Building a Stronger Infrastructure for Effective Arab Philanthropy

By Naila Farouky, CEO, AFF

For the John D. Gerhart Center at the American University in Cairo

The practice of philanthropy is deeply embedded in Arab culture, to be sure. In fact, it is claimed that the first-ever registered act of philanthropy in the world was the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in 859 AD in Fez, Morocco, notably founded by a woman named Fatima Al-Fihri. Despite this deep-seated history and tradition, however, the infrastructure for Arab philanthropy has been slow to develop … Read more

Philanthropy, the climate crisis, and COP27 – a perspective from the Arab region

By Naila Farouky, CEO, AFF

In collaboration with WINGS

I am not a climate expert by any stretch of the imagination, and up until 5 years ago, I hadn’t really given much thought to the climate crisis in my professional capacity. However, as a representative of the Arab Region’s only network and membership association of philanthropy and civil society actors, I have become engaged in the conversation around climate as much by accident as by necessity… Read more 

AFF in 2023

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The Power of Data

By Naila Farouky, CEO, AFF

Published in: Philanthropy Age

Philanthropic foundations across the Arab region are doing extraordinary work funding innovative programming in many areas such as education, healthcare, and youth empowerment, as well as providing lifeline humanitarian support to those most in need. But beyond the news headlines and anecdotal reports, it remains extremely hard to know exactly who and what people are funding, the concrete impact of their investments, and where financing and needs gaps remain…Read More