The Board of Directors of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), chaired by Chairman of AGFUND’s Board of Directors Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz approved, AGFUND’s Strategy until 2030, marking a new phase in its development journey. The board also approved funding for 15 development projects in areas related to sustainable development, during its meeting held today at AGFUND headquarters in Riyadh.
Prince Abdulaziz said: “I extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries for their generous and continued support to AGFUND. Over the decades, this support has formed a fundamental pillar of AGFUND’s development journey and has strengthened its position as a leading Gulf platform dedicated to serving people and advancing development. The approval of AGFUND’s Strategy until 2030 represents a continuation of the legacy established by the late Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz and a new starting point aligned with the development visions and aspirations of the Gulf countries.”
He added: “Our strategy is grounded in a firm belief that human development lies at the heart of development, and that sustainability, partnerships, innovation, and maximizing impact are key pillars of the next phase. We seek to expand strategic partnerships, enhance the efficiency of development investment, and measure the impact of initiatives, in a way that reinforces AGFUND’s position as a leading Gulf development platform that contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and keeps pace with the development transformations taking place across our countries, the region, and the world.”
During the meeting, the board reviewed key agenda items, including AGFUND’s activities and achievements during the first half of 2026, as well as the proposed development projects to be funded in the current cycle. The board also was briefed on the winning projects of the 2025 Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, under the theme “Affordable and Clean Energy,” in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 7.
The board commended AGFUND’s ongoing development efforts to enhance institutional efficiency, foremost among them the launch of the Project Funding Portal. The portal represents a qualitative step toward expanding financing opportunities and directing resources toward development priorities and high-impact initiatives.
The board approved funding for 15 development projects that align with AGFUND’s criteria and development goals, particularly its key focus areas: early childhood development, women’s empowerment, civil society development, open education, and financial inclusion. The approved projects reflect a diverse response to current development challenges through capacity building, the use of innovative solutions and modern technologies, support for smallholder farmers, and a focus on the most vulnerable groups, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The board concluded its meeting by reviewing the implementation plan of the new strategy, which is based on aligning AGFUND’s work with accelerating development transformations, strengthening partnerships, investing in people, promoting innovation and sustainability, and maximizing development impact. This will further reinforce AGFUND’s position as a leading Gulf development platform that serves people and contributes to fulfilling the aspirations of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since its establishment, AGFUND has supported 1,798 development projects across 171 countries, in collaboration with more than 500 development partners, including UN, international and regional organizations, government entities, and civil society institutions. This has strengthened its standing as one of the leading development institutions supporting human development at the international level.
Source: Riyadh Daily