23 SEP 2025 – NEW YORK, USA | HIGH-LEVEL SIDE EVENT UNGA 80

Sep 23, 2024 | Events

TDF Participates in High-Level AI Capacity Building Side Event at UNGA80

The Tech Diplomacy Forum is proud to participate in a significant high-level side event during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, addressing one of the most critical challenges facing the global technology landscape today.

Bridging the Global AI Divide

On September 23, 2025, leaders from government, international organizations, academia, and industry will convene at UN Headquarters for “Empowering Nations for Inclusive Prosperity in the Era of Ai” Co-hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Kenya, this invitation-only session in Conference Room 5 tackles a pressing reality: while some nations have developed robust AI ecosystems, others face significant shortfalls in technical expertise, policy frameworks, and digital infrastructure.

A Response to Global Commitments

This initiative directly responds to the successful adoption of the Pact of the Future and its annex, the Global Digital Compact, building on recommendations from the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body. The session aims to establish a sustainable AI Capacity Building Network that leverages multilateral cooperation and South-South exchange to accelerate development and ensure AI solutions are responsive to national and regional priorities.

Distinguished Participation

  • Ambassador Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology, Republic of Kenya
  • Dr. Amandeep Gill, UN Secretary General Envoy on Technology, UN Office on Digital and Emerging Technologies
  • Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder-President, Tech Diplomacy Forum
  • Dr. Korir Singoei, Principal Secretary, Foreign Affairs, Republic of Kenya
  • Francine Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People Officer, CISCO
  • Celine Lee, CEO and Founder, Zindi
  • Gbemi Disu, Senior Vice President of Global Partner Development, WorldQuant University
  • Vilas Dhar, President, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

The Path Forward

The session will explore how countries can close the AI readiness gap by combining locally tailored strategies with global best practices grounded in multilateral collaboration. Participants will examine how multistakeholder partnerships can accelerate capacity building and ensure AI solutions serve national and regional priorities while adhering to international standards.

The dialogue will focus on establishing a robust, sustainable AI Capacity Building Network that is bottom-up, regionally diverse, openly accessible, and powered by strengthened multilateral and South-South cooperation.

TDF’s Commitment to Inclusive Technology

This participation aligns with TDF’s core mission of advancing tech diplomacy that serves all nations. The forum recognizes that technological advancement must be inclusive, ensuring that no country is left behind in the digital transformation. The AI capacity building initiative represents exactly the kind of collaborative, multilateral approach that TDF champions.

The event underscores the importance of diplomatic engagement in shaping how emerging technologies like AI can serve shared prosperity and sustainable development goals across the Global South and beyond.