Event Overview:

This high-level roundtable, held on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026, will explore the growing importance of resilient digital ecosystems in safeguarding essential services, economic activity, and government operations during armed conflict and crisis situations.

As cyber incidents, data breaches, misinformation, and disruptions to critical digital infrastructure increasingly threaten access to healthcare, energy, water, financial services, and communications, the session will examine how protecting civilian digital ecosystems can support stability, resilience, and peacebuilding.

Drawing on findings from the Digital Cooperation Organization’s report, Safeguarding Civilian Digital Ecosystems during Armed Conflict, participants will discuss key recommendations to strengthen digital resilience, advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and reinforce international cooperation ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).

The roundtable will also provide a platform for DCO Member States, including Bahrain, Jordan, Rwanda, and Saudi Arabia, to share perspectives on how resilient digital ecosystems contribute to institutional continuity, recovery, and sustainable development in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Event Objectives:

• Present key findings and recommendations from the DCO report on Safeguarding Civilian Digital Ecosystems during Armed Conflict, demonstrating how strengthening the resilience of digital ecosystems contributes to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in ensuring continuity of services, and institutional resilience, and stability across sectors.
• Showcase experiences from DCO Member States on leveraging digital ecosystems integration to enhance resilience, mitigate risks in conflict and fragile settings, and support peacebuilding efforts through trusted digital environments, including combating the challenges posed by online misinformation.
• Promote international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement to operationalize the “digital nexus” idea for the 2030 Agenda and beyond, generating actionable policy pathways that strengthen governance, protect civilian digital infrastructure, and contribute to global discussions ahead of UNGA81.

View the full event program: High-Level Political Forum 2026 →

Attending the UN HLPF?

If you are participating in the High-Level Political Forum 2026 and wish to join our side event, “The Digital Imperative: Resilience, Prosperity, and Peace towards 2030 Agenda and beyond”, we invite you to express your interest by contacting us at ✉  media@dco.org or by completing the registration form below. We would be delighted to connect with you and welcome you to this important conversation on the role of digital in sustainable development.

We look forward to welcoming you to this important conversation on the role of digital in sustainable development.