The UAE’s work to advance developmental and humanitarian action have won praise from many international organisations, Hazza Al Qahtani, the under-secretary of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, has told an international meeting.
Because of the nation’s efforts in this area, it was invited to participate in a senior-level gathering in Paris of the Development Assistance Committee (Dac), which is part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
A session, chaired by Mr Al Qahtani, was held for the UAE delegation to present the country’s contributions to foreign aid and international and humanitarian development. It offered a glimpse of the country’s foreign-aid efforts since 1971, when the Abu Dhabi Development Fund – the country’s arm for developmental assistance – was founded.
In 2009, the UAE Foreign Aid Coordination Office was established to document assistance, in coordination with Dac.
The UAE has also trained donors on best practices in foreign aid. Recent efforts have culminated in the creation of the Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, which seeks to enhance, chronicle and assess foreign assistance.
Mr Al Qahtani said at the Dac meeting that the UAE would continue to coordinate with the committee to support international development and provide all data on UAE foreign aid.
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