AFF Newsletter – Fall 2024

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AFF NEWSLETTER – FALL 2024

Dear Friend,

As the end of 2024 draws near, and we contemplate the ways – small and large – that we might try to change the world in the new year, it’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to the causes that matter most. At AFF, this spirit of purpose and collaboration has been at the heart of a transformative few months. From launching a major new regional climate commitment at COP29 to amplifying the voices of aid workers in crisis zones, our network has been united by a shared mission to make a difference where it’s needed most. As we look forward to what comes next, we’re excited to share key highlights and invite you to join us in building a more just and sustainable future.

November brought a historic milestone: the launch of the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC) at COP29 in Azerbaijan. Developed with the support of WINGS and the Ford Foundation, and many years in the making, the APCCC is the first regional commitment under the Philanthropy For Climate movement. With its seven pillars of action, the initiative equips philanthropic organizations across the Arab world with the guidance they need to tackle the inequitable impacts of climate change head-on. A heartfelt thank you to the organizations and leaders who helped shape this vision and those committed to the next phase of action. Climate change affects every issue philanthropy seeks to address — read the commitment, sign it, and join the fight for a livable future.

Our Humanitarian Relief and Recovery Task Force has been hard at work shining a light on the unsung heroes responding to the crises in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan. From The Gaza Chronicles, a moving series of conversations spotlighting aid workers’ resilience amid conflict, to webinars serving as urgent calls for support, our goal is to amplify voices and mobilize action. Listen to their stories and please consider donating to one of the many funds we feature in our various appeals — your generosity directly saves lives.

Finally, AFF remains committed to fostering collaboration and shared learning across our network. Over the past few months, we've showcased the expertise of members on everything from the importance of advocacy in philanthropy and to the potential of AI in nonprofit work. These sessions highlight the power of coming together to exchange ideas and drive change. Check our Events calendar to see what’s coming up and ensure you are part of these dynamic conversations.

As always, we invite you to send us your thoughts, comments, and ideas. And if you think you might like to join our growing family, we'd love to tell you about all the benefits of AFF membership. Please reach out to our Deputy Director Walid Nagi.

This holiday season, let’s keep learning, advocating, and giving — together.

Thank you for reading, and stay safe,

Naila Farouky

CEO, Arab Foundations Forum

Arab Regional Climate Commitment

We were at COP29 in Azerbaijan in November with a huge announcement: The launch of the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change! What started years ago as an idea to catalyze urgent climate action in the region has become the first regional commitment in the Philanthropy For Climate movement, encouraging philanthropic organizations and foundations operating in the Arab world to work together to tackle the inequitable impacts of climate change.

Developed with support from WINGS and the Ford Foundation, the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC) uses the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change as a jumping-off point and adapts it to the Arab context. The APCCC is laid out as seven pillars of action, from Education and Empowerment to Transparency and Accountability, designed to help organizations address the economic, social, and environmental impacts of climate change, which disproportionately affect the Arab region.

We want to thank the esteemed organizations that have spent the past year creating the APCCC and those that have pledged to help with the next phase of developing a more comprehensive implementation guide: American Friends Service Committee, The Asfari Foundation, The End Fund, Funding for Real Change, Greenish, Greenpeace MENA, Impatience Earth, International Medical Corps, Jordan River Foundation, King Hussein Foundation, Mercy Corps, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and the WHO Foundation. Also, thank you to the League of Arab States for co-hosting the launch at COP.

There is no denying it – climate change impacts every issue that Arab philanthropy aims to address, even if climate is not an organization's main focus. Please take a minute to read the Arab Philanthropy Commitment, then sign onto the Commitment to take an active part in addressing the climate crisis and climate injustice in the Arab region.

For more information about signing onto the Commitment and what it entails, please email nagiw@arabfoundationsforum.org.

HRRTF Supports Communities in Crisis

Part of the mission of the AFF Humanitarian Relief and Recovery Task Force (HRRTF) is to amplify the voices of the people devoting their time, money, and hearts to helping those caught in crisis. By bringing attention to the unceasing work they do to provide vital care to the sick and displaced, we hope to compel individuals, organizations, and decision makers to take urgent action.

The Gaza Chronicles is an ongoing series of conversations that spotlight aid workers, educators, doctors and others working in Gaza or with Gazan refugees, dedicated to saving lives and keeping hope alive amid the trauma of war. You can watch these powerful, intimate talks on our YouTube channel or listen to them through your favorite podcast player. Keep a lookout for more coming in 2025! And if their stories move you to donate, our Gaza Donor Appeal helps direct funds to local and national organizations who use the money to pay for clothing, tents, food, and clean water.

