UNDP Saudi Arabia is eager on forging strong partnerships between the public and private sectors together with the civil society organizations for the benefits of development. Although areas of common concern are vast, UNDP has initially focused on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as a forum to draw the attention of the private sector institutions to the wide range of stakeholders (customers, employees, local communities, governments, intermediaries, suppliers and financial community). The strategy adopted in this respect is to build a strong partnership between UNDP and a pioneer group of private sector firms. The overriding objective is to promote the CSR. In this context, the CO participated in the organization of the first forum for CSR in Saudi Arabia (28-30 May 2006). The forum was geared to expose the participants to the concept of CSR as well as to showcase UNDP’s practical experiences in the region.

The forum discussed a range of CSR issues, such as the status of CSR worldwide, religion and the CSR, the CSR in the big private sector institutions, the role of women in the success of the CSR, and the advocacy role of the media. The comparative edge of UNDP in forging partnerships between the public and private sectors is viewed as a result of UNDP’s neutrality; convening power; ability to mobilize seed funding; and transparency.

Since early 2009, UNDP has, on several occasions, been approached by the private sector for potential projects.  In view of the agreement with our counterpart, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNDP tries to bring government parnters and Private sector together to build partnerships in the hope of expanding our portfolio of projects, building more Public-Private partnerships for the benefit of the country.  Several of the companies involved in the CSR forum of 2006 and others still contact us on a regular basis with requests for partnerships. UNDP's neutrality and transparency remain the main attraction for all potential private sector partners.

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