AFF PAST EVENTS
Partnerships in Philanthropy: Models for Collaboration in the MENA Region
November 3, 2022:
In partnership with the OECD Centre on Philanthropy, Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) has held a virtual critical discussion around the various models of collaborations in philanthropy to examine the questions around when philanthropy organizations are best positioned to work together, and when they should work individually and tackle the important question regarding the role of data-sharing in enabling collaboration between philanthropic organizations.
The session included a presentation by the OECD Centre on Philanthropy: Private Philanthropy for Development: Data for Action and Collaboration, based on a report launched in April 2022 and the presentation focused on the Arab region. Data collected by the OECD on philanthropy for development can be accessed here.
The panel was co-hosted by Naila Farouky, CEO, of Arab Foundations Forum and Nelson Amaya, Policy Analyst, OECD Centre on Philanthropy, and was moderated by Noha El Mikawy, Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo.
Guest speakers included Jordan River Foundation, Pearl Initiative, King Khalid Foundation and Global Commons Alliance.
To access the recording of the session, please click here.
How Can Arab Philanthropy Address the Climate Crisis?
October 26, 2022: In partnership with WINGS, the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) hosted a virtual panel discussion about the important role philanthropy can play to face climate change. All organizations with philanthropic resources, whatever their mission and field of expertise, can play a role in addressing the climate emergency. There is a special responsibility on philanthropic organizations to use their resources whether directly or indirectly to tackle this dilemma. The session highlighted the activities that AFF members and partners are currently undertaking in the region especially that COP27 is taking place in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE next year. This panel discussion showcased what philanthropic organizations have done so far to fight the climate crisis and gave insights on current activities and reflections by regional and global organizations whose areas of focus is not necessarily climate. The session portrayed that a climate lens can be embedded in different activities and programs.
During the session, the international climate commitment pledge developed by WINGS was presented along with a short description of its implementation guide.
The panel was moderated by Naila Farouky, CEO AFF and Alice de Moraes Amorim Vogas, Project Coordinator, Global Philanthropy for Climate Movement, WINGS
Guest speakers included the King Khalid Foundation, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group (CECG).
To access the recording of the session, please click here.
System Change in Philanthropy for Development: Lessons from the MENA region
September 28, 2022: In partnership with the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (CSP) at the Cambridge Judge Business School, Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) hosted a virtual panel discussion on system change in philanthropy for development focusing on the MENA region. This regionally focused convening explored and addressed specific philanthropic needs occurring in the core markets of the region and looked to further expand existing dialogues on philanthropic research and key findings from the region.
This panel followed the launch of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (CSP) report entitled ‘System Change in Philanthropy for Development: A Research Framework for Global Growth Markets’ in May 2022.
The panel was moderated by Naila Farouky, CEO AFF and Dr. Shonali Banerjee, Research Associate, CSP.
Guest speakers included the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy, Alfanar, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation. To access the recording of the session, please click here.
F20: CLIMATE ACTION
On September 7th our CEO, Naila Farouky, participated as a panelist at the F20 event on “Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen” where she discussed the role Arab philanthropy in addressing the climate crisis and how we can contribute meaningfully in the “Race to Net Zero”. You can see the full panel recording here (AFF’s intervention is at 01:47:00 – 01:55:00)
Philanthropy in Climate
Sept 2022
On September 8th, our AFF Team participated in an invitation-only roundtable event on “Philanthropy in Climate” at the International Cooperation Forum (ICF) in Cairo. Hosted by the Ministry of International Cooperation and H.E. Minister Rania Al-Mashat, AFF joined roundtable co-hosts Climate Emergency Collaboration Group (CECG) with a group of global philanthropy representatives, including AFF Supporting Member, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, for a 4.5-hour, high-level conversation on the role of philanthropy in addressing the climate crisis.
Shown in photo: L to R: Dina Zayed – CECG, Noura Selim – Sawiris Foundation, Naila Farouky – AFF
Webinar (Members Only): Aggregating Portfolio Impacts – Challenges and Solutions
December 8, 2020 – December 9, 2020
On December 9 2020 AFF co-hosted with Social Value International, the third in a series of webinars. The topic for this module will focus on “Aggregating Portfolio Impacts – Challenges and Solutions”
AFF Presented at the F20
September 21, 2020
AFF Presented at the F20 – Our CEO, Naila Farouky, gave one of the Keynote Addresses at the Foundations Platform F20 Climate Week (the Foundations 20, part of the lead-up to the G20 Summit later this year) where she represented the #arabphilanthropy sector on behalf of the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF).
On September 14-17, the Foundations Platform F20 Climate Solutions Week 2020 (part of the engagement of Foundations and Civil Society in the G20 Summit)
– co-hosted by AFF Member, the King Khalid Foundation – and supported by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, featured, among an esteemed roster of speakers, our CEO Naila Farouky, who gave a Keynote Address on September 17th at the session on: “The Voice of Foundations and Philanthropists in the Context of the G20.
We are also thrilled that the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) facilitated the engagement of our members – particularly the King Khalid Foundation as Co-Chair of the F20 (and Chair of the C20) and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development as a Steering Committee Group member representing the AFF network – at the G20 Summit, giving a strong voice to Arab Philanthropy at a global level at a critical time.
AFF at African Society of Assoc Executives
September 25, 2020
AFF at AfSAE – On September 25, AFF CEO Naila Farouky represented the network at this year’s African Society of Association Executives, where she participated in a panel on: “The Role of African Civil Society Organizations in the Post Covid-19 Recovery”
African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE) is an umbrella body of professionals and volunteers working in Associations across Africa. Last year, the inaugural summit was held in Nairobi and we were planning to hold this year’s summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The summit brings together members from the association’s community across Africa as well as other stakeholders from the Association’s field.
LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Capacity Building #6: Amman, Jordan
October 2018
Description: Building on the success of the Inspired Leader module in Cairo in November 2017 and the request from members, AFF is co-designing this module to become one of our own foundational training exclusively offered to the AFF network.
The module is a three-day program intended to transform leadership through the lenses of values and purpose. This journey enables leaders to:
- Become highly self-aware – learn how to shift their reactive triggers
- Understand what it means when we live our values fully – tapping into the wisdom that sits within our values
- Connect with and align with our purpose, which motivates us to make a difference in our work and life
- Improve our levels of trust, influence, collaboration, and the ability to have courageous conversations
- Solve our business challenges through a higher level of consciousness
Ultimately, the course is designed to highlight the fact that change starts with persons and only then affects organizations: “Organizations do not transform … people do … and it starts with us as leaders”
Lead trainers: Karim Ragab, Hesham El Gamal
ACCELERATED LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Capacity Building #5: Riyadh, KSA
October 2018 – Specific date TBD
Description: This three-day module, led by Bassem Attar, is a journey to discover your natural leadership style and expand your ability to use other styles in different situations. Develop your “Emotional Intelligence” and your ability to understand, persuade & motivate others. Improve your management skills, and your ability to plan, organize, solve problems and get things done. Create a balanced workplace through the three human values of Power, Achievement, and Relationships. And achieve results by managing your team, delegating effectively, and setting measurable objectives.
Lead trainer: Bassem Attar
Networking: “The Legal Framework for Social Enterprise in Jordan”
April 30, 2018
In collaboration with INJAZ, AFF will host a Technical Group working session on “The Framework for Social Enterprise in Jordan.” The aim of the meeting is to present a synopsis of the current landscape of social enterprise in Jordan, as well as case studies from the UAE and UK in order to conduct an exercise on drafting a framework for social enterprises in Jordan.
The Agenda of the meeting will address the following topics:
- The Definition(s) of Social Enterprise
- The landscape of Social Enterprise in Jordan
- Social Enterprise Case Studies from UAE, UK, and Jordan
- Drafting the Outline of the Social Enterprise Framework (Discussion on the current status of the social enterprise sector and recommendations to design the framework and the advocacy process)
AN INSIGHT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SPENDING TRENDS IN THE ARAB REGION
Online Webinar
April 16, 2018
Arab Foundations Forum is pleased to announce its first capacity-building webinar in 2018 in collaboration with Development Assistance Roadmap Portal in the Middle East (DARPE). We have designed a series of tailored capacity-building modules based on your feedback on the topics you would like us to address.
The webinar’s Agenda will include the following:
- Showcasing Country-Specific Development Spending Trends including Most Procuring Donors Agencies, Development Aid Priorities, and Allocations
- A walk-through of DARPE platform demonstrating how its information and data will facilitate building informed partnerships, developing and designing projects more thoughtfully
TURN IMPACT INTO A USEFUL MANAGEMENT TOOL
Abu Dhabi – UAE
March 28 & 29, 2018
Arab Foundations Forum held its third capacity-building module in 2018 in collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi.
This two-day workshop, led by Soushiant Zanganehpour, co-founder of Tribeca Impact Partners, aimed to help participants build on or improve upon their existing measurement and evaluation framework to be more fit for purpose to the cause on which their philanthropic entity is focused.
The content focused on identifying the right metrics, assessing various measurement periods and methods, understanding how many resources to allocate for measurement, and reviewing case studies and complementary methodologies for making M&E a more useful, high-value, and dynamic management tool for philanthropic organizations, not simply an afterthought.
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
February 26, 2018 – February 27, 2018
Beirut – Lebanon
This course, facilitated by Amin Nehme, training expert and founder of the Lebanese Development Network, was designed to provide a hands-on experience in the preparation and delivery of speeches within a public setting or even a group discussion.
Participants were exposed to essential presentation techniques for how to plan and structure an effective presentation; create an informative and persuasive framework; develop ideas and efficient delivery methods; and finally overcome anxiety, fear, and nervousness when making a presentation.
It was attended by 15 participants representing AFF members: The American University of Beirut (AUB), SOS Children’s Villages, Taawon, and Hani Qadumi Scholarship Foundation (HQSF) with representatives from CCT and Taghziah and Skoun.
Social Marketing and Behavior Change Communication
January 22, 2018
Muscat – Oman
January 22 – 24, 2018
Arab Foundations Forum held its first capacity-building module in 2018 in collaboration with. Oman LNG Development Foundation (ODF) This module was a three-day program intended to create more effective social marketing campaigns in the Arab region. It provides training on how to deliver effective and sustainable behavior change interventions based on proper planning, strategy, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
Facilitated by Saad Darwazeh, the workshop employed an interactive approach and engage participants. It comprised theory, workgroup discussions, case studies, individual projects and group presentations. Some of the topics that were focused on included:
- Creating a problem statement for a social marketing plan
- Explaining the formative audience research process and how it is used to identify, segment, and understand the target audience as well as determine their stage of behavior change
- Developing a detailed intervention design based on selected strategies and audience research findings
- Developing an implementation plan for a social marketing program, including creative development and media mix
This program was attended 25 participants including AFF members: Oman LNG Development Foundation (ODF), New York University Abu Dhabi and Alqasimi Foundation for Policy Research.
Beyond Year of Giving
September 28, 2017
On September 28th, we co-hosted an event in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Innate Motion and INSEAD Abu Dhabi, featuring a panel discussion on the recommendations for how the UAE can sustain the impact of philanthropy beyond the year of giving.
In 2017 the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2017 as the ”Year of Giving” to promote the culture of giving back to the community and this in a country that is already one of the most generous in the world. We believe that as a community we can do even better and we should continue to build on this great initiative.