As part of this partnership, Qatar Fund for Development and Doha Forum co-hosted a vital panel titled, “New Pathways for Conflict Mediation in an Evolving Landscape.” The high-profile session was set against the backdrop of this year’s theme, “Wanted: A Functioning Global Order,” which addressed the urgent need for effective international governance amidst growing geopolitical tensions.

HE Mubarak Ajlan Al Kuwari, Executive Director of Doha Forum, Mr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Aseeri, Acting Director General of QFFD and Maha Al Kuwari, General Manager of Doha Forum, were in attendance, emphasizing Qatar’s ongoing commitment to facilitating constructive dialogue on pressing international issues.

Commenting on the event, HE Mubarak Ajlan Al Kuwari said: “In a year marked by complex geopolitical challenges, Doha Forum and QFFD were honored to co-host an esteemed panel of world-renowned experts to explore the urgent need for innovative, collaborative approaches to mediation. Doha Forum will host its own prominent global summit this December, continuing our commitment to fostering constructive dialogue on the pressing challenges facing the world today.”

Mr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Aseeri, Acting Director General of QFFD stated, “In times of global division and instability, strategic dialogue with global leaders and international stakeholders is not just a necessity but a responsibility. Our partnership with the Paris Peace Forum, alongside Doha Forum as co-host for today’s panel underscores our commitment to innovative approaches in conflict resolution and leverages our unique position to foster partnerships that transcend borders. Together, we are opening new channels for dialogue and cooperation that address today’s complex challenges and contribute to lasting peace.”

Joining the discussion were:

• Jean-Marie Guéhenno: Professor at Columbia University and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping (Moderator)
• Maria Fernanda Espinosa: Executive Director of GWL Voices for Change and Inclusion, former 73rd President of the United Nations General Assembly, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ecuador
• Daniel Levy: President of the U.S./Middle East Project (USMEP)
• Ghassan Salamé: Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Sciences Po Paris

With rising instability in the Middle East and other conflict zones worldwide, the session explored the urgent need for dynamic and flexible approaches to mediation that can adapt to today’s complex geopolitical landscape.

The discussion also addressed the need for inclusive engagement with non-state actors who often play significant roles in these conflicts, highlighting the importance of multilateral frameworks and international law as foundations for effective mediation.

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Qatar Fund for Development signed an agreement with ICRC to respond to the emergency needs of people affected by the Libyan crisis

 
Responding to the emergency needs of people affected by the Libyan crisis, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed an agreement with the ICRC to support the economic security program (ECOSEC) in Libya.
The program focuses on restoring people’s livelihood by enabling them in starting up businesses that could revive the economy and improve self-sufficiency at both individual and community levels. The program also encompasses the provision of food supplies, food production, income support, enhanced living conditions, and training and capacity-building.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, said: “Through our cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, we will be able to respond urgently to the needs of people affected by the Libyan crisis. This will promote peace by securing the basic needs of individuals, supporting their resilience and self-sufficiency, and reviving the economy.
Mr. Al Kuwari added: “We must unite in renouncing violence and standing up to the most vulnerable groups, and empowering them to ensure a better future for the Libyan people.”
“We are pleased to receive support from the Qatar Fund for Development for our projects that aim to help families affected by the conflict in Libya restore their income and secure their basic needs,” explains ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.
“Years of instability and fighting have greatly affected the socio-economic fabric leaving many Libyans, especially returnees, struggling to pick up the pieces and to start all over again. This kind of support will help them rebuild their lives.” She added.
The main objective of the ICRC’s economic security program globally is to enable vulnerable people to bolster their resilience to the effects of the armed conflict and enhance the ability of individuals, households, and communities to cover their essential needs sustainably and with dignity.

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In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, Qatar Fund for Development sent urgent aid to the Republic of Turkey, in cooperation with Qatar Red Crescent and Qatar Charity, through a Qatar Emiri Air Force air bridge . More than 100 tons of urgent aid were sent, consisting of 500 shelter tents and field hospitals, in addition to personal hygiene baskets and shelter materials such as blankets, in addition to food supply.

