Ramallah\/Jerusalem – Over three days, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, Acting Director of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ), held consultations in Ramallah and Jerusalem with institutional, economic and social stakeholders, as well as Muslim and Christian religious authorities, to shape the Agency\u2019s 2027\u20132030 action plan under its Vision 2030.<\/p>\n
The consultations, conducted through a constructive participatory approach, gave the Agency\u2019s team an opportunity to hear partners\u2019 views on priorities and prospects for cooperation, helping develop a plan that responds to Jerusalem\u2019s needs in the coming period, guided by the principle of \u201csustainability in planning and action.\u201d
\nEcharkaoui said the new vision is grounded in the directives of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and in the values on which BMAQ was founded. It draws on its field experience since it began operations in 1998 while responding to the rapid changes affecting Jerusalem and its surroundings and to growing needs and demand for support.
\nHe said the consultations involved institutions and partners including the Jerusalem Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs, the Jerusalem Governorate, the Popular National Conference of Jerusalem, Islamic and Christian institutions, the Directorate of Education, the East Jerusalem Hospitals Network, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Charitable Associations, the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem, Al-Quds University and Bank of Palestine.
\nHe noted that an advisory committee had been established, bringing together Jerusalemite figures from diverse religious, economic and social backgrounds to contribute to the document. An initial draft prepared by the Agency\u2019s experts will then be reviewed and refined in light of input from partners and other experts.
\nEcharkaoui stressed that the new vision calls for a gradual shift from direct in-kind assistance towards empowerment and sustainability, building on the Agency\u2019s experience in supporting productive associations, emerging enterprises, traders and farmers. It also envisages greater use of digital platforms to manage files and dealings with beneficiaries, funders, suppliers and contractors, strengthening transparency, monitoring and evaluation.
\nHe said that strengthening governance, advancing digitalisation and adhering to international quality standards would be key priorities in the next phase, aimed at enhancing the Agency\u2019s performance and operational efficiency.
\nHe added that diversifying the Agency\u2019s funding sources is a key component of Vision 2030, through measures including an online donations platform, investment and productive endowments, the \u201cMade for Palestine\u201d brand, and corporate social responsibility contributions.
\nHe explained that BMAQ has been funded entirely by Morocco since 2011. Its annual operating budget is approximately USD 3 million, while its project budget is around USD 4 million, financed through contributions from Moroccan government institutions, local authorities, associations and individuals.
\nHe said BMAQ\u2019s interventions in the coming period would focus on preserving the Holy City\u2019s historical, civilizational and heritage assets and strengthening residents\u2019 resilience through innovative economic and social empowerment programmes. Jerusalem\u2019s local stakeholders would be engaged as partners in planning and implementation, rather than simply regarded as beneficiaries.
\nHe emphasised that Vision 2030 seeks to build on the Agency\u2019s accumulated achievements while creating new opportunities for the future. This includes developing local expertise and leveraging the city\u2019s symbolic capital to strengthen support for the trade, tourism and agriculture sectors, while advancing digital transformation, establishing a regional innovation centre, and developing a unified and secure information system.
\nHe noted that the plan is guided by the principle of \u201cassets before assistance,\u201d under which each donation should create a lasting impact and reach those most in need in line with the city\u2019s priorities and specific circumstances. It also calls for programmes to be developed jointly with partners and stakeholders across social sectors, including education, health, housing, youth and sports, culture, creativity and the arts, women and children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
\nAdnan Al-Husseini, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and head of its Jerusalem Affairs Department, said BMAQ continues to implement programmes and projects that address the city\u2019s needs, particularly in education, social development and economic empowerment. He expressed hope that these efforts would continue and expand in the coming years.
\nAl-Husseini stressed the importance of strengthening the Arab and Islamic presence in Jerusalem, noting that the Moroccan Cultural Centre (Bayt Al-Maghrib) could play an important role in promoting the city\u2019s cultural identity and narrative. He called for greater activity by the centre alongside the Agency\u2019s ongoing programmes.
\nSheikh Azzam Al-Khatib, Chairman of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Council, commended the BMAQ\u2019s support for Jerusalemites and efforts to help them remain rooted in the city. He noted that its programmes address social, health and educational needs and stressed the importance of sustaining this support amid the difficult circumstances facing Jerusalem and its residents.
\nMustafa Abu Sway, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem and holder of the Imam Al-Ghazali Chair at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds University, praised the breadth of the Agency\u2019s programmes in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, as well as the clarity of its priorities. He welcomed its forward-looking vision and plans and affirmed the Waqf Council\u2019s readiness to cooperate in serving the Holy City.<\/p>\n
Hatem Abdel Qader, Secretary-General of the Islamic-Christian Commission, praised BMAQ\u2019s support for Jerusalem through its social, economic, cultural and awareness-raising projects. He noted that the Agency was established by a decision of the Islamic Summit to support the city with contributions from Arab and Islamic countries, and said that strengthening this collective support could create greater scope for strategic projects to meet Jerusalem\u2019s growing needs.
\nKhuloud Al-Dajani, President of the Jerusalem Civil Association for the Visually Impaired, welcomed BMAQ\u2019s continued support for those most in need, particularly persons with disabilities, orphans and women. She stressed the importance of sustaining this support, saying: \u201cA little, sustained support from an Agency committed to lasting grants for Jerusalem is better than much that is short-lived.\u201d She also welcomed the Agency\u2019s focus on higher-impact projects and its adoption of digital tools and advanced governance in managing its programmes.
\nWilliam Shomali, Vicar General of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said that although Morocco is geographically distant from Jerusalem, its presence is tangible through the BMAQ\u2019s support for educational, social and recreational projects. He noted that bringing students from Jerusalem and Palestine to Morocco helps strengthen bonds of friendship and goodwill between the two peoples, and called for continued support for Jerusalem and its residents.
\nArchbishop Atallah Hanna praised BMAQ\u2019s continued presence in Jerusalem, noting that its work despite limited resources reflects its commitment to supporting Jerusalemites. He also commended the Agency and HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for their efforts in support of Jerusalem and the Palestinian people.
\nHind Khoury, former Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, praised the clarity of BMAQ\u2019s strategic plan and its commitment to involving Jerusalem\u2019s community in identifying its needs, as well as its strong administrative and institutional capacity. She stressed the importance of moving from planning to implementation and highlighted the Agency\u2019s potential role in advancing development, empowerment and job creation in the city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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