Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), and the United Nations (UN) Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA), recently convened UN political analysts and development advisers in Doha for a workshop on how to use new technologies for conflict prevention and peacemaking.

Commenting on the UN DPPA workshop, Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid, executive director, QCRI, said: “QCRI is proud of the partnerships and collaborations that we have built over the past 10 years. We are especially excited about our collaboration with the UN on using technology and innovation to improve people's lives. Crucially, these activities will support our scientists' ongoing effort to create meaningful and socially relevant innovations. 

“Over the past couple of years, we have worked closely with a range of UN organizations on data analysis for humanitarian crises and development challenges. We are pleased to support this workshop and to learn more about the UN’s operational needs in data analysis for peacemaking. We are currently exploring new ways of supporting the UN’s conflict prevention work through our technologies and expertise,” noted Dr. Ingmar Weber, research director for social computing at QCRI.

Martin Waehlisch of UN DPPA said: “The collaboration with QCRI and other regional partners is an opportunity for us to tap into the unique expertise in social computing and interdisciplinary research in the Arab world. This cooperation is part of an ecosystem of public, private, and academic partners to learn from each other about the use of new technologies and other advances. Following the call of the UN Secretary-General to be more innovative, this ecosystem allows us to create space for new ideas, prototyping, and experimenting with new ways of informing and measuring our work in conflict prevention, peace mediation and peacebuilding.” 

“The United Nations is entering the 75th year of its existence which is an occasion for us to re-imagine and improve on how we do our work. The training at QCRI is part of this effort,” underlined Daanish Masood of the United Nations. 

The joint engagement of practitioners and scholars will result in further research projects, digital applications and used cases of new technologies and innovation for peace.

For more information, please visit qcri.org.qa.