ASIATODAY.ID, JEDDAH — The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), acting as Trustee of the Global Islamic Fund for Refugees (GIFR), has signed a landmark Donor Contribution Agreement with Secours Islamique France (SIF), a France-based humanitarian organization with more than 35 years of experience delivering aid and development programs in some of the world’s most fragile contexts.
The strategic partnership marks a major step forward in addressing one of today’s most urgent humanitarian challenges: the forced displacement of millions of people worldwide. Protracted conflicts, climate shocks, and economic instability continue to uproot lives at an unprecedented scale, straining host countries and undermining human dignity.
Launched in 2022 through a joint initiative between IsDB and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), GIFR is a first-of-its-kind Shariah-compliant, multi-donor endowment fund.
Contributions to the Fund’s capital are invested prudently in line with Islamic finance principles, preserving the principal while generating sustainable returns.
This innovative endowment-based model enables long-term, predictable financing for critical programs in education, healthcare, shelter, livelihoods, climate-resilient energy, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, and rapid emergency response.
These interventions directly benefit refugees, internally displaced persons, stateless individuals, and host communities across IsDB member countries.
The agreement with SIF significantly strengthens GIFR’s growing coalition of global partners. Following major contributions from organizations such as the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) and Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), SIF’s designation as an Eligible Donor grants it a seat on the GIFR Steering Committee, enabling active participation in shaping funding priorities and high-impact strategic decisions.
Adil Alsharif, Director of IsDB’s Special and Trust Funds Department, described the partnership as a structural shift in humanitarian financing.
“This agreement goes beyond a single collaboration. It aligns vision with capability. By combining SIF’s extensive field expertise with GIFR’s innovative endowment model, we are building a more resilient humanitarian-development architecture—one that transforms vulnerability into opportunity and ensures every contribution leaves a lasting legacy of stability and hope for forcibly displaced populations.”
The urgency of GIFR’s mission is underscored by the fact that IsDB member countries host more than half of the world’s forcibly displaced population.
The Fund is currently channeling resources to major crisis settings, including support for Sudanese refugees in neighboring host countries such as Chad, Egypt, and Libya, where life-saving projects have recently been approved for implementation.
Rachid Lahlou, President and Founder of Secours Islamique France, emphasized the importance of coordinated global action in responding to displacement crises.
“SIF’s long-standing operational presence in complex displacement settings will significantly enhance the impact of this multilateral partnership,” he said on January 14, 2026.
“For years, we have mobilized our emergency response and resilience expertise to support displaced populations. This strengthened collaboration is a decisive lever for a more coordinated, effective, and dignified humanitarian response.”
He added that the partnership will enable tens of thousands of refugees to receive immediate humanitarian assistance alongside long-term programs aimed at restoring dignity and facilitating sustainable reintegration into stable communities.
Following the signing ceremony, GIFR convened its Second Partners Meeting under the theme “Trends and Opportunities in Resource Mobilization (Tech Foresight).”
The session positioned GIFR as a future-ready humanitarian financing platform, highlighting emerging tools such as artificial intelligence, FinTech, and Web3.
Discussions explored digital fundraising strategies, data analytics, and innovative concepts including Digital Waqf, resulting in concrete commitments for technology-driven collaborations to scale resource mobilization and humanitarian impact. (AT Network)
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