Impact Center

What Impact Center does

Impact Center (مركز الأثر, also known as Al-Athar Center), founded in 2019 and headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a non-profit development impact measurement and capacity-building institution established by five donor entities with the support of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It operates three integrated service tracks: (1) a Consulting Track delivering evaluation studies, M&E system design and operation, performance management system setup, development indicator design, and general management consulting for Saudi government entities and nonprofits; (2) a Capacity Building Track anchored on accredited programs such as 'Suhail' for M&E specialists, 'Taqueem' (Evaluation) for international development evaluators, 'Tatwir' for nonprofit proposal writing, and modules on legislative impact assessment, volunteer impact, strategy design and evaluation, development intervention proposals, and strategic foresight; and (3) a Development Ecosystem Enablement Track encompassing forums, conferences, workshops, knowledge guides, the kon_ready digital Readiness Platform, the Electronic Knowledge Platform, the Impact Community of practitioners, and the annual Distinguished Impact Award. The center also maintains the National Giving Indicator and an Arabic-language knowledge publication series, and partners with ENAP Canada, the Islamic Development Bank, King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation, the National Center for Nonprofit Sector Development, and the Council of Civil Associations to deliver programs.

The center's underlying technology stack is methodology-centric rather than software-centric: results-based management frameworks, results-chain analysis, Design and Monitoring Frameworks adapted from development-bank practice, and a custom indicator design capability that has produced over 300 local developmental indicators across 40+ development areas. Digital assets include the kon_ready Readiness Platform and an Electronic Knowledge Platform that deliver automated tools and structured Arabic content to M&E practitioners. The offering is a multi-module professional services and knowledge platform rather than a unified SaaS product.

The business model combines (a) project-based consulting and advisory fees from government and large nonprofit clients, (b) cohort-based training program revenue from sponsored programs (e.g., the National Center for Nonprofit Sector Development-sponsored Suhail and Taqyeem cohorts of 30–35 participants each), and (c) grants and donor funding from the five founding donor entities and supporting government bodies. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per engagement with no publicly disclosed fee schedule; distribution is direct sales plus partnership-driven referrals, and the go-to-market relies on strategic partnerships, events, and Arabic-language thought leadership across Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and the alathar.org.sa content hub.

Name

Impact Center

Legal name

مركز الأثر

Website

https://alathar.org.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Impact Center (مركز الأثر) is a Saudi non-profit, founded in 2019 and backed by five donor entities and the Ministry of Human Resources, that provides development impact measurement consulting, M&E system design, and accredited capacity-building programs (Suhail, Taqyeem, Tatwir) for government agencies and nonprofit organizations in alignment with Vision 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Consulting and Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Management Consulting Services (54161), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Education Policy Evaluation & Impact Assessment Organizations (EDADADAD)

Keywords

• Development consulting services
• Monitoring and evaluation systems
• Capacity building programs
• Nonprofit impact measurement
• Results-based management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Jeddah

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: The center generates revenue through providing developmental consulting services, evaluation studies, and M&E system setup and support to government and nonprofit clients. Revenue is derived from project-based consulting engagements.
2. Training and Capacity Building Programs: Revenue is generated through specialized training programs such as 'Suhail' for M&E professionals and 'Taqyeem' for international development evaluators. Programs are offered in cohorts and batches.
3. Grants and Donor Funding: As a nonprofit entity, the center was established by five donor entities with support from the Ministry of Human Resources. The center receives grants and funding to operate programs and deliver services aligned with Vision 2030.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Impact Center is a non-profit consulting and capacity-building organization that delivers development impact measurement, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) consulting, and result-based management training services. It provides project-based consulting engagements (evaluation studies, M&E system setup, indicator design, performance management) and structured cohort training programs (Suhail for M&E specialists, Taqueem for international evaluators, and specialized programs in legislative impact, volunteer impact, strategy, and foresight) for Saudi government entities and nonprofit organizations. The center also operates an enabling ecosystem comprising forums, conferences, knowledge publications, an electronic knowledge platform, and the kon_ready digital platform to support practitioners.

Product overview

Impact Center (مركز الآثر) is a non-profit organization established by five donor entities with support from the Ministry of Human Resources, operating as a consultancy and capacity-building institution focused on development impact measurement and evaluation in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. Its offerings are organized across three main service tracks: (1) the Consulting Track, providing evaluation studies, monitoring and evaluation systems, performance management system setup, development indicators building, and general management consulting; (2) the Capacity Building Track, delivering structured training programs including 'Suhail' for monitoring and evaluation specialists, 'Taqueem' (Evaluation) for international evaluator certification, legislative impact assessment, volunteer impact assessment, strategy design and evaluation, development intervention proposals, and strategic foresight; and (3) the Development Ecosystem Enablement Track, encompassing forums, conferences, workshops, knowledge guides, an electronic knowledge platform, the Impact Community, the Distinguished Impact Award, and applied procedural products. The center also publishes knowledge resources such as the 'Ten Steps' guide, 'Activating Monitoring and Evaluation Systems,' 'Fundamentals of Planning for Impact Management,' and maintains the National Giving Indicator (المؤشر الوطني للعطاء). The overall portfolio is a multi-module service platform rather than a single unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consulting Services Track (مسار الاستشارات) A comprehensive suite of results-based management consulting services for government entities and nonprofits, covering development needs assessment, M&E system design and operation, evaluation studies, performance management system setup, development indicators design, and policy/strategy evaluation.
• Program 'Suhail' (برنامج سهيل) Specialized cohort training program to qualify national cadres in monitoring and evaluation systems design and management, primarily serving nonprofit and government practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Over 200 specialists have been trained through this program.
• International Program for Development Evaluation / 'Taqueem' (برنامج تقييم) Accredited international program to qualify evaluators in development impact measurement and evaluation, co-developed with ENAP Canada and the Islamic Development Bank. Delivered in multiple cohorts at venues including King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Work in Riyadh.
• Legislative Impact Assessment Program (تقييم الأثر التشريعي) Specialized training program covering methodologies for assessing the impact of legislation and government policies, targeted at policy professionals and government analysts.
• Volunteer Impact Assessment Program (تقييم الأثر التطوعي)

