In 2023, all 38 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) achieved higher Human Development Index (HDI) scores compared to their levels in 2019.

•       Among the 35 least developed countries (LDCs) that experienced a decline in their HDI in 2020 and/or 2021, more than half (18 countries) have not yet recovered to their human development levels of 2019.

•       All developing regions have not met their anticipated HDI levels based on the trend before 2019. It appears they have shifted to a lower HDI trajectory, indicating potential permanent setbacks in future human development progress.

•       The impact of human development losses is in sharp focus in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Afghanistan’s HDI has been knocked back by a staggering ten years, while Ukraine’s HDI dropped to its lowest level since 2004.

•       The report cites research indicating that countries with populist governments have lower GDP-growth rates. Fifteen years after a populist government assumes office, the GDP per capita is found to be 10 percent lower than it might under a non-populist government scenario.

Read the full report https://hdr.undp.org/human-development-report-2023-24

Media contacts:

For more information or to request an interview, contact:

In New York City: stanislav.saling@undp.org +1 347 653 1980 or victor.garrido.delgado@undp.org +1 917 995 1687

In Geneva: sarah.bel@undp.org +41 79 934 11 17

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About the Human Development Report Office

The mission of the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is to advance human development. The goal is to contribute towards the expansion of opportunities, choice, and freedom. The office works towards this goal by promoting innovative new ideas, advocating practical policy changes, and constructively challenging policies and approaches that constrain human development. The office works with others to achieve change through writing and research, data analysis and presentation, support to national and regional analysis and outreach and advocacy work.

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New York, February 13, 2024 – The ongoing climate crisis and conflict have reversed progress aimed at ending hunger worldwide as more people go to bed hungry while food prices remain high, UN officials told a Security Council meeting on global peace and security.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said climate and conflict have become “leading drivers” of the global food crisis, displacement of people, destruction of agriculture and damage to infrastructure. Climate chaos alone has imperiled global food production and was the main causes of acute food insecurity for almost 174 million people in 2022.

The World Food Program estimated that over 330 million people were affected in 2023 and warned of an acute deterioration in 18 “hunger hotspots” early in 2024.

“I am dismayed to say that our world today is teeming with examples of the devastating relationship between hunger and conflict,” Guterres said.

The UN chief and heads of UN agencies said 13 million people in Syria go to bed hungry after the country suffered 10 years of war and deadly earthquakes while in Myanmar conflict and political instability have reversed progress on ending hunger.

“In Gaza, no one has enough to eat,” Guterres said. “Of the 700,000 hungriest people in the world, four in five inhabit that tiny strip of land,” he said. “In many places, climate disasters add another dimension. Every one of the 14 countries most at risk from climate change are suffering conflict. Thirteen of them face humanitarian crisis this year.”

The UN said about 16 million people in Ethiopia required food assistance in the wake of a war followed by drought and the situation worsened by the influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan. In Haiti, millions of people need assistance as the country is battered by hurricanes, violence and lawlessness.

“To avoid mounting threats to international peace and security, we must step in and act now to break the deadly links between conflict, climate and food insecurity,” Guterres told the 15-nation Security Council under the presidency of Guyana. He called on “all parties” in a conflict to abide by international humanitarian law.

“Starvation of civilians may constitute a war crime, and humanitarians must have unimpeded access to civilians in need,” he said, adding that the UN council has a critical role in demanding compliance and holding those who breach its resolutions to account.

He called on countries to fund humanitarian operations in full “to prevent disaster and conflict from feeding hunger” and “create the conditions to resolve conflict and preserve peace – within countries and between countries.” This is in reference to countries that have suspended funding of the UN relief organization for Palestinians in Gaza.

He called on the council to “get a grip on the climate crisis to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Because climate action is action for food security and action for peace. G20 nations must lead a just global phase out of fossil fuels, in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. And all countries must create ambitious new national climate action plans – or nationally determined contributions – by 2025, that align with the 1.5-degree limit.”

Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said climate and conflict are the most important issues requiring urgent action to address global food insecurity.

“The scientific evidence and the policy direction are clear – climate change is compromising food security, and its impacts are a growing threat to international peace and security. It is having alarming effect on people, the planet and …what I would like to address… agrifood systems – meaning how and when we produce, harvest, process and store our food.”

