5/22/2024
Qatar Charity (QC) signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to support the work of OCHA and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The aim is to ensure the provision of reliable humanitarian assistance in sudden and neglected crises around the world.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Qatar Charity's participation in the High-level Strategic Dialogue between the State of Qatar and OCHA, which was recently held in Doha.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Mr. Yousuf Al Kuwari, the CEO of Qatar Charity.
In his address at the opening of the strategic dialogue, Mr. Yousuf Al Kuwari, the CEO of Qatar Charity, spoke about the extended strategic partnership between Qatar Charity and OCHA, which includes funding, implementation of projects, exchange of information and expertise, and coordination of humanitarian interventions. He mentioned that this partnership recently led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December last year to support the implementation of quality projects in the most needy regions and humanitarian crises.
He further explained that the signing of this agreement to contribute to the Strategic Financing Program for 2024, with a value of 10 million US dollars to support the work of the OCHA and CERF, is the result of this cooperation.
Al-Kuwari emphasized that humanitarian work has faced significant challenges, with increased targeting of humanitarian workers in conflict-affected regions. He noted that humanitarian organizations are struggling with restricted access to needy communities and obstacles hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid, which has been particularly evident in the response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
For his part, Mr. Ahmed Marii, Head of OCHA Qatar Office, expressed his happiness with the signing of the agreement. "This agreement has been the foundation of our cooperation over the past years and beyond,” said Marii, looking forward to further cooperation, strategic partnerships, information exchange, and capacity building for both parties.
Sessions
On the sidelines of the strategic dialogue, Qatar Charity participated in a session that discussed areas of strategic cooperation and partnership between the State of Qatar and OCHA
Mr. Nawaf Al-Hammadi, Chief Global Programs Officer at Qatar Charity, emphasized the importance of long-term strategic collaboration between OCHA and Qatar Charity. He stated that this collaboration reflects a mutual commitment to humanitarian causes across the globe, evolving from a shared recognition of the urgent needs to respond to the crises-affected regions.
He further said, “Qatar Charity acknowledges the significance of collaboration in maximizing the impact of humanitarian efforts, and it has actively cultivated strategic alliances and partnerships with international organizations, governments, NGOs, and local communities to leverage resources, expertise, and networks for effective humanitarian action.”
He also mentioned that Qatar Charity has also played a significant role as an implementing partner of OCHA, executing several projects funded by OCHA in the fields of Health, Nutrition, Livelihoods and, WASH. He indicated that these initiatives have been effectively implemented by Qatar Charity to provide essential support to the displaced and crisis-affected populations of Yemen and Syria.
He noted, “This bilateral cooperation between both organizations underscores a mutual trust and confidence we have in one another. It also reflects our joint commitment to the effective and timely implementation of projects aimed at aiding crisis-affected communities worldwide.”
For his part, Mr. Mana Mohammed Al-Ansari, Director of the Emergency and Relief Department at Qatar Charity, participated in a session on the humanitarian situations and needs in Gaza, Sudan, and Afghanistan. He said, “While emphasizing on the collaboration within humanitarian sector, I believe this is of prime importance, especially when dealing with complex conflicts like those in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Gaza. These complex emergencies require coordinated efforts for maximizing impact and reaching those most in need.”
He mentioned, “Effective coordination ensures efficient assistance delivery to the intended beneficiaries. Genuine cooperation involves integrating diverse stakeholders, each contributing unique strengths while respecting others’ mandates. Through such collaboration, we can achieve sustainable and impactful outcomes in our humanitarian endeavours.” He also highlighted Qatar Charity's humanitarian interventions in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Gaza.
The strategic dialogue - which is the first of its kind since the beginning of the partnership between the State of Qatar and the OCHA - aims to discuss and address ways to enhance cooperation between the two parties to coordinate humanitarian affairs in several areas, the most important of which is finding sustainable ways to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.