The National Center directs associations to cooperate with the Statistics Department for the 2026 surveys
The National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector issued an important circular to all charitable associations, foundations, and family funds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the necessity of full and direct cooperation with the field teams of the General Authority for Statistics. This directive comes as part of preparations for implementing a comprehensive package of statistical surveys scheduled for 2026, which aim to update national databases and support the development decision-making system.
Integrating efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2030
In his address to board chairpersons and trustees, the center's CEO, Ahmed Al-Suwailem, emphasized that this step stems from the principle of institutional integration between government entities and the third sector. These surveys are of paramount importance as the Kingdom strives to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, which relies fundamentally on accurate data and figures to measure performance indicators and progress across various fields. Accurate data is the cornerstone of developing strategic plans that ensure sustainable development and enhance spending efficiency.
Comprehensiveness of field surveys
The General Authority for Statistics plans to launch a comprehensive series of field surveys that will cover demographic, social, economic, environmental, and spatial aspects. Specialized teams will visit various regions to collect accurate data and update the country's statistical indicators. This diverse data collection approach will provide a clear, panoramic view of society's realities and needs, enabling non-profit organizations to design targeted initiatives that address the actual needs of beneficiaries, rather than relying on arbitrary estimates.
The importance of data in maximizing the impact of the third sector
The circular closely links the accuracy of statistical data with enhancing the efficiency of the non-profit sector. It is well-known that one of the Vision's key objectives is to increase the non-profit sector's contribution to the GDP to 5%. To achieve this, a robust information infrastructure is essential to highlight the sector's true contribution to national development and to help direct funding and projects toward addressing genuine development gaps, thereby amplifying the social and economic impact of associations and civil society organizations.
Commitment to transparency and institutional work
The center urged all non-profit organizations to immediately disseminate this directive internally to their staff to ensure that specialists are prepared to work with the statistical teams and provide all possible logistical and informational support. This official move reflects the Kingdom's commitment to adopting data and transparency as fundamental pillars in building the future. The non-profit sector is viewed not merely as a charitable entity, but as a strategic partner in providing information that shapes the development roadmap for the coming years, thus requiring the highest levels of professionalism in dealing with official statistical agencies.
