Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, 18 June 2026 – The 2026 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Annual Meetings, currently underway in Baku, have convened senior policymakers, development partners, and experts, and witnessed the launch of the Response, Recovery, and Resilience (3R) Facility, a new financing instrument designed to help crisis-affected Member Countries respond to shocks, accelerate recovery, and build long-term resilience.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Aghakarim Samadzada, First Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlighted that sustainable development is fully integrated into Azerbaijan’s national development vision. He emphasized the country’s progress in advancing a greener economy through environmental protection, renewable energy transition, efficient resource use, and the adoption of clean technologies.

In his remarks, Dr. Rami Ahmad, Vice President (Operations) of the Islamic Development Bank Group, emphasized the urgency and strategic value of the initiative, noting that “fragility knows no borders” and highlighting the 3R Facility as a dedicated platform to bridge financing gaps, align anticipatory action with long-term recovery, and scale Islamic social finance as a driver of inclusive resilience. He reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to placing resilience at the core of its development approach. He stressed that resilience is treated as a strategic imperative, embedded within the Bank’s 10-Year Strategic Framework and its 2026–2030 Corporate Strategy.

The 3R Facility is a Shari’ah-compliant financing mechanism designed to support crisis-affected Member Countries through integrated approaches to response, recovery, and sustainable resilience. The Facility aims to mobilize grant and concessional resources, strengthen coordination across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, and accelerate timely, scalable support to the most vulnerable contexts.

During the launch, it was announced that several partners contributed to the Facility, including International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Islamic Relief USA, Abdullah Nuri Charity Society, and the International Islamic Charity Organizations of Kuwait, reflecting strong partner alignment behind the Facility’s objectives.

The launch was followed by a High-Level Panel, "Investing in Resilience: A High-Level Dialogue on Financing Response, Recovery, and Resilience in Fragile Contexts," which explored practical, financeable pathways to strengthen each phase of the 3R facility, from immediate response through to sustainable, long-term resilience.  The panel featured distinguished speakers, including H.E. Dr. Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zuba, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and IsDB Governor for Yemen; H.E. Dr. Mohammad Yisr Burnieh, Minister of Finance and IsDB Governor for Syria; Mr. Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for Western and Central Africa at the World Bank Group; and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Issa Faye, Director General, Global Practice and Partnerships, IsDB.

Discussions during the Dialogue highlighted the complex and overlapping challenges facing some IsDB Member Countries, including conflict, displacement, food insecurity, climate shocks, and institutional constraints. Participants emphasized that resilience-building is essential to achieving sustainable development, strengthening regional stability, and fostering inclusive economic growth.

The Dialogue also explored innovative financing mechanisms to mobilize additional resources, with particular emphasis on blended finance and Islamic finance instruments—including zakat, waqf, and sukuk—as effective tools to support recovery, social protection, and long-term development outcomes.

The session concluded with a strong call for enhanced partnerships and increased investment in resilience. Participants stressed the need to translate commitments into concrete, bankable, and regionally coordinated actions that enable communities to withstand future shocks while advancing stability, prosperity, and sustainable development across IsDB Member Countries.

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