the necessary skills to succeed in an economy undergoing unprecedented technological shifts. While Saudi Arabia’s approach demonstrates one path forward, countries can adopt various strategies to address technological disruption. Reducing human capital risks associated with technology disruption requires countries to implement upskilling programmes tailored to their specific contexts, supported by investments from both the public and private sectors. This approach could begin with national skills assessments to identify workforce gaps and align training initiatives with strategic economic needs. Alongside this, countries could develop flexible digital learning platforms that provide accessible and adaptable education to a range of learners across sectors and skill levels. These platforms should offer specialized courses designed for continuous professional development, empowering workers to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies. For example, Nigeria’s 2024 Devs in Government project aims to upskill civil servant software developers, enhancing technical capacity, cultivating peer-to-peer learning and improving access to e-government services.37 This paper stresses that the need for public- and private-sector collaboration has never been more pressing. In the face of mounting global challenges, ranging from access to capital issues and economic instability to climate change and technological disruption, the unique strengths of both sectors can effectively bridge investment gaps. This would help to drive sustainable growth and cultivate an environment in which companies can thrive amid volatility. Insights from the survey and this chapter highlight important areas in which to build long-term resilience, as well as the need for leaders across sectors to prioritize collaboration. While collaboration will be essential to drive meaningful impact, the achievement of these goals will be largely influenced by the broader macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape. This landscape affects access to capital and the efficient deployment of resources. In an environment of limited resources, both governments and companies face constraints that necessitate a careful approach to prioritization – especially with high levels of national debt and finite corporate resources. Maintaining the capacity to secure capital effectively, even amid volatility, will be crucial for sustaining long-term growth. This is particularly important, as the survey indicates a corporate tendency to focus on short-term measures, underscoring the need for long-term thinking on resilience. Resilience Pulse Check: Harnessing Collaboration to Navigate a Volatile World 22

Resilience Pulse Check 2025