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ local developmental indicators developed for Saudi entities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• inab Canadian University (جامعة إيناب الكندية)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026International academic partnership with inab Canadian University for delivering the international Development Evaluation program. The program was held at the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the program concluding on January 8, 2026.
• King Abdullah Foundation (مؤسسة الملك عبدالله الإنسانية)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2024MoU signed between Impact Center and King Abdullah Foundation aimed at developing and growing the nonprofit sector and maximizing its impact. The agreement was signed in the presence of both organizations' CEOs and represents a key partnership for national impact development.
• National Center for Nonprofit Sector Development (المركز الوطني لتنمية القطاع غير الربحي)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The center is sponsored by the National Center for Nonprofit Sector Development for programs such as 'Suhail' and 'Taqyeem' within the project to maximize community impact of nonprofits. The partnership provides funding and institutional support for capacity building initiatives.
• King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Work (مركز الملك سلمان للإغاثة والأعمال الإنسانية)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024The center serves as a venue partner and collaborator for the international Development Evaluation program hosted at the King Salman Center facilities in Riyadh. The partnership enables high-profile international training programs in a professional conference setting.
• National School of Public Administration Canada (ENAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership with the National School of Public Administration in Canada (ENAP) for co-developing and delivering the international Development Evaluation program. ENAP provides the curriculum framework and certified trainers for the program's multiple cohorts delivered in Saudi Arabia. The partnership has produced 5+ cohorts with participants from various Saudi development organizations.
• Islamic Development Bank (البنك الإسلامي للتنمية)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Islamic Development Bank is a strategic partner in the international Development Evaluation program alongside ENAP Canada and the National Center for Nonprofit Sector Development. The bank supports the program's development and delivery as part of its social development mandate.
• Council of Civil Associations (مجلس الجمعيات الأهلية)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed between Impact Center and the Council of Civil Associations to enhance joint cooperation in developing impact practices for nonprofit organizations. The agreement aims to strengthen impact management capabilities across the nonprofit sector.
• Impact Administrative Foundation (مؤسسة أثر الإدارية)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement signed between Impact Center (represented by CEO Dr. Ahmed Al-Malki) and Impact Administrative Foundation (represented by Eng. Hassan Al-Wali and Advisor Dr. Maan Al-Tanji). The agreement covers collaboration in impact measurement, evaluation, and developmental work, as well as integration in future projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Accountability Lab: A global nonprofit focused on capacity building for accountability, transparency, and impact among civil-society organizations — overlapping with Impact Center's nonprofit capacity-building and M&E system-activation work.
• Pharos Sustainability & Impact Advisory: A boutique sustainability and impact advisory working with Gulf clients on ESG, impact measurement, and reporting — comparable as an emerging regional peer focused on social-impact measurement and advisory for corporates and investors.
• Results for Development Institute (R4D): A global nonprofit that designs and evaluates programs in health, education, and governance across MENA and Africa — a comparable peer focused on M&E systems, indicator design, and learning partnerships in development contexts.

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Independent Evaluation Group (IEG): World Bank IEG sets the global methodology (Results Chain, logframes) that Impact Center adapts; it offers development evaluation training and capacity building at a global scale — a direct incumbent peer in M&E methodology and practitioner training.
• UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States: UNDP is a major global provider of M&E advisory, capacity building, and impact measurement for governments and NGOs — overlapping strongly with Impact Center's consulting and training tracks, especially in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

Direct peers

• National Center for Nonprofit Sector Development (NCNSD): Saudi government body that sponsors Impact Center's Suhail and Taqueem programs and co-runs the 'Maximizing Community Impact' project — the most direct institutional peer in Saudi nonprofit sector capacity building and M&E enablement.
• Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI): IsDBI is a strategic partner of Impact Center on the international Development Evaluation program and runs overlapping capacity-building and M&E initiatives for member countries — directly comparable as a development-sector capacity-building institution with a MENA footprint.
• ENAP (National School of Public Administration, Canada): ENAP co-develops and delivers the international Development Evaluation program with Impact Center and brings a curriculum framework and certified trainers — a direct peer in public-sector evaluation training and capacity building.
• King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation: A Saudi humanitarian foundation with which Impact Center holds an MoU to develop the nonprofit sector — a peer in Saudi third-sector capacity building and impact measurement, and a current strategic partner rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Ma'an (Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority): Abu Dhabi authority operating social-impact and capacity-building programs for nonprofits, similar to Impact Center's Saudi mandate — a regional peer with overlapping third-sector development mission but operating primarily in the UAE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alathar_sa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AB%D8%B1
• Facebookfacebook.com/alathar.me
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alathar-sa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Impact Center