Page 180 - UAE Foreign Aid Report 2022

United Arab Emirates
180
Foreign Aid Report 2022

Aid Allocation Overview

In 2022, Dubai Cares continued to solidify its reputation benchmarks in global educational standards and policy
as the UAE’s foremost foreign aid donor in the global making, thereby enhancing the potential for systemic
education sector, diligently advancing its mission to change.
expand access to quality education in the developing
world. That year, the organization earmarked a Dubai Cares has long-standing roots in cultivating
substantial AED 62.5 million (USD 17.0 million) for robust partnerships as a cornerstone of its operational
educational initiatives that impacted 13 countries, five strategy, aligning itself with international, multilateral,
of which were classified as Least Developed Countries and particularly local organizations. In 2022, a
(LDCs). remarkable 95% of its projects were executed in
collaboration with national NGOs and Civil Society
A closer examination of the 2022 foreign aid funding Organizations (CSOs) in beneficiary countries. This not
blueprint reveals that a dominant 82% of the allocated only signifies Dubai Cares’ commitment to localized,
aid was funneled into Dubai Cares’ multi-country ground-up interventions but also demonstrates trust in
programmes. These initiatives primarily targeted global the unique insights and expertise that these national
research and advocacy, monitoring, evaluation, and organizations bring to the table. The remaining 5%
quality assurance. The intention behind this sizable of the funding was allocated to partnerships with
allocation was to fine-tune educational frameworks to international NGOs, underscoring the organization’s
align with the real-world needs of learners, spanning global reach and multifaceted approach to aid.
various age groups from children to young adults. By
doing so, Dubai Cares aims not just to make a difference When it comes to the categorization of assistance,
on the ground, but also to contribute scholarly insights Dubai Cares demonstrated a discernible focus
that can uplift the broader global education landscape. on development-centric programs, dedicating an
In the vast expanse of sub-Saharan Africa, a region overwhelming 94% of its resources in that direction.
often grappling with intricate educational challenges, While the organization’s primary thrust is development,
Dubai Cares steered its focus towards rejuvenating it does not overlook immediate humanitarian needs.
the tertiary education sector. Aiming for systemic The remaining 6% of its budget was channeled
transformation, the organization sought to enhance the towards humanitarian efforts, including addressing
sector’s overall efficacy, ensuring that higher education the educational exigencies of the Rohingya crisis and
in the region not only remains accessible but also sustaining the Education in Emergencies program in
evolves to meet international standards. Jordan, which specifically supports high-school aged
Syrian refugees.
In a move to galvanize worldwide attention and action,
and as part of its global advocacy efforts, Dubai Cares The top three beneficiaries of Dubai Cares’ country-
launched a landmark pledge in October 2022 — the based education projects in 2022 were Bangladesh,
Dubai Declaration: A Fair Start in Life for Every Child: Paraguay, and Cambodia, highlighting the geographical
The Imperative to Act Now. The Declaration was diversity and strategic focus of its philanthropic
articulated around three pivotal principles. The first endeavors. From a global perspective, Dubai Cares
principle emphasized the necessity of adopting a is committed to contributing substantially to United
comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach for Early Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, aimed at
Childhood Development (ECD), advocating for multi- ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and
dimensional programs that offer every young child promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
“the best start in life.” The second principle called for
the creation and enforcement of family-friendly ECD Surveying its financial contribution towards the global
policies, along with robust partnerships and regulatory education sector over a half-decade period, from 2018-
frameworks at both the national and global levels. 2022, reveals the monumental scale of Dubai Cares’
Finally, the third principle focused on the financial commitment. Dubai Cares has infused AED 605.0
underpinning of these initiatives. It urged for inventive million (USD 164.7 million) into international aid via
financing strategies aimed at optimizing investment grants, which stands as its exclusive modality for fund
in ECD while ensuring the efficient mobilization, disbursement. This figure is not just about financial
allocation, and management of resources. Through magnitude but mirrors the depth and breadth of Dubai
these principles, Dubai Cares aims to set new Cares’ dedication to global educational advancement.