Burraida, 25 December 2018

UNDP Country Office Saudi Arabia participated in the launching ceremony for the 1st Local Voluntary Review (VNR) report for city of Burraida in Qassim Province. The VNR is purported to report on city-level SDGs achievements and the formulation of a set of urban indicators by the Urban Observatory of Qassim.

HRH Dr. Faisal Bin Mashal Al-Saud, Governor of Qassim and Chairperson of Qassim Urban Observatory Council, maintained that the urban observatory was an instrumental mechanism for evidence-based decision-making as it generated various urban indicators in support of development by all sectors.

The speech was delivered in launching the recent outputs of the Urban Observatory of Burraida, the capital of Qassim, with the presence of the Mayor of the Province, Eng. Mohammed Al-Majali, and UNDP RR, a.i., Mr. Firas Gharaibeh, together with the senior officials and chairpersons of the Province’s municipalities.

HRH Governor of Qassim expressed his proudness that the Urban Observatory of Burraida reporting on SDGs came as the second, preceded by New York City, to produce a city-level VNR for monitoring of the SDGs’ achievements, with emphasis on Goal 11 as it is relevant to cities.

UNDP RR, a.i. said the production of this well-generated set of indicators by the Urban Observatory would put the Province in a steady path towards the measurable the sustainable development that allows for insightful planning and evidence-based selection of priorities with most feasible options. He further added that the UN attached great significance to the urban indicators as an effective tool for a participatory decision-making based on accurate and timely updated statistics. That is, the urban indicators constituted a pillar for a comprehensive and sustainable development whilst ensuring, “ Leaving-No-One-Behind”.