In line with the National Transformation Programs 2020 and the Saudi Vision 2030, and based on Human Resources and Social Development Ministry (HRSD) strategy aimed  at supporting the government agencies to develop human resources program and practices and promoting a motivational work environment contributing to improving the performance, the Gender Balance Project was launched, which is part of the initiative aimed at empowerment of women in the civil service and promotion of their leadership role and eventually realizing gender balance in both government and private sectors and overcoming all obstacles hindering that goal. All legislation and regulations as well as gender-related HR procedures and practices were reviewed to identify the gaps, assess the training needs and make the recommendations that contributed to the issuance of the Guide to HR practices to support realization of gender balance and reduce unequal opportunities for both genders.

For achieving the gender balance in all positions, the Project looks forward to focusing on three levels, namely the enabling environment, institutional level and community and individual levels. A first-ever initiative work has been underway with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the first stage of the project to issue the Guide for supporting HR procedures on equal opportunities in all jobs, which include training on how to implement the Guide from a gender perspective for HR professionals in both government and private sectors and to establish a gender unit in Women’s Empowerment Agency in order to provide the logistic support in cooperation with UNDP consultants and experts.