On International Youth Day 2025, UNDP Saudi Arabia celebrates the creativity, insight, and leadership of young people in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s theme, Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond, resonates deeply with our work in Saudi Arabia — particularly our partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

In December 2024, UNDP Saudi Arabia, KAUST, and Frontiers for Young Minds brought together eight students aged 12–15 for an interactive live review session, Advancing Land Restoration through Scientific Literacy. Guided by Professor Salim Al-Babili, the students examined a pivotal scientific article on the role of managing invasive plants in sustainable agriculture and land restoration. Through a dynamic Q&A, they connected complex research to community realities, proving that scientific knowledge — when made accessible — can inspire youth-led action on critical environmental issues.

Partnership with KAUST began even before that event, as KAUST and UNDP Saudi Arabia had previously launched The SDG Collection: How Science Can Help Us Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals — an open-access, youth-focused series exploring each of the 17 SDGs. With contributions from KAUST researchers and interactive peer review by local students, the initiative makes complex science accessible in both Arabic and English. SDG 13 — Climate Action — is a special focus, linking scientific literacy to urgent priorities such as combating drought and desertification, key challenges for the Kingdom and the wider region. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to empowering youth as active partners in sustainability and resilience-building.

This initiative reflects a shared belief: youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow but active change-makers today. By integrating young voices into sustainability dialogues, we bridge the gap between science, policy, and community action. Such collaborations also align with over 65% of SDG targets linked to local governance, reinforcing the necessity of youth engagement in decision-making processes.

From KAUST’s sustainability-focused research to UNDP’s mandate to combat desertification and land degradation, this partnership demonstrates how academic excellence, development expertise, and youth innovation can drive impactful solutions — locally and globally.

As we mark the halfway point of the Decade of Youth (2020–2030), UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminds us in his message for International Youth Day: “When young people lead, societies thrive… your voice, ideas and leadership matter.” UNDP Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to creating spaces where young people can learn, innovate, and lead in shaping a sustainable future.