The Islamic Development Bank, in collaboration with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, recently hosted a forum on charitable work during their annual meetings in Riyadh. The forum, titled “Harnessing Charitable Work for Development: The Path of Less Distance,” brought together philanthropy and business leaders from around the world to explore the potential of philanthropic capital in accelerating development and humanitarian efforts.
Prominent figures in the charitable, development, and humanitarian aid sectors participated in the forum, including Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser, Dr. Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, Princess Nouf bint Muhammad bin Abdullah, Bill Gates, Badr Jaafar, Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Zaben, Stanlake Samkang, Dana Dajani, and Naila Farouki. The dialogue between Bill Gates and Badr Jaafar focused on Gates’ commitment to global health through philanthropy and new challenges and opportunities in the field, such as climate change and technological advancements.
Bill Gates shared his optimism about global progress and highlighted the impact of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s efforts to reduce child mortality. Climate change was a key topic of discussion, with emphasis on the need for collaboration between different sectors to address environmental challenges. The forum also explored trends in philanthropy in the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on impact-driven and evidence-based giving practices.
The discussion touched on the role of technology, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain
