Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – May 2025

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Saudi Arabia and the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) have signed a new five-year strategic agreement to accelerate national efforts in sustainable land restoration and nature-based solutions.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Khaled Al-Abdulkader, CEO of NCVC, and Ms. Nahid Hussein, UNDP Resident Representative, at a dedicated ceremony held in Riyadh. This partnership reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in environmental innovation, regional cooperation, and the implementation of global sustainability agendas.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to long-term environmental resilience and inclusive growth,” said Ms. Nahid Hussein.
“Through strategic innovation, digital transformation, and local capacity building, we are supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its global environmental role.”

The new project will focus on several strategic priorities: enhancing Saudi Arabia’s international engagement and global visibility on environmental issues; supporting innovation and community-driven restoration efforts; building institutional and human resource capabilities; and advancing digital solutions and data-driven excellence in land monitoring. It will also strengthen the governance of forests, national parks, and protected areas, while operationalizing the COP16 Legacy Programme and expanding knowledge-sharing platforms across sectors and regions.

This initiative is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land)— and the outcomes of UNCCD COP16, which the Kingdom successfully hosted in December 2024.

The programme aims to embed the legacy of COP16 into long-term national strategies and promote inclusive, forward-looking environmental governance.

As the lead implementer, NCVC will oversee national execution, while UNDP will serve as the strategic and technical partner, leveraging its global expertise to co-design and support implementation frameworks that deliver measurable impact.

This five-year collaboration represents a clear vision: that land restoration is not just an environmental necessity, but a strategic lever for economic resilience, regional leadership, and inclusive climate action.