The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) bestowed its prestigious Lifetime Environmental Achievements Award to Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, former Director General of OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). The award was presented at the opening of AFED annual conference in Beirut, by AFED's Board Chairman and former Prime Minister of Jordan Dr. Adnan Badran and Secretary General Najib Saab. Also present were former prime minister of Lebanon Fuad Siniora, representing Prime Minister Saad Hariri and minister of grand reforms in Tunisia Tawfik Al-Rajhi. A statement from AFED Board read by Saab praised Al-Herbish perseverance in placing sustainable development principles at the core of OFID's work, and championing the drive to alleviate energy poverty in the poorest communities.

The award citation said:

"As Head of OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for 15 years (2003-2018), Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish has been a global driving force in people-centered development. During his tenure, OFID advocated sustainable development and placed its principles at the heart of its work. Infrastructure projects improving environmental conditions, especially in water, sanitation, food production and energy were placed on top of OFID's agenda. One major contribution of Mr. Al-Herbish had been his tireless fight for energy poverty alleviation, not only within OFID but also at the global level. This culminated in the inclusion of SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.

OFID's portfolio of loans and grants surpassed $21 billion, supporting 3600 development operations in 134 countries. Under Al-Herbish stewardship, OFID braced cleaner energy and energy diversification, with renewables leading in numbers.
Since assuming his duties in 2003 as Director General, Al-Herbish led many initiatives to make OFID's work more relevant and efficient, introducing innovative financing mechanisms to reach most needy communities, and enacting partnerships with other organizations, in the true spirit of international cooperation to achieve the sustainable development goals. Prior to his appointment at OFID, he served for 14 years as Governor of Saudi Arabia at OPEC.

As honorary founding member of AFED Board of Trustees, Al-Herbish continued to be a staunch supporter of its mission and proponent of positive dialogue among all stakeholders.
AFED is proud to bestow its Lifetime Environmental Achievements Award to Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, as global champion of sustainable development."