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An agreement has been signed between Qatar Fund for Development and the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to support the Office’s resources. The agreement was signed by Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, HE Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia Gamba.

Under the agreement, the State of Qatar will support the extra-budgetary resources of the Office with $ 1 million for the period of 2022-2023. The State of Qatar has also supported the establishment and funding of the Analysis and Outreach Hub of the Office of the Special Representative in Doha, in order to mediate and build capacity, to end and prevent grave violations against children in armed conflict. 

For his part, His Excellency Mr. Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, said: “Human rights, peace and development are at the top of QFFD’s priorities, as they in line with its vision to achieve peace and justice and empower all groups in society, including children, and prepare them to be active members of society. This important agreement is a translation to complete the journey of rebuilding the fragile, most vulnerable and marginalized communities, and rejecting conflicts.”

“The protection of conflict-affected children remains a central pillar of the human rights, peace and security, peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian agendas. Children must remain at the heart of our efforts to build peaceful and prosperous societies” Ms. Virginia Gamba reminded. She added, “With this partnership between QFFD and OSRSG CAAC, both entities show that they share the same objectives.”

It is worth mentioning that this agreement is a continues cooperation between QFFD and OSRSG CAAC, where they signed a funding agreement for the Center for the Promotion and Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflict, on the sideline of 2019 Doha forum

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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, signed today an agreement with Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) to provide US$ 8 million in flexible funding to UNHCR in 2021 and 2022, in support of its humanitarian efforts around the world.

The agreement was signed virtually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Filippo Grandi in Geneva, and QFFD’s Director General H.E. Mr. Khalifa Al-Kuwari in Doha, marking a renewal of the State of Qatar’s commitment to supporting refugees and displaced persons globally.

“In light of today’s compounded challenges and record-high forced displacement, this flexible contribution will support UNHCR in responding to growing needs and emergencies worldwide,” said Mr. Grandi while commending Qatar’s humanitarian role. “We look forward to further expanding and strengthening our long-standing partnership with QFFD to continue supporting the most vulnerable refugees and their host communities.”

On his part, H.E. Al-Kuwari said: “At Qatar Fund for Development, we support the efforts of UN organizations such as UNHCR as we believe in the vital role UNHCR plays to support refugees in several conflict areas. Therefore, QFFD and UNHCR share the same values regarding the importance of efforts in order to respond to the increasing humanitarian needs of displaced communities, and to make sure basic humanitarian rights such as a safe shelter, food security and access to quality education are accessible to all refugees.”

Flexible funding is vital to the UNHCR. It allows the provision of emergency assistance whenever and wherever it is needed most, therefore enabling UNHCR to ensure a timely response to the growing needs of the 84 million forcibly displaced people worldwide.

Qatar’s history of generosity and collaboration to support refugees and displaced persons has been key for UNHCR’s global humanitarian efforts, with cumulative contributions from the Government of the State of Qatar and Qatari entities exceeding US$ 354 million to date.

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The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) continues to support the strategic partnership with The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Three agreements were signed in support to the global role of OCHA in addressing human needs.

The first agreement signed to provide an amount of unearmarked multi-year primary funding to OCHA with the amount of $16 Million US Dollars over the period of two years 2021-2022. Second agreement was the signing of QFFD to support to The Syrian Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), in addition to Jordan and Lebanon Country based Pooled Funds (CBPFs); with a total amount of $2 Million US Dollars allocated to strengthen the capacity of local organizations and support growing needs of the affected populations. Third, to fund OCHA’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) with the amount of $2 Million US Dollars for 2022-2023, to be disbursed equally of $1 million each year. CERF enables humanitarian responders to deliver life-saving assistance whenever and wherever crises strike.

QFFD is one of OCHA’s strategic partners and plays an important global role in responding to humanitarian crises. In 2020, the State of Qatar was ranked the 9^th country in the top donors list for OCHA global donors’ contribution. The agreements aim at enhancing joint coordination and improving global humanitarian assistance.

Previous contributions between QFFD and OCHA included a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation for the years 2017-2020, signed in Doha on 14 May 2017, to set out procedures which apply to QFFD’s multi-year financial contributions to OCHA to the areas of cooperation in the humanitarian field, with the aim to strengthen joint coordination and emergency response.

HE Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, QFFD Director General, said: “The Qatar Fund for Development stresses that strengthening the capacity of humanitarian institutions demonstrates the Fund’s ability as a key partner to find solutions to the humanitarian and relief international crises. This support aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the field of humanitarian response. This multi-year contribution is important to support the humanitarian assistance efforts lead by OCHA.”

 “Humanitarian needs continue to rise around the world and the most vulnerable people face the impact of the climate crisis, protracted conflicts and political instability,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths. “Our longstanding partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development and the flexible, multiyear support for OCHA and the Pooled Funds helps humanitarian organisations bring people the relief they desperately need.”

