RIYADH: Experts and specialists participating in the Global CSR Forum 2026 have called for an urgent shift toward measuring tangible social impact and linking funding directly to results.
According to attendees, spending levels and beneficiary counts are no longer sufficient to gauge the success of initiatives. The true measure of success now lies in the concrete change achieved and its long-term sustainability.
Speakers emphasized that the next phase of development requires more precise measurement tools and a unified national social impact index. This framework aims to improve resource allocation efficiency and ensure funds translate into lasting value.
Hosted under the patronage of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the second edition of the Global CSR Forum 2026 kicked off on Monday, Oct. 5, and was organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Held under the theme “From Commitment to Impact,” the two-day event convenes senior executives from the public and private sectors, regulators, standard-setting bodies, institutional investors, academics, and community representatives.
Meshari Al-Mermish, general director of social development centers at the ministry, highlighted that the centers’ participation underscores their role in supporting local communities and strengthening ties with private and nonprofit partners. He noted that a greater focus on community investment and impact measurement improves resource allocation and supports sustainable interventions that begin with real needs and end with measurable results.
“The centers’ nationwide presence and close ties to communities enable them to turn local needs into targeted initiatives for companies and development partners, directing social responsibility efforts toward priority needs and creating opportunities for shared-value investment,” Al-Mermish said. He stressed that measurement attention must extend beyond implementation to the actual change achieved and the value created for beneficiaries.
Faisal Alshammari, head of partnerships and volunteering at Alborhan Association, noted that impact measurement has reached a new level of maturity, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence in data analysis. He explained that this technology reduces operational costs for nonprofits and improves result accuracy, making measurement a stronger basis for directing funding toward high-impact programs.
“This improves funding efficiency and ensures that every riyal is directed toward measurable impact rather than spending without clear indicators,” Alshammari added. He highlighted that digital transformation is a key pillar of the association’s work, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by enhancing operational efficiency and service reach.
Alshammari also pointed to the growing recognition by the private sector of opportunities to contribute through the nonprofit sector. He argued that this integration is vital when program funding is backed by clear impact measurement and transparent results.
Saadoun Alenazi, administrative affairs manager at Al Jazeera Medical Complex, stated that the facility collaborates with nonprofits on health and community campaigns, providing support to target groups and promoting prevention and awareness.
“The facility is also committed to building effective community partnerships with relevant organizations to coordinate efforts, expand the reach of beneficiaries and achieve sustainable health and social impact,” Alenazi said. He recommended that facilities seeking to launch community initiatives first identify actual health needs before selecting measurable programs suited to their capabilities, starting with simple steps that deliver tangible results.
Abdullah Alkhamais, founder of Nmo Academy, identified the lack of systematic performance measurement as a key challenge facing social responsibility initiatives. He argued that success cannot be assessed solely by spending or beneficiary numbers without evaluating actual sustained impact.
“Major forums, including the International Social Responsibility Forum, provide a platform that brings together the public, private and nonprofit sectors alongside experts, allowing participants to move beyond sharing experiences toward developing more accurate and objective impact measurement tools and linking funding to results,” Alkhamais said.
He underscored the importance of a unified national social impact index based on clear standards and comparable indicators. “Social impact measurement in development projects is largely achievable when targets are defined from the outset, data is collected before and after implementation, and results are assessed over the medium and long term. The next phase should shift the focus from measuring spending to measuring the impact generated by that spending,” he concluded.
