Clermont-Ferrand – this serene French city captivates you from the very first moment with its harmonious blend of heritage and modernity. Upon arrival, one feels as though stepping into a living painting that tells the story of a city capable of preserving its past while confidently advancing toward the future.
I was delighted to visit this city to attend the Global Development Network (GDN) Conference, and my excitement doubled when I learned that I was the only invited Arab journalist, representing ‘Aaber’ Platform - Journalism for Human Rights, a young media platform committed to keeping pace with digital transformation while placing human rights at the core of its reporting.
On my way to the conference venue at Hall 32, navigating Clermont’s metro bustling with voices from the Arab community, I met a researcher from India and an academic from Pakistan. We discussed our countries, weighed down by conflicts and crises, and explored how science and research can offer practical solutions beyond political rhetoric. This brief encounter mirrored the very spirit of the conference.
As the opening session began, the conference president welcomed all participants, emphasizing this year’s theme: “Inclusive Digital Transformation: Social Impacts and Technological Innovations.”
On my journey to Clermont, I wondered how human rights could intersect with digital transformation, and whether technology could serve humanity rather than marginalize it. Yet from the very first session, the picture became clear: the entire conference distilled reality into numbers and data that reveal our human condition - unembellished and precise.
Experts discussed illiteracy, health, education, and equality in low- and middle-income countries. The figures were at times alarming, yet they are essential for understanding the depth of the problem. As it is often said: “What cannot be measured cannot be managed.” Science and research are the shortest path to practical solutions, condensing years of trial and error into data and insights that can be applied immediately.
As a journalist from the Middle East, I initially felt somewhat out of place among the dozens of researchers, policymakers, and representatives from the public and private sectors worldwide. But that feeling quickly turned into professional awakening. I realized that, as Arab journalists, we often dive into human struggles and convey their voices, yet we rarely engage with researchers or base our reporting on their findings.
At the Clermont conference, I discovered that research papers are keys to understanding social, economic, and humanitarian crises. Many of these studies pass unnoticed in our region, even though they contain ready-made answers to questions we raise daily in journalism.
The conference did not overlook artificial intelligence, addressing its growing role in shaping the future and the significant ethical concerns accompanying its rapid development. How can these technologies enhance development without exacerbating inequality or threatening privacy? The answers varied, yet all converged on one truth: technology cannot be separated from humanity, nor can development be divorced from values.
On the final day, the Global Development Awards were presented, with three African studies recognized as the most outstanding:
I left Clermont convinced that what happens in these conferences should not remain confined to lecture halls. There is a treasure trove of knowledge and data awaiting those willing to shed light on it.
Perhaps the first step is to redefine journalism - not merely as storytelling, but as a bridge connecting humanity to science, and information to solutions.