The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) jointly organised a Preparatory Meeting for Launching the “ISFD NGOs Empowerment for Poverty Reduction Program” on 02-03 September 2019 in Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey.

Representatives from various international, regional and local civil society organisations (CSOs), donors’ representatives, crowdfunding organisations, as well as regional and international institutions attended the two-day preparatory meeting, including SESRIC, UNDP, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Save the Children, Spark International, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Wafaa Group, Albaraka Turk Participation Bank, Al-Quds Fund, UK Prosperity Fund Turkey, UNCHR, Sakarya University and Digital Zakat.

The aim of the meeting was to elaborate and exchange views on the different aspects of the program steered by the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), as well as several other partners.

The NGOs Empowerment for Poverty Reduction Program is a five-year initiative aimed at delivering services to the hard-to-reach communities through CSOs and partners to contribute to reduce poverty through development and humanitarian initiatives and improve the socio-economic well-being. The program aims at empowering CSOs through better identification of impactful CSOs, and supporting them in their work to increase education of refugees and remote communities, job creation, building resilience and stronger community livelihoods.