In September, the war spread to Lebanon, motivating us to rally again. We brought together representatives from aid groups to tell us firsthand about the lack of resources and reliable funding for humanitarian organizations working on the ground. For anyone who wants to donate in support of the Lebanese people, we quickly pulled together a list of reputable organizations providing relief in the country. They all rely on donations to do their essential work, and your contribution – no matter how small – will help save lives.

With Gaza and Lebanon dominating the headlines, we also wanted to bring attention to another dire humanitarian crisis unfolding, this time in Sudan. After more than a year of fighting between rival armed factions, 8.1 million Sudanese are internally displaced and half of the country's population requires urgent assistance. As aid organizations struggle to get help to everyone who needs it, we proudly gave five organizations a platform to tell us about the challenges they face delivering support in the country and discuss what they need to keep doing their crucial work.

Finally, the HRRTF welcomes its newest members Anar, Jusoor, Mercy Corps and the Sudanese American Medical Association. We look forward to working together to bring much-needed humanitarian relief to communities in crisis.

The HRRTF is comprised of both AFF members and non-members. If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please email our Project Manager Nihal Mokbel at mokbeln@arabfoundationsforum.org.

Celebrating Knowledge Sharing

Philanthropic organizations have a lot to teach each other, and at AFF one of our missions is to help them do that. That's why so many of the online sessions we offer are designed to allow our members to share their expertise, research, and passions with our wider network.

Recently, our schedule has been packed with webinars, workshops, panels, and one-on-one talks that give our members the chance to dig deep into the issues that are important to them. From HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed AlSaud of Alwaleed Philanthropies explaining how to handle critics who think advocacy has no place in philanthropy, to Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) teaching us how to use artificial intelligence tools to make our everyday work faster and better, and many more.

Keep checking our Events calendar to see what you could learn about next and sign up to our mailing list to make sure you don't miss a single session.

News From Our Network

Reframing the Conversation Around Syria

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and the Hon. Marco Tarquinio, S&D Shadow Rapporteur on Syria, in partnership with Quäker-Hilfe Stiftung, are hosting a convening entitled "Reframing Conversation Around the Syrian Crisis in Europe" at the European Parliament (in Brussels, Belgium) on Thursday, December 12 at 10.30am CET. This one-day convening will focus on the prolonged nature of the Syria crisis, often referred to as the “forgotten war,” and its devastating effects. Topics covered will include the connection to the Middle East crisis, ongoing humanitarian efforts, the inequality that Syrian refugees are facing, and impacts on Europe. For more information and to register to attend in person or virtually, you can follow this link or email Jason Drucker at jdrucker@afsc.org.

IMC in Lebanon

Since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, International Medical Corps has been on the frontline, responding to the rapidly increasing needs of the displaced people in Lebanon. The organization has conducted over 5,500 consultations; delivered critically needed pharmaceuticals to more than 1,500 patients; distributed vital medical supplies to three hospitals; implemented programs addressing gender-based violence; distributed more than 1,600 hygiene, baby, and menstrual dignity kits; and more.

As the largest nongovernmental health provider in Lebanon, International Medical Corps has been called upon by the Ministry of Public Health to ensure continuity of care in the country's primary healthcare centers (PHCC) and to provide mobile medical services in shelters for displaced people. With hospitals overwhelmed, the organization has also been asked to support secondary healthcare services, including high-risk pregnancy admissions, delivery coverage, and pediatric care.

International Medical Corps plans to rapidly scale its operations to meet evolving needs. This includes increasing the number of medical mobile units in Lebanon, procuring medical supplies for PHCCs and hospitals, distributing assistive devices, and enhancing the availability of psychotherapists and psychiatrists to improve mental health support.

None of this is possible without your support. To help International Medical Corps deliver this life-saving care, donate today.

2023 Annual Meeting Report: Looking Back at What We Learned

In September 2023, we gathered funders, nonprofit leaders, advisors, entrepreneurs and others from all over the Arab philanthropy ecosystem at the American University in Cairo for our Annual Meeting. Along with our co-convening partner, the John D. Gerhart Center, we were honored to host talks, panels, and workshops that served as spaces for discussion and debate, motivation, and cooperation.