This urgent assistance addresses the effects of the earthquake to urgently saves those affected. Thousands were killed and thousands injured in Turkey and Syria due to Monday’s devastating earthquake in southern Turkey.

Qatar Fund for Development stands in solidarity with the brothers in Turkey and Syria and affirms its readiness to provide aid and assist those affected. QFFD extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

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Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) announces the start of its rehabilitation works in the Republic of Yemen Al Hiswa Power Plant for the month of September, this year. 

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The Qatar Fund for Development sent 45 tons of food aid baskets to assist 750 affected families in the Somaliland in order to address the difficult conditions as a result of drought, add that the fire that erupted in the main market of the capital Hargeisa, in cooperation with the Qatar Emiri Air Force.

His Excellency Mr. Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, said: “This urgent assistance comes to play an important role in alleviating the severity of this humanitarian disaster for the affected and most needy people in the Somaliland , Especially after the fire that erupted in the main market of the capital Hargeisa recently, which affected in an unprecedented way the food security of the region in addition to the drought that hit the area.”
“Although these aids are urgent relief in their nature, they play an important role in alleviating the severity of the humanitarian and development catastrophe. Where they help in enhancing the lives of the affected people and ensuring a decent life for them. They also play a role in promoting the second goal of the sustainable development goals relating to hunger.” Al Kuwari said.

Somaliland is facing the risk of famine today, where the people are suffering from severe drought circumstances. As a result of that, many of them have lifted their homes in search of water, food and pasture, not to mention the huge fire disaster that hit the main market in the capital, which resulted in material damage, and injured more than twenty people. It is expected that this fire will have a serious impact on the economy. Anticipations also suggest that the disaster may be exacerbated due to the severe or near-total food shortages until mid of 2022, if appropriate actions are not taken.

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On his part, His Excellency Mr. Khalifa Al-Kuwari, Director General of QFFD, said: “This aid comes at a critical time, particularly as Somalia faces an elevated rise in food insecurity levels. Those affected are not only suffering from farming challenges, but essential access to water, and therefore, the assistance delivered today in cooperation with its strategic partner Qatar Charity, will allow us to address this humanitarian crisis quickly before it escalates. “

It is worth noting that in November 2021, QFFD launched a cooperation with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization to support anticipatory financing mechanisms to enhance agriculture and livestock production and address the humanitarian impact of floods and droughts in Somalia.

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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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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with support from the State of Qatar, delivered Wednesday a shipment of desperately needed aid to Afghanistan, the first of several emergency airlifts to arrive in the coming days. The essential relief items will help displaced and vulnerable families brace themselves against the harsh winter weather, as economic and humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan continue to deteriorate.

This first airlift to arrive in Kabul included 28 tons of solar lamps and thermal blankets to be distributed to displaced Afghans most in need. It is part of an overall 91 tons of UNHCR winter items that Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) are supporting UNHCR’s winterization program with, by airlifting them from Doha to Kabul to support vulnerable Afghans.

“Qatar believes that the support from various UN agencies is vital for this critical and difficult period in Afghan history. We will spare no effort in facilitating such important aid and ensuring it reaches the families in need in Afghanistan. We hope that the international community will step up its efforts to elevate the humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan,” said H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Board of QFFD.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomed this support, saying, “this contribution comes at a critical time. Winter has arrived, compounding the hardship faced by millions of displaced Afghans. Qatar’s support will help enable UNHCR to reach the most vulnerable with essential winter assistance. It is yet another example of Qatar’s leading role in support of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan and beyond.”

Nearly 700,000 displaced Afghans have fled their homes this year alone due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, 80 per cent of whom are women and children. The COVID-19 pandemic has also compounded the severity of the emergency with dire socio-economic and health impacts.

UNHCR has scaled up its winter response programme to protect and assist 3.5 million internally displaced Afghans and 2.2 million registered Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries including Iran and Pakistan, with some 700,000 people assisted inside Afghanistan since the start of this year.

The State of Qatar, which is also a Core Group member of the Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees, has long been a strong partner of UNHCR, supporting its operations around the world to assist refugees and the forcibly displaced globally. 

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