For the past 11 months, the relentless and ongoing genocide in Gaza has brought a long-standing issue of occupation, colonization, and the subject of much geo-political debate into sharp focus. We’ve watched in horror as the violence has played out before us on our screens, where we’ve seen entire families being eliminated, and where homes, schools, and hospitals have been destroyed. For those who have survived, the urgent call for immediate humanitarian support has resonated deeply across the Arab region and, in fact, the world.

Response of Arab philanthropy

Amidst this backdrop, Arab foundations – both members of the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) and other philanthropies in the region – have stepped up by mobilising resources, providing aid, and shaping the broader conversation around philanthropy and social justice on a global scale. Despite these efforts, however, there is a bigger conversation that needs to take place about the role of philanthropy in supporting long-term rebuilding and the sustainable funding which is needed to achieve it. To date, we have not seen a concerted effort by institutional philanthropy in general, and Arab philanthropy in particular, to commit long-term, impact-driven funding towards Gaza or Palestine. If we compare the mobilisation of philanthropic support to Ukraine since the start of the war to what has been allocated for Gaza, the stark difference is shocking.

The response from Arab donors to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been swift and multifaceted. Most notably, this includes individuals who have contributed millions of dollars in crowdfunding, individually funded efforts, which have enabled the life-saving efforts for Gazans looking to flee to Egypt or elsewhere since there’s no official mechanism for them to do so. Our friends, families, and the generosity of community is almost exclusively responsible for saving the lives of those in immediate danger. As a region, and as a sector, we are accustomed to mobilising resources quickly and efficiently in a crisis, so this is not necessarily surprising.

By focusing on both immediate relief and long-term development, and by fostering collaboration and partnership, Arab philanthropy can not only responding to the crisis at hand but  lay the groundwork for a more just and equitable future.

Many foundations immediately launched emergency relief campaigns, focusing on providing immediate humanitarian aid, and coordinating efforts to deliver food, medical supplies, and emergency shelter to communities devastated by the war. Across the region, governments and philanthropic organisations quickly allocated funding and support to Gaza, whether in terms of private philanthropic funding or official development assistance (ODA). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for instance, has provided over $158 million. Raised through the Sahem platform managed by KSRelief, this substantial amount has been directed towards humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, including food, medical supplies, and other essential aid.

The government of the United Arab Emirates has allocated over $62 million to the relief efforts, with $20 million going to support the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Other countries in the region, including Qatar, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, and Egypt, have also provided assistance, whether in terms of financial support, or in-kind contributions and in efforts to support the facilitation of aid. While these efforts are appreciated, they are unfortunately nowhere near enough to mitigate the crisis now, or in the future, when there inevitably will be a ‘Day After’ and we will be faced with the cost of rebuilding entire lives and, one hopes, a free, sovereign nation.

Flexible models of response

It’s important to note here that, in the context of the Arab region, the overlap of ODA and philanthropic support is unique. In many cases – such as in many countries in the Gulf – individual and institutional philanthropic donations are not permitted except through official, government-run funding mechanisms where citizens can channel their donations, which are then sent as part of the government support package on behalf of the people. This is an important distinction to make when we consider funding from institutional philanthropy in the Arab region. Where it appears that the philanthropy sector has not been contributing, this may not necessarily reflect the reality.

Notwithstanding the complications of providing funding independently of government, however, there have been some notable examples of interventions by Arab foundations that exemplify the kind of funding that is ready to be mobilized. For instance, the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation has launched an Education Relief Fund to support 900 Gazan and West Bank students whose education has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict. This initiative focuses on students studying abroad, particularly in medicine, health sciences, and STEM fields. The fund provides grants to cover tuition, living expenses, and other essential costs to ensure these students can complete their education despite the challenges brought about by the war. This programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Unite Lebanon Youth Project, which helps identify eligible students and distribute the funds. The initiative aims to strengthen the healthcare workforce in the region by supporting students in their final years of study, ensuring they can contribute to rebuilding efforts once they graduate.

Another example is Dubai Cares, which has been actively involved in supporting the Gaza humanitarian crisis through various initiatives. One of their key efforts is the ‘Gaza In Our Hearts’ campaign, launched during Ramadan 2024, which focuses on providing emergency relief aid to the people of Gaza. This campaign includes distributing hot meals, food baskets, and emergency shelter tents. As of April 2024, Dubai Cares has raised over AED 10.75 million, enabling the distribution of over 20 million meals, 384,252 food baskets, and 704 emergency shelter tents. The campaign is being executed in partnership with the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera, which helps deliver these supplies through established aid corridors. Dubai Cares’ efforts are part of the broader Tarahum for Gaza initiative, a UAE-wide response to the ongoing conflict, involving charitable organizations, volunteer centers, and the community.