To mark the anniversary of that phenomenal gathering, we recently published the Annual Meeting 2023 Outcomes Report and One Year On, highlighting the takeaways from many of the sessions — which covered topics that are still just as relevant today — and sharing the positive experiences of our wonderful attendees. The report also looks at the meeting's lasting impact and how AFF has carried the issues and inspiration from those three days into much of our work over the year since.

Causes for Celebration for HiHFAD

In a significant recognition of its humanitarian work, Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HiHFAD) has been awarded a prestigious certificate by the Turkish government for its outstanding efforts in northwest Syria’s Euphrates Shield region. The award ceremony took place during a major event hosted by the Gaziantep Governorship and the Provincial Directorate of National Education, which brought together leading civil society organizations focused on supporting vulnerable communities. HiHFAD was acknowledged for its unwavering commitment to providing education, health services, and humanitarian aid in one of the region's most war-torn areas.

"The humanitarian and educational support provided by HiHFAD has become a beacon of hope for many in the region," Gaziantep’s Provincial Director of National Education said. "Their work is not only about addressing immediate needs, but also about building a sustainable future for the affected communities."

Accepting the award, HiHFAD’s Operations Coordinator Hasan Cemiloğlu said the certificate reinforces the organization's long-standing dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of those affected by conflict.

"This certificate reflects the trust placed in us, and we are committed to sustaining our ongoing projects throughout the region, especially in education, health services, and humanitarian assistance,” Cemiloğlu said. Read more here.

And in yet more exciting news, HiHFAD is also thrilled to announce that it has successfully received its Equivalency Determination (ED) certification from NGOsource, meaning it is now officially recognized as equivalent to a certified U.S. public charity. This certification will open up new opportunities for increased support from grantmakers worldwide and further enhances HiHFAD’s credibility on the world stage. Find out more about this fantastic achievement and about the Equivalency Determination on File "badge" that HiHFAD now displays on its website.

Essential Reading

The past few months have seen the publication of two insightful books that encourage us to rethink how philanthropy impacts the world around us.

The Business of Philanthropy is the new book from social entrepreneur Badr Jafar. Based on over 50 interviews with notable business and philanthropy luminaries, such as HM King Charles III, Bill Gates, Kristalina Georgieva, Jacqueline Novogratz, and Mo Ibrahim, it takes a closer look at the intersection of business and philanthropy, and the power of strategic philanthropy to inform, inspire, and mobilize the next generation of social innovators. By offering fresh perspectives on old and new problems, the book provides a much-needed infusion of hope in philanthropy's capacity for collective action. Buy the book here and on Amazon.

In Enhancing Stabilization and Strategic Partnership in a Post-Conflict Environment from the NATO Security Force Assistance Center of Excellence, Elie Abouaoun, currently Senior Policy Officer at UNHCR, has co-written a chapter on inter-religious dialogue in the Arab region. Religious diversity has been a source of cultural richness in the region, but it has also driven conflict and violence. Abouaoun and his co-author Molly Gallagher ask if religion could be part of the solution rather than the problem and explore the potential role of inter-religious dialogue as a peacebuilding tool in the MENA region. Download the book today.

Cancer care in Lebanon & Gaza

In a world where access to healthcare is often challenged, the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) and Center (KHCC) are stepping up as the voice of the voiceless, advocating for the rights and dignity of cancer patients in Lebanon and Gaza.

As Lebanon’s healthcare system grapples with an economic collapse compounded by recent conflicts, KHCF and KHCC have launched urgent humanitarian interventions to maintain critical cancer care in the country.

This includes emergency medication deliveries, with KHCF facilitating the shipment of cancer medications to trusted partners in Lebanon – ensuring that patients can access their life-saving treatments without interruption – and driving global fundraising campaigns, which have already seen the foundation raise over $3.24 million to support eight hospitals, securing the necessary resources for ongoing cancer treatment amid the turmoil.

In Gaza, where an unprecedented humanitarian crisis has pushed the healthcare system to the brink, KHCF is responding with immediate life-saving measures, including emergency evacuations and comprehensive medical care. The organization plans to receive at least 300 patients annually, ensuring they have access to the care they need. Other key efforts include:

Fundraising for Immediate Relief: KHCF has raised over $9 million to support the treatment of cancer patients in Gaza.
Holistic Support for Evacuated Patients: KHCF provides not only medical assistance but also living costs, housing, food, and personal necessities for 92 evacuated patients and 138 family members so far, ensuring they can focus on their recovery.
Education Opportunities: Recognizing the importance of education, KHCF has secured six university scholarships for evacuated patients and their families while also supporting 70 students in private schools in Jordan.
Ongoing Care: For 30 cancer patients from Gaza already in treatment in Jordan, KHCF continues to provide essential medical support.

