HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, President of OCFA
The United Arab Emirates has been a major contributor to nations across the world. Over the years, the federation has come to the assistance of the needy and disadvantaged, of families facing adversity and fellow nations facing difficult circumstances, often in the glare of international attention. The country’s commitment to humanitarian aid reflects the values at its core, exemplified by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan who has promoted charitable work through his generosity in times of crisis, fulfilling the legacy of his father the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder and ruler of this benevolent nation.
The establishment of the UAE’s Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA) is an important step and one which will strengthen the federation’s ongoing humanitarian endeavours. This new federal office has been mandated and championed by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Prime Minister, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and has the vital support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. In the years to come, we will all join forces to increase the impact of the UAE’s humanitarian funding, forming a national alliance of all foreign aid and humanitarian agencies to ensure that aid reaches those most in need.
Over the past decades the UAE has made significant donations worldwide, helping nations afflicted by disasters both natural and man-made. Humanitarian efforts have had a profound impact on beneficiary communities thanks to the commitment of the UAE’s humanitarian agencies and to the generous contributions and assistance of our compassionate citizens, quick to respond to those in need.
The UAE has become known throughout the world for its good will and humanity, because of its willingness to come to the rescue of those living in difficult regions, to offer critical aid, to provide emergency transportation and to deliver supplies, often in high risk areas that other donors or relief organizations may be reluctant to serve. The people of the UAE extend a caring hand to those in need and support them in times of suffering, without prejudice, seeking only to ease anguish and help the poor, the beleaguered and forgotten to live a safe and respectable life.
OCFA’s work has been initiated at a critical time, when the need for humanitarian assistance is growing across the globe. It is essential that aid organizations in the UAE should be provided with vital information on beneficiaries and aid programs so that they can deliver aid and assistance that is effective and based on the actual needs of beneficiaries. To achieve the best results and keep pace with urgent humanitarian priorities we need to enhance coordination amongst ourselves and with our international partners. OCFA will play a key role in collecting, collating and documenting donations from governmental and non-governmental agencies, in collaboration with national and international organizations.
This process will streamline, consolidate and facilitate aid operations, and help to expand records of the UAE’s contributions in the United Nations’ database. By monitoring and evaluating humanitarian donations from the UAE, OCFA will also ensure that our contributions are in line with our international strategic goals. Gathering and recording information will enable OCFA to produce the reports necessary to guarantee that all UAE aid agencies are working together to secure the country’s position as a key member of the international humanitarian community.
View the latest data on the Foreign Aid Tracking Service
Sphere Project: Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response’ workshop is led by Emirati trainers
The Standards are intended to serve as a guide, incentive and inspiration to improve evaluation practices and help make development programs more effective
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan received here today Hazza Mohammed Falah Al Qahtani, Director-General of the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA) who handed him the ISO 9001 certificate
EIF reports provide information on current emergencies, in order to alert UAE actors to the most pressing needs resulting from a humanitarian emergency, as well as an overview of the international and UAE response to date. An EIF is issued when support from the UAE may be required due to the magnitude of the crisis or the vulnerability of the affected population.
Humanitarian Flash reports are available to UAE actors only, and provide updates on current humanitarian issues worldwide by theme, such as climate change and the global food crisis, as well as a summary of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, to which there has generally not been an international response.
Humanitarian Country Profiles provide information about development and humanitarian issues within a selected country, as well as listing the major local and international organizations that are already present in the field. The countries are selected according to the level of assistance that they have received from the UAE over the past two decades, and whether they are facing recurrent or ‘chronic’ emergencies.