Manama: Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) and the United Nation’s Population Fund, the Arab States Regional Office (UNFPA-ASRO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate collaboration in addressing Arab family issues.
The two organisations aim to achieve further progress in the region through the collaboration and engagement of civil society in raising awareness on the importance of family and empowering women, involving men and powerful stakeholders through advocacy and policy dialogue, and rejecting unacceptable practices such as gender based violence (GBV), child or early marriage.
“The MoU will provide opportunities for capacity building, exchange and transfer of best practice and research and studies,” Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, DIFI Executive Director, said. “It will also provide a framework for working with UNFPA on joint projects and advocacy activities that will enhance the role of both organisations in attaining human and sustainable development goals in the region.”
Said Mohammad Abdul Ahad, UNFPA Regional Director of Arab States said the partnership would utilise UNFPA’s international experience and DIFI’s research capacity and regional outreach to technically support DIFI’s flagship report on the ‘State of Arab Family’.
DIFI, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), was founded in 2006 to support family, parental and child rights and dignity, with the mission of encouraging, supporting, and promoting the implementation of the Doha Declaration, and to reaffirm international commitments to strengthen the family.
UNFPA-ASRO assists and cooperates with governments in the formulation, adoption, and implementation of their population policies and development strategies. The organisation has in-depth expertise in the field of development and cooperation in reproductive health, gender issues including, Arab family GBV, population and development integrating a human rights based and culturally sensitive approach.