You can donate here to help KHCF and KHCC continue their crucial care.

Bringing Smiles to Refugee Children

Red Noses Jordan is celebrating an amazing year, having spent 2024 deepening its focus on reaching refugee children, understanding that these young individuals often bear the heaviest emotional toll of displacement. Through the organization’s Circus Smile Mission and Outreach activities, Red Noses healthcare clowns visited key refugee communities, bringing them the healing power of laughter.

In partnership with the International Medical Corps (IMC) and Save the Children, Red Noses Jordan conducted multiple visits to refugee populations in Zarqa, Amman, Azraq Camp, and Za'atari Camp, providing hundreds of children with an opportunity to escape the harsh realities of refugee life.

Red Noses healthcare clowns engaged with children through interactive performances, games, and circus shows, offering the children a space where they could forget their struggles, even for a short while. These interactions are essential in helping the children build emotional resilience, providing them with an outlet to process the stress and uncertainty they face in their daily lives – here, in the heart of a place that has become a symbol of both hardship and hope.

Red Noses also extended its outreach by visiting Ruwwad to connect with children outside of formal refugee camps, offering them the same emotional support through humor and clowning. Each visit created an environment where children could feel free to laugh, play, and express themselves, fostering emotional healing and growth.

As part of its Outreach activities, Red Noses Jordan participated in an event organized by CARE International on World Refugee Day. Red Noses Jordan also visited a center run by the Collateral Repair Project, creating a shared space of joy for both children and caregivers. These moments of connection highlight the crucial role of psychoemotional support, not only for the refugees themselves but also for the people working with them.

Looking to the future, Red Noses Jordan‘s mission remains clear: to bring joy, hope, and laughter to more refugee children in Jordan.

Sawiris Foundation Milestones

The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) is proud to be one of the founding partners involved in the inception of the Egypt Impact Lab, which has been officially integrated into the structure of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development under Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

Dubbed a "leap towards a more scientific developmental practice", the Egypt Impact Lab, an impact evaluation powerhouse, focuses on evaluating interventions and offering evidence to government priorities. The lab's pillars focus on reducing poverty in rural Egypt through improving the effectiveness of social protection, promoting microenterprise development, increasing access to economic opportunities and family planning to empower women, and promoting a green economy. You can read more about the Lab here.

The Sawiris Foundation also continues to support Water is Life, a project implemented by the Life from Water foundation to reduce the impact of water scarcity on vulnerable Egyptian communities. The unique complexities of Egypt's water crisis – including ingrained household water usage practices, a declining per capita share of clean drinking water, and the need for robust innovation in water-related solutions – demand a comprehensive and strategic approach that furthers existing government efforts. Through the social empowerment department, SFSD focuses on increasing access to basic services through promoting innovation in water technologies, such as decentralized desalination, and improved resource management, in addition to tailored behavioral change campaigns to raise awareness and encourage sustainable water usage at the household level. Learn more about the project here.

Finally, SFSD is proud to spotlight its impact evaluation on malnutrition and nutritional health interventions in Egypt. The result of years of hard work, the “General Feeding Program (GFP) Impact Evaluation” directs SFSD and its partners towards tailored nutritious food assistance initiatives and emphasizes a stronger focus on messaging and the information shared on food packaging as a catalyst for enhancing food assistance interventions. The Sawiris Foundation calls on its partners to utilize these crucial insights to reduce multidimensional poverty.

AFF Advocacy

Our vocal support for the people of Gaza and Lebanon continues unabated, and we have been lucky enough to have been offered broad platforms to help us spread the message. Our CEO Naila Farouky was recently asked by Alliance magazine to write about the role of Arab foundations in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She also featured in a story looking at how philanthropic organizations in the region are reacting to Israel's war in Lebanon. For an opinion piece in Philanthropy Age marking one year of war in Gaza, Naila wrote about why philanthropy is failing its duty of care to Gazans.

From the page to the stage, we take every opportunity to bring attention to philanthropy's obligation to help communities in crisis. At the African Philanthropy Conference in July, Naila delivered an impassioned keynote calling for a shift in power in philanthropy in light of the dire lack of support for the victims in Gaza and Lebanon. Read her speech here.

