tag

Effective aid delivery means demand-driven projects, local procurement and accountability to people, with Qatar’s partnerships benefiting from UNOPS’ model in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, according to the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).In an exclusive interview with Gulf Times, UN under-secretary-general and UNOPS executive director Jorge Moreira da Silva explained the office’s demand-driven identity, saying UNOPS does not bring programmes but responds to partner demand, operating on a fee-for-service basis.Da Silva said UNOPS is a non-programmatic agency, relying on “concrete demand from the context we are serving.” He explained, “If, in Syria, the government and Qatar decide under a partnership that they need to build schools and hospitals, UNOPS is not bringing an education or a health programme, or a health policy.“We simply construct the school, we build the hospitals, and we can also procure the goods and the services that are needed for these facilities. We are demand-driven, which makes UNOPS a very practical organisation,” da Silva pointed out.He continued, “We are self-financed. We don't get assessed contributions or voluntary contributions. We operate in the so-called fee-for-service modality, where once we have a demand from a partner to implement the project, we implement the project, recovering all the costs and reflecting that on our funding modality. UNOPS is a solutions-based, project-based organisation.”Da Silva emphasised that UNOPS is accountable to beneficiaries, partners, and the UN system, ensuring projects are based on robust metrics and results-based monitoring.He said, “We are accountable to the people we serve. That's why all projects that we put in place must be based on robust metrics and on results-based approaches, with the proper monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Everyone knows what UNOPS is doing and the results of our projects.Da Silva continued, “But a key element of accountability is ensuring that the projects are really serving the people. And we ensure that in all our projects, we engage the citizens at the very early stage of the project until its implementation. And it includes one key element, which is procuring locally.“The most significant part of our procurement is local, which means we help the development of the local communities, creating jobs locally, and strengthening local businesses. This is a key element. And even on the design of the projects, we engage with the citizens, even in the most difficult context.”Da Silva also highlighted underinvestment in energy grids, stressing that partners like Qatar can help link renewable supply with people.“We need energy grids in place; there is an underinvestment in energy grids globally. We may have all the renewable energy in the world, but if we don't link these with the people, it won't succeed,” he stated.Da Silva added that by combining demand-driven delivery, accountability, and local procurement, UNOPS offers Qatar a model for aid that is both practical and community-anchored, strengthening Doha’s role in fragile contexts. 

Two under-15 teams, boys and girls, from Qatar Foundation (QF) schools competed against teams from 18 countries in the ISF World Schools Volleyball Championship in Shangluo, China.The event enabled the students to test their athletic abilities, in addition to building cross-cultural connections. The participation also reflected QF’s commitment to its holistic education approach, which leverages sport to develop leadership skills, enhance self-confidence, and foster teamwork, alongside academic excellence.Lina al-Khater, a student at Qatar Academy Doha (QAD) and captain of the girls’ volleyball team, said: “Participating in the championship was a special experience, and we are proud to be the first QF Schools team to take part in a tournament of this scale. Standing on the court while representing Qatar was a historic moment that carried a strong sense of pride and responsibility.”**media[397316]**Al-Khater added that the experience strengthened communication and teamwork skills, in addition to learning new techniques that contributed to improving performance. She noted that competing against teams with higher levels and international experience presented a real challenge.In a message to fellow students, al-Khater concluded by encouraging them not to hesitate in seizing available opportunities, emphasising that Qatar provides a supportive environment that encourages young people to engage in the international sports community.Laila Hussain Zada, another student at QAD, said: “I felt very proud to be selected to participate. This experience helped me understand how I can continue to develop in future matches and championships, particularly in terms of my performance on the court.”**media[397317]**Khalifa Mohammed al-Darwish, a student at Qatar Academy Al Wakra (QAW) and captain of the boys’ volleyball team at QF Schools, said: “It was a valuable experience through which we learned a great deal from every match we played, whether in terms of playing style or how to handle different situations on the court, which helped us gain greater experience and improve our performance."Mishal al-Muftah, a student at QAW, said: “My experience in China was a distinctive and rewarding one. We met students from different countries and gained new experiences both on and off the court. During the matches, we realised which skills we needed to develop, which helped us understand our strengths and the areas we could improve.” 

