* Qatar Fund for Development releases annual report for 2019
* Main sectors supported are education, health, economic development and infrastructure
* Al-Kuwari: "we are proud of our contribution to the implementation of qualitative humanitarian and development initiatives launched by Qatar"
* Main sectors supported are education, health, economic development and infrastructure
* Al-Kuwari: "we are proud of our contribution to the implementation of qualitative humanitarian and development initiatives launched by Qatar"
The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) provided humanitarian and development assistance worth more than $577mn during 2019, it has been announced.
"The Qatar Fund for Development continued its efforts to support development and relief causes in sister and friendly developing countries, and to extend a helping hand and provide assistance to them, in implementation of Qatar’s leadership, institutions and community to provide relief to nations and needy people around the world," QFFD said in a statement on the occasion of the release of its annual report for 2019.
Khalifa bin Jassem al-Kuwari, director-general of QFFD, said at the launch of the report: "The Fund provided financial tools to countries and responded in an effective manner in consideration of providing humanitarian and development assistance of more than $577mn during 2019, and focused on empowering people through the promotion of education, health and economic development, reflecting the increase in the annual allocation of these sectors in the belief of the Qatar Fund for Development as these sectors are the basic structure of human and economic development and a way to achieve the Fund's mission - which is to establish peace and justice among peoples."
QFFD, on behalf of Qatar, has been able to fund projects with more than $577mn, including humanitarian and development assistance, distributed in four key sectors: education, health, economic development and infrastructure. By focusing on these sectors, QFFD said it seeks to promote human development and achieve sustainable development goals, to achieve its vision of giving hope and promoting peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development.
"The most important international development initiatives, humanitarian assistance and the achievements of the Qatar Fund for Development in 2019 revolve around projects to meet humanitarian needs, emergency response, reconstruction, relief, rehabilitation, the fund's contributions to the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, economic empowerment, the construction of roads for sustainable growth and the Fund's financing of infrastructure projects, particularly road transport and building projects," the statement noted.
"The Fund has worked to promote the right to education and efforts to support educational facilities, training, primary, secondary, higher and technical education, as well as health and development of supported projects in the health, infectious diseases and medical services sector, the success of the UNDP Development Impact Acceleration Laboratories initiative," it added.
* Supporting displaced persons and refugees
In co-ordination with local and international strategic partners, QFFD has begun to provide healthcare through primary health clinics in the Iraqi city of Mosul, and in a similar context, many Rohingya refugees have sought safe haven in Bangladesh and Malaysia, and in turn Qatar Fund for Development supported Malaysia in hosting refugees by working with local implementing partners and local Malaysian NGOs.
The Fund has also worked through quest initiative to support Syrian refugees and displaced persons inside Syria and their host neighbouring countries.
In response to Yemen’s famine crisis, QFFD has launched a sustained and integrated response to deliver life-saving food assistance. More than 250,000 food-insecure people benefited from this project. This is in addition to supporting the payment of rent to provide shelter and housing for the affected and needy, and to meet the needs of more than 225,000 beneficiaries.
* Immediate relief and rebuilding societies
In 2019, QFFD provided immediate relief to many communities affected by hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, including Somalia and Albania. The Fund also supported the Government of the Bahamas and rehabilitation projects following Cyclone Dorian. QFFD provided funding for rehabilitation as part of mutual government support between Qatar and Cuba in order to alleviate the human tragedy of a powerful hurricane that struck Cuba in January 2019.
The Qatar Fund for Development has also introduced a unique project of cash-for-shelter, in a move to encourage homeowners to return to Mosul's Old City, Iraq.
As for Sudan, the Fund implemented a rapid intervention programme in August 2019 after heavy rains and floods in various areas disrupted livelihoods, destroyed homes and forcing people to find shelter. Mobile health teams were also formed, and support for the water and sanitation sector and the distribution of food and non-food items were provided to those affected.
"The Qatar Fund for Development continued its efforts to support development and relief causes in sister and friendly developing countries, and to extend a helping hand and provide assistance to them, in implementation of Qatar’s leadership, institutions and community to provide relief to nations and needy people around the world," QFFD said in a statement on the occasion of the release of its annual report for 2019.
Khalifa bin Jassem al-Kuwari, director-general of QFFD, said at the launch of the report: "The Fund provided financial tools to countries and responded in an effective manner in consideration of providing humanitarian and development assistance of more than $577mn during 2019, and focused on empowering people through the promotion of education, health and economic development, reflecting the increase in the annual allocation of these sectors in the belief of the Qatar Fund for Development as these sectors are the basic structure of human and economic development and a way to achieve the Fund's mission - which is to establish peace and justice among peoples."
QFFD, on behalf of Qatar, has been able to fund projects with more than $577mn, including humanitarian and development assistance, distributed in four key sectors: education, health, economic development and infrastructure. By focusing on these sectors, QFFD said it seeks to promote human development and achieve sustainable development goals, to achieve its vision of giving hope and promoting peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development.
"The most important international development initiatives, humanitarian assistance and the achievements of the Qatar Fund for Development in 2019 revolve around projects to meet humanitarian needs, emergency response, reconstruction, relief, rehabilitation, the fund's contributions to the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, economic empowerment, the construction of roads for sustainable growth and the Fund's financing of infrastructure projects, particularly road transport and building projects," the statement noted.
"The Fund has worked to promote the right to education and efforts to support educational facilities, training, primary, secondary, higher and technical education, as well as health and development of supported projects in the health, infectious diseases and medical services sector, the success of the UNDP Development Impact Acceleration Laboratories initiative," it added.
* Supporting displaced persons and refugees
In co-ordination with local and international strategic partners, QFFD has begun to provide healthcare through primary health clinics in the Iraqi city of Mosul, and in a similar context, many Rohingya refugees have sought safe haven in Bangladesh and Malaysia, and in turn Qatar Fund for Development supported Malaysia in hosting refugees by working with local implementing partners and local Malaysian NGOs.
The Fund has also worked through quest initiative to support Syrian refugees and displaced persons inside Syria and their host neighbouring countries.
In response to Yemen’s famine crisis, QFFD has launched a sustained and integrated response to deliver life-saving food assistance. More than 250,000 food-insecure people benefited from this project. This is in addition to supporting the payment of rent to provide shelter and housing for the affected and needy, and to meet the needs of more than 225,000 beneficiaries.
* Immediate relief and rebuilding societies
In 2019, QFFD provided immediate relief to many communities affected by hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, including Somalia and Albania. The Fund also supported the Government of the Bahamas and rehabilitation projects following Cyclone Dorian. QFFD provided funding for rehabilitation as part of mutual government support between Qatar and Cuba in order to alleviate the human tragedy of a powerful hurricane that struck Cuba in January 2019.
The Qatar Fund for Development has also introduced a unique project of cash-for-shelter, in a move to encourage homeowners to return to Mosul's Old City, Iraq.
As for Sudan, the Fund implemented a rapid intervention programme in August 2019 after heavy rains and floods in various areas disrupted livelihoods, destroyed homes and forcing people to find shelter. Mobile health teams were also formed, and support for the water and sanitation sector and the distribution of food and non-food items were provided to those affected.
