Saudi Arabia's Non-Profit Sector Experiences Significant Expansion In Early 2024

The National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector in Saudi Arabia recently disclosed the sector's growth figures for February 2024. The sector saw the addition of 56 private associations, 8 private institutions, and 21 family funds, marking a significant increase in its expansion across various development areas and regions within the Kingdom. This surge brings the total count of non-profit entities to 4,656. Furthermore, the volunteer workforce has impressively grown to over 113,000 individuals contributing more than 4 million hours across 43,000 volunteering opportunities.

The center underscored the sector's upward trajectory in terms of entity numbers, volunteer engagement, and the enhancement of technical supervisory units within government agencies. It also celebrated the strides made in governance among non-profit entities throughout 2023, showcasing their dedication to fulfilling their developmental roles effectively.

In its oversight capacity, the center has taken several regulatory actions since the onset of 2024. These include issuing 11 warnings to civil associations, mandating leadership changes within two associations, initiating the dissolution and liquidation process for two others, and referring four associations to the Public Prosecution. These measures highlight the center's commitment to ensuring compliance with sector regulations and governance standards.

The center also encourages open communication with non-profit entities through various channels including a unified call center (19918), its official website (ncnp.gov.sa), and social media platforms. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between the center and non-profit organizations to further sector development and amplify its social and economic contributions towards achieving national objectives.

With a mission to streamline and energize the non-profit sector's role in development areas, the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector is focused on enhancing government coordination in licensing, financial, and administrative oversight. This effort is geared towards bolstering support and cooperation across the sector.

With inputs from SPA