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In his speech, His Excellency Mr. Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, said: “We sought to support the educational system and enhance educational opportunities for Palestinians at inside and abroad, in order to allow them to contribute effectively to the development of their country and to overcome present and future economic and social challenges, especially under the difficult circumstances that the Palestinians people are going through.”

His Excellency added: “With this in mind, we are pleased to announce today a new l grant of $3 million to extend the support provided to the Institute for Palestine Studies for an additional three years, as an extension of the support that the State of Qatar was keen to provide to the institute  to support its research, publishing and media activities a year ago since 1996, in an effort to promote research, publication and studies related to Palestine as a necessary pillar to ensure the dissemination of awareness and knowledge building on the Palestinian issue, especially among the younger generations.

Dr. Tariq Mitri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Palestine Studies, stated that the support provided by Qatar Fund for Development to the Foundation continues, five years after the first grant. It is a vital support that helps the institution to continue to carry out its duty and assume its responsibility in serving the Palestinian cause in terms of scientific research, publication and awareness.

Mitri praised the efforts of Qatar Fund for Development and its contribution to strengthening the capabilities of Arab and Palestinian institutions, including our institution, which has been playing its role without interruption since its founding in 1963, in addition to its contribution to promoting scientific knowledge and addressing Arabs and the world in a language that combines rationality and moral and human commitment.

In turn, the Director General of the Institute for Palestine Studies, Mr. Khaled Farraj, stressed that this support reflects a strategic partnership between the Fund and the Foundation, and of course preserves the pioneering role played by the Foundation in the field of scientific research, publishing and documentation.

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to enroll 596,597 out of school children in the country

Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) signed a loan agreement with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to support the implementation of the PACETEM project that aims to ensure out of school children (OOSC) in Mali have access to quality primary education with the implementing strategic partner Education Above All Foundation (EAA).

PACETEM’s (Programme d’accès à l’éducation pour tous les enfants au Mali/Access to Education for All Children in Mali) objective is the enrolment and retention of 596,597 OOSC throughout the country. PACETEM specifically seeks to reach OOSC with limited access to primary education, including children from nomadic communities, children in remote locations, overage children officially excluded children, and children with physical disabilities through the utilisation of tested and effective strategies.

The PACETEM project, managed by the Education Development Center (EDC) and implemented via a consortium of international and national NGOs in collaboration with Mali’s Ministry of National Education, local governments and target communities, is working to scale up innovative and effective strategies already in practice. Each member of the consortium carries out initiatives in accordance with the needs of the local community. For example, project strategies may comprise: enrolling children who did not enrol at the appropriate age; creating single-classroom schools in communities with low-population densities; providing mobile schools for nomadic communities; integrating official primary curriculum into Koranic schools; and establishing accelerated-learning programmes for overage children. The project is funded through an innovative financing mechanism that combines grant and loan assistance to support OOSC access to education.

Marginalized children in Mali often face multiple barriers in accessing education, such as the lack  availability of schools and teachers close to home, poverty, insecurity, low quality and relevance, or for their children to engage in economic activities to support the household. By addressing these barriers to education, the project aims to impact positively on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, “Ensuring fair and inclusive education for all and enhancing lifelong learning for all”.  

Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of QFFD, said, “It is our responsibility to ensure that young people are in a position to secure their future. To support out of school children in Mali, QFFD is contributing to the adaptation of infrastructure to meet the needs of physically impaired children, providing teacher training and school supplies to girls and disadvantaged households, building new schools and reintegrating children beyond the standard primary-school age.”

Mr Fahad Al-Sulaiti, CEO of the Education Above All Foundation, noted: “Today’s agreement between QFFD and Mali’s Ministry of National Education presents an important step in our joint global efforts to identify new ways for education financing to create lasting impacts, particularly for low-income countries that are the hardest hit by the global education funding crisis.

With a special focus on supporting the most marginalised out of school children into quality primary education, including girls, children from remote or nomadic communities, and children with disabilities, we aim to increase school retention rates and ultimately raise social and economic prospects, for them and their communities.”

Ambassador of Mali in Qatar, HE Cheick Ahmed Tidiany Diakite said, “Today’s ceremony marks the culmination of the efforts made on both sides to sign the loan. Allow me to thank the Minister for his availability, the Director of Public Debt of Mali, the Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, the CEO of the EAA Foundation and his collaborators”.

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The Qatari delegation’s visit to one of the three UNRWA schools in Lebanon, supported by Qatar, came to express UNRWA’s gratitude and thanks for the generous contributions made by the State of Qatar through Qatar Fund for Development to UNRWA, especially the education programme.

On this occasion, HE Ambassador Al Jaber said: “We praise the role played by UNRWA in alleviating the suffering of the refugees, and we appreciate the close cooperation between Qatar and UNRWA in order to guarantee the right of Palestinian refugees and their access to education opportunities and a decent life.”

