PUBLICATIONS
MENA Climate Philanthropy Ecosystem Pre-Mapping
The MENA Climate Philanthropy Ecosystem Pre-Mapping is a research report by the Arab Foundations Forum, produced in partnership with WINGS. Drawing on primary research with 19 funders and implementing partners across six Arab countries, it offers a first systematic look at who is funding climate action in the region, and where the gaps are — designed as a foundation for a fuller, action-oriented mapping to follow.
Annual Meeting 2023 Outcomes Report and One Year On
To mark the anniversary of our phenomenal 2023 Annual Meeting in Cairo, we present this report as a way to both look back at the Annual Meeting and move forward with that same sense of impactful collaboration. We highlight the outcomes from many of the sessions and hear about the positive experiences of our esteemed attendees, in their own words. Then we show you the meeting's lasting impact, how we’ve carried the issues and inspiration from those three days into much of AFF’s work over the year since.
WTO 2024 Roundtable Outcomes Report: Fostering Resilience and Inclusivity – The Role of Strategic Philanthropy in Global Trade
On February 27, 2024, at the World Trade Organization (WTO) MC13 meeting, co-hosts the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy and Crescent Enterprises brought together 20 experts and specialists whose collective experience spans philanthropy, trade, and the private sector to discuss where and how trade and philanthropy can best work together. This report highlights the key takeaways from this roundtable, moderated by AFF.
Outcomes Report: Advancing Arab Philanthropic Partnerships & Collaboratives
This milestone report – among the first of its kind for the region – spotlights the key discussions, takeaways, and ideas for building a strengthened collaborative eco-system. Produced in partnership with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD). (Available in English & Arabic)
NORRAG Policy Insights: Models of Philanthropy in Education
In this report featuring the viewpoints of 39 experts on philanthropic engagements in education, AFF CEO Naila Farouky argues that long-term focus and investment in climate education should be a priority for Arab philanthropic actors.
AFF Commits to Developing an Arab Regional Climate Commitment
At COP28, we announced our commitment to developing an Arab Regional Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change, with the goal of catalyzing the #PhilanthropyForClimate movement across the region.
AFF in 2023
Explore our network, discover our member benefits, and see what we’re planning for 2023.
An Enabling Arab Civic Space for Resilience, Growth and Sustainability
Focusing on four countries — Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine — our latest report helps to fill the data gap in Arab philanthropy, building a vital source of information about the region, produced by the region.
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...
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...
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...