By 15 October, the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF), along with our members the Asfari Foundation, Taawon, American Friends Service Committee, and United Palestinian Appeal, launched a Donor Appeal on behalf of Gaza. The Donor Appeal has since expanded to include Life for Relief and Development and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism. All participating organisations are AFF members with staff on the ground in Gaza or working with local partners to offer life-saving support to the community.

It was an immediate decision, and we bypassed all conventional models of collaboration – no MOUs or partnership agreements, no lengthy discussions on roles and responsibilities, just a united acknowledgement that we were  experiencing an unprecedented event and needed to address it immediately. A few days later, we launched the AFF Pooled Fund to channel funding from individuals hoping to support community-based organisations in Gaza that don’t have the same visibility as larger, more established organisations. While we’ve seen donations coming in steadily, these efforts have raised only a few million dollars, nowhere near what is required to make a meaningful difference, especially as we consider the funding required to rebuild Gaza once the killing and destruction stops.

Impact beyond the region

The urgency of setting up these funds and appeals wasn’t just about the reality of what we were seeing, but also what we knew would unfold in the days to come. At that time, I don’t think anyone could have predicted what would still be happening almost one year later. It’s almost unfathomable to comprehend the level of destruction and devastation in Gaza. For us, particularly those of us who are Palestinian, this has been a pivotal moment in our collective history. I predict this will be a paradigm shifting instance in the timeline of this century. While Gaza is not the only crisis – and not even the only genocide – of the moment, where it differs from the crises in Sudan, Syria, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo to name a few, is that it happens to bear the unfortunate burden of being the most livestreamed and highlighted on the global stage. This, in itself, begs many questions about the things we pay attention to and the lives we care about, but that’s another article altogether.

A catalyst for Arab philanthropy

In many ways, this crisis has served as a catalyst for a deeper reflection on the role of Arab philanthropy in addressing systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and political instability. Back in 2015, I argued that one of the weaknesses of the Arab region is that we’ve failed to conduct a ‘forensic analysis’ of our region. The same is still true today. The absence of strategic planning that extends beyond a few years, coupled with a lack of forensic accounting of crises and a thorough examination of the underlying issues that cause them, severely hampers our ability to make a lasting impact. This shortcoming leads to interventions that are often short-term, obstructs effective mitigation of ongoing challenges, and jeopardizes overall sustainability. In the context of Gaza, this weakness has been exposed. Without a long-term, strategic approach to rebuilding a functioning society once a ceasefire is achieved, we risk failing to address the root causes of instability. We should therefore leverage this moment of crisis  to create sustainable, long-term solutions towards the building of a thriving society.

The crisis in Gaza has highlighted the importance of Arab philanthropists not only providing immediate relief but also addressing the root causes of suffering and fostering sustainable development. This means investing in education, healthcare, and economic development, as well as advocating for political solutions that can bring about long-term peace and stability. One of the key interventions we’ve been urging our sector to address for several years now is around data. Data plays a critical role in helping us to identify gaps and, in turn, to design models of support that will address these gaps. This kind of data will help us in creating funding strategies that will contribute to rebuilding efforts for Palestinian society when this war is over. We hope that AFF’s Arab Philanthropy Survey will help to shed some light on these issues when it is published later this year.

Furthermore, the crisis has underscored the importance of collaboration and partnership. No single foundation, organisation or individual can address the complex challenges facing Gaza alone. The collective response to date from foundations and philanthropists demonstrates the power of collaboration – both within the region and with international partners. By working together, Arab philanthropists can pool resources, share expertise, and amplify their impact, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most and contributes to lasting change. Once again, the role of data cannot be overstated. Understanding where there are needs that remain underfunded is key to creating meaningful interventions. To that end, AFF has launched a Humanitarian Relief and Recovery Task Force (HRRTF) that has brought together several regional and international organizations to facilitate and coordinate these efforts so we can hopefully minimise the duplication of effort.

The response of Arab philanthropy to the crisis in Gaza, while it reflects the immense generosity of the region, also highlights the growing recognition of the need for strategic, impact-driven philanthropy. By focusing on both immediate relief and long-term development, and by fostering collaboration and partnership, Arab philanthropy can not only respond to the crisis at hand but lay the groundwork for a more just and equitable future. This is the power and potential of philanthropy in action, and it is a model that should be implemented to leverage the agility and strength of the sector to realise its immense potential.

If we’re not putting our efforts into alleviating the suffering of our peers then, truly, what use is this sector that espouses to be built on the principle of a universal love for humankind?

Naila Farouky is the CEO of the Arab Foundation Forum, a body representing philanthropic foundations across the Arab region.

This article was published as a part of a series of pieces exploring philanthropy’s response to catastrophe in Gaza. Read the series here.