WHO Foundation Calls for Collaboration to Protect Children

The years from birth to eight years old are critical to a child’s future health and emotional well-being. Children are not just small adults – their developing bodies are uniquely susceptible to environmental stresses. In the MENA region, an estimated one-in-three children are living through conflict, upending their health and security and threatening their future physical and mental well-being. In addition to these immediate threats, a child born today faces the prospect of growing up in a world that is 4°C warmer than the pre-industrial era, with potentially devastating consequences for their health.

In recognition of this critical challenge, the WHO Foundation was proud to contribute to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority’s roundtable discussion “Safeguarding the Next Generation in a Changing Climate” during UNGA week in September, hosted by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and World Early Development Movement Chair. During the roundtable, speakers highlighted the need for international initiatives to share and scale-up solutions to protect the health of children in the face of climate change and other health emergencies.

To further these ambitions, the WHO Foundation is exploring avenues of collaboration in the MENA region, while looking to draw on the expertise of WHO in the area of early childhood development and health, including conflict situations where children are most vulnerable. If you are interested in working with the WHO Foundation on this vital issue or if you just want more information, contact Reem Abdelhamid, WHO Foundation Regional Director, MENA: r.abelhamid@who.foundation.

Catalyst 2030 Solutions Circle

Looking for ways to boost social innovation in Palestine and Lebanon, Catalyst 2030's Ceasefire Support Group (CFSG) is holding a hackathon! The Solutions Circle is a virtual event on December 2 at 2:00pm Palestine time (1:00pm CET) that will showcase grassroots social impact innovations addressing the needs and challenges of communities impacted by colonial violence.

Featuring initiatives that are already responding to the real-time needs of impacted communities, the main aims of the event include building partnerships with enablers and allies in social impact; making anti-genocide efforts such as divestments and consumer movements more specific and action-oriented; collating best practices of relief, resistance, and resilience from decolonization struggles across the globe; and scaling the Palestine and Lebanon model to other countries and communities at risk from colonial occupation and colonial settler violence, including Sudan, Syria, and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meet Our New Members

We are delighted to welcome the wonderful organizations who have recently joined our AFF family:

Sightsavers works with governments and local, national, and global partners to treat eye conditions and tackle debilitating diseases in vulnerable communities, while also advocating for the rights of women, girls, and people with disabilities.
Devoted to amplifying social good, communications company Lapis Group uses media, education, and content creation to support partners working on development issues in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Jusoor runs innovative and dynamic programs to bridge the opportunity gap for Syrian refugee children through education and training.
With its focus on clearing landmines and teaching people in areas scarred by conflict to stay safe, the HALO Trust saves lives and restores hope, helping displaced families rebuild their lives.
Save the Children Jordan is doing important work protecting and educating vulnerable children in Jordan, transforming the lives of more than half a million children and families every year.
Through community-controlled grantmaking, Dalia Association is on a mission to mobilize and utilize the resources necessary to empower a vibrant, independent, and sustainable Palestine, and to build a world where Palestinians control their resources for their own development for generations to come.

If you would like to find out more about AFF membership and all its benefits, please reach out to AFF Deputy Director Walid Nagi.

Dates for Your Diary

December 2, 2024: Solutions Circle hackathon to support social innovation in Palestine and Lebanon, hosted by Catalyst 2030's Ceasefire Support Group.

December 2-3, 2024: The 5th Ghana Giving Summit, under the theme of Transforming Together: Bridging Funders, Intermediaries, and Community for Collective Impact in Ghana.

December 3, 2024: Giving Tuesday. On the international day of giving, please consider supporting AFF so we can keep bringing organizations and foundations together to make impactful change that improves lives across the Arab region.

December 9-10, 2024: AVPN South Asia Summit 2024 in Chennai, India.

December 10, 2024: WINGS and The Partnering Initiative (TPI) co-host "Turning Rhetoric Into Reality: Empowering Philanthropy as Catalytic Partners for Systemic Change", an online event to discuss and offer insights from the findings of the recent WINGS philanthropy needs assessment survey. Register here.

December 12, 2024: "Reframing Conversation Around the Syrian Crisis in Europe," co-hosted by American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

January 27-28, 2025: FCAA Global Philanthropy Summit in W, DC.

February 18-21, 2025: International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) Global Conference in Kenya.