The UAE has announced a new 1.6 million USD Humanitarian Innovation Centre at one of Indonesia’s top universities, which will help further foster collaboration between humanitarian actors based in the UAE and the organisation around the world. The announcement was made by Sharjah”s Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
The Jawaher Al Qasimi Centre for Humanitarian Innovation is a project of The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), NAMA Women Advancement Establishment and Gadjah Mada University, in Yogyakarta.
TBHF will donate $1 Million, NAMA will give $500,000, and Gadjah Mada University will give $100,000. The centre will relate academic research to humanitarian work on the ground, with the goal of creating innovative, and pilot, solutions to be applied in communities.
The focus areas will be on food security, livelihoods, climate resilience, women’s empowerment and child wellbeing and social innovation. It will also offer research programmes and innovation challenges, humanitarian project incubators, community forums and youth leadership programmes.
Gadjah Mada University will have the space to support sustainable innovation, applied research and community engagement through a “Living Humanitarian Lab” which will occupy some 2 hectares of the university. The centre will also have a headquarters for the research, joint work and community events.
This is an outcome of an existing partnership between the NAMA and Gadjah Mada University in the field of empowering women with post study opportunities. The initial group of the programme are three women who were chosen from a slum of 136 women who applied.
Initially, the centre will have a focus on Indonesia and may expand to other Southeast Asian countries, as well as to others. Additionally, an investment endowment fund is in the planning stages to support its programmes over the longer-term.
The thrust of this initiative is to put humanitarian research, education and innovation at the community level at the center of the UAE-Indonesia cooperation.
Explore the latest Trump, Iran, and trade power shifts.
Is Iran Trump’s Biggest Political Challenge?
Find how Iran is creating growing political pressure for Trump.
Why Is Hormuz Tensions Escalating Now?
Uncover why Iran and Trump are clashing over the Strait of Hormuz.
Can Trump Survive Iran War Backlash?
Check out the political costs Trump could face from the Iran war.
How Will ASEAN Tariffs Hit Exports?
Track down how Trump’s 2026 tariffs could affect Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Why Are White Voters Turning Away?
Look into why Trump is losing support among white working-class voters.
