From November 4 to 6, 2025, UNDP Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the General Authority of Awqaf (GAA) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), took part in the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar. The joint side event, titled “Poverty-to-Prosperity Transitions,” focused on the role of Islamic endowments (Awqaf) and the wider third-sector economy in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and advancing national development visions.

The session featured prominent representatives, including Dr. Bander Abdulwahhab Alamer, General Supervisor of the Riyadah Centre at GAA; H.E. Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, Director-General of the OIC Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations; H.E. Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Secretary at the Ministry of Social Welfare of Bangladesh; and Ms. Olta Manjani, Deputy Minister of Economy of Albania. The panel was moderated by Francine Pickup of UNDP. Earlier that day, Mr. Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of UNDP, chaired a high-level dialogue on “From Poverty Reduction to Shared Prosperity: National Pathways and Global Partnerships,” setting the tone for discussions around innovation, social protection, and inclusive financing.

Throughout the session, speakers explored how Awqaf can evolve from a tool of traditional charity into a strategic vehicle for social resilience and sustainable development. Long regarded as a foundation of welfare in the Islamic world, Awqaf are now being positioned to support inclusive growth, knowledge economies, and locally driven development.

As part of the event, the General Authority of Awqaf presented the Awqaf Excellence Index (AEI), an innovative framework co-developed with UNDP to enhance governance, impact, and transparency across the sector. The GAA booth featured an interactive digital display showcasing the six pillars of the AEI and a selection of new knowledge products produced with support from UNDP.

Dr. Bander Alamer noted that, “Awqaf represents a powerful yet underutilized resource for achieving sustainable development. By combining traditional Islamic generosity with modern impact-driven techniques, we can create new avenues for achieving the SDGs.”

Beyond the side event, the summit provided an important platform to deepen collaboration with Qatari institutions. UNDP convened additional sessions with the Government of Qatar, the Qatar Fund for Development, and the Ministry of Education. During the same week, UNDP launched its new policy paper “Poverty-to-Prosperity Transitions,” which emphasized the concept of national prosperity floors to protect households from shocks and ensure upward mobility an approach that resonated strongly with development partners and member states.

The participation of the Saudi UNDP Country Office in this global platform reflects the Kingdom’s growing leadership in shaping innovative financing models rooted in tradition yet aligned with modern development priorities. UNDP Saudi Arabia and GAA are currently working together to implement the Awqaf Excellence Index as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen third-sector systems and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.