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“When speaking to community members – no one has ever said, ‘I need more aid’. People have plans”  ~Suleiman Abdulahi of Common Reserve

The final day of NEAR’s MENA Summit 2025 was dedicated to solutions. We shifted mindsets towards partnerships and innovative solutions that can foster South-to-South Solidarity and address the challenges across the MENA region.

Leaders from academia, social impact, philanthropy, public and private sectors came together to share transformative solutions as well as lay the foundation to collaboratively develop action-orientated contextualised solutions and approaches that build resilience and promote positive change.

Key themes discussed throughout the day included: innovation, the evolving humanitarian needs in the region, innovative and blended financing models, investment for social impact, sustainable business models, exploring partnership approaches, and leveraging technology to strengthen solidarity.

The first panel featured:

• Degan Ali, CEO of Adeso, who talked about her inspiring professional and organisational journeys and the nascent Proximate Fund as a funding mechanism to strengthen locally-led funds in Africa. Degan encouraged us to think beyond aid dependency, reminding us that “the [aid] system was designed to maintain power in the Global North.” She prompted us with critical questions about how we can decolonise the system if we don’t decolonise our own institutions. Degan also highlighted Waqaf, as a powerful source of Islamic funding, and how every new project at Adeso needs to have an exit strategy and financial independence.

• Saad Alotaibi, CEO/Chairman of the Union at Nama Foundation and Kuwait Charities Union, fascinated us with the movement of zero, and the importance of incorporating an investment mindset into the humanitarian sector illuminated by examples from his organisation’s work across Africa. Grounded in the pursuit of self-sufficiency and anchored in the belief that everyone and every place has something to offer which has inherent value. “Money doesn’t disappear; it moves”. Saad shared examples from Somalia where people are investing into the medical services that are being provided to them.

• Suleiman Abdullahi, Founder of Common Reserve, discussed the need for improved digital banking solutions and why he’s setting out to build a bank for the aid sector.  Suleiman encouraged us to think in an empowered way – that we can think creatively and strategically with greater impact when not operating from a victim mindset, “We can build our own infrastructure and tools”.  In the case of Common Reserve, the platform will power financial infrastructure, and cost-effective fund transfers for contexts that have been shut out of the banking system.

The afternoon was dedicated to action-orientated discussions in small groups facilitated by Saad Alotaibi and Dr. Prof. Basmah Ahmed Jastaniah, Chairperson of International Training Institute at Akadymiuwn International University. Participants set off to define solidarity and think through transformative solutions and how South-to-South cooperation can strengthen solidarity for Global South communities they serve.

Looking ahead – we’re excited to work in community to build on the sparks, ideas, and relationships that were initiated and strengthened in Amman last week. Creativity, innovation, partnerships and collaborations should be our focus.

As our colleague Wejdan pointed out,

“It’s not even about thinking outside the box. The box is destroyed.”