As part of strengthening cooperation with multilateral agencies and organizations aimed at supporting humanitarian work and presenting Islamic perspectives on pluralism for sustainable development and humanitarian action, His Excellency Prof. Dr. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary-General of the Academy, received Her Excellency Ms. Nahid Hussein, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, 16 Dhul-Qa‘dah 1447 AH, corresponding to 3 May 2026, at the Academy’s headquarters in Jeddah.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Excellency expressed his great pleasure at her visit and her accompanying delegation, and extended his gratitude for this gracious visit. He added: “I am very pleased by your presence, and I assure you of our commitment to strengthening cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme and facilitating the significant efforts you undertake in issuing relevant reports and supporting humanitarian initiatives around the world.”

For her part, Ms. Nahid Hussein expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation—on her own behalf and on behalf of her delegation—for the warm welcome and generous hospitality. She affirmed that signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Academy represents a pioneering step in exploring Islamic financial instruments, such as waqf, to support humanitarian work and in establishing a framework for strategic cooperation that serves shared objectives in Islamic social finance.

She added: “We intend to organise a roundtable meeting in Riyadh this year to promote the concept of Islamic social finance, and we would be delighted to invite Your Excellency to participate and share your intellectual insights, which will contribute to the success of this event.”

His Excellency affirmed that the Academy will exert every possible effort to support UNDP in its endeavour to establish an Islamic Philanthropy Fund. Both sides also agreed to organise joint seminars and conferences to enrich knowledge, with a particular focus on governance and the attractiveness of such a fund.

Following the discussions, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed, confirming both institutions’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and coordination.

The meeting was attended by: His Excellency Mr Muhammad Al-Munzir Ridha Al-Shawk, Director of the Cabinet and Protocol; Her Excellency Ms Sarah Amjad Badawi, Supervisor of the Office of the Secretary-General; and His Excellency Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of International Cooperation and External Relations Divisionat the Academy.