Harnessing the Power of Zakat

$38.1 million raised through the Refugee Zakat Fund in 2019
111,209 families supported in the first half of 2019 across Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Mauritania and Bangladesh

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

By late 2018, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Zakat initiative had established itself as a trusted route for Muslims to fulfil their Zakat obligations. With individual donations only scratching the surface of what was required to meet the funding shortfall, UNHCR restructured the initiative as a Shariah compliant Refugee Zakat Fund, opening it up to exponentially greater contributions from Islamic businesses around the world. ASDA’A BCW joined the dots with a comprehensive strategy which combined the release of the first Zakat Report, with its headline grabbing figures on the potential of Zakat to transform global aid and launch of the UNHCR Zakat Fund.

REACTION

The strategic launch timing, location, and the well-executed launch along with a compelling narrative, successfully drove awareness on the Refugee Zakat Fund- later recognised as the ‘Best Global Zakat Distribution Platform 2019’ at the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA).


IMPACT

The fund raised US$38.1 million in the first six months of 2019 far surpassing targets, supporting 111,209 vulnerable families across the world through cash assistance.