Leading Philanthropy Towards Lasting, Sustainable Change

In a world where the needs of young people are constantly changing, leading a philanthropic effort to create lasting and sustainable change is essential. It takes a combination of vision, strategic partnerships, and a team who share the same values to make an impact. As the executive responsible for the leadership of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation based out of Dubai, I am also entrusted to??administer the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund. These two funds collectively have made a positive difference for more than 120,000 young people in the Arab region.?

At the heart of this philanthropic organization?are the?values?to?cultivate?authentic and strategic partnerships that reflect the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are focused on ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all members of society. This foundation has established itself as a leader in creating sustainable change through its commitment to these ideals. The Foundation has operationalized a strategic approach to create pathways for better opportunities working with private and public sector actors, #education institutions, and NGOs.

Leading this organization means assuring that the team of experienced professionals work cohesively towards a shared vision and are accountable to the participants, partners and board of trustees. The perspective and feedback of these three groups of stakeholders serve to help us build and sustain a successful philanthropy rooted in principles of good governance. We use evidence to make decisions that allow us to be nimble, flexible, and responsive to the needs of various communities so we can make a positive difference to the lives of so many young people, and support systematic change.?This is what professional accountability achieves, and that type of accountability can only come alive with the right team.?

The experienced team members dedicated to making an impactful difference have diverse backgrounds and a voice that the leadership wants to hear. We allow for critical discussions of the evidence at hand, disagreements and positive conflict. The interpretations and ideas we have internally are validated through stakeholder engagement to assure that we support and are supported by those stakeholders who share a vision and work collaboratively to achieving a better tomorrow for all. These honest efforts have allowed us to cultivate an ecosystem of foundation friends who care deeply about the sustainable future of young people in this region and abroad.?

When we consider that young people in this region are growing up in countries as diverse as Mauritania, the UAE, Jordan, Tunisia and Yemen, the reality is diverse ( OECD - OCDE ). This necessarily means that the opportunities available to young people are significantly different and factors like gender, migration status, and poverty levels influence their access to education, employment and health. Although there are diverse personal and national circumstances, the region does face a?collectively?high youth unemployment rate, millions of displaced people, and increased poverty levels. Hence, to work with partners at the local and global levels, the Foundation team needs to be insightful and responsive. This means our team must continuously be aware of changes happening in their respective fields and have the ability to adapt accordingly.?

The strategic philanthropic approach?we operationalize?has made significant strides towards creating lasting change for over 120,000 young people in?the region where we live and #work .??The?mission-driven initiatives that address specific needs while incorporating collaboration with key stakeholders who understand the importance of investing in #youth development initiatives like?the ones showcased in our impact and annual reports. These?efforts demonstrate what can be achieved when you have a clear vision combined with strong values and dedication - creating sustainable change that will benefit generations to come.

Whether you are interested in supporting education initiatives or youth employment opportunities, I encourage you to join us as we continue working towards creating impact. I anticipate that 2023 will be an exciting year full of hope being realized.