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The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) has shared Saudi Arabia’s progress on gender equality and inclusive development at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), as part of the Kingdom’s wider participation led by the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Dr. Tariq Alhamad, Deputy Minister for International Affairs at HRSD, delivered remarks during two sessions at the Forum: first, during the official review of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on Gender Equality, and later at a side event focused on institutional collaboration and sustainability.
Speaking on SDG 5, Dr. Tariq outlined how reforms under Vision 2030 are helping to remove barriers to women’s participation in economic and social life. He described Vision 2030 as a national framework that aligns closely with the SDGs and provides the basis for long-term reform.“Vision 2030 is more than a set of goals. It brings government, civil society and the private sector into shared delivery,” he said. “We’ve focused not only on policy, but on the support systems women need to participate fully - whether that’s jobs, childcare or reliable transport. There’s more to do, but we’ve made real progress, and we’re determined to build on it.”
The Deputy Minister noted that female workforce participation reached 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 19.7 percent in 2018. Initiatives like Qurrah, which has supported over 40,000 women with childcare, and Wusool, which has helped more than 300,000 women with transport to and from work, have been key to this shift. Maternity leave has been extended to 12 weeks with full pay, and close to 1.3 million women are now working freelance.
At the HLPF side event, Dr. Tariq expanded on HRSD’s approach to inclusive partnerships, with a particular focus on institutional capacity building. He explained how the Ministry is working with national partners to embed long-term systems that support collaboration across sectors. “Change doesn’t happen in isolation. It needs institutions that can partner, systems that allow for transparency, and frameworks that reflect our national priorities while staying aligned with global standards,” he said.
HRSD has introduced new legal frameworks for volunteering, donations and non-profit work. Alongside the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, the Ministry is helping to expand the role of civil society in service delivery and innovation. Initiatives like the National Volunteer Portal and the Ehsan platform are making it easier for citizens to participate, while helping institutions track and improve impact.
These efforts contribute to a number of SDGs, including Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
Dr. Tariq also spoke about the value of international partnerships, highlighting HRSD’s collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the World Bank, both part of the broader UN system. These relationships, he said, help ensure that national reforms meet international standards while staying rooted in local realities.
“Vision 2030 and the 2030 Agenda were launched the same year. They’re not the same, but they speak to many of the same goals,” he said. “For us, the SDGs are not abstract. They’re reflected in the way we build institutions, form partnerships, and serve our communities.”
HRSD’s participation at the Forum reflects the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development, delivered in partnership with others under the broader coordination of the Ministry of Economy and Planning.