Aid from Islamic Donors in conflict zones

ISLAMICAID has the overall objective to provide a broader understanding of humanitarian aid in conflict zones as implemented by Islamic actors and improve the dialogue between Western and Gulf donors. The Action has two specific objectives.

One is related to Islamic social welfare instruments and their contribution to social protection and economic empowerment.

The second concerns the foreign aid of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE and the implementation through different channels, including charity organisations.

These two objectives will consider interventions in three conflict zones, such as Yemen, Sudan, and Syria, from 2015 to 2022.

The necessity to enhance the coordination of aid interventions and expand the resource base for humanitarian financing makes this research relevant in terms of timing and scope.

The Action aims to contribute to the DG ECHO Humanitarian Logistics Policy, which promotes effective coordination with other humanitarian organisations in complex crises.

Not only does the research fill the gap in the literature, but it also analyses aid practices from a top-down and bottom-up approach with an anthropological perspective through fieldwork and ethnographic research, which will produce new evidence of Islamic financing instruments, Gulf donors' decision-making process, and everyday humanitarian negotiation practices of organisations in the field.

Through the collaboration between UNIVE and Princeton University, and the supervision of Prof. Legrenzi and Prof.

Haykel, the MSCA will allow me to expand my previous study on Islamic aid practices, receive training in anthropology, ethnographic research and social network analysis, and become an expert in Gulf donors and humanitarian financing in conflict zones.

I will productively engage with the US academic circle, acquire new knowledge and expertise, bring it back to Europe, and ultimately build my future academic career in Europe with strong networks in the Gulf States and the US.