10-12 December 2007, Riyadh,

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Prince Sultan University - Girls' College and in cooperation with the UNDP Regional Programme for Capacity Building in the Arab States, has successfully held the first workshop on "Young Women Leaders" in the Arab Region which aims at developing the leadership skills for young women. This workshop consisted one of many activities under the Memorandum of Understanding between UNDP Saudi Arabia Country Office and the UNICEF Sub-Regional Gulf Office that seeks to develop a full-fledged youth Programme in the Kingdom that goes in line with the national planning priorities. The ultimate purpose of this event falls under nationalizing, localizing, and achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The workshop aimed at training 150 Saudi young ladies on enhancing their leadership skills to enable them to establish a community of practice on leadership issues. This community of practice would facilitate dialogue and exchange of information and best practices on Human Development, the MDGs, and the role of women in their achievement. The workshop was held for three days during 10 –12 December 2007 at the Girls’ college in PSU.

UNDP contracted trainers and experts from the UNDP Regional Programme for Capacity Building in the Arab States to facilitate the training sessions. Among those trainers was Dr. Abla Amawi, Regional Coordinator & Capacity Development Adviser in the Capacity Development Group/Bureau of Development Policy in UNDP, and other regional experts in training young leaders in the Arab World.
The workshop consisted of two parts. On the first day the regional trainers trained 30 young ladies to become national trainers for building leadership capacities. During the following two days, the regional trainers in cooperation with the 30 previously trained Saudi young ladies carried a leadership and management skills training for 150 Saudi young ladies.

It is worth noting that the training material that was used during the workshop was based on sources and training items developed by Oxford University in Britain and “LEAD International” organization for leadership training. The training material was indeed reviewed and tailored to meet national needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This workshop on Developing Leadership Skills for Young Women is considered to be the first of its kind and a pilot project that would be replicated in other Arab countries if it proves to be successful.

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