Johannesburg: A Saudi delegation, led by Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Cabinet and Head of the Saudi Delegation to the Urban 20 (U20), Fahd bin Abdulmohsen Al-Rasheed, participated in the eighth U20 Mayors Summit. The summit took place in Johannesburg, where the Kingdom aimed to showcase its approach and expertise in urban development while promoting urban leadership education.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the U20 serves as a diplomatic initiative that gathers G20 cities and others beyond the group. The focus is on discussing global urban, economic, climate, and development issues. During the summit, Al-Rasheed hosted a mayoral event with Dada Morero, Mayor of Johannesburg, and Prof. Nasiphi Moya, Executive Mayor of Tshwane. The event urged U20 mayors to back an initiative for a Master of City Administration degree designed to train future urban leaders.
The event attracted leaders from major cities worldwide, urban academics, and representatives from multinational organizations. In his opening remarks, Al-Rasheed emphasized the complexity of city leadership, which needs a mix of executive, political, and technical skills. He highlighted the lack of educational programs available to train aspiring city leaders in this diverse skill set, suggesting that an equivalent to the MBA in city administration is necessary.
The Mayoral Leadership Event, inaugurated in Rio de Janeiro during the 2024 U20 Global Summit, builds on the Saudi delegation's efforts to enhance urban diplomacy. This initiative aims to establish a legacy of leadership at the global forum dedicated to urban affairs.