Qatar, represented by Qatar Charity (QC), has participated in the 9th edition of the AidEx 2019, which was hosted in the Belgian capital Brussels on 14 and 15 November with the participation of more than 2,500 people representing 130 humanitarian organisations such as UN agencies, the European Union, and international governmental and NGOs.
The Qatar Charity’s delegation, headed by Yousuf bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Charity, included Mohamed al-Ghamdi, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Governance and Corporate Development in Qatar Charity, Faisal al-Fuhaida, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Operations, Qatar Charity and International Partnerships, Ahmed al-Rumaihi, Head of International Partnerships – Qatar Charity, as well as Qatar’s ambassador to Belgium, Abdulrahman bin Mohamed al-Khulaifi.
Speaking at the opening session of the event, CEO Yousuf bin Ahmed al-Kuwari stressed that the forum had become an important partner for Qatar Charity and it would continue to support its role in bringing together humanitarian and development stakeholders involved in real pressing challenges.
During its participation in the exhibition, Qatar Charity showcased its contribution to the global water and sanitation crisis through an interactive screening, as well as the “hand pump”, which requires a lot of physical effort. Millions of women, girls and boys still use it to pump water from wells across Africa and Asia.
Qatar Charity also organised a workshop on ‘Comprehensive Water Projects for Women and Girls’ at the AidEx 2019, with participation of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the United Nations Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC).
The workshop addressed the possibility of achieving a comprehensive approach that takes into account the human dimension of water, sanitation and hygiene. Speakers reviewed relevant experiences and projects linking water, sanitation and gender equality among their beneficiaries.
Mohamed al-Ghamdi, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Governance and Strategic Planning, said that Qatar Charity is always keen to design its programmes according to the needs of the entire community of women, children, the elderly, people with special needs and the disabled.
He said that women and girls are a key pillar in water management in developing countries, as women have a broader knowledge of water resources including location, water quality, storage and management methods, adding that Qatar Charity is currently engaging women in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages of its projects.