YOUNG LEADERS INITIATIVE
I was very excited to have the opportunity to join this wonderful exercise and my expectations have been more than fulfilled.
Looking ahead The 2026 edition of the Young Leaders Initiative will build on the successful experience of the first cohort, providing participants with practical exposure to development finance, institutional learning and peer exchange. Held alongside the OPEC Fund Development Forum on June 23, 2026, it will further strengthen the initiative as a platform for engaging future public sector leaders from OPEC Fund member countries.
were challenged to design a multi- component development finance initiative responding to Belvara’s key development needs, including youth unemployment, food insecurity, climate vulnerability and digital infrastructure gaps. Participants were encouraged to analyze the mix of financing, technical assistance and partnerships needed to shape responses that were both realistic and impactful. These activities gave participants practical insights into how development finance is discussed, designed and applied. Outcomes One of the initiative’s key outcomes was to offer participants a clearer and more practical understanding of how development finance works. Through exposure to high-level dialogue, institutional learning and the Belvara workshop, delegates were able to see how development challenges are rarely addressed through a single intervention – but rather through coordinated responses that bring together financing, partnerships and implementation support. The Young Leaders Initiative reinforced the value of local perspectives and realities, showing that effective solutions are strongest when informed by on-the- ground realities. It also created space for peer learning and exchange across member countries, reflecting the OPEC Fund’s broader commitment to South- South cooperation and knowledge- sharing.
Rayane Drada, Ministry of Finance, Algeria
It has clearly sharpened my understanding of development work. I will be eager to
share with my colleagues at home.
participants a deep understanding of the full cycle of development finance – from strategic orientation and project design to implementation, impact and learning. Once upon a time in Belvara… The centerpiece of the program was the Development Finance Workshop, built around a fictional lower-middle- income country called Belvara. Participants were invited to step into the role of a multilateral development bank team. Working in groups, they
Hussain Saeed Ali Hussain Alshaali, Ministry of Finance, UAE
Being part of this program was one of the most meaningful experiences in my career. I learned more about the role and mission of the OPEC Fund and gained a lot of valuable knowledge and insights.
Aplia Belina Siregar, Ministry of Finance, Indonesia
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