UNDP and Islamic Organizations Sign Cooperation Deals
Leaders gathered in Riyadh in September 2026 to formalize partnerships using Islamic social finance mechanisms.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Islam
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In September 2026, the UNDP, OIC, and IIFA signed three cooperation agreements at the UN House in Riyadh. This partnership aims to leverage Islamic social finance to support communities impacted by economic, climate, and conflict crises.
Why it matters
These agreements provide a framework for using Zakat, Sadaqah, and Awqaf to mobilize additional resources for populations facing severe fragility. The initiative seeks to bridge funding gaps following a sharp decline in global development assistance.
Official development assistance decreased by more than 23 percent in 2025. Currently, more than two billion people reside in areas characterized by high or extreme fragility.
The players
United Nations Development Programme
The UNDP is a global development network that advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience, and resources.
International Islamic Fiqh Academy
The IIFA is a global scientific organization that examines contemporary issues through the lens of Islamic jurisprudence.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
The OIC is an intergovernmental organization with 57 member states that serves as the collective voice of the Muslim world.
The details
The newly signed agreements align Islamic principles with humanitarian aid, utilizing Zakat and Sadaqah for immediate relief alongside Awqaf for long-term endowments. Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar attended the roundtable, which was opened by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Timeline
Official development assistance declined by over 23 percent during 2025.
Partners met at the UN House in Riyadh in September 2026.
Culture Shift
This integration of faith-based financial mechanisms marks a departure from purely secular development models. It represents a growing societal shift toward utilizing localized, traditional social support systems to address modern, global humanitarian challenges.
The initiative aims to channel aid into communities suffering from chronic fragility and economic shocks. Residents in participating regions may see new humanitarian relief programs funded through these restructured Islamic finance mechanisms.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights a new strategy for mobilizing capital in an era of declining international aid. By formalizing the use of traditional Islamic social finance, the organizations hope to provide more sustainable support for the world's most vulnerable populations.
Further reading
Learn more about the intersection of tradition and international development in our Islam section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UNDP.
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