NASSER ALKAHTANI

EXecutive director, Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND)

Nasser Al-Kahtani is the Executive Director of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) who has been well known for his strong leadership and guidance to achieve the vision, mission, and objectives of AGFUND. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, Alkahtani has been able to transform AGFUND from being an entity that only supports human development projects to become a sustainable institution with a leading role in the fields of early childhood development, civil society, women’s empowerment, open education and financial inclusion.

Alkahtani led AGFUND’s team to establish the largest network of financial inclusion Banks in the MENA Region by creating banks in nine countries in addition to planning to establish 15 banks in West and Central Africa in cooperation with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

For more than 25 years, Alkahtani has been a great advocate on sustainable development. He has worked tirelessly to develop the capabilities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, support the agriculture industry (smallholder farmers) through designing new tailored products and services. Alkahtani, had a major role in aligning AGFUND’s strategic plans and Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development to the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030. Furthermore, Alkahtani is the Chairman of the Investment Committee of AGFUND and a member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF). Alkahtani is a master’s degree alumnus in Professional Accounting from the University of Miami.