Over the past few days, I’ve had the privilege of attending the co-creation workshop of the UNITAR-UNESCO LEAP-FAST Certificate Programme (Leaders in Higher Education Alliance and Programme – For Accelerating Sustainability Transformations), hosted by Majmaah University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This learning journey has been inspiring, rich in knowledge exchange, and deeply rooted in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary co-creation. I’ve had the honor of working alongside professors and professionals from universities in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Qatar, Senegal, South Asia, and Turkey.
As we approach the final of the co-creation workshop, it is nearly impossible to summarize all that I’ve learned. However, one moment I would like to highlight is today’s powerful presentation by Dr. Faisal bin Farag Almutairi, who led the SDGs Programme (now CIFAL Saudi Arabia) and who also serves as the PM4NGOs Champion for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In his presentation, Dr. Faisal offered a compelling metaphor:
As we move forward with sustainability initiatives, we must navigate both headwinds and tailwinds.
Headwinds push against us, slow us down, and challenge our progress – but with collective strength and perseverance, we can overcome them.
Tailwinds, on the other hand, propel us forward – but without direction and guidance, they can easily lead us astray. That’s where the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) come in: a compass to align our work and keep us on course.
I leave this workshop with that image firmly in my mind – not only thinking about how we can further embed the SDGs into PM4NGOs’ work, best practices, and projects – but also reflecting on the importance of recognizing the winds we face. We must overcome those that hold us back while ensuring we are guided wisely when momentum is on our side.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Majmaah University and Dr. Faisal Almutairi for the generous invitation and for this transformative opportunity. It has been a remarkable learning experience and a meaningful step forward in connecting PM4NGOs with universities and sustainability leaders across the globe.
Inquiry about Registration in the LEAP-FAST Certificate Programme
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Sheikha Al-Qahtani, and I am writing from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to express my interest in the LEAP-FAST Certificate Programme, recently held in collaboration with UNITAR and UNESCO, and hosted by Majmaah University.
I would like to inquire about the possibility of registering for upcoming sessions of this program. I am very interested in participating and would appreciate any information regarding the application process, eligibility requirements, and schedule.
Thank you very much for your time and assistance.
I look forward to your response.
Best regards,
Sheikha Al-Qahtani
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dear Sheikha Al-Qahtani, please send your request to this email: cifal@mu.edu.sa