Bechdol said, according to the 2023 Global Report on Food Crises, the main drivers of food insecurity and hunger around the world are conflict and climate change, which affected 258 million people in 58 countries.

“As much as 70 percent of the most climate-vulnerable countries are also among the most politically and economically fragile,” Bechdol said. “Climate change will undo progress made in alleviating hunger, but as it intensifies it will create further disruptions and continue to be a driver of conflict.“

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

“The combination of climate change, hunger, and war is a devastating one. There is no national security without food security. And there will be no food security without enhanced action to stop climate change,” Stiell told the council meeting, pointing out that there are solutions and ways forward.

“This Council should be requesting a regular stream of information on climate security risks. The UNFCCC can help in the development of these updates,” Stiell said, adding that countries that attended the climate summit in Dubai in December 2023 had agreed to begin investing in “designing, piloting, and delivering, climate adaptation plans for food systems from planting new crops to better meteorological information and communication.” He said countries need money for climate adaptation, particularly developing countries that are vulnerable to climate shocks but many of them are already facing scarcity, fragility and conflict.

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Geneva/New York, January 31, 2024 – Decisions by key donors to suspend funding for the main UN relief agency in Gaza will collapse the massive humanitarian operations that have been assisting millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) said as the Israel-Hamas war continues to impact on the displaced population.

UN Secretary-General Antonio said the humanitarian system in Gaza is “collapsing” and he called on UN member states to guarantee the continuity of the saving-life work of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). He said the agency is the “backbone” of all humanitarian assistance in Gaza as well as Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

“I am extremely concerned by the inhumane conditions faced by Gaza’s 2.2 million people, as they struggle to survive without any of the basics,” Guterres told the 2024 Session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at UN Headquarters in New York.

 “Everyone in Gaza is hungry, while half a million grapple with catastrophic levels of food insecurity,” he said. “I call for rapid, safe, unhindered, expanded and sustained humanitarian access throughout Gaza.”

The Geneva-based IASC said in a statement signed by leaders of 14 relief agencies that allegations of involvement, while “horrifying,” by several staff members of the UNRWA in the October 7 attacks on Israel should not stop the relief work of the agencies.

“However, we must not prevent an entire organization from delivering on its mandate to serve people in desperate need,” the statement said. “The harrowing events that have been snowballing in Gaza since 7 October have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and on the brink of famine. UNRWA, as the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza, has been providing food, shelter and protection, even as its own staff members were being displaced and killed. “

“Decisions by various Member States to pause funds from UNRWA will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza. No other entity has the capacity to deliver the scale and breadth of assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need. We appeal for these decisions to be reconsidered.

“UNRWA has announced a full, independent review of the organization, and the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services has been activated.

“Withdrawing funds from UNRWA is perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, with far-reaching humanitarian and human rights consequences in the occupied Palestinian territory and across the region. The world cannot abandon the people of Gaza.”

Governments last year pledged $1.17 billion to UNRWA, but recently the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland have decided to suspend their contributions after Israel charged 12 UNWRA staff members with taking part in the Hamas-led attacks on the country last October 7, which killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages. Gaza authorities reported that over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed.

The 14 IASC signatories to the appeal are: Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Jane Backhurst, Chair, ICVA (Christian Aid); Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA); Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM); Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs); Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA);  Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Michal Mlynár, Executive Director a.i., United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat); Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF);  Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women; Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

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Oslo/New York, January 29, 2024 – The decisions by major donors to suspend financial aid to the UN relief agency in the Middle East will cut off life-saving assistance to over 2 million Palestinians who are already living under worsening conditions caused by the war, a group of 20 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said.

Many countries last year pledged $1.17 billion to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), the main humanitarian organization in Gaza. But the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland have decided to suspend their contributions after Israel charged 12 UNWRA staff members with taking part in the Hamas-led attacks on the country last October 7, which killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said 20 NGOs signed a joint statement to express “deep concern and outrage” that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for UNRWA amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Following is the statement:

“As aid organizations, we are deeply concerned and outraged that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region. This comes amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza. The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel’s continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza.

We welcome UNRWA’s swift investigation into the alleged involvement of a small number of UN staff members in the October 7th attacks. We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population by some of the very countries that had called for aid in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected while doing their job. This decision comes as the International Court of Justice ordered immediate and effective action to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

152 UNRWA staff have already been killed and 145 UNRWA facilities damaged by bombardment. UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and their delivery of humanitarian assistance cannot be replaced by other agencies working in Gaza. If the funding suspensions are not reversed we may see a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response in Gaza.

