Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Empowering women and disadvantaged communities since 2010, the Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) has transformed lives in Afghanistan by creating sustainable employment and providing access to education and healthcare.
Founded by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed in partnership with Tanweer Investments in Afghanistan, FBMI was established to counter the stark realities of life for Afghan women and children.
By investing in health and education and offering work in the traditional craft of carpet weaving and farming, its ripple effect has supported more than a million Afghans.
Speaking to Aletihad, Maywand Jabarkhyl, CEO of FBMI, said the initiative is “the only sustainable organisation in the world actively implementing projects from A to Z”. It has its own facilities and farms and runs its own mobile outreach and retail outlets.
“FBMI provides work opportunities in weaving, crafts and agriculture, access to healthcare, support, and for children’s schooling. Individuals gain income, families are healthier, and communities become more resilient across generations,” Jabarkhyl said.
Since 2020, over 20,000 children have been educated full-time and 300,000 patients have been treated, while 500,000 have been vaccinated against polio.
Asked why Afghanistan was chosen as the starting point for the initiative, Jabarkhyl said: “We began in Afghanistan due to urgent need and a strong craft heritage. Afghanistan consistently ranks among the countries in need. Sadly, to this day, Afghanistan has the highest infant mortality rate in the world.
“We learned to listen first, hire locally, create safe workplaces, and align designs with market demand. These lessons guide our entry to every new country,” he added.
The FBMI’s model is “a seed planted to grow lasting impact” - a bridge built to carry communities toward long-term impact, Jabarkhyl said.
“We are a sustainable foundation run on social enterprises, the only in the world. We are not a charity running on donations. Individuals earn through meaningful work, families receive healthcare and education, and revenue from sales is reinvested to keep services going. Our initiatives are designed to be sustainable and self-funding.”
In developing livelihood for the community, the initiative balances tradition with contemporary needs. This way, the output remains grounded in heritage as it is offered in the global market.
Operating in conflict zones does pose challenges, Jabarkhyl said, but community engagement has always worked wonders.
“The key is to always implement the community engagement model. Community engagement is what wins us hearts.”
When the situation becomes challenging, FBMI makes sure women can keep working safely by creating local workshops, collaborating with local authorities and community leaders, and providing extra help so everyone can learn.
FBMI attributes its success to robust UAE partnerships, along with strong support from individual consumers, as well as government and corporate buyers that are helping the company expand internationally.
Building on its success, FBMI has set ambitious goals.
“By 2050, we plan to operate in 50 countries with one clear model: hire and act locally, provide healthcare and support in schooling ourselves and, most importantly, develop a product by women in rural parts of the world that global consumers want to buy,” Jabarkhyl said.
“We align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, prioritising decent work, gender equality, responsible production, and strong partnerships among many others.”
From Weaver to Senator
For the Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative, success is not a number on paper — it is the ripple that changes someone’s world.
“Success is when opportunity leads to voice and leadership,” Jabarkhyl said.
One of the FBMI’s earliest artisans, Maliha Jami, began as a weaver - and, while living with a disability, she went on to serve as a senator in Afghanistan.
“Her journey shows how inclusive work and practical support can transform potential into leadership and uplift a community.”
The FBMI’s success is not measured financially but by impact, Jabarkhyl said.
