Jeddah, 22nd Feb. 2011: The President of the IDB H.E Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali and the Chairman of Muslim Aid, UK, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the IDB and The Muslim Aid at the IDB headquarters in Jeddah. The aim of this agreement is to facilitate cooperation between the IDB and the Muslim Aid in fields of health and education, promote human development and social progress of Muslim Communities worldwide and to establish the necessary arrangements to implement these goals. Under the MoU, the IDB and the Muslim Aid, according to specific procedures and regulations, should work together for coordinating all programs and activities agreed upon by the two institutions. The President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali in welcoming the Muslim Aid delegation during the visit said “We have worked together on many projects in developing countries and I am confident that this MoU will strengthen our existing relationship to pursue our common goals of fighting global poverty". He went further to stress on the importance of enhancing cooperation with the Muslim Aid inside the United Kingdom. Responding to the President of the IDB, the Chairman of Muslim Aid Sir Iqbal Sacranie said "Muslim Aid is privileged to have been associated with the Islamic Development Bank's poverty alleviation programmes. This occasion is a proud moment in the 25 year history of Muslim Aid, as well as the British Muslim community. We look forward to enhancing our ongoing cooperation with the Bank to expand our services, serve humanity and help countries achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals".
Muslim Aid is a UK based relief and development agency established in 1985 and has worked in over 70 countries with field offices in Bangladesh, Bosnia, Cambodia, Gambia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan. Muslim Aid works with all in need, regardless of their race, religion, gender, nationality or political opinion. Muslim Aid programs include emergency relief; capacity building, sanitation and health programs, education and skills training, micro-financing and income generation and orphan care.