With approximately over one million displaced Palestinians taking shelter in or around 154 UNRWA shelters, the agency and aid organisations have continued to work in near impossible circumstances to provide food, vaccinations, and freshwater. The countries suspending funds risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection.

We urge donor states to reaffirm support for the vital work that UNRWA and its partners do to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our times. Countries must reverse these funding suspensions, uphold their duties towards the Palestinian people and scale up humanitarian assistance for civilians in dire need in Gaza and the region.”

Signed: War Child Alliance, ActionAid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Diakonia, Oxfam, Première Urgence Internationale, Médecins du Monde France, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Danish Refugee Council, Johanniter International Assistance, The Association of International Development Agencies – Aida, Humanity & Inclusion/ Handicap International (HI), INTERSOS, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, International Council for Voluntary Agencies, Norwegian People’s Aid, Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine, Norwegian Church Aid, DanChurchAid, American Friends Service Committee, Caritas Internationalis and Save the Children.

UN chief appeals to donors to maintain their pledges

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres promptly responded to Israel’s charges against the UNRWA staff members, saying had immediately taken action against several of those members.

“Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation.

UNRWA had also previously announced a full, independent review of the organization on 17 January,” Guterres said in a statement issued January 28.

“Meanwhile, 2 million civilians in Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA for daily survival but UNRWA’s current funding will not allow it to meet all requirements to support them in February. While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations – I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations.

“The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences. But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met.”

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New York, January 25, 2024 – The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels in Yemen has caused significant disruptions in shipments of grains and other key commodities from Europe, Russia and Ukraine.

The UN agency said the escalating crisis is leading to increased costs for consumers and posing serious risks to global food security, especially in regions like East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, which heavily rely on wheat imports from Europe and the Black Sea area.

“We are concerned that the attacks on Red Sea shipping are adding tensions to a context of global trade disruptions due to geopolitics and climate change,” said Jan Hoffmann, head of UNCTAD’s trade facilitation section.

He said maritime trade carries around 80 % of the goods the world trade, and the percentage is even higher for developing countries.

“These disruptions underline global trade’s vulnerability to geopolitical tensions and climate challenges,” Hoffmann said, adding that the situation will have a dramatic impact on shipping costs and rates and the container shipping sector is facing a significant challenge.

The agency said early data from 2024 showed that over 300 container vessels, over 20 % of global container capacity, were diverting from or planning alternatives to the Suez Canal. The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and handles about 12 % to 15 % of global trade in 2023.

The Houthi-led attacks in the Red Sea beginning of November 2023 have decreased trade volume through the Suez Canal by 42 % in the last two months and compelled some shipping industries to temporarily halt Suez transits and search for other routes.

“But other major routes are already under strain,” Hoffmann said, pointing that the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions have reshaped oil and grain trade routes.

Compounding the shipping crisis, UNCTAD said the Panama Canal, a key route for global trade, has been hit by a severe drought which lowered its water levels to the lowest in decades and has severely reduced traffic through the canal. It said total transits through the canal were 36 % lower than one year ago and 62 % lower than two years ago.

UN says Houthi’s request to withdraw UN staff has no legal basis

The UN confirmed that Houthi rebels have demanded in a letter that UN staff in Sana’a be withdrawn.

Confirming the order from the de facto authorities, who control the capital Sana’a along with many other areas of the war-torn country, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that the demand ran counter to the legal conditions under which the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operate.

Dujarric stressed that “any request or requirement for UN staff to leave based solely on the nationality of that staff is inconsistent with the legal framework applicable to the UN.”

Dujarric noted that it also “impedes our ability to deliver on the mandate to support all of the people in Yemen, and we call on all the authorities in Yemen, to ensure that our staff can continue to perform their functions on behalf of the UN”.

The letter from the Houthi’s de facto foreign ministry in the capital was reportedly sent to the UN’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter Hawkins, himself a British national. It reportedly also ordered foreign organizations not to hire US and British personnel going forward.

Dujarric emphasized that UN staff “serve impartially and serve the flag of the UN – and none other”.

