Doha, September 04 (QNA) - The world celebrates the International Day of Charity every year on September 5, with the aim of providing urgent assistance to those in need and overcoming poverty in many communities.

Charitable work is not limited to providing immediate relief to its seekers, but also contributes to supporting healthcare and education systems and projects, protecting vulnerable groups, and preserving the cultural and intellectual heritage of nations and peoples around the world.

At its core, it is an embodiment of global solidarity because it unites people of different backgrounds to build more resilient and stable societies.

Charity may take the form of direct giving, volunteering, or collective initiatives. In today’s world, charitable work is undergoing profound transformations, as it increasingly seeks to address the root causes of poverty and inequality in various regions and environments.

Charitable initiatives have become a major force in shaping public policies, financing innovation, and supporting local communities when public services in some countries are unable to meet the urgent needs of people.

The United Nations and several international entities pay great attention to the various fields of charity and humanitarian work on a wide scale, due to the growing cases of urgent humanitarian need in light of the harsh consequences humanity faces from armed conflicts and wars, as well as the damages caused by natural disasters and extreme climate changes to people, their livelihoods, and their places of residence.

The theme of the International Day of Charity for the year 2025 was designated as a call for the world to act with compassion and solidarity.

The core idea of charity is authentic and deeply rooted in Qatari society, both in its objectives and organizational mechanisms. The act of doing good in Qatari society is based on a strong social culture derived from the tolerant religious teachings that call for prosperity and righteousness on earth, starting from the principle of the Creator's vicegerency entrusted to humankind on earth.

Moreover, charitable work in the State of Qatar relies on the inherited customs and traditions of Qatari society across generations, which have become guiding principles for individuals' behavior towards the concept of doing good in its broadest sense, to achieve the interests and solidarity of society.

The strategy of the charity and humanitarian sector in the state for 2025–2030 aligns with the Qatar National Vision 2030, in integration with the National Development Strategy and other sectoral strategies, with an ambitious political will to invest in the civilizational heritage of the State of Qatar in line with the general trend towards further empowerment of charitable work.

In exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) regarding the most prominent aspects contained in the strategy of the charity sector, General Manager of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities Ibrahim Abdullah Al Dehaimi explained that the charity and humanitarian sector strategy (2025–2030) came as the outcome of a full decade of cumulative effort exerted by the Authority since its establishment in 2014.

During this period, there was a transition from the stage of construction and establishment, which focused on setting laws and regulations, to the stage of transformation and empowerment, during which digital systems and platforms were developed, and extensive partnerships were built, leading to the new phase launched by the Authority starting from 2025, which is the phase of excellence and innovation.

Al Dehaimi underlined that this strategy is based on five main pillars including the legal and regulatory framework to ensure an advanced governance environment that protects donors' funds and enhances trust; institutional coordination to develop integrated working mechanisms between charitable institutions and government entities; attention to institutional capacities to raise the efficiency of charitable organizations to reach international standards; adopting smart partnerships to build a sustainable network of local, regional, and international cooperation; in addition to adopting financial sustainability to diversify funding sources through traditional and innovative tools (such as endowment Sukuk and digital platforms).

He pointed out that these pillars are fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly in strengthening the social pillar (cohesive society), the economic pillar (sustainable development), and the institutional pillar (effective government), and reflect the Authority's commitment to Qatar's international standing as a key player in charitable and humanitarian work.

The Director General of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities clarified that the Authority has set long-term strategic objectives based on a precise reading of the requirements of the next stage and the rapid changes in the legislative and technical environment worldwide.

Among the most prominent of these objectives are building a safe and nurturing national environment that guarantees the sector a flexible legal, regulatory, and financial framework that keeps pace with best international practices and enhances the credibility of Qatari charity work; strengthening government integration through close cooperation with the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, the National Planning Council, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

They are pivotal entities that contributed to shaping the new national government development system; raising institutional efficiency of the sector through training, empowerment, and digital transformation, so that Qatari charitable institutions become a regional model; developing smart partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions to expand the knowledge base; adopting innovative methods in financing and management; as well as ensuring the financial sustainability of the sector through innovating new financing tools and developing electronic platforms for fundraising with more transparency and security.

