United Nations Global Compact launches new Network in Saudi Arabia to drive principled business and corporate action on the Sustainable Development Goals

More than 200 companies and other stakeholders, committed to corporate sustainability, attended Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia launch online

UNITED NATIONS Resident Coordination Office, Riyadh, 1 September 2021 – The United Nations Global Compact launched a new Local Network in Saudi Arabia today with the support of the UN Resident Coordination Office.

Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia has already attracted 30 leading Saudi corporates whose purpose is to facilitate balanced and sustainable economic, social and environmental development in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact’s Ten Principles.

The new Network’s mission in Saudi Arabia is to provide the private sector with necessary guidance to ensure that they recognize the role of business in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to create high-impact collaborations.

Opening the online launch event attended by more than 200 companies and other stakeholders, UN Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia Nathalie Fustier remarked: “One year ago we set out to introduce the UN Global Compact to the private sector in Saudi Arabia. Within this year, despite the challenges of COVID- 19 and the economic impact it has had, the emerging network has made considerable progress in meeting its objective. We were able to encourage over 30 organizations to join the initiative.”

Deputy Minister for Economic Policy and Planning at Ministry of Economy and Planning, Ayman Afghani, emphasized his support to the Launch of Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia. “When you join the network, you are making a statement about your values, which in return benefits both society and your
company’s long-term success”.

In a special video message, the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Abdullah Mouallimi said “It is very encouraging to witness the number of Saudi participants in the Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia and I look forward to the fruition of this dynamic cooperation and hope to see more participation towards achieving a prosperous and sustainable future”.

A roundtable discussion with the Ministry of Economy and Planning & Federation of Saudi Chambers was also held to discuss the role of the private sector in achieving the 2030 Agenda. The discussion drew attention to how the implementation of the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles into business strategies and operations is itself a key contribution to the realization of the SDGs, and a vehicle for achieving the vision of the 2030 Agenda to foster peaceful and inclusive societies.

The launch event featured Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia’s projected activities for the upcoming year. The Network’s value proposition includes local delivery of global corporate sustainability programmes and active support for public-private partnerships.

The appointment of new Board Members to the Local Network was announced during the event including 7 companies, 2 NGOs and 2 seats reserved for the UN Resident Coordinator and the Ministry of Economy and Planning. The Board Members include representatives from the following: SABIC, Engie, Napco, Accenture, Al Dabbagh Group, Majid Al Futtaim, Chalhoub Group, King Khalid Foundation and Faseel.

During the closing plenary, Ole Lund Hansen, Chief of Global Operations, UN Global Compact, said “Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia joins our 69 other Local Networks around the globe, all of them working to mainstream corporate sustainability into core business. We encourage all Saudi companies to join the Local Network and to take greater action on the SDGs."

About UN RCO

In Saudi Arabia, the United Nations is represented by 22 agencies, funds and specialized programmes. The country team (known by its acronym UNCT) is made up of representatives of these organizations. As head of the country team, the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) guides and supports the work of the UNCT, ensuring effective coordination and cooperation across the mandates of each organization.

As the main support structure for the activities of the Resident Coordinator and the country team, the Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO) strengthens the joint activities of the United Nations system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its purpose is to maximise, in a coordinated manner, the work of the United Nations so that the system can provide a collective, coherent and integrated response to national priorities and needs, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and other international commitments.

About the UN Global Compact

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 13,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 70 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org

Interested to join the Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia Initiative? Get in touch with the Network Advisor, Sarah Issa: sarah.issa@one.un.org