Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani signs a global ‘memorandum of understanding’ with Save the Children 

Save the Children, 8th January 2019 

The Sheikh Thani bin Abdallah Al Thani Humanitarian Fund has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Save the Children UK to relieve the hardship and suffering of the most needy and vulnerable people and communities around the world. 

His Excellency Sheikh Thani bin Abdallah bin Thani Al Thani has also confirmed an individual contribution of $18.7 million, split between $10.2 million of annual charitable giving of money to those in need by Muslims, known as Zakat funds, and $8.5 million of other charitable giving by Muslims, known as Sadaqa funds, to Save the Children UK for programming in Somalia as part of a one-year grant agreement.

The donation, which is Save the Children’s single biggest philanthropic donation in its 100-year history, will be used to deliver life-saving emergency support to almost a million people, including half a million vulnerable children, in six of the 18 drought-affected areas of Somalia. The programme will support health services, provide therapeutic feeding and clean water and sanitation, as well as support families enduring the drought crisis through a cash transfer platform that is zakat compliant. One hundred percent of the funds allocated as Zakat by His Excellency will be received directly by beneficiaries.

The MOU and grant agreement with Save the Children for Somalia were signed in London by Kevin Watkins, CEO for Save the Children UK, and Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani, on behalf of His Excellency Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani.

On the occasion of the signing ceremony, H.E. Sheikh Thani said: "It is certainly an honour for us to establish a long-term strategic partnership with a reputable international organisation such as Save the Children so as to address global emergency humanitarian needs. With this partnership, we are confident of achieving the maximum positive impact on saving lives among the populations afflicted with calamites irrespective of creed, colour or religion".

“We are immensely proud to be developing a partnership with His Excellency Sheikh Thani bin Abdallah Al Thani to deliver ground-breaking programmes for children in greatest need,” said Save the Children UK CEO, Kevin Watkins. “This is a historic pledge that will have a lasting change for generations to come”.

Somalia is still recovering from a devastating drought in 2017 and is on the brink of another drought, putting millions of children’s lives at risk. Under current conditions, only one in four children in Puntland has access to enough food, and nearly half of all families have already started to reduce what they eat, owing to a lack of cash and resources.