Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk Foundation) signed a framework agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting.

Under this partnership, the global foundation will establish its first regional headquarters in Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City) in Riyadh.

The agreement was signed by Badr Al Badr, CEO of the Misk Foundation, and Joe Cerrell, Managing Director for Europe, Middle East, and East Asia at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Both parties will join hands to enhance youth engagement in the non-profit sector within the Kingdom and initiate joint global programs in the focus areas of both foundations.

This collaboration aims to empower the Saudi youth community and foster an environment conducive to impactful global outcomes, in addition to enhancing the sharing of resources, training opportunities, and program development, boosting Misk’s capacity to provide significant empowerment opportunities for youth.

Furthermore, Misk will leverage the Gates Foundation’s expertise in education, technology, and health sectors to amplify its pivotal role in providing high-caliber empowerment opportunities for the Saudi youth in the non-profit sector.

On the other side, the partnership will enable the Gates Foundation to expand its footprint and benefit from Misk’s expertise in the non-profit and youth empowerment sectors, along with the state-of-the-art infrastructure and exceptional service network of Misk City. 

It is worth mentioning that startups supported by the Misk Foundation created around 10,000 jobs.

The WEF Special Meeting takes place in the Saudi capital on 28 and 29 April with the participation of more than 1,000 world leaders from all sectors and industries.

It aims to contribute to a more stable and inclusive economic future by leveraging global cooperation for economic development, promoting a global energy transition that underpins sustainable development, and advancing technological advancement.