IFRC Lauds Malaysia’s MAIPS For Transformative Community Initiative in Kenya

KANGAR (Perlis, Malaysia), July 26 (Bernama) -- The 'MAIPs Ndengu Revolution' project, a community recovery initiative by the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) in Kitui, Kenya, has received official recognition from the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC).

In a statement Saturday, MAIPs said the recognition was for its transformative contribution to the lives of vulnerable communities in the aftermath of drought.

The statement said the recognition was conveyed by IFRC Regional Director for Africa, Charles Mbeeta Businge, during a roundtable discussion with the Crown Prince of Malaysia’s northernmost state Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, held in Nairobi last Thursday in conjunction with the 'Safar Ilmi MAIPs 2025' programme.

"Through the Ndengu Revolution project, MAIPs has developed a medium- and long-term recovery approach for communities affected by drought in Kenya.

"This includes providing ndengu pulse crop seeds, agricultural inputs, livelihood support, and community capacity building. The project does not only address short-term needs, but also builds resilience and self-reliance among the recipients," the statement said.

The initiative by MAIPs has also been documented in several international reports and journals, including 'The Transformative Power of International Zakat: How zakat support from Malaysia helped communities in Kenya recover from drought' and 'Your duty for their dignity: the transformative power of international zakat financing', published by IFRC and cited in global Islamic philanthropy discourse.

Meanwhile, in the same statement, Charles Businge said Malaysia, through MAIPs, had proven that zakat instruments could expand internationally and serve as a catalyst for recovery and community resilience in the context of disasters and prolonged poverty.

He described the project, which began in 2018, as an exemplary model of how Islamic philanthropy can be integrated into the global humanitarian agenda with professionalism and integrity.

-- BERNAMA