Kingdom Calls for Youth-Led Volunteerism to Achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals
At the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, the Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) organized an official sideline event urging greater involvement of youth volunteers in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, held on July 7, 2026, in cooperation with international partners, carried the theme “Celebrating the Impact of Volunteering: Youth Leadership and Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through Climate Action.” It brought together representatives from member states, UN organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, volunteer networks, and youth leaders from around the world.
High-Level Participation Reflects Saudi Commitment
Faisal Al-Fadl, secretary-general of the Saudi Green Building Forum, stated that the high-level participation and the presence of the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the UN in New York reflected the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting multilateral action and empowering youth. He added that the Kingdom views volunteerism as a key pillar in achieving the SDGs, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Al-Fadl noted that remarks by the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, underscored that achieving the SDGs is a shared responsibility requiring strong international partnerships, investment in people, and the empowerment of youth and volunteers.
Key Discussions and Recommendations
The event featured speakers from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the UN Volunteers Programme, the Volunteer Groups Alliance, the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, and youth leaders and civil society representatives. Discussions highlighted the importance of investing in youth, strengthening education and skills development, expanding mentorship and training opportunities, fostering innovation, and creating an enabling environment for volunteerism. Participants also emphasized the need to develop national and global indicators to measure the impact of volunteer work, shifting from activity-based metrics to outcome-based evaluation to improve the effectiveness and transparency of SDG implementation.
Showcasing Saudi Experience During Hajj
The event reviewed international volunteerism models and practical initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s experience in managing volunteer work during Hajj. This demonstrated volunteers’ role in supporting health services, crowd management, emergency response, and resilience during large-scale gatherings. According to Al-Fadl, the Kingdom’s success in mobilizing volunteers for Hajj serves as a replicable model for other countries.
HLPF and Saudi Voluntary National Review
The UN HLPF on Sustainable Development, held from July 7 to 15, 2026, is an annual event that brings countries together to review global progress toward the SDGs under the 2030 Agenda. This year, Saudi Arabia presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report, offering an in-depth assessment of national progress toward the SDGs. The report outlines progress, challenges, and priorities across the goals, reflecting contributions from more than 140 government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners.
