2-5-2019
Qatar Chamber hosted a seminar titled “Qatar Business Event on Engaging with the UN Humanitarian Response’’ which was held in cooperation with the UN Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy Office and Qatar Financial Centre.
The event targeted at business leaders and aimed to build on existing good practices and matching private sector experiences with the UN’s expertise in delivering humanitarian assistance. It reviewed on-going partnerships showcasing methods of private sector engagement on humanitarian action in addition to prospect partners willing to engage in becoming a part of the global humanitarian response.
QC Board Member Mrs. Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, the Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy H.E Dr. Ahmed Al-Meraikhi and CEO of Qatar Financial Centre Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida attended the event.
Addressing the meeting, Al Ahmadani said that Qatar National Vision 2030 keeps abreast with the UN vision in the humanitarian field, noting that this has been manifested through its commitment to its responsibilities and the efforts made to strengthen its regional and international partnerships as well as its adoption to many developmental and humanitarian initiatives and assistance it has always provided to countries facing economic and humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
She also said that Qatar’s leading humanitarian role across the world has proved that human values are an important pillar in international relations and rapprochement between peoples.
She stressed that Qatar has made the humanitarian work a lifestyle, noting that it has tapped all efforts to serve humanity so that it became a role model in charity and humanitarian work in the world.
Al Ahmadani underscored the role played by the private sector in any developed economy on the human side through its social responsibility, which must be based on the principle of social partnership, which in many societies is required for mutual benefit or moral commitment.
The Qatari private sector, as a partner and a major contributor to the sustainable development process of Qatar, has played a major role in terms of social responsibility, she added.
She also praised the efforts made by all concerned authorities in the country, led by the Wise Leadership in laying down the rules and foundations for how the business sector and companies can contribute to the renaissance of Qatari society through the implementation of many social projects that aim at achieving the goals of sustainable development plans and the goals and objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
She also emphasized the Chamber’s role in encouraging the Qatari business community to fulfill its responsibilities towards the community in which it operates and benefits.
UNSG’s Humanitarian Envoy Dr. Ahmed Al Meraikhi said that humanitarian needs would remain extremely high during the current year, noting that nearly 132 million people in 42 countries around the world would need humanitarian assistance.
Al Meraikhi stressed the importance to identify the root causes creating these humanitarian needs in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
He affirmed that all actors of the humanitarian and development fields must cooperate with one another to find dynamic responses. This must include governments, NGOs, financial institutions and the private sector.
He said that H.H. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani announced at the UN General Assembly the strong commitment Qatar shows towards the UN, pointing out that Qatar signed agreements totalling $500m over the next 5 years for UN agencies.
“Qatar’s humanitarian leaders have announced their strong desire to work with the United Nations and it has reached every organisation in the country including Qatar Fund for Development , Education Above All, Qatar Charity and Qatar Red Crescent”, he noted.
Only a few weeks ago we saw the signing of the largest single donation of $35million from Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and displaced Yemenis.
On his part, QFC’s CEO Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida that humanitarian crises have never been more extensive, affecting more and more people for longer durations, noting that about 70 million people are currently displaced due to conflict, natural disasters and global warming; over 100 million are experiencing food insecurity and over 800 million are suffering from undernutrition. There are also millions of children that have absolutely no access to education.
Al-Jaida also said that public and private institutions worldwide are taking immediate and effective action to address these issues through a cooperative, collaborative and comprehensive approach.
He stressed that critical local and global initiatives such as this led by Dr Ahmed Al-Meraikhi would play a vitally important role in supporting global humanitarian action and rallying the private sector in taking an active role in helping achieve the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals.
He explained the role played by QFC in humanitarian field and efforts made in this regard.
QFC, Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA), and the International Labour Organization signed an agreement as part of a joint commitment towards long-term education and professional development, he said.
On a global level, QFC has raised funds to help educate children in impoverished communities and in conflict areas, by collaborating with humanitarian agencies such as Education Above All, Al-Jaida noted.
