Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – April 15, 2025 – Munib R. Masri, Founder of the Munib & Angela Masri Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Al-Quds Empowerment Fund, along with Roba El-Ghadban, Executive Director of the Foundation, participated in the international workshop titled “Partners for Development and Maximizing Impact – Al-Quds Empowerment Fund as a Model.”
The event, held at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, was organized by the Al-Quds Empowerment Fund in collaboration with the King Faisal Center and under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal. It is supported by the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the development arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore development opportunities in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and present the Al-Quds Empowerment Fund as a structured, high-impact model aligned with Islamic finance principles. Discussions focused on the Fund’s objectives, operational mechanisms, and potential for cross-sector collaboration. The event served as a platform to announce new contributions, formalize commitments through a Memorandum of Understanding, and assess the city’s pressing development needs.
Participants in the workshop included representatives from United Nations (UN) development agencies, international NGOs, Arab and Islamic funds, charitable associations, private sector organizations, and development experts. Their collective presence is intended to promote knowledge exchange, activate joint initiatives, and align strategic priorities to better serve the Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Among the critical challenges to be addressed are the renovation of 5,000 housing units, the provision of 79,000 additional residential units, the need for 15,000 scholarships for students and educators, and the equipping of 3,000 under-resourced classrooms. These figures underscore the urgent demand for sustained and coordinated development interventions.
The workshop represents a timely and strategic step toward mobilizing regional and international support for Jerusalem. The Munib & Angela Masri Foundation as inaugural donor is honored to contribute to this important dialogue and remains dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable development for Palestine.
