Together We Stand

[ 154 ] disasters. A direct example of the effort exerted in that regard is the provision of a concessionary loan equivalent to about US$20 million to the Government of Sri Lanka for the reha- bilitation of educational institutions damaged by the tsunami in 2005. In the same year, another loan equivalent to about US$8.3 million was extended to the Maldives for the rehabili- tation of tsunami-damaged utilities. Earthquakes have always been a cause of the disruption of human livelihoods. The fund assisted Egypt, Turkey and Yemen in reinstating the livelihoods of affected communi- ties by providing concessional loans amounting to US$137.6 million, all dedicated to the reconstruction of affected areas. Food security is a global concern. Fighting hunger still remains an overarching development goal of humanity as agreed by the international community in the context of the MDGs. In reach- ing for that goal, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, launched the Goodwill Fund with US$100 million in capital, as a contribu- tion from the state of Kuwait to fight the negative effects of the world food crisis on the least developed countries, and to help promote agricultural production in these countries. This initiative was launched during the 4th Islamic Economic Forum which was convened in the State of Kuwait in 2008. The Kuwait Fund was entrusted with the implementation of the Goodwill Fund. It concluded agreements with 22 beneficiary countries and disbursed the grant allocated to each recipient. The Goodwill Fund supports micro and small businesses with projects in agri- culture and related industries, such as food processing, to be implemented by competent entities in the recipient countries. Furthermore, in building the resilience of communities living in dry and arid areas against waves of drought, the fund provided grants totalling about US$5.5 million to the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, for the implementation of a project related to enhanc- ing food security in Arab countries. Health is an integral part of the international development agenda, whether in the context of the MDGs or the new SDGs. In this regard the fund furnished grants equivalent to about US$16 million to various organizations to support efforts in fighting diseases like malaria and guinea worm. One example of the fund’s partnership in combating endemic diseases is its continuous support through extending grants equivalent to about US$5 million for fighting river disease (Onchroceriasis) in Africa. This collective effort of the fund with the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, West African states and other donors, which protected about 100 million people, is described as one of the most successful disease control programmes. In a determined effort to keep the human dignity of those affected by man-made crises, the State of Kuwait and the fund pooled their resources to stand by people, save their lives and provide hope for a better future. In Afghanistan, the fund has provided the equivalent of US$30 million in grants for recon- struction efforts since 2002. In Lebanon, the fund extended a loan of about US$53 million for the reconstruction of educational buildings in Beirut. Another example of the fund’s support of human communities is the effort of the State of Kuwait to keep the hope for Syrian refugees for a better future. The State of Kuwait pledged US$1.6 billion in grants, including US$250 million of the fund’s resources, for neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees for education, health and other social facilities, in addi- tion to approximately US$200 million for Palestine. The foregoing efforts by the Kuwait Fund are examples of its collective endeavours to assist developing countries to achieve their development goals, within a framework of sustainable development. Building upon these efforts, the fund will continue to foster partnership among Kuwait and other developing nations, through a vision of achieving pros- perity and peace for present and future generations. Grants from the Kuwait Fund have helped support the rehabilitation of schools and public utilities damaged by natural disasters The fund provides technical assistance grants to finance a variety of technical services aimed at helping recipients to implement development projects Image: Kuwait Fund for Development Image: Kuwait Fund for Development T ogether W e S tand