Houthi authorities in Yemen on Wednesday have ordered UN and other humanitarian staff holding US and UK passports to leave the country within a month.

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Artificial Intelligence is a central issue at the World Economic Forum annual meeting attended by government, business and civil society leaders from over 120 countries. WEF’s AI Governance Alliance has issued new studies on AI’s potential global benefits as well as challenges and recommended creation of safe systems and technologies, ensuring responsible applications and transformation, and advancing resilient governance and regulation. Following is a press release.

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 18 January 2024 – The AI Governance Alliance (AIGA) released today a series of three new reports on advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The papers focus on generative AI governance, unlocking its value and a framework for responsible AI development and deployment.

Read the papers here. For more information on the Annual Meeting 2024, visit www.weforum.org

The alliance brings together governments, businesses and experts to shape responsible AI development applications and governance, and to ensure equitable distribution and enhanced access to this path-departing technology worldwide.

“The AI Governance Alliance is uniquely positioned to play a crucial role in furthering greater access to AI-related resources, thereby contributing to a more equitable and responsible AI ecosystem globally,” says Cathy Li, Head, AI, Data and Metaverse, World Economic Forum. “We must collaborate among governments, the private sector and local communities to ensure the future of AI benefits all.”

AIGA is calling upon experts from various sectors to address several key areas. This includes improving data quality and availability across nations, boosting access to computational resources, and adapting foundation models to suit local needs and challenges. There is also a strong emphasis on education and the development of local expertise to create and navigate local AI ecosystems effectively. In line with these goals, there is a need to establish new institutional frameworks and public-private partnerships along with implementing multilateral controls to aid and enhance these efforts.

While AI holds the potential to address global challenges, it also poses risks of widening existing digital divides or creating new ones. These and other topics are explored in a new briefing paper series, released today and crafted by AIGA’s three core workstreams, in collaboration with IBM Consulting and Accenture. As AI technology evolves at a rapid pace and developed nations race to capitalize on AI innovation, the urgency to address the digital divide is critical to ensure that billions of people in developing countries are not left behind.

On international cooperation and inclusive access in AI development and deployment, Generative AI Governance: Shaping Our Collective Global Future – from the Resilient Governance and Regulation track – evaluates national approaches, addresses key debates on generative AI, and advocates for international coordination and standards to prevent fragmentation.

Unlocking Value from Generative AI: Guidance for Responsible Transformation – from the Responsible Applications and Transformation track – provides guidance on the responsible adoption of generative AI, emphasizing use case-based evaluation, multistakeholder governance, transparent communication, operational structures, and value-based change management for scalable and responsible integration into organizations.

In addition, for optimized AI development and deployment, a new Presidio AI Framework: Towards Safe Generative AI Models – from the Safe Systems and Technologies track – addresses the need for standardized perspectives on the model lifecycle by creating a framework for shared responsibility and proactive risk management.

AIGA also seeks to mobilize resources for exploring AI benefits in key sectors, including healthcare and education.

Quotes from the initiative: H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the United Arab Emirates: “As we witness the rapid evolution of artificial Intelligence globally, the UAE stands committed to fostering an inclusive AI environment, both within our nation and throughout the world. Our collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance is instrumental in making AI benefits universally accessible, ensuring no community is left behind. We are dedicated to developing a comprehensive and forward-thinking AI and digital economy roadmap, not just for the UAE but for the global good. This roadmap is a testament to our belief in AI as a tool for universal progress and equality, and it embodies our commitment to a future where technology serves humanity in its entirety.”

Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation of Rwanda:

“Rwanda’s participation in the AI Governance Alliance aims to ensure Rwanda and the region do not play catch up in shaping the future of AI governance and accessibility. In line with these efforts, Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, will host a high-level summit on AI in Africa towards the end of 2024, creating a platform to engage in focused and collaborative dialogue on the role of AI shaping Africa’s future. The event’s primary goal will be to align African countries on common risks, barriers, and opportunities and, ultimately, devise a unified strategy for AI in Africa.”

Gary Cohn, IBM Vice-Chairman: “IBM continues to drive responsible AI and governance. We all have an obligation to collaborate globally across corporations, governments and civil society to create ethical guardrails and policy frameworks that will inform how generative AI is designed and deployed. IBM is proud to work with the Forum’s AI Governance Alliance as the knowledge partner for this paper series.”

