Saudi Social Development Forum holds session for sustainable development and partnership between private and public sectors

In view of the prosperity our country is experiencing, the work of charities and nonprofit organizations in providing a decent life for all citizens has grown considerably alongside the great efforts made by the government for this field.

Given the breadth of their activities directed to all segments of society the charitable and nonprofit sectors have registered numerous important achievements in the field of social development. However, despite this success many observers expected a bigger role for the nonprofit sector. In addition, they believe that the social development programs need more organization and more planning to ensure they will achieve their goals over the long term.

With all this in mind, the Social Development Forum is holding its second session 4-6 June 2011 under the banner “From sponsorship to sustainability….building partnerships” with the objective of activating partnership in various directions.

The is forum is focused on development plans and achieving integration between the plans of various organizations and the national development plan, aligned with the goals of the United Nations, through building and enhancing the capabilities of the nonprofit sector to implement sustainable programs in order to achieve lasting results .

Participating in the forum are an elite group of princes and other eminences, led by HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Prince of Makkah, the forum’s honorable sponsor, who will deliver a speech on the opening day about realizing developmental vision through partnership. Also taking part in the forum are HRH  Prince Misha’al Bin Majid, who is President of the forum, and HH Princess Al Bandary Bint Abdulrahman Al Faisal, General Director of King Khalid Charitable Foundation, the forum’s strategic partner.

The forum also includes a discussion with Dr. Yousef Ahmed Al Othaimeen, Minister of Social Affairs, to learn his views on the Ministry’s development projects and the outlook of the social development operations and its institutions.

Top speakers of the forum include a number of officials from both the public and private sectors including Sheikh Dr. Saleh Bin Abdul Rahman Al Hussain, Director General of the Two Holy Mosques, who is a keynote speaker, and Mr. Amr Al Dabagh, Governor of the Saudi General Investment Authority, who will speak about the importance of partnership with foreign investors in achieving social responsibilities; Other keynote speakers are HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Abdulaziz; H.E. Abdulaziz Al Rabeah, Minister of Health; and H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Khudairy, the Under Secretary of Makkah.

HH Princess Al Bandary commented on the importance of the 2^nd Social Development Forum saying: “The Social Development Forum is one of the most important initiatives for the advancement of organized social work and promoting the idea of development in the nonprofit sector.”

The forum will also host a number of prominent experts and decision makers from the USA, Jordan and Egypt who will share their knowledge and experience, including Mr. Ghassan Braaj from Booz & Co, the forum’s strategic partner, and Mr. Charles Swan, who is a consultant in the field of development and an environmental activist.

The forum enjoys three diamond sponsors: Nesma Holding Company, Saudi Bin Ladin Group, and Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors, while the platinum sponsors are the Saudi Research and Publishing Group, the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu, NCB; the forum’s social responsibility partner, and SABIC. Gold sponsors are ALBAIK Food Systems and Al Naghi Co., and the Silver sponsors include TRACCS, Al Harthi Group, Knight Group, Medunet Company for technical support, and Red Impact.

Media sponsors of the forum, are Okaz Newspaper, the forum’s official media partner, Alsharq Al Awsat Newspaper, Al Eqtisadiah Newspaper, Sayidaty Magazine and Al Madinah Newspaper. Saudi Arabia Airlines is the forum’s official transporter.