Dr. Al-Matouq... An extended and renewed philanthropic journey
M. Badr Saud Al-Sumait
Director General of the International Islamic Charity Organization,
State of Kuwait
Director General of the International Islamic Charity Organization,
State of Kuwait
Kuwait’s official and private philanthropic efforts have been evident in mitigatingthe effects of humanitarian crises in the world and working to improve the quality of life for those affected in fragile societies. In recognition and appreciation of the role of the State of Kuwait - government and people - came its crowning by the United Nations Organization in 2014 as a center for humanitarian work, and its late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah – may God rest his soul - was named a leader of humanitarian work. Kuwait’s ascension to this advanced and exceptional position is the result of a cumulative humanitarian act. Charitable and humanitarian institutions and leaders have assumed responsibility for it, and have been active in helping the most needy communities, traveling the world over to support the humanitarian situation, launch development projects and strengthen partnership efforts with specialized UN agencies and organizations active in the fields of humanitarian work. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Islamic Charity Organization and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Abdullah Al-Matouq is one of the Kuwaiti humanitarian leaders strongly present in shaping the charitable and humanitarian scene locally and globally since he was Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs during the period (2003 - 2007), where the ministry succeeded under his leadership in bridging the relationship with charitable and Islamic institutions around the world. Dr. Al-Matouq has a distinctive and pioneering role in highlighting the human face of the State of Kuwait during his official and humanitarian career and this role
continues to extend - thanks to God Almighty - whether through his strong and high-level network of relationships and direct contacts with many governmental and humanitarian leaders around the world: or through the institutionalized humani¬tarian efforts undertaken by the International Islamic Charity Organization since he assumed the chairmanship of its Board of Directors in 2010 until today. In this context, from my executive position as Director General of the Charity Organisation and my daily contact with Dr. Al-Matouq, I appreciate his construc¬tive role in approving the developmental orientation of the Charity Organisation through its strategic vision 2022-2026 and his continuous support for the executive management of the Charity Organisation to authorize, encourage and reinforce trust whether in the details of daily work or in the stages of restructuring and completing institutional building and consolidating the system of governance and grants man¬agement in the Organisation. During his fruitful reign, the Charity Organisation continued its humanitarian and developmental role in more than 80 countries around the world as one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the Islamic world, whose role in supporting relief, development, educational, health and social projects has been manifested over four decades of giving and working to build human beings and empower them ed¬ucationally, culturally, economically and socially. Dr. Al-Matouq also played a prominent role in mobilizing the efforts of NGOs within the international donor conferences hosted by the Charity Organisation, where pledges reached $1.300 billion to support the humanitarian situation in Syr¬ia, $120 million to reconstruct eastern Sudan and $337 million to support the hu¬manitarian situation in Iraq. This is in addition to the Feed a Billion Hungry initia¬tive, which resulted in 2.4 billion meals and 324,000 programs for 76 million bene¬ficiaries and 2,159 partnerships. The periodic meeting of the group of major international donors to support the humanitarian situation in Syria, over a four-year period from March 18, 2014 to January 16, 2017, chaired by Dr. Al-Matouq, is considered one of the most import¬ant events that contributed to enhancing coordination between donors in the world and Gulf countries, tracking international pledges and discussing funding and dis¬bursement strategies in order to increase effectiveness and avoid duplication in hu¬manitarian work. For his humanitarian role that was characterized by high energy and diligence, Dr. Al-Matouq served as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy for Human¬itarian Affairs for four consecutive years (2012-2016) during the era of former Sec¬retary-General Ban Ki-moon in a first of its kind for an Arab official in this high hu¬manitarian position and that era witnessed an effective international humanitarian movement of which Kuwait was a sponsor and a starting point. Charitable institutions contributed in drawing some of its features by mobilizing voluntary popular efforts to support humanitarian response appeals in stricken countries, especially Syria, and Dr. Al-Matouq had a clear role in these activities since the Syrian crisis began in 2011. Succeeding Mr. Ban Ki-moon and assuming his responsibility as UN Secretary- General to lead the United Nations, António Guterres chose Dr. Al-Matouq as his Special Advisor in March 2017 with the rank of Under-Secretary-General in recognition of his efforts to support the path of humanitarian partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies in the relief of distressed communities. Dr. Al-Matouq, being aware of the gravity of the humanitarian situation in many countries in the region, has never ceased to call on the international community to assume its responsibility towards the afflicted peoples, intervene to stop the bloodshed in conflict areas and work to protect relief workers. In conclusion... this is just the tip of the iceberg of this humanitarian journey full of achievements and giving of Dr. Al-Maatouq. We ask God Almighty to accept these good efforts in the balance of his good deeds and to grant him good health, wellness and longevity in the service of humanity.
