Bangkok, Thailand: 14 September 2022

A delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), headed by Ms. Randah Al-Hothali, Director General of Communications — participated in the Global South-South Development Expo 2022 (GSSD Expo).

Organized by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and co-hosted by the Government of Thailand and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the event took place at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok, the Thai capital.

The three-day gathering — scheduled from 12 to 14 September — coincides with the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation. The event has been launched to showcase evidence-based successful development solutions and initiatives in collaboration with UN agencies and partners.

SFD attended the expo to underline its commitment to empowering underserved communities and countries in need across the world to fulfill their potential. The Fund's participation in the event spotlights the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing work to support the countries of the Global South to finance and implement all-important development projects.

During the expo, the Fund showcased its development activity, highlighting work spanning over 48 years of effective collaboration. At the event, SFD representatives welcomed guests and attendees — including visitors from a range of international bodies and organizations — to a dedicated SFD pavilion, providing further insight into the Fund's various initiatives and partnerships.

As part of its ongoing efforts to finance and implement global development projects and raise awareness of their importance, SFD hosted a dialogue session titled "Partnership for Development" on the sidelines of GSSD Expo 2022

Held on 14 September, the session was moderated by Ms. Samaher Alshallali, General Director, Policy and Partnership at SFD. The dialogue session, titled "Partnership for Development", was attended by a selection of thought-leaders, including Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, Head of Sustainability External Engagement, and the Secretary-General for Sustainable Development steering committee at the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning. The General Manager of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Mr. Farrukh Khan,  the Deputy Project Manager at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Eng. Sajid Khan, and the Director at Central and West Asia operations at the Saudi Fund for Development, Eng. Mohammed Almasoud were also in attendance.
During the session, Mr. Almasoud highlighted the Fund's efforts to finance clean energy projects for schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. To date, the project has aided 620 schools by providing learning services to more than 150,000 students. Mr. Almasoud also highlighted the challenges faced during the implementation of the project, detailing the various steps taken to ensure its success, particularly during and in the wake of COVID-19. He further acknowledged the Fund's role in developing the education sector, which is a key part of the SDGs, contributing to social growth, economic prosperity, and growth.

The session further discussed several development topics, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how they can achieve prosperity and help build a better future. In the session, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, Head of Sustainability External Engagement, and the Secretary-General for Sustainable Development steering committee at the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning, highlighted projects that include Sustainable Development Goal 17 "partnerships for the goals” and clarified the importance of activating global partnerships to promote sustainable development.

The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, Mr. Farrukh Khan, highlighted the development impact of the clean energy project for schools, which was funded by the Saudi Fund for Development in Khyber province in Pakistan, benefiting 620 schools by providing learning services to more than 150,000 students.

Furthermore, the representative of UNOPS, Mr. Sajid Khan, spoke about the challenges that faced the implementation of this important project and highlighted the importance of these development projects and programs in promoting environmental sustainability and reducing the risk of disasters and climate change and their contribution to social and economic growth.

Since its establishment in 1975, SFD has financed 697 development projects and programs in 84 developing countries around the world through loans and grants provided by the Kingdom. These loans and grants have been purposefully and evenly distributed to transform a variety of sectors, including the transportation, water, agriculture, education, health, and energy sectors, among others. 

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