Representatives from the Qatar Foundation (QF) engaged in a series of discussions and events during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, contributing perspectives on education, health, sustainability, youth and women’s leadership, and emerging technologies. The weeklong participation showcased QF’s efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable development while highlighting the integration of cultural heritage into contemporary policymaking.
QF’s global education initiative, the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), facilitated dialogue among international partners, policymakers, and education experts on the future of learning and skill development. Dr. Asyia Kazmi, CEO of WISE, addressed the Education Futures Forum organized by Signals House by Diplomatic Courier, emphasizing the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy as urgent yet solvable challenges in education. She stressed the need for political will, focused interventions, and effective teaching to overcome these barriers.
Youth advocates supported by QatarDebate, a QF-founded platform, participated in the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit held concurrently with UNGA. The summit featured sessions on youth diplomacy, female leadership, and technological developments impacting global affairs. Among the speakers was Ali Almawlawi, who joined a discussion titled “From Future Leaders to Present Power: Youth at the Diplomatic Table.” Noor al-Thani moderated a session on women’s leadership amid global uncertainty that included panelists such as Chele Blair CBE, KC, of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Linda Rama, First Lady of Albania; and Shefali Razdan Duggal, former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands.
Discussions also addressed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in defense and governance. Sheikha Alanoud al-Thani spoke at a session called “Autonomy, Intelligence, and the Future of Defense,” focusing on the potential for AI to enhance accountability and decision-making rather than escalate military conflicts. Sheikh al-Thani highlighted the importance of applying AI responsibly to promote transparency and peacebuilding.
QF hosted a special event titled “Tradition Meets Tomorrow” at Goals House in New York, designed to explore how cultural traditions and knowledge systems can inform solutions to global challenges in education and sustainability. Mashail M al-Naimi, program manager at QF’s Policy Hub, noted that traditions should not be confined to preservation but recognized as dynamic knowledge passed across generations that offer valuable insights for addressing contemporary issues.
Additionally, the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition, supported by QF alongside Autism Speaks, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, marked its milestone year since launching at UNGA in 2025. The coalition convened stakeholders including investors, innovators, policymakers, and philanthropic groups to strengthen partnerships aimed at accelerating global autism initiatives.
Through these diverse interventions, QF underscored its commitment to advancing dialogue and action on pressing international development priorities during this year’s United Nations General Assembly.