The goal is nearly in sight. By the end of this year, or early next at the latest, Afghanistan and Pakistan will declare themselves free of poliomyelitis and, assuming no new cases after a three-year period, the world’s health authorities will be able to claim the global eradication of this dreadful disease.
That achievement is a testimony to the hard work of many people: the doctors, nurses, aid workers, logistics experts and religious experts who have been enlisted to the fight against polio. But it will also be thanks to a historic philanthropic alliance between the Arabian Gulf and the West. Joe Cerrell has been part of that cooperation for the past 15 years.
Mr Cerrell is no stranger to worthy causes. He worked for former American vice-president Al Gore on the production of the film An Inconvenient Truth, which probably did more than any single initiative to raise popular awareness of the danger of climate change.
Since 2001 he has been with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, most recently as managing director of global policy and advocacy, at the heart of the drive against polio by the billionaire’s philanthropic organisation – with the help of his friends in the Gulf, including the UAE.
“There is a long history of philanthropy in the Middle East. Zakat goes back to the founding of Islam,” says Mr Cerrell in Abu Dhabi, during one of his regular visits to the region. “In the UAE and Kuwait, it goes back to the founders of the states. We at the foundation have a lot to learn from the region.”
Of course, the region’s vast oil-driven wealth has also made it a natural source of philanthropy, especially for causes that focus on the Muslim world. The battle against poverty and disease is of particular interest in the Gulf because, as Mr Cerrell points out, 40 per cent of people in the world who survive below the poverty line live in Muslim countries.
But it is not just a case of digging into a sackful of cash and handing out to poor people. The new philanthropy, of which the Gates Foundation is a pioneer, weds sophisticated financial techniques to traditional charitable models to maximise the impact for recipients.
The new approach has been the driving factor behind the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, which Mr Cerrell has helped to develop since it was launched last year.
The problem is that the traditional techniques face several difficulties. One is sheer need. The cost of meeting “sustainable development goals” for poor countries is estimated at “several trillion dollars”, says Mr Cerrell, but the world stumped up only US$139 billion last year.
Lending to poor countries – to develop agriculture, prevent disease and build infrastructure – is almost by definition not profitable for the commercial banks. “The private sector is doing its bit, but it’s risky for them in places, for example, like Sub-Saharan Africa,” he says.
The other source of philanthropic finance is “concessional loans” – with lower rates of interest and longer repayment periods – from the big international aid groups, such as the World Bank or the increasingly important Islamic Development Bank.
But even with these, the recipient can often end up having to cover sizeable repayment charges. The Lives and Livelihoods Fund was developed to ease this problem by increasing the financial impact of development loans for the recipients.
“We can turn $20 into $100 by leveraging up the impact of donations,” says Mr Cerrell.
The aim is to raise $500m from development organisations, including the Gates Foundation and Gulf governments, to support $2.5bn of investment in poor countries.
Mr Cerrell reports some significant progress towards meeting that target. Mr Gates’ organisation matched a $100m donation by the Islamic Development Bank via its affiliate the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, and the government of Qatar weighed in with another $50m.
“We’re talking to several other people, including the UAE government, about the balance and the conversations are far advanced. There will probably be one ‘anchor partner’ in the $100m category but we expect others, too,” he says.
The cash will be invested mainly in agriculture and health projects in poor Muslim countries, with a smaller proportion earmarked for infrastructure development. Many will be in “micro” projects with direct impact on the lives of people in countries such as Senegal.
“Agriculture is a big focus, and something the UAE can help on. Growing things in a tough climate is something the Gulf knows very well,” says Mr Cerrell.
But the big headlines will always be generated by the programmes to get rid of fatal or debilitating diseases. Smallpox was declared eradicated decades ago, polio is well on the way to being wiped out and the campaign against Guinea worm, in which UAE donors have also been prominent, is also nearing success. Mr Gates can now turn his attention more fully to malaria, one of the biggest killers of people on the planet, and is reporting progress from orthodox techniques such as netting and spraying.
“We’ve cut the rate of infection in half from these methods,” Mr Cerrell says. “But there are still as many as 800,000 fatalities from malaria each year. It’s a major human toll and we haven’t yet developed an entirely reliable vaccine. We’re still a few years away from that. But Bill [Gates] thinks it might be possible to get rid of it by 2030, that’s his goal.”
Mr Gates also met Prince Mohammad bin Salman during the Saudi Arabian deputy crown prince’s recent visit to the United States and signed a deal to develop charitable work in the kingdom via a training programme for young Saudis in the field of philanthropy.
“It’s not as developed in Saudi Arabia but there is a long tradition of charitable giving there that we can all learn from. It’s a two-way process and we can learn a lot from them,” says Mr Cerrell.
But the UAE will remain a central focus for the Gates Foundation. Mr Cerrell was in Abu Dhabi to attend the first meeting to be held in the UAE of the Tidewater group of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which gathers to coordinate opinion between OECD governments and the main aid groups.
The meeting was co-chaired by Reem Al Hashimi, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and also head of the Dubai Cares charitable organisation, with which the Gates Foundation has had a long association.
“Over the past three years the UAE has exceeded the 0.7 per cent target of gross national income for foreign aid. Many countries aspire to that but not many achieve it,” Mr Cerrell says.
fkane@thenational.ae
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:
6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20V8%20twin-turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E630hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20Tiptronic%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh599%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now