continues to extend - thanks to God Almighty - whether through his strong and high-level network of relationships and direct contacts with many governmental and humanitarian leaders around the world: or through the institutionalized humani¬tarian efforts undertaken by the International Islamic Charity Organization since he assumed the chairmanship of its Board of Directors in 2010 until today. In this context, from my executive position as Director General of the Charity Organisation and my daily contact with Dr. Al-Matouq, I appreciate his construc¬tive role in approving the developmental orientation of the Charity Organisation through its strategic vision 2022-2026 and his continuous support for the executive management of the Charity Organisation to authorize, encourage and reinforce trust whether in the details of daily work or in the stages of restructuring and completing institutional building and consolidating the system of governance and grants man¬agement in the Organisation. During his fruitful reign, the Charity Organisation continued its humanitarian and developmental role in more than 80 countries around the world as one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the Islamic world, whose role in supporting relief, development, educational, health and social projects has been manifested over four decades of giving and working to build human beings and empower them ed¬ucationally, culturally, economically and socially. Dr. Al-Matouq also played a prominent role in mobilizing the efforts of NGOs within the international donor conferences hosted by the Charity Organisation, where pledges reached $1.300 billion to support the humanitarian situation in Syr¬ia, $120 million to reconstruct eastern Sudan and $337 million to support the hu¬manitarian situation in Iraq. This is in addition to the Feed a Billion Hungry initia¬tive, which resulted in 2.4 billion meals and 324,000 programs for 76 million bene¬ficiaries and 2,159 partnerships. The periodic meeting of the group of major international donors to support the humanitarian situation in Syria, over a four-year period from March 18, 2014 to January 16, 2017, chaired by Dr. Al-Matouq, is considered one of the most import¬ant events that contributed to enhancing coordination between donors in the world and Gulf countries, tracking international pledges and discussing funding and dis¬bursement strategies in order to increase effectiveness and avoid duplication in hu¬manitarian work. For his humanitarian role that was characterized by high energy and diligence, Dr. Al-Matouq served as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy for Human¬itarian Affairs for four consecutive years (2012-2016) during the era of former Sec¬retary-General Ban Ki-moon in a first of its kind for an Arab official in this high hu¬manitarian position and that era witnessed an effective international humanitarian movement of which Kuwait was a sponsor and a starting point. Charitable institutions contributed in drawing some of its features by mobilizing voluntary popular efforts to support humanitarian response appeals in stricken countries, especially Syria, and Dr. Al-Matouq had a clear role in these activities since the Syrian crisis began in 2011. Succeeding Mr. Ban Ki-moon and assuming his responsibility as UN Secretary- General to lead the United Nations, António Guterres chose Dr. Al-Matouq as his Special Advisor in March 2017 with the rank of Under-Secretary-General in recognition of his efforts to support the path of humanitarian partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies in the relief of distressed communities. Dr. Al-Matouq, being aware of the gravity of the humanitarian situation in many countries in the region, has never ceased to call on the international community to assume its responsibility towards the afflicted peoples, intervene to stop the bloodshed in conflict areas and work to protect relief workers. In conclusion... this is just the tip of the iceberg of this humanitarian journey full of achievements and giving of Dr. Al-Maatouq. We ask God Almighty to accept these good efforts in the balance of his good deeds and to grant him good health, wellness and longevity in the service of humanity.