Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Ramadan, a time for spiritual reflection, piety and heightened generosity, creates an opportunity to broaden scope of giving to drive meaningful, lasting impact, according to stakeholders from the humanitarian and financial sectors.
Speaking to Aletihad, Sultan Al Shehhi, General Manager of the Grace Conservation Project at the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), said that charitable work is not limited to providing immediate aid; it aims to empower individuals and communities in the long term.
"When education is supported, hospitals are built, or income sources are provided for families in need, the impact extends for many years and may benefit the children and grandchildren of those who receive assistance," Al Shehhi said.
Supporting low-income families, providing health and education services, and improving living conditions directly contribute to improving quality of life and reducing social inequality within the community, he noted.
"Charitable initiatives promote the values of solidarity and mutual support among members of society. When those in need feel that the community stands by them, it increases their sense of security and stability."
Beyond their social impact, Al Shehhi noted that humanitarian initiatives also play an important role in strengthening a country's international standing.
"When a country provides aid during times of crisis and disaster, or supports development projects in other countries, it builds bridges of trust and cooperation between peoples," he said, adding that such initiatives help position nations as responsible global partners committed to supporting communities and sustainable development.
Al Shehhi also emphasised that humanitarian initiatives are carefully evaluated to ensure their long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
"Humanitarian initiatives are evaluated through several means, including monitoring projects on the ground and ensuring that aid reaches beneficiaries, measuring the change that has occurred in the lives of beneficiaries after the initiative's implementation, analysing data and reports to determine the extent to which objectives have been achieved, and working with local partners to ensure the project's continuity after the funding period ends."
Also speaking to Aletihad, Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN, emphasised that the holy month offers a unique moment to rethink how generosity can translate into long-term social and environmental change.
"Humanitarian aid and feeding programmes remain essential. But alongside meeting immediate needs, we must invest in long-term resilience through education, livelihoods and climate adaptation. The shift happens when funders choose organisations focused on systemic change rather than short-term relief, and when giving becomes collective, strategic and cross-border," Batra said.
She noted that globally, religious communities hold enormous financial resources.
"According to Said Business School at the University of Oxford, $5 trillion in net assets are held across the four major religious groups globally. The potential for faith-aligned capital to drive change is enormous, she said.
"Faith-aligned philanthropy can also play a powerful role in addressing gender-related challenges in areas such as poverty, climate risk and economic empowerment.
"The most effective programmes are designed with communities, not imposed on them. Faith-aligned philanthropy can be particularly powerful in addressing women's health, education and livelihoods because it operates within trusted social frameworks. Strengthening women's economic participation strengthens families and communities."
She also highlighted the region's deep philanthropic traditions and significant capital, noting that it sits at a strategic crossroads linking Asia, Africa and Europe.
"Gulf donors are increasingly looking for trusted structures to ensure their generosity reaches communities in need, across borders and regardless of circumstance."
