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UNHCR Involvement in Islamic Philanthropy: Exploring New Frontiers in Islamic Philanthropy to Assist the World’s Vulnerable Displaced Populations
Online Event
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As the international community continues to grapple with unprecedented humanitarian demands caused by climate change, conflict, and displacement, it is also exploring innovative ways to resource short and long-term solutions to the crisis. Integrating Islamic philanthropy tools, such as Zakat, Sadaqah, and Awqaf, into international humanitarian and development practice is among the most exciting innovations in the space. For example, UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund (which accepts both Zakat and Sadaqah) and its Global Islamic Fund for Refugees (an Awqaf modality in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank) promise to break substantial barriers in humanitarian finance. What opportunities do these developments have for some of the most vulnerable populations around the world (refugees, IDPs, and host communities), and what potential collaboration opportunities does it present for regional NGO practitioners, Islamic philanthropic institutions, and others?
Speakers
Khaled Khalifa
senior advisor and representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Khaled Khalifa is a professional humanitarian worker with more than 25 years of experience in relief and development. He led humanitarian operations in various settings of natural disasters and complex emergencies. Khalifa worked in several senior managerial positions with major international organizations in many countries and is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Management Leadership and Organizational Strategy. He holds an MA degree in English Literature and Humanities, an MSc in Sustainable Development, and a Project Management Diploma. He is a well-known international trainer in disaster management and an expert
speaker on humanitarian affairs and the Middle East.
In addition to his role as a representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Khalifa leads UNHCR’s Islamic philanthropy activities globally and has been instrumental in the success of the Refugee Zakat Fund, which supported over 2 million beneficiaries in 13 countries last year. This success was made possible thanks to Khalifa’s role in building key partnerships with diverse Islamic philanthropy stakeholders.
Abbas Barzegar
academic director
Zakat Foundation Institute
Abbas Barzegar is the academic director of Zakat Foundation Institute, where he oversees curriculum development and research programming. He has years of applied research experience covering transnational Muslim civil society at the intersection of Islamic revival and geopolitics. He is a former term-member of the Council on Foreign Relations and maintains research and teaching affiliations with Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Emory University's Masters in Development Program, and George Mason University’s Center for Global Islamic Studies. His work has been supported by, among others, The European Commission, The British Council, The US Institute of Peace (USIP), the Mellon Foundation, The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), The Henry Luce Foundation, and The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS).