Publication
Omar Shaban Ismail · QudsNet · 2020
Omar Shaban examines the “Waqfat Ezz” Fund, created by presidential decree on 2 April 2020 to mobilize donations against the coronavirus emergency and recession, arguing that the initiative was necessary but needs structural changes to perform effectively. He says the more than $9 million collected by 15 April is modest relative to the fund’s responsibilities and the resources that could be mobilized, and he criticizes the 30-member board for being drawn only from the private sector and only from the West Bank. He proposes reducing the board to 15 members, with just five from the private sector and the rest from other social sectors and geographic areas, while also assigning clear roles, engaging the diaspora and Arab and international institutions, strengthening media and social media outreach, and issuing regular financial and administrative reports.
Omar Shaban, April 2020: Waqfat Ezz is necessary, but broader representation and transparency are vital to raise donations.
The “Waqfat Izz” Fund was established by presidential decree on April 2, 2020, with the aim of collecting donations and support from the private sector and Palestinian society to help confront the state of emergency and recession caused by the coronavirus. The fund is overseen by a board of directors composed of 30 Palestinian figures, all of whom are from the Palestinian private sector. There is no doubt that forming the fund was a necessary decision under the circumstances we are all going through, and it is a step that strengthens the state of solidarity among the Palestinian people. Mr. Talal Nasser al-Din, Chairman of the “Waqfat Izz” Fund, stated that the donated funds had reached more than nine million dollars as of last Wednesday, April 15. The volume of donated funds after two weeks from its establishment is low compared to the tasks entrusted to the fund and the available resources that could be easily mobilized. Likewise, the nature of the composition of the board of directors of the “Waqfat Izz” Fund raises many questions. These are some observations and proposals aimed at improving performance and maximizing results:
• Since it is not a fund exclusively for the private sector, why was its membership limited to the private sector and why did it not include representatives of other sectors of Palestinian society such as religious leaders, both Muslim and Christian, academics, civil society, the media, and workers? Diversifying the composition of the fund’s management would undoubtedly ensure access to diverse sectors and would affirm partnership and interaction among and with everyone. The ideal situation, in my view, is for the fund’s board of directors to consist of only 15 people, with the private sector represented by only five members, and the remainder distributed among other social sectors and geographic areas.
• Restricting the fund’s membership to the West Bank deprives societal and geographic sectors of contributing to this fund. Why were figures from all areas of Palestinian presence, especially the diaspora, not included? We all know that there are dozens, indeed hundreds, of wealthy and charitable Palestinians in various parts of the world (the Gulf, Europe, and the Americas) who would not hesitate to contribute to this national effort.
• It is important to define responsibilities for some members of the fund in addition to the position of chairman of the fund. For example: media spokesperson, treasurer, person responsible for communication with the diaspora, and others. Distributing responsibilities enhances work efficiency and confirms transparency in receiving and managing the fund’s money, which would contribute to maximizing trust and increasing donations.
• Some individuals, institutions, and companies may prefer to donate directly to society, without going through the fund, in order to ensure receiving media attention and gaining credibility in society. Such a tendency among some will reduce donations to the fund, so the fund’s management must find a formula that balances donating to the fund with giving visibility to the donors.
• The fund should clarify that it does not target only individual contributions, but institutional ones as well, and also emphasize that donations are not limited to Palestinian donors, but that it also encourages and seeks contributions from Arab and international associations and institutions.
• It would be useful for the fund to have a presence on social media through which it presents its activities and programs, along with an explanation of how to contact it and how to send donations, which do not necessarily have to be only monetary.
• It is very important for the fund to issue periodic financial and administrative reports detailing the sources of donations and the channels of expenditure.
Topic: Palestinian Economy — Text © QudsNet — archived here with attribution to the source. — Original source