The humanitarian work ‘relief and development’ sector in Qatar is witnessing remarkable growth and development, especially during the last two decades, becoming one of the paths that the State utilised to establish a new approach in the advancement of societies and countries in need, especially the least developed countries and countries that are exposed to adversity, natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
The charitable and humanitarian work undertaken by the Qatari institutions derives its strength and philosophy from the Qatari society’s religious values, universal human culture, civilised interaction with the human community, and long-standing traditions in helping those in need.
It had honourable stances in support of the weak and the victims of humanitarian crises.
The least developed countries in the world are racing against time to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and Qatar will host the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), tomorrow for five days from March 5-9.
The conference will provide a forum for heads of state and government to address current challenges, obtain international support, and strengthen partnerships.
The LDC5 conference represents an opportunity to accelerate sustainable development in the regions most in need of international assistance, as well as utilise the full potential of the 46 least developed countries in a way that helps them advance towards prosperity and achieving sustainable development.
Qatar has worked hard to nurture and develop charitable and humanitarian work on sound foundations and solid rules that take into account the principles endorsed by Islam.
It respond to international standards that have developed as a result of cultural and civilisational interaction among peoples.
In this context, Qatar has established a government agency that organises these benevolent efforts.
The Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities started supporting, guiding, monitoring and supervising through direct communication and by setting regulations and laws to guide different organisations, associations and bodies.
The process of organising, supervising and setting standards for charitable and humanitarian work in the country contributed to the expansion of the map of humanitarian interventions for Qatari charitable institutions, which kept pace with international trends in development plans, and worked professionally in the areas of supporting education, health and economic empowerment in its various variations and ramifications.
It presented a model in building partnerships with institutions at the local, regional and international levels, and strictly took into account the goals of sustainable development 2030, and the goals related to humanitarian and development work. The Statistics of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities indicate that the number of private charitable associations and institutions registered with it is more than 10.
They play various roles at the local level, while some have emerged on the international scene through contributing and participating in humanitarian work, in co-operation and partnership with local institutions accredited in the beneficiary countries or with organisations and international agencies working in the relief and development field.
Qatar emphasised the importance of mobilising resources to meet development challenges.
This was expressed by HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi at the high-level event, Investing in Education, Skills and Jobs in the Health Sector.
He said that Qatar will continue to work as an active partner in the international community to promote and achieve goals related to humanitarian and development work and human rights and to mobilise all resources that can be used to help modernise and develop the social and health sector in countries in need.
He added that Qatar plays a leading role in realising the sustainable development goals on the local, regional, and international levels through providing assistance in the face of humanitarian and economic challenges and crises.
Qatari charitable institutions and societies were an important part of this supportive role towards the international community in facing the challenges of development and humanitarian crises.
Qatar Red Crescent Society and Qatar Charity are two important Qatar models in this field. QRCS statistics show that it implemented projects worth more than QR3.25bn between 2016 and 2022, benefiting about 63mn people in 57 countries.
These projects include various development and relief sectors such as healthcare, water, sanitation, shelter, food, education, economic empowerment and social care, as well as humanitarian, voluntary and youth interventions and initiatives inside and outside the country.
To implement and supervise these projects and interventions, QRCS has 14 offices and representative missions outside Qatar, in which 385 employees work, along with 27,546 male and female volunteers in the countries targeted by humanitarian and development intervention.
The QRCS is preparing to participate in the LDC5. Its participation is represented by the establishment of a joint pavilion with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies entitled ‘Working With Local Leadership is the Key’, in addition to organising a discussion session on the same topic on March 6.
The QRCS Secretary-General ambassador Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that the Red Crescent is looking forward to continuing its active humanitarian role as a national society representing Qatar in the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
For its part, Qatar Charity works closely with communities affected by disasters and crises, as well as communities in need, to effectively assess their needs in order to provide effective, coordinated, integrated, and timely development interventions and humanitarian response.
Qatar Charity’s projects cover more than 70 countries around the world, and it has 34 international field offices.
It is seeking to open a number of other offices in countries, most of which are on the African continent.
Qatar Charity has succeeded in building important partnerships with international organisations with the aim of serving humanitarian and development issues around the world, especially in areas of disasters and crises. It is also a member of the global network ‘Start Network’, UK since 2017.
In light of these partnerships, and the relentless efforts of Qatar Charity, the number of projects implemented by the charity in the development field from 2018 to 2022 amounted to more than 110,627, with a total cost estimated at about QR2.5bn, benefiting more than 55mn people.
These projects, which were implemented in the least developed countries, fall within the main sectors of Qatar Charity’s development work, namely: food security, health, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, livelihoods, social care, shelter, social housing, peace and social harmony, in addition to education, culture and multi-service centres.
Humanitarian work in Qatar does not stop at this point.
In addition to these two institutions, other Qatari institutions participate in the international humanitarian movement, including, but not limited to, the Education Above All Foundation, which is the global initiative founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in 2012 to provide educational opportunities, especially in societies suffering from poverty and conflicts and ensure the opportunity for quality, equitable and comprehensive education for vulnerable and marginalised groups, especially in developing countries.
In addition to that, there is Silatech, which was also founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza. The organisation seeks to confront unemployment, enhance job opportunities for young people wherever they are, and provide the necessary resources for the development of their projects by providing wide and innovative solutions in the field of employment by working with local, regional and international partners.