For his part, HE Mr. Al-Kuwari said: “Here at Qatar Fund for Development, we believe that education is the key to peace, stability and security. Investing in education is the key that will provide children and youth with the tools they need to be positive members of their society. For this reason, Qatar Fund for Development is proud to contribute to the development of Education to empower students with the skills and knowledge that will support them in their future to become active members of society.”

Mr. Cordone expressed his gratitude for Qatar’s support for Palestine refugees and UNRWA and said: “I would like to thank Qatar for its generous contribution to support Palestine refugees. This assistance is essential to ensuring that Palestine refugees continue to benefit from education services in light of Lebanon’s growing social, economic and health challenges.

At the end of the reception, prizes were distributed to a number of students who won an art competition organized by UNRWA, sponsored Qatar Fund for Development, online for sixth-grade students, who produced artworks and selfie videos in which they shared their opinions and advice on successful learning during the Corona pandemic.

The partnership between UNRWA and the State of Qatar has been established over the years with a primary focus on quality education. Throughout the years Qatar Fund for Development contributed more than 100 Million $ to support the UNRWA. This funding has enabled the Agency to continue to provide quality and inclusive education to Palestine refugee students and has contributed to basic health care and relief and social services in the area.

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Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signs a contribution agreement with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). This contribution will support the adaptation program for smallholder agriculture.

For his part, Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, said, “The Covid-19 pandemic and the effects of climate change have taken a particularly heavy toll on the people living in rural areas of developing countries, where the majority of the world’s poorest and hungry people live. For the first time, Qatar Fund for Development cooperates with the International Fund for Agricultural Development as a global strategic partner through this contribution. In order to make a real difference in the lives of rural people and introduce positive changes on a large scale, and in particular support the adaptation program in favor of smallholder agriculture in particular. This agreement comes to serve the first goal concerned with the elimination of all forms of hunger, the eighth goal on economic empowerment and the provision of decent work opportunities, and the thirteenth goal on combating climate change and climate action from the global sustainable development goals, as the rapid rise of hunger in the world confirms the urgent need to improve the incomes and productivity of smallholder farmers and enhance their resilience to the impacts of climate change”

Said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD “Small-scale farmers in rural areas play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainability, stability, and security in the world. Food reaches our tables primarily because of their efforts. This financial support from Qatar Fund for Development will enhance our work in increasing the resilience of vulnerable small-scale producers to the impacts of climate change, and help safeguard food security. This agreement will also contribute to the global call for reducing greenhouse gases while ensuring significant income-related benefits for rural people and other vulnerable groups.”

It should be noted that the Adaptation Program for Smallholder Agriculture is the main program of the Fund for directing climate and environmental financing to smallholder farmers, and the program forms part of the regular investment processes that the Fund makes, and benefits from accurate quality control and supervision systems, thanks to joint efforts and generous support From donors, the program is helping eight million affected smallholder farmers in 43 countries to cope with the impact of climate change and build more resilient livelihoods.

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Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signs a collaboration agreement with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), to Support small island developing states and the least developed countries in the creation of green jobs and development of green industries.

The agreement focuses on 4 important projects across the globe, the Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative, the Pacific Green Entrepreneur Network, Climate Smart Agriculture for Kiribati and Solar-Powered Irrigation for Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Senegal River Valley.

The Impact of these projects will be Supporting green entrepreneurship, innovation, and employment in 12 Caribbean and Pacific countries with a focus on developing viable Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises’s (SMSE),  in locally relevant green industry. Business incubation, development support, grant and non-interest loan financing through a revolving Green Investment Fund. In addition to enhancing local production, consumption, and awareness of nutritious locally grown vegetables in Kiribati through a climate smart agriculture training and micro agri-business support program aimed at schools and school gardens. Also providing income support and improve crop yields and incomes for farmers through deployment of Climate Smart Agriculture and solar irrigation programs in Senegal, a LDC bordering Sahel region of Africa.

The 3-year agreement will play a role in supporting economic resilience and sustainable development whilst also helping tackle climate change.

During the ceremony that was held virtually HE Mr Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Kuwari said :“QFFD remains committed to work closely with its strategic partners like GGGI. This Cooperation with GGGI will emphasize the state of Qatar’s role in mitigating Climate change side by side with the global community in addition to supporting the least develop countries, through achieving SDGs ”.

“Qatar and QFFD’s leadership are commendable in supporting climate resilience and ambition in SIDS and LDCs that are hit hardest by both climate change and the COVID19 pandemic. We are excited to work with QFFD in delivering impactful projects that would not only enhance climate resilience, local innovation and jobs creation in SIDS and LDCs but will also support these countries in building back better from the impacts of this pandemic.” Said – Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, Global Green Growth Institute

During the 2019 UN General Assembly, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, pledged $100M USD to support SIDS and LDCs tackle climate change impacts and pursue sustainable development.

It’s worth mentioning that on October 22, QFFD and GGGI signed an MoU to support SIDS and LDCs achieve climate resilience and green growth in line with UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement.

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