Ebdaa Bank links its activities with sustainable development goals

Manama : A statement of intent was signed between Ebdaa Bank for Microfinance and the United Nations office of the Kingdom to work jointly on areas of mutual interest, especially the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN office will work with other UN agencies, programmes, and specially UNDP to provide technical support in integrating the SDGs into the bank’s future strategic plans.

The UN office will provide the necessary knowledge and expertise in this area and will organize a number of workshops by international experts to align the bank’s strategy and services with the SDGs. On the other hand, the bank is looking forward to present this experience in the Kingdom in aligning the strategy and activities with the SDGs during the AGFUND Development Forum and the AGFUND International Award, scheduled for mid-October in Geneva, Switzerland.

The signing ceremony was held at United Nations House in the presence of Dr. Khaled Al-Ghazawi, Chief Executive of Ebdaa Bank, and Amin Al-Sharkawi, United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, in addition to officials from both sides. Dr. Al-Ghazzawi expressed his contentment in working with the UN Office in Bahrain, which has an extensive experience in the fields of sustainable development. He explained that the statement of intent reflects the direction of the bank with its founding body, the Arab Gulf Development Program (AGFUND), which linked all its strategic objectives and various programs in development, microfinance, child support, women and education towards the sustainable development goals.

He added: “This statement of intent comes as part of the bank’s efforts to develop its new strategy, which is based on two main pillars: first, the strategy adopted by AGFUND under the guidance and blessing of His Royal Highness Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and second is the action plan adopted by Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in achieving the SDGs”.