Doha Forum: Participants Say Soft Role of Smaller States is Significant in Addressing Humanitarian Challenges

Doha, December 10 (QNA) - Participants in the session "Reimagining Financial Markets for Humanitarian Impact: The Role of Small States and Private Sector Partnerships," held at the Doha Forum 2023 on Sunday, considered financing public benefits and financing gaps to support sustainable development goals a huge, complex, and transnational challenge, pointing out the soft role small countries play to help raise the challenges facing humanity.
They noted the latest challenges, such as climate change, COVID-19, and conflicts around the world, which have underscored the fact that funding from national governments and global civil society groups is insufficient.
During the session, participants examined the role that private finance and capital markets can play in addressing humanitarian challenges and discussed the limits of current models, innovative humanitarian tools, and partnerships that can address humanitarian challenges and help the most vulnerable communities.
In this context, HE Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Public-Private Partnerships and Islamic Social Finance Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Muraikhi stressed that societies today, amid escalating humanitarian crises and conflicts, need to reimagine financial markets and the participation of the private sector to serve the humanitarian impact.
He said that humanitarian needs are increasing and what is best must be done to respond to conflicts, natural disasters, and the increasing impact of climate change that leads to more human displacement in many countries of the world.
His Excellency stressed the significant role played by small countries, including the State of Qatar, in mitigating the problems facing the region and the rest of the world.
His Excellency said that many world societies are in urgent need of creative thinking to provide aid, and we must look to dynamic partnerships with the private sector, where we benefit from the expertise of companies to help provide humanitarian aid more effectively.
He added that we must also explore new financing models to meet growing needs, especially in light of multiple global crises competing for limited resources. This session would discuss ways in which we could address these challenges at the global level as humanitarian needs exceed the funding available from donors.
He pointed out that despite the generosity of donors and partners, the gap between needs and resources continues to widen, noting that the session dedicated to launching the global humanitarian overview for the year 2024 would clarify the humanitarian needs during the coming year.
He stressed the importance of the private sector's role in raising challenges in light of the doubling of the number of people in need of assistance, as their number increased from 244 million in 2020 to 407 million. Those people live in fragile states and small states, where the need has become exacerbated by climate change, rising seawater, and changing weather patterns.
He said that government effort alone cannot keep pace with these challenges, especially in confronting the challenges of climate change, and therefore engaging the private sector and exploring smart financing models that balance impact, risk, and return is crucial. 

HE Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Public-Private Partnerships and Islamic Social Finance Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Muraikhi said that partnerships are the key, which means that partnerships must be built within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 17 and focus on early preparedness. He noted that COVID-19 demonstrates the effectiveness of cross-sector partnerships, especially with the private sector, in delivering a system-wide emergency response to global challenges.
    He added that this is a learned lesson that we need broader cooperation, early response procedures, and a volunteering approach to fund humanitarian activities.
    He indicated that the private sector has a lot of experience and know-how, and is a source of strength, wondering how to use this advantage through the United Nations and working hand in hand. He expressed his aspiration to see more partnerships between the public and private sectors that include multilateral stakeholders working together on these innovative solutions. He added that we must not despair, but instead, we must benefit from the experiences of all stakeholders, and encourage partnerships in the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal 17.
    For his part,  HE the President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and the former High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Nasr pointed out the need for joint effort between governments, the private sector, and charitable associations to address the challenges facing humanity, especially in light of the increased conflicts, disasters, and armed conflicts.
    He said that the responsibility of the private sector can be achieved by implementing a number of social projects aimed at achieving sustainable development.
    His Excellency stressed the State of Qatar's commitment toward the international community and the UN, pointing to the humanitarian initiative to provide effective aid that reaches those who deserve it.
    His Excellency underscored the important role of small countries and their soft power to contribute to building peace and security, such as business, education, and mediation, similar to what Qatar is doing today in helping Gaza as well as many African and Asian countries.
    In turn, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida indicated that the private sector has a significant role in addressing humanitarian issues, given that private capital can innovate and provide innovative mechanisms to address disasters and humanitarian issues.
    He said that small countries are more flexible and faster in preparing technologies, adopting and innovating solutions to provide financing to help afflicted areas, and are faster in implementing the required regulatory reforms.
    Meanwhile, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Dr. Hossam El Sharkawi said that the main problem is the lack of sufficient resources to meet the needs, calling for the necessity of establishing a true partnership between the various partners, whether in the public or private sector or charitable societies, saying that we have to be pragmatic. (QNA)