Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has disbursed a total of $2.24bn from 2015 until May 2019 for development and humanitarian assistance around the world, director general Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari announced. “Qatar Fund for Development provided financial aid and effectively responded to humanitarian and development assistance in many countries. From 2015 until May 2019, the total aid amounted to QR8.15bn, equivalent to $2.24bn, at an annual growth rate of 19%. In 2018 alone, QFFD has allocated $585mn,” he explained.
Al-Kuwari was speaking at the 2018 annual report launch event held under the patronage  of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who is also chairman of QFFD. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and QFFD deputy chairman Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson HE Lolwah Alkhater and a number of dignitaries and guests were present on the occasion.
“The assistance in 2018 was distributed among 70 countries around the world. Out of the total amount in 2018, $206.7mn was allocated for humanitarian aid while $378.6mn was for development assistance. The total value of aid to Arab countries amounted to $451.8mn, $64mn to African countries, $28.5mn for Asian countries and $17.9mn to North and South America. For international and multilateral organisations, QFFD provided $20.1mn,” continued al-Kuwari.
“QFFD provides assistance for projects in education, health, economic empowerment and access to jobs, infrastructure and humanitarian relief globally. QFFD focuses on empowering people through the promotion of education, health and economic development.
This is visible in the increase in the annual allocations of these sectors which reflects our belief that these sectors serve as the foundation for human and economic development and a gateway for achieving peace and justice,’’ he explained.
QFFD also signed 47 agreements in 2018 both locally and internationally. While 28 of them are country-based partnerships, 10 are international partnerships and nine are local partnerships. QFFD on behalf of Qatar, has financed projects including humanitarian and development assistance. The assistance was allocated to four main sectors: infrastructure, education, relief and economic development. By focusing on these sectors, QFFD aims to promote sustainable development to realise its vision of providing hope and promote peace and justice.
In response to its pledges at the Brussels 2018 Conference, Qatar extended support with an amount of $52mn to Syria and its neighbouring countries, providing comprehensive healthcare, housing, and vocational training.
These have benefited internally displaced Syrians and refugees in neighbouring host countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In addition, over 100,000 displaced persons from Deraa and Eastern Ghouta in Syria were also assisted through emergency response projects funded by QFFD.