The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) concluded its participation in the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit and its program of engagements in New York City, which featured a series of meetings, development-focused dialogues and international engagements, in addition to the signing of several agreements with international organizations, as part of AGFUND’s efforts to strengthen its partnerships and expand cooperation with institutions and organizations working in human development.
AGFUND’s program in New York included participation in international discussions on the future of development, the organization of a roundtable on digital inclusion, meetings with international organizations and institutions, and the signing of agreements supporting projects in digital innovation, financial inclusion, artificial intelligence, climate action and youth engagement.
A key highlight of the program was the participation of AGFUND Executive Director Hammam bin Nasser bin Juraied on Concordia’s Mainstage in the session titled “New Capital, New Blueprint: Accelerating Development’s Next Chapter.”
The discussion addressed the shifts taking place across the development sector and the need for approaches that bring together capital, partnerships and institutional capacity. It also highlighted AGFUND’s direction for the next phase, building on its development experience while maximizing impact and sustainability, strengthening partnerships and institution building, and mobilizing resources in support of human development.
The Concordia Annual Summit is an international platform that brings together leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The 2026 edition was held in New York alongside the United Nations General Assembly.
During its participation in the summit, AGFUND announced the opening of nominations for the 2026 Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, with this year’s theme aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3). Relevant organizations and institutions were invited to submit nominations until February 15, 2027.
The prize theme is selected in alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with the prize committee choosing one of the goals each year to identify development initiatives and projects that provide practical and innovative solutions across different areas of sustainable development.
The 2026 theme highlights projects and initiatives that contribute to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. The Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development has a total value of $1 million, distributed across four categories. It recognizes outstanding development projects, promotes their experiences and supports the wider use of successful development practices. Since its launch in 1999 through the 2025 cycle, the prize has recognized approximately 95 winning projects. Nominations are submitted electronically from around the world in accordance with the approved nomination criteria and procedures.
As part of the program, AGFUND organized a roundtable titled “Digital Inclusion: Inclusive Innovation, Lasting Impact,” bringing together representatives from international institutions and organizations, as well as stakeholders working in development and innovation. The roundtable explored how technology and innovation can expand digital inclusion and improve access to opportunities and services, alongside the role of artificial intelligence, data, innovative financing models and international partnerships in developing scalable and sustainable development solutions. The dialogue also addressed the importance of creating enabling environments that ensure digital transformation contributes to more inclusive development, particularly for communities and groups with limited access to services and opportunities.
AGFUND’s program in New York also included the signing of four financing and project support agreements with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
AGFUND and UNDP signed two financing agreements.
The first supports the project “Central Bank of Yemen FinTech Lab: A Sandbox Platform for Digital Financial Services and Financial Inclusion.” Implemented in Aden, Republic of Yemen, the project aims to establish a FinTech Lab at the Central Bank of Yemen to strengthen digital financial services and financial inclusion, build institutional capacity, and support the testing and development of innovative financial solutions.
The second agreement supports the project “AI Deployment for Economic Growth in the Arab States Region: Harnessing AI for Inclusive Development and Human Progress.” The project aims to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to support economic growth, advance inclusive development and promote human progress across the Arab States region.
AGFUND also signed an agreement with IGAD to support the project “Operationalizing Early Warning Investments through Enhanced Micro-Insurance and Climate Risk Financing Capacities in the IGAD Region.”
The project focuses on strengthening policies, regulatory frameworks and technical capacities required to develop climate-resilient micro-insurance and early-warning-informed financial services, contributing to improved climate risk management and greater resilience among communities most vulnerable to climate-related risks. The project will be implemented in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti.
AGFUND also signed an agreement with UNCCD to support the project “Advancing Youth Engagement for Land Restoration and Drought Resilience under the UNCCD Youth Engagement Strategy.”
The project aims to operationalize the UNCCD Youth Engagement Strategy through a sustained, multi-year youth engagement ecosystem that enables young people to meaningfully contribute to land restoration, drought resilience and global land governance processes. The project will be implemented in Mongolia.
These activities reflect AGFUND’s direction toward expanding its international partnerships and supporting initiatives that bring together innovation, institution building, inclusion, and responses to development and climate challenges, while reinforcing its contribution to investing in people and supporting sustainable development.