Davos Diary – Islamic Relief at the World Economic Forum

Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, reports from Davos, where he’s been attending this week’s World Economic Forum.

CEO Waseem Ahmad with Natalia Kanem, Head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)

Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges, and we must find creative solutions.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequality, pushing another half a billion people into poverty while the richest get even richer. The number of people suffering from hunger has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine has sent food and energy prices skyrocketing.

Climate change means that we are witnessing increasingly frequent and severe disasters – from the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in decades, where a person is dying from hunger every 48 seconds, to the devastating floods in Pakistan. And the poorest people are always most affected.

This week I’ve been in Davos, Switzerland, participating in the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) – one of the most important gatherings of the private sector, governments, opinion makers and civil society leaders.

The contrast is stark. Here there is a lot of money and the latest technology, while most of Islamic Relief’s work is in the poorest communities where people struggle to access clean water or one meal a day.

But the enormity of the world’s challenges requires new and innovative ways of doing things, and us all working together. It’s been inspiring to see the possibilities and discuss new solutions.

As I prepare to leave the 2023 WEF, I’m left with a few reflections…

We need global leadership more than ever

It’s clear that there are the funds and expertise to tackle climate change, poverty and hunger – but there is often a lack of political will.

Too much wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small number of people and corporations. We need governments to deliver on their commitments for a fairer society.

More collaboration with the private sector

We need to explore digital solutions to these problems. This week I’ve had some fascinating meetings with the private sector about the potential of new technologies to improve food security.

In parts of northeast Kenya, for example, water is scarce and droughts often wipe out fruit and vegetable crops. Islamic Relief recently partnered with a local Kenyan company to provide farmers with new solar-

powered, high-tech ‘drip irrigation’ kits that use 65% less water than traditional irrigation methods. The solar panels are also much cheaper and better for the environment than diesel pumps. Many farmers participating in the project trebled their yields of tomatoes and onions.

This is the kind of innovative collaboration between charities and businesses that we need to encourage and expand – as long as it’s done ethically and for the right reasons.

Inspired by the people we serve

In between meetings, I spent time staring at some incredible artwork on display by refugees worldwide. It’s a reminder that discussions at big events like this must be rooted in these communities and that the poorest people must not be left out – but they often are. It’s also a perfect example of the creative spirit that is needed to find solutions.

I was particularly inspired by a collage of drawings by Rohingya refugees, which depicted their everyday lives, memories and hopes for the future. On top of the drawings, they traced the routes via which they fled for their lives in 2017. It was a powerful testament to the humanity and dignity of refugees.

The power of faith

This week I’ve met representatives from Christian, Jewish and Buddhist networks around the world, to discuss the importance of our respective faiths in guiding our work.

The majority of people worldwide are religious, yet the role of religion in the humanitarian response gets neglected and needs to be addressed. I was pleased to attend a meeting with Professor Klaus Schwab, the WEF founder, where he highlighted the critical role of faith organisations and religious communities in responding to the world’s biggest crises.

I’m delighted to find out about the commitment from WEF to further amplify the work of faith-based organisations in humanitarian crises and find long-term solutions to the world’s challenges.

Building networks and alliances

Our partnerships with other organisations are vital for reaching more people.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, our partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is growing from strength to strength, supporting sustainable livelihoods and women’s empowerment. It was great to meet the head of UNDP, Achim Steiner, at WEF and discuss how we can strengthen that work even further in the future.

I also got the opportunity to discuss with Natalia Kanem, the head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), how we can enhance our collaboration to provide dignity and protection for women and girls in times of crisis – and with David Beasley, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP) on joint initiatives to address the global hunger crisis.