Paul Daugherty, Chief Technology Innovation Officer, Accenture: “The evolution of AI is unique in that the technology, regulation and business adoption are all accelerating exponentially at the same time. It’s critical that the public and private sector come together to share insights, resources and best practices for building and scaling AI responsibly. Leaders in this space must prioritize inclusive AI so that the benefits of this technology are shared in all parts of the world, including emerging markets. The Forum’s three-part briefing paper series offers insightful considerations across responsible applications, governance and safety to empower businesses, respect people and benefit society.”

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A majority of chief economists at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting (January 15-19) in Switzerland warned the world should expect more economic uncertainty in 2024, with seven in 10 saying that geo-economic fragmentation will accelerate. The meeting under the theme “Rebuilding Trust” brings together more than 2,800 government, business and civil society leaders from 120 countries. Following is a press release.

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 15 January 2024 – Global economic prospects remain subdued and fraught with uncertainty, according to the latest Chief Economists Outlook  released today, as the global economy continues to grapple with headwinds from tight financial conditions, geopolitical rifts and rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Read the paper here. For more information on the Annual Meeting 2024, visit www.weforum.org.

More than half of chief economists (56%) expect the global economy to weaken this year, while 43% foresee unchanged or stronger conditions. A strong majority also believe labour markets (77%) and financial conditions (70%) will loosen over the coming year. Although the expectations for high inflation have been pared back in all regions, regional growth outlooks vary widely and no region is slated for very strong growth in 2024.

“The latest Chief Economists Outlook highlights the precarious nature of the current economic environment,” said Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “Amid accelerating divergence, the resilience of the global economy will continue to be tested in the year ahead. Though global inflation is easing, growth is stalling, financial conditions remain tight, global tensions are deepening and inequalities are rising – highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation to build momentum for sustainable, inclusive economic growth.”

Regional variations – The outlook for South Asia and East Asia and Pacific remains positive and broadly unchanged compared to the last survey, with a strong majority (93% and 86% respectively) expecting at least moderate growth in 2024. China is an exception, with a smaller majority (69%) expecting moderate growth as weak consumption, lower industrial production and property market concerns weigh on the prospects of a stronger rebound.

In Europe, the outlook has weakened significantly since the September 2023 survey, with the share of respondents expecting weak or very weak growth almost doubling to 77%. In the United States and the Middle East and North Africa, the outlook is weaker too, with about six in 10 respondents foreseeing moderate or stronger growth this year (down from 78% and 79% respectively). There is a notable uptick in growth expectations for Latin America and the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, although the views remain for broadly moderate growth.

Geopolitical rifts compound uncertainty – About seven in 10 chief economists expect the pace of geoeconomic fragmentation to accelerate this year, with a majority saying geopolitics will stoke volatility in the global economy (87%) and stock markets (80%), increase localization (86%), strengthen geoeconomic blocs (80%) and widen the North-South divide (57%) in the next three years.

As governments increasingly experiment with industrial policy tools, experts are nearly unanimous in expecting these policies to remain largely uncoordinated between countries. While two-thirds of chief economists expect industrial policies to enable the emergence of new economic growth hotspots and vital new industries, a majority also warn of rising fiscal strains (79%) and divergence between higher- and lower-income economies (66%).

AI takes the spotlight – Chief economists expect AI-enabled benefits to vary widely across income groups, with notably more optimistic views about the effects in high-income economies. A strong majority said generative AI will increase efficiency of output production (79%) and innovation (74%) in high-income economies this year. Looking at the next five years, 94% expect these productivity benefits to become economically significant in high-income economies, compared to only 53% for low-income economies.

Almost three-quarters (73%) do not foresee net-positive impact on employment in low-income economies and 47% said the same for high-income economies. The views are somewhat more divided on the likelihood of generative AI to increase standards of living and to lead to a decline in trust, with both being slightly more likely in high-income markets.

About the Chief Economists Outlook report – The Chief Economist Outlook builds on the latest policy development research as well as consultations and surveys with leading chief economists from both the public and private sectors, organized by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society. It aims to summarize the emerging contours of the current economic environment and identify priorities for further action by policy makers and business leaders in response to the compounding shocks to the global economy. The survey featured in this briefing was conducted in November-December 2023.

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