UAE wants business and philanthropy 'pulling in same direction' to fill global aid gaps, says senior official
The UAE is seeking to bridge the global gap left by humanitarian funding shortages by turning to private capital “looking for somewhere useful to go”, a senior Emirati official told The National. In an interview at the UAE mission on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York , Badr Jafar, the UAE's Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, said his country aims to bridge the two by…
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) aims to address global aid gaps by leveraging private capital that is seeking "somewhere useful to go," according to a senior Emirati official. During the UN General Assembly in New York, Badr Jafar, the UAE's Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between humanitarian funding shortages and private capital.
He stressed that when it comes to development, business and philanthropy must be in the room together. Official aid from OECD donor countries fell by 23% last year, the largest decline on record, while humanitarian aid dropped the most at 36%. In contrast, the UAE, among a select few outside the traditional Western donor bloc, increased its aid for regional crises such as Gaza and the West Bank.
Jafar stated that his country will continue to provide a platform for business executives, investors, and foundations to collaborate on critical issues like AI and water, aligning philanthropy and investment efforts. He highlighted that UAE diplomacy focuses on fostering connections and delivering results, rooted in the country's long-standing tradition of connecting diverse individuals and entities.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
