Page 210 - UAE Foreign Aid Report 2022

United Arab Emirates
210
Foreign Aid Report 2022

Aid Allocation Overview

In 2022, the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable engaged with international NGOs for over 20%, and
and Humanitarian Foundation significantly expanded facilitated bilateral assistance to governments for the
its philanthropic footprint, disbursing AED 17.2 million remaining 10%.
(USD 4.7 million) — more than triple its previous year’s
aid budget. This financial support extended to 49 When it comes to the types of assistance provided,
countries, focusing particularly on 14 Least Developed the focus was predominantly on global development,
Countries (LDCs), which received 28% of the overall aid, which consumed more than 70% of the budget.
and eight lower-middle-income countries that garnered Meanwhile, charitable projects took up 19%, with
over half of the total aid. Notably, the Foundation the remainder allocated for emergency relief and
prioritized the needs of three developing countries, humanitarian assistance. The Foundation also aligned
making Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as its its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals
primary beneficiaries, and collectively receiving nearly (SDGs) of its recipient countries, specifically prioritizing
65% of the Foundation’s 2022 foreign aid budget. SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being),
and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
The Foundation’s strategy for aid implementation
witnessed a paradigm shift in 2022. Whereas it had Over the past five years, from 2018-2022, the Zayed
directly implemented all of its foreign aid projects Foundation has exclusively used grants as its form of
for the preceding four years, the year 2022 marked aid disbursement, channeling a cumulative AED 57.4
a change; only 32% of its projects were directly million (USD 15.6 million) towards a diverse array of
managed. Recognizing the strength and efficiency of global development, humanitarian, and charitable
collaboration, the Foundation partnered with national projects. This long-term commitment and evolving
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil strategy make it one of the most impactful and adaptive
society organizations (CSOs) for 37% of its initiatives, UAE-based donors in the international arena.

Allocation Insights

01 Commodity aid

In 2022, the Zayed Foundation made a strategic Moreover, Pakistan was another focal point; the Zayed
decision to allocate nearly 50% of its international aid Foundation’s emergency food aid initiative led to the
budget, amounting to AED 8.3 million (USD 2.3 million), distribution of a substantial 703 tons of food and relief
to the Commodity Aid Sector. This aid was primarily items. This life-sustaining aid reached thousands of
channeled to benefit five lower-middle-income individuals who were severely impacted by flooding
countries, which collectively absorbed more than 95% events in the country. The data underscores Zayed
of the sector’s funding, demonstrating a targeted Foundation’s commitment to immediate and effective
approach to international assistance. Additionally, six humanitarian relief, especially in countries grappling
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were not left behind, with natural disasters and socio-economic challenges.
as they too were recipients of this sector’s aid.

A noteworthy aspect of this allocation was the
Foundation’s focus on food distribution, which
claimed over 75% of the Commodity Aid Sector’s
budget. These initiatives were spread across 16
countries, but the most significant food aid project was
executed in Uzbekistan, underscoring the country’s
prioritization within the Foundation’s aid portfolio.