Bonn, Germany—The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) welcomed a high-level delegation from the National Center for Non-Profit Sector (NCNP), Saudi Arabia, for a two-day visit to its headquarters in Bonn on 1 and 2 September 2026.
The delegation is led by NCNP Chief Executive Officer Ahmed bin Ali Al-Suwailem and included Abdullah A. Alshomer, General Manager of Corporate Communications and Spokesperson, and Abdul Majed S. Alnowaibt, International Cooperation. During the two-day visit, the delegation meets with UNV officials to discuss opportunities for strengthening cooperation on volunteerism and sustainable development.
A highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UNV and NCNP on 1 September 2026. The agreement will create opportunities for volunteers from Saudi Arabia to gain international experience with the United Nations, strengthen the visibility and engagement of licensed volunteer organizations, and support joint learning, training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Ahmed bin Ali Al-Suwailem, Chief Executive Officer of NCNP, described the partnership with UNV as a natural next step in Saudi Arabia’s volunteerism journey. “Saudi Arabia has placed volunteerism at the heart of social participation and sustainable development under Saudi Vision 2030. By the end of 2025, the number of volunteers across the Kingdom had reached 1.7 million, significantly surpassing the Vision’s original target of one million volunteers well ahead of 2030. This progress reflects not only growing participation, but also the continued development of an enabling and well-governed environment for volunteerism. Most recently, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the Unified Law on Volunteering for GCC Countries, further supporting regulatory alignment, stronger governance and greater regional cooperation in the field. Through the UNV partnership, we look forward to creating meaningful international experiences for volunteers from Saudi Arabia, strengthening the capabilities and global visibility of volunteer organizations in the Kingdom, and advancing joint research and capacity-building efforts.”
Discussions are focused on priorities under the UNV Strategic Framework 2026-2029 and opportunities to advance national development goals, including expanding engagement with UNV's Full Funding programme and the Special Voluntary Fund.
Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator of UNV, acknowledged the important role of NCNP as the Saudi National Focal Point for International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026. He said, “Volunteerism is one of the most powerful resources for sustainable development. Our partnership builds on Saudi Arabia’s commitment to volunteerism and UNV’s global experience to create new opportunities for volunteers, strengthen volunteer organizations, and generate knowledge that can benefit communities far beyond national borders."
The visit will conclude with agreement on practical next steps to turn the partnership into action and advance joint initiatives during IVY 2026 and beyond.
