UN Country Results Report 2021

In 2021, building on the repositioning of the United Nations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) reached critical milestones in Saudi Arabia, broadening its partnership with the Government, private sector, civil society, and academia.

The development of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022 – 2026 was paced to the establishment of the KSA Sustainable Development Steering Committee (SDSC), which will ensure that the UNCT, through the Cooperation Framework, contributes to supporting the Kingdom in achieving the SDGs.

The UNCT continued to support the Government to engage in critical global issues such as the Food Systems Summit, and to develop solutions to emerging issues and progress on the broader sustainable development agenda, underpinned by the multifaceted partnership strategy and supported by active strategic communications to raise awareness on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Localization of the SDGs began with the first UNCT visit to Asir, one of the 13 Saudi regions, which included engagement with local government, women’s committees, and academia. In collaboration with UNDP and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the UNCT launched a research paper on ‘The Role of Awqaf in Achieving the SDGs and Vision 2030,’ which highlighted the role of sustainable financing for social development.