Riyadh, September 10, 2025, SPA -- The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) brought together diplomats, ambassadors, policymakers, and technology leaders in Riyadh for the fifth Diplomatic Connect. The event focused on how digital tools can contribute to building resilience and fostering peace in post-conflict environments. Held under the theme “Tech for Rebuilding - Digital Tools for Post-Conflict Resilience,” Diplomatic Connect addressed the urgent need for practical digital resilience in a world where more than 122 million people have been displaced due to conflicts or crises. Organized in collaboration with the Kuwaiti embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the event featured a welcome address by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, followed by an opening speech by DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya. The keynote address was delivered by British former Minister of State for Culture and Digital Economy Lord Ed Vaizey, a prominent international voice on digital cooperation. Discussions were grounded in real-world examples of digital resilience that have delivered tangible outcomes. Among these was Ukraine’s Diia platform, which has enabled more than 20 million citizens to access over 100 government services digitally, ensuring the continuity of essential services amid ongoing conflict. In Jordan, blockchain-powered digital wallets are providing aid efficiently and transparently to over 300,000 refugees. In Syria, UNICEF-supported digital classrooms are reconnecting displaced children with education. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s digital transformation rebuilt trust in public services and helped foster a thriving tech sector now regarded as a leading technology hub in Africa. “Kuwait has always believed that diplomacy and dialogue are the foundation of peace,” said the Kuwaiti ambassador. “By hosting this edition of the Diplomatic Connect, we are proud to offer a platform for ambassadors and international partners to explore how digital tools can enhance resilience, restore trust, and support communities on their path to stability.” Meanwhile, AlYahya stated that the discussions on technology for reconstruction and digital tools for post-conflict economic resilience comes at a critical moment. “Today, the world is witnessing more than 122 million people displaced by wars and crises,” AlYahya stated. “These circumstances tear apart institutions, erode trust, and displace families. Yet digital rebuilding can accelerate the recovery of these communities and offers us a chance to rebuild better, by redesigning systems that are more just and more effective.”
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