Regarding the oversight mechanism followed by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities on entities working in this field, Al Dehaimi explained that oversight is not merely formal procedures, but rather an integrated system aimed at protecting funds and enhancing societal trust.

Since 2015, the Authority has established a strict and advanced legislative framework that includes: prior approvals for programs and projects, financial transfers through licensed and secured channels, field follow-ups through regular site visits to implementation locations, and periodic electronic reports via the Authority's digital portal, which allows precise monitoring from the moment a donation is received until it reaches the beneficiary.

He stressed that this multi-level oversight integrates with the state's digital transformation system, where artificial intelligence and advanced analytics have been employed for early risk detection and to ensure full compliance with transparency and governance standards.

In the context of the progress achieved by Qatar in the Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) 2025, issued by Indiana University (USA), Al Dehaimi mentioned that this is a direct reflection of the systematic national efforts over a decade.

The index rose from 2.07 in 2018 to 3.61 in 2025, surpassing the global average of 3.49, which means that Qatar has become among the fastest-growing countries in improving the philanthropic work environment.

Al Dehaimi added that statistics reveal that these results were not limited to internal achievements but extended globally, as hundreds of reliefs and humanitarian projects were implemented in more than 50 countries, which enhanced Qatar's image as a humanitarian leader.

He also noted that national initiatives such as the Tamkeen capacity-building program and the Sanadi aid distribution platform were decisive factors in this success, along with the stability of the political and economic environment and the strong culture of solidarity and giving embedded in Qatari society.

Regarding the partners of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities in the humanitarian and philanthropic fields, Al Dehaimi stated that partnerships are an essential part of the Authority's philosophy, recognizing that effective charitable work cannot be a solitary effort.

Locally, the Authority works closely with major Qatari associations (such as Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent, and others) in joint projects and initiatives.

It has also launched training and regulatory programs in cooperation with government institutions such as the Civil Service Bureau and the Ministry of Labor.

Internationally, the Authority has built a network of international cooperation through memorandums of understanding with its counterparts in the region and the world, and has represented Qatar in international humanitarian forums.

These efforts have consistently enhanced Qatar's reputation as a reference in charitable work and contributed to the exchange of expertise and knowledge among nations.  

Concluding his remarks to QNA, General Manager of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities Ibrahim Abdullah Al Dehaimi revealed that the Authority is preparing for the upcoming phase by adopting a long-term central project for excellence and innovation.

This ambitious project aims to transform the charitable sector in Qatar into a global model to be emulated.

The project began implementation at the beginning of this year and is based on innovation in governance, financing, monitoring, and capacity building.

Among the Authority's prominent plans are implementing the strategic initiatives listed within the 2025–2030 sector strategy, enhancing digital transformation using artificial intelligence to accelerate services and ensure their efficiency, investing in continuous training for the Authority's employees and sector affiliates to become global leaders in the field of philanthropy, and intensifying regional and international presence through active participation in global conferences to affirm Qatar's leadership and share its experience.

Regarding the experience of Qatar Charity in the humanitarian and philanthropic field, which is considered one of the leading experiences worldwide, Director of Development Projects at Qatar Charity Abdulaziz Haji explained in statements to QNA that the organization operates in more than 70 countries around the world through its field offices and local and international partners.

During this year, 2025, Qatar Charity has implemented many humanitarian interventions and relief projects for those affected by crises and disasters, and has completed or is continuing to work on more than 10,000 development projects in various fields.

Haji revealed the scale of Qatar Charity's humanitarian contributions, stating that the total number of interventions and projects amounted to around 100 interventions and projects, while the total number of beneficiaries from these projects exceeded 1,623,000 beneficiaries, with a total cost of more than QAR 145,000,000.

He pointed out that the main areas focused on for the implementation of Qatar Charity's projects and programs were the Gaza Strip to the greatest extent, followed by Sudan and Syria, in addition to other countries.

He added that the number of beneficiaries from humanitarian and charitable interventions supporting those affected in Gaza during this year exceeded one million people, with a total value of around QAR 100 million, while the number of beneficiaries from relief in Sudan exceeded 163,000 people, with a value of around QAR 11 million.

As for Syria, during the recovery phase, around 80,000 people benefited, with a total value of QAR 16.5 million.

Haji indicated that the areas of humanitarian intervention included comprehensive relief, shelter, education, health, non-food items, social cohesion and livelihoods, as well as water and sanitation.

