In 2011, the Misk Foundation was established by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. A non-profit philanthropic entity created to discover, develop and empower Saudi youth to become active participants in the knowledge economy. Through its vision, the Foundation creates opportunities that unleash the population's potential and aids in the contribution towards social development. 

Through a variety of tools and thought processes, MISK aims to encourage society to learn, develop, and advance in the fields of business, arts, culture, social science, and technology via top-tier programs, initiatives, and partnerships. 

Focusing on the Kingdom's younger population provides means to foster, empower, and create a healthy environment for young creative talents to grow via nourishment in career and life-changing paths. The Foundation specifically focuses on three key areas: 

• Education and Technology
• Entrepreneurship 
• Arts Culture and arts

About the program: 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a wide variety of empowerment programs over the years. One of its most versatile was The Misk Foundation competition entitled "Dream Neom," Where a contest was designed explicitly for The Misk Fellowship members and interns. The competition's impressive results saw three teams winning and gaining financial awards and training opportunities regarding the Neom project. 

From this competition's success, the Foundation had looked to further pursue its agenda by launching its second contest. With support from the Ministry of Economics & Planning, UNDP Saudi Arabia, and Bain & Company to tackle various sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their challenges.

About the UNDP partnership:

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the UN's global development network in 170 countries and territories. They support their solutions to development challenges by enhancing national and local capacities to assist in achieving human development and specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The UNDP Saudi Arabia Office had joined the Misk Foundation's efforts by offering its support, experience, and international network to further the Foundation's goals. 

These goals entailed dialogue on crucial issues of sustainable objectives, tolerance, and peace. They provided a platform for young people to contribute to the Kingdoms National Agenda of its 2030 Vision. 

The UNDP offered much insight into this program regarding the process, management, training, and evaluation. Given its history and aims in initiating major SDGs across nations, The UNDP combined its efforts and experiences in capacity building and nourishment for all participants and nominees. 

The experience that the UNDP offered the program ranged from: 

• Competition co-design 
• Participants training and mentoring 
• Competition promotion 
• Participating in the judging committee 
• Awarding internships for winners 
• Evaluating the impact of solutions put forward

The UNDP flourishes by encouraging and assisting nations in developing social and economic goals with various SDGs. The partnership had proven to be effective in utilizing various incubation programs that offer a wealth of experience, global expertise, guidance, direction, and above all, an internship with the UNDP. 

About the competition: 

Over 100 participants of young Saudi men and women from Misk fellows, who joined Human Capital Development programs, worked together to identify current challenges. They found innovative solutions to overcome them in aid to leave behind a long-lasting and tangible impact.

The presented projects included creative solutions for SDGs challenges in four critical areas that the youth selected from: 

·        Social challenges: How to improve and promote a healthier society;

·        Economic challenges: Reduction of food loss and waste;

·        Environmental challenges: Handling energy consumptions in the Kingdom;

·        Empowerment factors: Engaging with society and various data.

Seventeen teams were nominated to work with the mentors and experts to develop their solutions and achievements until the final stage was reached, including the assessment committee's final evaluation and selecting the winning projects that succeeded in making a positive impact. The winning projects received cooperative training opportunities with the partners involved. 

About the result: 

The three winning teams selected were for various reasons. Furthermore, the critical influencer recognized the SDG awareness within them. It adopted a community spirit that entailed the dedication and attitude that proved behaviors could change with passion.

From the results, it was apparent why the UNDP supports such programming. Over the years, the UNDP has crossed borders by assisting government initiatives and ministries as a "powerhouse" of the unique talent that operates as an institutional arm to those it supports by offering them the right tools, advice, and direction that assists them to conquer their ambitions. 

This partnership is a perfect example of UNDP contributions and support. It set the stage for youth empowerment while conducting its intent to affect future generations by opening up employment opportunities that align with the Kingdoms 2030 Vision. Furthermore, the UNDP support the 2030 Vision by carrying out critical sustainable development goals that aim to:

• Supporting the youth of the Kingdom
• Adapt sustainable means and methods through the national plan
• Increasing youth and women participation in decision-making, the workplace, and leadership. 

UNDP final statement: 

"We believe that our organizational presence not only supports but also enhances institutional efforts that establish a society. In turn, bringing fulfillment and added value to the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia."

Misk Foundation Final Statement: 

"Through the Misk Foundation, we take initiatives, encourage innovation and, in turn, ensure sustainability and growth to achieve the higher goal: developing the human mind."

Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Founder, Chairman of the Board