For many families, financial life today is a balancing act between rising living costs, changing expectations, and the desire to provide stability across generations. As family roles evolve and digital tools become part of everyday decision-making, financial well-being is no longer just about income, but about security, inclusion, and shared responsibility. This session explores how families can move from short-term coping towards long-term financial resilience, particularly by supporting the economic participation of youth and women. Drawing on global insights, regional experiences, and real-world stories, the discussion looks at how digital finance, income opportunities, and inclusive systems can strengthen family cohesion, enhance quality of life, and ensure that every family member has a stake in economic prosperity.

In conversations about work, families are finding themselves with very different stories to tell and challenges to overcome. They happen around the dinner table, in schools, and at moments of transition. As technology reshapes industries and expectations shift, young people are entering a job market that looks very different from the one their parents knew. This session brings together global insights and everyday experiences to explore how families are navigating these changes. It looks at how skills, education, and access to opportunities influence confidence and direction, and how families, institutions, and employers can support young people to adapt, stay resilient, and find their place in a changing world of work.

Across families and communities, women are already active contributors to economic life, often in ways that shape opportunity, stability, and growth. As societies evolve, the question is no longer whether women participate in the economy, but how systems, policies, and workplaces can better support the many ways women choose to engage. This session explores how expanding access to finance, technology, and flexible forms of work can open new pathways for women’s economic participation. By looking at real experiences and emerging opportunities, the discussion focuses on how women’s participation strengthens families, supports shared prosperity, and contributes to more inclusive and resilient economies.

Every family is shaped by values and traditions that influence how roles and responsibilities take form. As social, economic, and technological contexts evolve, these roles shift as well, often redefining how individuals participate, contribute, and find balance within family life. This session opens space to discuss how family roles affect opportunity and well-being. It looks at the ways cultural and generational perspectives shape caregiving, work, and shared responsibility, while exploring how families can adapt in ways that support personal aspirations alongside collective stability.

Within every family, different generations carry different experiences of opportunity, responsibility, and change. Parents and grandparents often pass down knowledge shaped by their own journeys, while younger generations navigate new realities defined by rapid social and technological shifts. This session looks at how empowerment takes shape across generations as an ongoing exchange of support, learning, and responsibility that drives positive change. By exploring how resources, access, and decision-making flow between generations, the discussion highlights how families can strengthen resilience, reduce gaps, and work together to build a future that feels both secure and shared.

Within communities, older generations carry experience, memory, and perspective that shape how values are passed on and how support is given and received. Questions around ageing are becoming part of everyday family life, from care and health to participation, independence, and belonging. This session explores how societies can better support older people to remain active, connected, and valued within their families and communities. It looks at how access can strengthen well-being, while also recognising the meaningful contributions older adults continue to make.

For young people today, growing up means navigating constant change, from shifting social expectations and economic pressures to rapid technological advancement. These realities shape not only their opportunities, but also how they see themselves, their futures, and their place in society. This session explores youth well-being as something broader than physical or mental health alone. It looks at how access to education, meaningful work, social participation, and technology all play a role in shaping confidence, belonging, and aspiration. Drawing on regional insights and real-world initiatives, the discussion highlights how young people are preparing for the future, the pressures they face along the way, and the pathways that can support them to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Today, information is everywhere, from official statistics and news outlets to social media feeds and AI-powered tools. For individuals and families, this abundance brings both opportunity and uncertainty. Knowing what to trust, where to look, and how to make sense of information has become part of everyday life. This session explores how the way we access and understand information is changing, and what that means for decision-making, participation, and trust. It looks at how people navigate between traditional sources and new digital tools, the skills needed to question accuracy and bias, and the shared responsibility of institutions, technology platforms, and communities in ensuring access to reliable and meaningful information.

Fatherhood in the Arab world is evolving. Today, many fathers are stepping into roles that go beyond provision, becoming more present, emotionally engaged, and actively involved in family life. This shift is reshaping how families function and how children experience care, support, and belonging. This session explores the evolving role of fathers in the Arab world and the systems that enable greater engagement at home. Drawing on regional and global best practices, it highlights how policies, legislation, workplace initiatives, and community action can encourage fathers to play a more active role in caregiving. Through research and lived experiences, the discussion showcases how supportive frameworks strengthen family relationships, support children’s emotional well-being, and contribute to more balanced and resilient family life.

Family life is shaped by moments of connection as well as moments of change. Across Arab societies, marriage and divorce are increasingly influenced by economic and financial pressures, shifting expectations, and evolving legal and social frameworks. This session explores how these forces shape the strength and stability of families, drawing on comparative data, legislative developments, and community initiatives. By looking at marriage and separation as part of broader social change, the discussion highlights how families navigate responsibilities and the ways in which it impacts family cohesion.

Across the world, artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday family life. Families are using AI to organise routines, support learning, and manage health, often without fully realising how deeply these tools shape daily habits and decisions. This session explores how AI is being used within households and what this means for family relationships, well-being, and quality of life. It looks at how families can build digital literacy, use AI thoughtfully, while also reflecting on trust, reliance, and the role of human judgement in an increasingly automated world.

Growing up today means navigating a world shaped by rapid change in education, social life, technology, and expectations. Alongside new opportunities, young people face a range of risks that can affect their well-being, confidence, and sense of safety, both now and in the future. This session brings the voices and experiences of young people into the conversation, exploring the challenges they encounter and the support they rely on. It looks at how families, schools, communities, and institutions can work together to strengthen resilience, create safe environments, and ensure that young people feel protected, heard, and empowered as they move forward.

Children’s daily routines now include screens in classrooms, at home, and in the spaces where they socialise and unwind. As children spend more time online to learn, play, and connect, questions around safety, privacy, and well-being become part of everyday family life. This session explores how families, educators, communities, and institutions can work together to create safer digital environments for children. Drawing on research and practical experience, the discussion looks at how guidance, digital literacy, and age-appropriate boundaries can help children navigate the online world with confidence, while ensuring that technology continues to support learning, creativity, and healthy development.