Regarding statistics of the projects and programs undertaken by Qatar Charity, Haji added that the total number of projects (completed and ongoing) amounted to 10,064 projects, with 3.7 million people benefiting, at a total cost of around QAR 265 million.

As for the fields of work for the projects and programs, Haji stated that they varied between projects in food security, education and culture, economic empowerment, social care, health, social housing, water and sanitation, as well as multi-service centers.

He added that the qualitative development projects for this year included the housing and village rehabilitation and restoration program, where in Syria, 12,000 people benefited, and in Morocco, 1,500 people benefited from Maryam bint Jassim bin Ali Al-Thani Mosque.

Regarding the classification achieved by the State of Qatar in the International Philanthropy 2025, issued by an American university, the Director of Development Projects at Qatar Charity said that this achievement was not a coincidence, but rather the result of a clear strategic vision adopted by the state, and flexible legislations that provided a conducive regulatory environment for establishing and operating charitable organizations, with effective supervision by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities to ensure transparency and accountability, along with qualitative national initiatives such as the Tamkeen program, which contributed to enhancing institutional performance efficiency.

He added that they highly value this classification, which placed Qatar among the countries most supportive and encouraging of charitable work at the Arab world level, surpassing the global average, and achieving one of the highest growth rates in the index in the Arab world.

He affirmed that this progress reflects supportive political will and a deep-rooted societal culture of solidarity and giving, making Qatar a model to be emulated in utilizing charitable resources to support humanitarian and relief causes in conflict areas through organized and officially approved channels.

Haji continued that they, at Qatar Charity, view this progress as a shared responsibility that calls for greater cooperation and integration between government agencies and civil society organizations, in order to consolidate Qatar's position as a global platform for charitable work, and to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 in sustainable development, social justice, and active community participation.

Regarding Qatar Charity's partnerships and relations at the regional and international levels for implementing its activities and programs, Abdulaziz Haji explained that Qatar Charity operates in more than 70 countries through its 33 field offices and with local and international partners. Internationally, it has strengthened its relations with UN and international organizations through more than 100 cooperation and partnership agreements, and has been able, within the framework of its international partnerships, to implement projects funded by UN agencies and other donor entities.

The Director of Development Projects at Qatar Charity added that there are partnerships with donor institutions and entities concerned with the field, such as Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), which is considered a main partner of the organization in implementing developmental and humanitarian projects in various regions around the world, in addition to the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF), and other donor entities.

Moreover, Qatar Charity establishes partnerships with the private sector through corporate social responsibility, achieved through the Humanitarian Partner Program of Qatar Charity, among others.

The organization also enjoys partnerships with academic and research entities and think tanks such as the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Qatar University, and others.

Director of Development Projects at Qatar Charity Abdulaziz Haji concluded his statement to QNA by outlining the future plans of Qatar Charity, indicating that they include expanding qualitative programs and projects, emphasizing sustainability and impact monitoring in implemented projects, strengthening partnerships with UN, international and local organizations and relevant entities, as well as planning to open several new field offices for Qatar Charity around the world.

The organization is also working on following up the implementation of digital transformation, adopting artificial intelligence technologies, and employing them to serve charitable work and govern its operations and humanitarian interventions.

In a related context, philanthropy is not merely an act of generosity, but rather a firm expression of religious, ethical, moral, and universal responsibility at the same time.

It is a bridge connecting individuals across borders and sectors to fight poverty, empower communities, and build a more inclusive and sustainable world for all people.

The wider the scope of philanthropy grows, the greater the need to practice it within a framework of ethics and responsibility. Philanthropy should be based on transparency, respond to the urgent priorities of communities, and be founded on humility and cooperation.

According to experts and stakeholders in the humanitarian and charitable field, it faces many obstacles and challenges confronting the institutions working in this domain, including the expansion of conflicts in various parts of the world, which has multiplied the already rising need for humanitarian interventions against insufficient resources.

In addition, there are difficulties such as risks in accessing conflict-affected areas and the threats faced by humanitarian workers during the delivery of aid to those in need, as well as challenges related to financial transfers, which represent one of the fundamental complexities hindering the provision of humanitarian aid or the establishment of development projects around the world. (QNA)