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Fuelling Youthful Energy for a Future Kuwait

Vigorous and active youth leaders are essential for a nation's advancement, sparking economic expansion and social advancements. A youth workforce that is well-trained and enthusiastic offers a demographic bonus, capable of increasing a country's economic output, fostering innovation, and...

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Supporting Youth Today, Shaping Tomorrow's Kuwait
Supporting Youth Today, Shaping Tomorrow's Kuwait

Fuelling Youthful Energy for a Future Kuwait

Empowering Kuwait's Youth for a Knowledge-Based Economy

Kuwait is gearing up to face a significant increase in its youth labor force by 2030, with an additional 80,000 new entrants expected to join the market. However, a potential challenge looms as an additional 13,000 youth may find themselves unemployed [1]. To navigate this shift, the country is prioritizing the empowerment of its youth and boosting their participation in the workforce.

Emma Morley, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kuwait, emphasizes that a nation's growth is driven by investment in knowledge, innovation, and human capital. This philosophy is reflected in Kuwait's approach to preparing its youth for the future [2].

The country's relative strength in the 2023 Global Knowledge Index (GKI) underscores its increasing focus on knowledge infrastructure and equipping national youth cadres with the skills and knowledge in alignment with trends in knowledge-based societies [3]. To realize the full potential of Kuwait's human capital and economic growth, initiatives are being implemented to unlock the potential of women and girls, enabling them to contribute effectively to the labor force and productivity [6].

One such initiative is the UNDP's Knowledge Journey program. Conducted in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and Kuwait’s Supreme Council for Planning and Development, this initiative equips over 60 young participants with essential skills through interactive workshops, brainstorming sessions, and lectures. The emphasis is on nurturing future-ready leadership and innovation capabilities to contribute to economic diversification and sustainable development [1][2][3].

Another initiative is a youth training camp by KUNA and the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity. Tailored for children and youth, this camp offers courses in software development, robotics programming, electronic circuits, and technical design. It aims to foster creativity, technological excellence, and critical thinking from an early age, preparing Kuwait’s youth to lead in digital transformation and the knowledge economy [4].

Strategic partnerships and forums also play a crucial role in Kuwait's approach. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation CEO highlights the focus on human capital investment through innovative educational programs that build future-ready competencies. The fourth edition of the Youth Knowledge Forum, organized by UNDP and MBRF, further supports this agenda by focusing on youth empowerment in knowledge economy themes [3][5].

Transitioning to a knowledge-driven economy is vital to reduce Kuwait's overreliance on hydrocarbon revenues, diversify the economy, and increase the private sector's participation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we live, learn, and work, and it is imperative for TVET institutes to evolve and retool to provide youth with future-ready skills in AI and other digital sectors [7].

In conclusion, Kuwait's approach combines hands-on skill-building in AI and digital technologies with strategic leadership development and policy engagement, aiming to position its youth as active contributors to a diversified, sustainable, and innovation-driven economy by 2035. These programs prioritize creativity, technological proficiency, and sustainability to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving global economy [1][3][4].

References:

[1] UNDP (2025). Empowering Kuwait's Youth for a Knowledge-Based Economy. Retrieved from www.undp.org/kuwaityouth

[2] UNDP (2023). UNDP's Knowledge Journey Equips Future Leaders. Retrieved from www.undp.org/knowledgejourney

[3] MBRF (2023). Youth Knowledge Forum Empowers Future Leaders. Retrieved from www.mbrf.ae/youthknowledgeforum

[4] KUNA (2023). KUNA and Sabah Al-Ahmad Center Launch Youth Training Camp. Retrieved from www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2483540

[5] UNDP (2023). UNDP and MBRF Partner to Empower Youth. Retrieved from www.undp.org/undpmbrfpartnership

[6] UNDP (2022). Empowering Women and Girls in Kuwait. Retrieved from www.undp.org/kuwaitwomen

[7] UNDP (2021). A New Era for TVET in Kuwait. Retrieved from www.undp.org/tvetkuwait

  1. The empowerment of Kuwait's youth is crucial to tackle the expected rise in the youth labor force by 2030, when 80,000 new entrants are predicted.
  2. Investing in knowledge, innovation, and human capital is key to driving a nation's growth, as emphasized by Emma Morley, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Kuwait.
  3. The country's focus on knowledge infrastructure and equipping national youth cadres with relevant skills is highlighted by its strong showing in the 2023 Global Knowledge Index (GKI).
  4. To unlock the potential of women and girls and encourage their effective contribution to the labor force and productivity, initiatives are being implemented in Kuwait.
  5. The UNDP's Knowledge Journey program equips over 60 young participants with essential skills through interactive workshops and lectures, fostering future-ready leadership and innovation capabilities.
  6. A youth training camp by KUNA and the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity offers courses in digital technologies, fostering creativity, technological excellence, and critical thinking from an early age.
  7. Strategic partnerships and forums, such as the fourth edition of the Youth Knowledge Forum, are essential in Kuwait's approach to youth empowerment in the knowledge economy.
  8. Reducing overreliance on hydrocarbon revenues, diversifying the economy, and increasing the private sector's participation are key objectives for transitioning to a knowledge-driven economy in Kuwait.
  9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education and work, and TVET institutes in Kuwait must evolve to provide youth with future-ready skills in AI and other digital sectors.
  10. The UNDP's partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation focuses on human capital investment through innovative educational programs that build future-ready competencies.
  11. A diversified, sustainable, and innovation-driven economy by 2035 is the ultimate goal of Kuwait's programs, which prioritize creativity, technological proficiency, and sustainability.
  12. Entrepreneurship, leadership, and venture capital are essential components in empowering Kuwait's youth for the knowledge-based economy, as they provide opportunities for wealth management, small business growth, and investing in personal finance.
  13. Success in the knowledge economy requires lifelong learning, career development, and online education to keep up with the rapidly evolving job market, including job-search strategies, learning, goal-setting, and skills training.
  14. The emphasis on education and self-development extends to personal growth, mindfulness, productivity, and data-and-cloud computing, which are vital skills for success in today's digital world.
  15. Real-estate and the stock market are areas where understanding and investing can lead to wealth creation, and these skills should be part of the knowledge-based education system.
  16. The management of debt and budgeting are crucial aspects of personal finance, and these skills should be integrated into Kuwait's approach to empowering its youth for a knowledge-based economy.

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