A plan to empower the non-profit water sector and address challenges
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched an ambitious ten-year strategic plan aimed at empowering the non-profit water sector to manage and deliver water services with high efficiency. This pivotal step aims to maximize economic and social impact and support quality of life objectives in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. This direction was crystallized during an extensive workshop organized by the Ministry to discuss the proposed "Strategy for Enhancing the Contribution of the Third Sector in the Water Sector 2026–2036," with the prominent participation of leading experts and officials from relevant entities.
Historical roots and institutional transformation in the non-profit water sector
Historically, Saudi Arabia has faced natural challenges related to water scarcity due to its desert geography and climate. Over the decades, the Kingdom has made tremendous efforts to secure water resources by constructing dams and establishing some of the world's largest desalination plants. In this context, the concept of providing water and establishing water endowments (waqf) has deep roots in Islamic culture and Saudi society as a long-standing tradition of charitable giving. With evolving needs and population growth, the urgent need arose to transform these individual and charitable efforts into organized, institutionalized initiatives. Hence, the importance of empowering the non-profit water sector to keep pace with modern developments and move beyond simply providing water relief to actively participating in the management and operation of water facilities based on scientific and sustainable principles.
Significant leaps and promising statistics
During the workshop, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Water, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, revealed that the contributions of the charitable sector to the water field have witnessed remarkable growth over the past ten years, from 2015 to 2025. In his opening remarks, he explained that the number of charitable organizations specializing in water and registered with the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector jumped to 51 by the end of 2025.
He pointed to the significant strides made by the non-profit sector in general, noting that its contribution to the GDP reached approximately 1.4% by the end of 2024. The Undersecretary also highlighted the growing culture of community engagement, with the number of volunteers exceeding 1.74 million by the end of 2025, reflecting the success of the government's efforts in this area, which is rich with opportunities. He further discussed the Ministry's tangible efforts in activating community participation, citing the establishment of the "Saqaya Charitable Foundation" in 2020, which aims to open avenues for sustainable contributions to water supply projects and programs.
Strategic dimensions and expected impact locally and internationally
The importance of this ten-year plan extends beyond Saudi Arabia, encompassing significant regional and international dimensions. Domestically, the strategy will contribute to raising the quality of life for citizens and residents, reducing the operational burden on the public sector, and creating new job opportunities for Saudi nationals in water management and operations. Regionally, the Kingdom's success in institutionalizing water-related charitable work will serve as a model for neighboring countries facing similar water challenges. Internationally, these efforts directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Key challenges and future solutions
Dr. Al-Shaibani praised the vital role played by donors, such as endowments and civil society organizations, in providing the necessary financial support for the continuation of these development projects. Conversely, he warned of critical challenges still facing the sector, primarily weak technical and operational capacities and limited effective integration with the public and private sectors.
He explained that the shortage of specialized personnel and weak financial sustainability are hindering the desired progress, emphasizing, "The challenge lies not in the existence of the sector, but in empowering it to be more efficient, impactful, and sustainable." He affirmed that water projects are always at the forefront of the Kingdom's development priorities, given their close and direct link to public health and improving the quality of life for beneficiaries. The Undersecretary concluded his remarks by stressing that the proposed strategy includes executive initiatives and precise performance indicators to ensure the transformation of the third sector into an active and sustainable national partner in developing the water system.
