Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) funded projects worth more than $530mn during 2020 through humanitarian and development aid, which were distributed over several essential sectors, namely education, health, economic empowerment, infrastructure, and climate change.
This was disclosed in the fund's annual report for 2020, in which it reviewed the continuation of its efforts in support of development and relief issues in developing countries.
The report said QFFD has continued its efforts to support issues of development and relief in brotherly and friendly developing countries and to extend a helping hand to them, in implementation of the aspirations of the State of Qatar, represented in its leadership, institutions and society, to provide relief to people in need across the world.
Over the past years, countries as well as relief and development organisations have intensified efforts to help people of developing and distressed countries.
Qatar's role has a distinguished place among these efforts exerted around the world.
QFFD is Qatar's representative in supporting these countries by providing all financial facilities and programmes for the purpose of achieving overall global development, the report explained.
In statements that were included in the report, HE Director General of QFFD, Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, stated: "QFFD, on behalf of the State of Qatar, was able to finance projects of more than $530mn during 2020, including humanitarian and development aid. These projects were distributed over several essential sectors, namely education, health, economic empowerment, infrastructure, and climate change. Focusing on these sectors, QFFD has sought to enhance its role in human development and the achievement of sustainable development goals, leading to its vision of giving hope, promoting peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development."
He added that QFFD has provided more than $120mn for education and more than $100mn for health.
It should be noted that the main international development initiatives, humanitarian aid and achievements made by QFFD in 2020 focused on global aid efforts that aimed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Qatar has acted, following directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to provide support to countries in need of assistance and to strengthen their capacity to confront this epidemic.
The report pointed out that on behalf of Qatar, QFFD has provided more than 247 tonnes of relief aid to 28 countries around the world. Six field hospitals have been built, as well.
Additionally, Qatar has offered $10mn to the World Health Organisation and committed to provide another $10mn in partnership with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) to low- and middle-income countries around the world.
In 2020, QFFD funded a project for one of its strategic partners, Education Above All Foundation (EAA), which aims to build a healthy and educated society, as well as GAVI in Nigeria.
The project aimed to provide vaccinations to families of children without education, such as pregnant mothers and siblings under the age of two.
It also focused on other related activities, for example, spreading health and awareness messages at schools targeted in the project as well as in the civil society.
As for humanitarian aid, QFFD has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to Sudan, Lebanon, the Philippines and Syria.
Moreover, QFFD has provided aid in the form of various innovative products, including the Lives & Livelihoods Fund, in co-operation with the Bill Gates Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank and other partners, and participated in financing funds such as the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF).
The report illustrated that many forms of co-operation with the United Nations have taken place, in addition to adopting the implementation and support of sustainable development goals.
QFFD continues to work with the United Nations and international donors to achieve desired goals, the report added. This includes providing flexible support to many UN organisations, and working with organisations such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef), and UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The QFFD is one of the main supporters of the United Nations as it focuses its aid provision on Arab and Middle Eastern countries, especially on the Palestinian cause as well as the Syrian and Yemeni crises.
Since 2016, Qatar has annually maintained $100mn for the benefit of the Syrian people.
As for climate change issues, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has committed to provide $100mn to support small island developing countries as well as the least developed countries in combating the impacts of climate change and pursuing sustainable development, the report said.
It added that in this context, QFFD has signed a co-operation agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to support these countries in creating green job opportunities, developing green industries inside them, and supporting the agricultural sector to maintain food security there.
In relation to the global health sector, QFFD has had many accomplishments, starting with the commissioning of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prostheses in Gaza, in co-operation with Qatar's Ministry of Public Health.
Qatari doctors also have performed cochlear implants.
Similarly, "Qatar Creating Vision" initiative has been launched in India and Bangladesh to target eyes patients there.
Additionally, the "Quest Health" was launched last year as one of the most significant initiatives, where a number of health programmes were introduced to support Syrian refugees and displaced people inside Syria and host countries.
Continued support provided through the Quest Health initiative for the projects related to displaced Syrians and refugees inside and outside Syria had a clear effect on maintaining continuity of high-quality education in these projects and the learning process for learners.
For example, QFFD contributes to providing university scholarships for Syrian refugees in Turkey.
This is implemented through the Al Fakhoora programme of the Education Above All Foundation in five countries.
Through QFFD's strategic partnership in education with the EAA, the "Educate a Child" programme, developed by the EAA, implements educational projects in several countries, such as Cambodia, Sudan, and Lebanon.
Additionally, in this regard, QFFD has signed MoUs with the ministries of education in those countries and has participated in the funding of the Mali's educational project.
As for the economic empowerment sector, aid has amounted to $29,125,618.
Among the main projects in this area are the start of the asphalt paving work for a Mogadishu road, the winterisation programme for Syrian refugees with the UNHCR and Job creation for Syrian refugees with SPARK organisation.
Over the past years, Qatar's role has been clear and fundamental as one of the countries, as well as relief and development organisations, that have increased their efforts to help people who are suffering from destructive effects of wars and natural disasters.