DPS-Modern Indian School's team comprising Syed Sohbaan Raza, Mokshith Basineni and Kabir Khanna clinched three remarkable wins and secured the top team score among 60 teams in the QPSDL Boys Debate League. Raza also won the best speaker award in the first league and Kabir the fourth best speaker award. Principal Asna Nafees congratulated the debaters. 

German authorities in Berlin said they received nearly 900 emergency calls after a false threatening message targeting around 20 schools circulated via messaging apps, triggering widespread concern among parents and students.German police confirmed the message contained false information intended to deliberately incite panic, emphasizing that there were no indications of an actual threat or specific danger.To reassure the public, police announced they have increased their security presence around schools and dispatched specialized teams to coordinate with educational officials.Police added that investigations are underway to identify the source of the message as part of a case related to disturbing public order through threats of criminal acts.

With Gaza's education system shattered by two years of gruelling war, Unicef's regional director says he fears for a "lost generation" of children wandering ruined streets with nothing to do."This is the third year that there has been no school," Edouard Beigbeder, the UN agency's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, told AFP in Jerusalem on Thursday after returning from the Palestinian territory."If we don't start a real transition for all children in February, we will enter a fourth year. And then we can talk about a lost generation."The devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas reduced swathes of Gaza to rubble, displaced the vast majority of its population at least once and crippled public services.The destruction "is almost omnipresent wherever you go," Beigbeder said."It is impossible to imagine 80 percent of a territory that is completely flattened out or destroyed," he added.A US-brokered ceasefire which came into effect earlier in October has allowed Unicef and other education partners to get about one-sixth of children who should be in school into temporary "learning centres," Beigbeder told AFP."They have three days of learning in reading, mathematics and writing, but this is far from a formal education as we know it," he added.Beigbeder said that such learning centres, often located in schools or near displacement camps, consisted of metal structures covered with plastic sheeting or of tents.He said there were sometimes chairs, cardboard boxes or wooden planks serving as tables, and that children would write on salvaged slates or plastic boards."I've never seen everyone sitting properly," he added, describing children on mats or carpets.Despite the ceasefire, Beigbeder said the situation for Gaza's education system was catastrophic, with 85 percent of schools destroyed or unusable.Of the buildings still standing, many are being used as shelters for displaced people, he said, with the situation compounded by the fact that many children and teachers are also on the move and looking to provide for their own families.Gaza's school system was already overcrowded before the conflict, with half the pre-war population under the age of 18.Of the schools managed by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority alone, Beigbeder said that some 80 out of 300 were in need of renovation.He said 142 had been completely destroyed, while 38 were "completely inaccessible" because they were located in the area to which Israeli troops have withdrawn under the ceasefire.The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on October 18 that it was launching a "new e-learning school year" with the aim of reaching 290,000 pupils.Beigbeder said it was vital to put education "at the top of the agenda" and rebuild a sense of social cohesion for Gaza's children, almost all of whom are traumatised and in need of psychological support.Unicef said one of the priorities was getting permission at border crossings to bring in materials to set up semi-permanent schools, as well as school supplies which have been blocked as they're considered non-essential.Israel repeatedly cut off supplies into the Gaza Strip during the war, exacerbating dire humanitarian conditions, with the UN saying it caused a famine in parts of the Palestinian territory.The World Health Organisation said Thursday there had been little improvement in the amount of aid going into Gaza since the ceasefire took hold -- and no observable reduction in hunger."How can you rehabilitate classrooms if you don't have cement? And above all, we need notebooks and books ... blackboards, the bare minimum," said Beigbeder."Food is survival. Education is hope".

