Marie Zweynert

Center for Local Governance

The Center for Local Governance was established in recognition of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the then Governor of Riyadh Province, for his remarkable leadership that transformed Riyadh from a small town into an international metropolis. The idea behind the Center was developed by its founder and president, His Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, the former Mayor of Riyadh Region and a much respected pioneer in local governance. The Center is the first think tank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia specialized in local governance affairs, and as a non-profit think tank, is uniquely positioned at the intersection of theory and practice functioning as an objective-thought partner to policymakers. Its core values lie in being a long-term, trusted, and local partner to its stakeholders and improving policies and public sector performance with an evidence-based approach. The Center conducts research and studies, provides advisory services, and develops tailored executive training courses and events related to local governance and public policy, serving its partners and clients via a dedicated professional team.