QFFD continues its journey of giving, in order to achieve its vision: "Give hope and promote peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development and to combat world difficulties by assisting the least developed countries."
This was disclosed in the fund's annual report for 2020, in which it reviewed the continuation of its efforts in support of development and relief issues in developing countries.
The report said QFFD has continued its efforts to support issues of development and relief in brotherly and friendly developing countries and to extend a helping hand to them, in implementation of the aspirations of the State of Qatar, represented in its leadership, institutions and society, to provide relief to people in need across the world.
Over the past years, countries as well as relief and development organisations have intensified efforts to help people of developing and distressed countries.
Qatar's role has a distinguished place among these efforts exerted around the world.
QFFD is Qatar's representative in supporting these countries by providing all financial facilities and programmes for the purpose of achieving overall global development, the report explained.
In statements that were included in the report, HE Director General of QFFD, Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, stated: "QFFD, on behalf of the State of Qatar, was able to finance projects of more than $530mn during 2020, including humanitarian and development aid. These projects were distributed over several essential sectors, namely education, health, economic empowerment, infrastructure, and climate change. Focusing on these sectors, QFFD has sought to enhance its role in human development and the achievement of sustainable development goals, leading to its vision of giving hope, promoting peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development."
He added that QFFD has provided more than $120mn for education and more than $100mn for health.
It should be noted that the main international development initiatives, humanitarian aid and achievements made by QFFD in 2020 focused on global aid efforts that aimed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Qatar has acted, following directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to provide support to countries in need of assistance and to strengthen their capacity to confront this epidemic.
The report pointed out that on behalf of Qatar, QFFD has provided more than 247 tonnes of relief aid to 28 countries around the world. Six field hospitals have been built, as well.
Additionally, Qatar has offered $10mn to the World Health Organisation and committed to provide another $10mn in partnership with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) to low- and middle-income countries around the world.
In 2020, QFFD funded a project for one of its strategic partners, Education Above All Foundation (EAA), which aims to build a healthy and educated society, as well as GAVI in Nigeria.
The project aimed to provide vaccinations to families of children without education, such as pregnant mothers and siblings under the age of two.
It also focused on other related activities, for example, spreading health and awareness messages at schools targeted in the project as well as in the civil society.
As for humanitarian aid, QFFD has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to Sudan, Lebanon, the Philippines and Syria.
Moreover, QFFD has provided aid in the form of various innovative products, including the Lives & Livelihoods Fund, in co-operation with the Bill Gates Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank and other partners, and participated in financing funds such as the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF).
The report illustrated that many forms of co-operation with the United Nations have taken place, in addition to adopting the implementation and support of sustainable development goals.
QFFD continues to work with the United Nations and international donors to achieve desired goals, the report added. This includes providing flexible support to many UN organisations, and working with organisations such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef), and UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The QFFD is one of the main supporters of the United Nations as it focuses its aid provision on Arab and Middle Eastern countries, especially on the Palestinian cause as well as the Syrian and Yemeni crises.
Since 2016, Qatar has annually maintained $100mn for the benefit of the Syrian people.
As for climate change issues, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has committed to provide $100mn to support small island developing countries as well as the least developed countries in combating the impacts of climate change and pursuing sustainable development, the report said.
It added that in this context, QFFD has signed a co-operation agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to support these countries in creating green job opportunities, developing green industries inside them, and supporting the agricultural sector to maintain food security there.
In relation to the global health sector, QFFD has had many accomplishments, starting with the commissioning of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prostheses in Gaza, in co-operation with Qatar's Ministry of Public Health.
Qatari doctors also have performed cochlear implants.
Similarly, "Qatar Creating Vision" initiative has been launched in India and Bangladesh to target eyes patients there.
Additionally, the "Quest Health" was launched last year as one of the most significant initiatives, where a number of health programmes were introduced to support Syrian refugees and displaced people inside Syria and host countries.
Continued support provided through the Quest Health initiative for the projects related to displaced Syrians and refugees inside and outside Syria had a clear effect on maintaining continuity of high-quality education in these projects and the learning process for learners.
For example, QFFD contributes to providing university scholarships for Syrian refugees in Turkey.
This is implemented through the Al Fakhoora programme of the Education Above All Foundation in five countries.
Through QFFD's strategic partnership in education with the EAA, the "Educate a Child" programme, developed by the EAA, implements educational projects in several countries, such as Cambodia, Sudan, and Lebanon.
Additionally, in this regard, QFFD has signed MoUs with the ministries of education in those countries and has participated in the funding of the Mali's educational project.
As for the economic empowerment sector, aid has amounted to $29,125,618.
Among the main projects in this area are the start of the asphalt paving work for a Mogadishu road, the winterisation programme for Syrian refugees with the UNHCR and Job creation for Syrian refugees with SPARK organisation.
Over the past years, Qatar's role has been clear and fundamental as one of the countries, as well as relief and development organisations, that have increased their efforts to help people who are suffering from destructive effects of wars and natural disasters.
QFFD continues its journey of giving, in order to achieve its vision: "Give hope and promote peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development and to combat world difficulties by assisting the least developed countries."