The Royal Grammar School Guildford Qatar (RGSGQ), one of the leading British international schools in Qatar, proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, marking a decade of nurturing the next generation of leaders and achievers within a vibrant, inclusive community. Since opening its doors in 2016, RGSGQ has carried forward more than 500 years of academic excellence from its parent school, the Royal Grammar School Guildford in the UK, while fostering an inclusive and forward-looking environment in Qatar. As part of a global family of schools spanning Dubai, Nanjing, Muscat, and most recently in Bengaluru, RGSGQ is united by enduring values of respect, scholarship, courage, inclusivity, integrity, and collaboration. Within this ethos, curiosity and character flourish—preparing students for both academic success and personal growth. Over the last ten years, RGSGQ has welcomed families from more than 40+ nationalities. The school delivers an enriched curriculum, combining a strong foundation in traditional academics with innovative teaching practices delivered by British-trained teachers that prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow. With smaller class sizes and a nurturing approach, the school ensures each child thrives, and feels supported and valued. Academic progress has been a hallmark of RGSGQ’s journey. Student achievements across IGCSEs, A Levels, and BTEC have consistently strengthened year after year. Graduates now study at major universities worldwide in disciplines such as medicine, engineering, business, aeronautics, and the arts. To honour the school’s 10th founding year, RGSGQ will host a series of celebratory events bringing together students, alumni, families, and staff. These occasions not only commemorate a successful decade but also reaffirm the school’s mission—to deliver an outstanding education that nurtures minds, builds character, and equips students to thrive in an ever-changing world. “This anniversary is not just about reflecting on how far we’ve come—it’s about celebrating the limitless opportunities ahead for our students. We are proud to carry the legacy of the Royal Grammar School Guildford as we continue shaping the leaders of tomorrow here in Qatar,” said Mrs Fiona Scott, Principal of RGSGQ. With a decade of distinction behind it, RGSGQ steps confidently into the future—committed to academic excellence, innovation, and community spirit.

Bloomberg Businessweek, renowned worldwide for its authoritative business news and analysis, has ranked S P Jain School of Global Management (SP Jain Global) 7th in the Asia-Pacific region in its 2025 Best B-Schools Rankings. This is the third consecutive year that SP Jain Global has been placed among the Top 10, underscoring the school’s consistency in delivering high-quality, future-focused business education.The Bloomberg rankings draw on surveys of students, alumni, and corporate recruiters, and evaluate schools on career outcomes, classroom experience, alumni networks, entrepreneurial readiness, and long-term return on investment. They are widely regarded as one of the most respected benchmarks for management education. In the 2025 rankings, SP Jain Global also placed #5 in the Asia-Pacific for compensation, a clear measure of the strong ROI for its graduates and the school’s focus on preparing job-ready leaders.“Being ranked in Bloomberg’s Asia-Pacific Top 10 for the third year in a row is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Nitish Jain, President of SP Jain Global. “It reflects the trust of our students, alumni, and recruiters, and validates the distinctiveness of our approach to management education.We have always believed that the future of business will be shaped by uncertainty, disruption, and rapid change, and traditional approaches alone are not enough. Our programs are built around a unique multi-city model and a multimodal learning ecosystem, giving students the opportunity to study in some of the world’s most dynamic economies while also learning to harness AI as part of their education.AI plays a pivotal role in helping students move beyond surface-level learning to higher-order thinking. It accelerates their progress from comprehension to analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making. In short, from knowing the answers to developing the judgment and foresight leaders need. Combined with the cultural and business exposure of our multi-city model, this ensures that graduates leave not only with a degree but with resilience, adaptability, and a truly global perspective. These are qualities employers value deeply today and which will define leadership in the years ahead.”SP Jain Global’s recognition by Bloomberg Businessweek adds to a consistent track record of rankings by leading international publications such as QS, Forbes, Financial Times, The Economist, and Times Higher Education–Wall Street Journal. Together, these validations highlight the school’s standing in global business education and its role in shaping graduates who can thrive in diverse and fast-changing environments.For more information on SP Jain Global’s rankings and programs, visit http://www.spjain.ae.