The Islamic Development Bank and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center joined forces to host a forum on charitable work during their annual meetings in Riyadh. Titled “Harnessing Charitable Work for Development: The Path of Less Distance,” the forum brought together leaders from the philanthropy and business sectors worldwide to explore the potential of philanthropic capital in accelerating development and humanitarian efforts.
Prominent international figures in charitable work and humanitarian aid participated in the event, including Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser, Dr. Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, Princess Nouf bint Muhammad bin Abdullah, Bill Gates, Badr Jaafar, Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Zaben, Stanlake Samkang, Dana Dajani, and Naila Farouki.
The discussion at the forum included topics such as the impact of philanthropy, developments in philanthropy in the Middle East and Africa, and future trends in the field. Bill Gates shared his journey with philanthropy, highlighting his commitment to global health, efforts to combat diseases like malaria and polio, and the foundation’s goal to reduce child mortality further. Climate change was a significant topic of discussion, emphasizing the need for collaboration between sectors to address environmental challenges.
Participants also discussed the role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in philanthropy and development. Gates highlighted the potential of technologies like AI and blockchain in driving effective philanthropy and addressing societal issues. The forum served as a platform to enhance cooperation and innovation in development philanthropy, generating insights to achieve sustainable development goals.
In addition to the discussions at the forum, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced plans to increase charitable contributions and collaborate with partners to support innovative solutions for challenges like climate change. The foundation’s partnership with UAE aims to help small farmers in Africa build resilience against climate change by providing them with resources such as drought-tolerant crops and irrigation systems.
The forum highlighted that strategic giving is essential when it comes to achieving sustainable development goals through charitable work. It also emphasized transparency and accountability’s importance when it comes to donations made through charitable organizations.
Overall, this forum provided valuable insights into how charity can be used as a tool for development rather than just an act of benevolence.
