New report explores diversity of philanthropy across the Arab Region
22 Mar 2018
©Al Kamandjâti, Palestinian students from underprivileged areas perform
This report on philanthropy in the Arab region is part of a larger study, started in 2016, to review the current state of philanthropy in emerging economies and the role philanthropy is playing in the world today. This is the third report from the study, earlier reports in the series are on Indian philanthropy (published October 2017) and Russian philanthropy (published January 2018).
The report provides an overview of the current state of philanthropy in the Arab region, particularly shining a light on new areas and innovation within philanthropy, and the implications of these for its future role. Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace (PSJP), who have produced the reports, hopes that they will enable the wider sector to better address the question: how do we support and build philanthropy’s role as an agent of social change?
While it draws on existing reports and articles where available, the main aim of this paper is to throw light on Arab philanthropy through conversations with people who have been trying to promote, support or strengthen different areas of philanthropy. It looks at what currently exists in their particular area of philanthropy and what role it is playing in relation to the state and the private sector; what is driving it and what is holding it back; what potential role it could play and what is needed for the potential to be realized. It also shares examples of outstanding achievements. The areas of philanthropy covered include various forms of giving by the wealthy, mainly through private foundations and corporate foundations, and more recently impact investing; progressive/social justice philanthropy and community philanthropy; and giving by poorer individuals.
Because the report is looking at a region that consists of 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, inevitably there is much more about some countries than others. The report aims to present trends across the region, highlighting differences between countries and sub-regions where they became apparent. This study is neither exhaustive nor complete – so the report coming out of it should be considered a working paper, a work in progress, not a finished product. PSJP hopes that others reading the report will comment, disagree with it and add to it, perhaps publishing other working papers that might fill in the gaps.
This report is authored by Caroline Hartnell and published by PSJP in association with Alliance magazine, Arab Foundations Forum, John D Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, King Khalid Foundation, Philanthropy Age, SAANED and WINGS. A summarized translation of the report is provided by the Arab Foundations Forum and SAANED. To comment on findings or engage in a conversation about this report, please write to info@psjp.org.
Click here to download a copy of the full report, or summaries (available in Arabic and English).
Countries covered in the report include Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.