The fifth Manama Declaration, named after Bahrain’s capital city where the 2024 World Entrepreneurship Investment Forum (WEIF) is being held from Tuesday, reflects the gathering’s theme that innovation can drive the development of technologies and products that help solve socio-economic and environmental challenges.
The resulting economic progress can provide the resources needed to invest in sustainable development.
In his message to the forum, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, looking ahead to the highly anticipated UN Future Summit in September, encouraged delegates in Manama to “harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to find ways to make the world a better place for all people and the planet we share.”
On the sidelines of the Forum, the issue of innovation and entrepreneurship as a means to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs was highlighted, with people with disabilities showcasing how technology can help them overcome obstacles and ultimately build inclusive communities.
Inclusive Society
WEIF is promoted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with local, regional and international partners.
Hashim Hussein, who heads the office, previously said 15 percent of people in the Arab region live with disabilities, and innovation and entrepreneurship are key to ensuring inclusive societies.
“I’m a quadriplegic, I can’t move my legs or my fingers. It’s been very difficult for me to live independently,” Tarek Salem, co-founder and CEO of AccessLife, an Egyptian company that provides a range of assistive technology for disabled and elderly people, told UN News on Wednesday.
He explained the three phases of the Access Life programme: “The first phase is to consolidate all our medical tools into one platform. We also have video clips to educate people with disabilities, as they may not know these tools exist or how they can help them.” [with self-reliance]In the second stage, a survey is carried out [are needed] Most are geared towards manufacturing them. [Thirdly]And most importantly, to create an inclusive society for people with disabilities.”
Innovation and Disability
Olfa Dababi, a young Tunisian woman with a neurological disability, visited WEIF to present OLFUS, a company she founded that uses digital art to convey various messages, including encouraging people facing difficulties.
She told UN News that she refused to let her disability deny her right to contribute to her community – especially at a time when people are increasingly judged on their appearance, an issue made worse by widespread cyberbullying.
“I was bullied as a child. I have a disability. [was bullied because of that] But my family was with me,” she said.
“My disability has not held me back, but rather inspired me to overcome it and become who I am today. Innovation and technology are not only my passion, they are also the driving force behind the work I do,” Dababi said at a booth displaying her digital artwork. [they] Allow me to serve others.”
She continued: “I talk about bullying because it’s not a good thing, and I also talk about the importance of self-acceptance and refusing to criticise your body type. [about] mental health.”
Dababi uses computer technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to create art and print the images on t-shirts and mugs, and she wants to share a message that can help others facing similar challenges.
Abdullah Shabana, from Saudi Arabia, focuses on participatory design, an idea championed by MIT and the Saudi Arabian Intellectual Property Authority.
“Participatory design is an initiative that brings together designers and people with disabilities. From research ideas to production ideas, multiple projects are generated through participatory design,” he told UN News.
The project he presented at WEIF was a voice application to help people with communication difficulties: “This application allows people with disabilities to communicate in the language of the people of their country.”
A ray of hope for Palestine
Also speaking to UNNews was Nadia Msleh, president of the Women’s Renaissance Association, which was founded in Ramallah in 1925 as the first project to care for disabled people in Palestine.
“We have a rehabilitation centre which serves between 45 and 60 disabled people daily. We provide them with daily plans and programmes. At the centre we teach them how to make different hand tools, how to paint and draw. We came here to show what we have in Palestine,” Musleh told UN News.
“We have Anton here, who joined the association when he was three years old. He’s now 40 and specializes in game development,” she explained.
Innovation and the “Orange Economy”
The Manama Declaration also calls on the international community to promote and harness promising new sectors such as the creative and “orange economy,” embrace digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, and promote smart agricultural practices that create jobs and achieve economic development.
Governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, media, international organizations and all ecosystem operators are urged to work together to promote entrepreneurship and innovative enterprises towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the outlook to 2050.
The two-page document calls on all stakeholders to work together to promote entrepreneurship and innovation to achieve the SDGs. Looking ahead to 2050, it concludes by calling on the international community to “end conflicts and provide rapid support to women and young people in post-conflict areas.”
The Manama Declaration will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly.
WEIF concludes tomorrow with a focus on “Women, Peace and Security,” including promoting stability in conflict-affected countries through funding for women entrepreneurs.
