Innovation in Humanitarianism

Decades of rapid progress in the UAE have taught us that applying innovation is a critical element of our thinking across our work in driving our economy and communities alike. One area that has benefited from that approach to integrating innovation has been the UAE’s humanitarian efforts – an area that has seen strong focus from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Emirates plays a key global role in humanitarian aid and has done so for many years. In 2003, Sheikh Mohammed established the International Humanitarian City (IHC), a global storage, transportation, logistics and distribution hub for aid. Since its foundation, the nation has consistently prioritized aid.

Developing a sustainable, effective response to the humanitarian needs of the world around us was an early focus of investment and it quickly became clear that traditional approaches alone would not suffice – the application of innovation, seeking new ways to effectively invest in not only disaster response but human development, was crucial.

The integration of charitable work into the UAE’s developmental goals, forming one of the nation’s guiding principles for the coming 50 years, sent a message to the whole nation – that humanitarianism was not only a desirable national quality but a goal to achieve – and sustainably, at that.

Sustainability not in terms of environmental sustainability, but seeking longer term goals than purely to alleviate suffering at the point of crisis.

Sheikh Mohammed provided an example of this approach when he visited a school in Africa that had been built with funds from the Emirates. He realized the children in the community were still under-nourished and unable to study as a consequence. Providing kitchens and assistance in agricultural production not only gave that community relief from suffering, but support in its long-term human development. This also demonstrates how the Emirates is in the business of creating hope – development for communities that provides them hope for the future, implemented in a sustainable fashion.

Another example here is the campaign, launched in 2023 by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) , to provide an endowment to provide sustainable food aid and provide one billion meals. This campaign addresses the 828 million people globally who are in need of food aid. First launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the campaign originally set out with the goal of providing 10 million meals, expanding in 2021 to 100 million and one billion in 2022.

MBRGI itself combines 30 humanitarian and developmental initiatives and entities that Sheikh Mohammed has launched and supported over the past two decades, including charities such as Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai and the Al Jalila Foundation. In 2022 alone, MBRGI spent Dh1.4 billion ($381 million) helping 102 million people in 100 countries, the entity’s largest number of beneficiaries in a single year. A key element of its work is the creation of a truly sustainable approach to human development.

While aid for victims of natural and man-made crises remains a critical element of its work, longer term support for community development, for building hope, has become core to the Initiatives’ operations. Key investments in education, community building and building businesses that help to create hope while developing thriving communities have become key to MBRGI’s approach to philanthropy.