Georgetown University: Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs: Symposium on Global Development and Faith-Inspired Organizations in the Muslim World

December 17, 2007
Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Doha, Qatar
Co-sponsored by the Berkley Center and the Center for International and Regional Studies, School of Foreign Service in Qatar CIRS website

PRESS COVERAGE
The Gulf Times, Qatar
The Peninsula, Qatar


SYMPOSIUM BACKGROUND

Major issues of focus at the Doha meeting included building better knowledge of institutional arrangements and trends in Muslim majority developing countries; exploring relationships among public, private, and religiously inspired actors; financing issues, including the new landscape post September 11, 2001; and approaches to leading issues such as children, education, health, and gender.  The review focused on how emerging institutions in the Muslim world, especially those with explicit faith links, are approaching issues of social and economic development. 

A summary of the meeting is available here.

A survey research paper (currently in the draft stage) exploring literature on the topic and assembling information available on institutions in majority Muslim countries, the United States, Europe, and Australia, can be accessed here: Background Paper

PARTICIPANTS

The Doha meeting brought together a combination of practitioners and leading academics to review the emerging agenda of issues.

Keynote speakers:
Dr. Azhari Gasim Ahmed,  Senior Economist, Islamic Development Bank
Dr. Hany El Banna, Co-founder and President, Islamic Relief Worldwide

Co-Conveners:
Mehran Kamrava, Center for International and Regional Studies, School of Foreign Service in Qatar
Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs

Participants:
Abdullah H Alnameh, Qatar Charity
Azhari Gasim Ahmed, Islamic Development Bank
Hady Amr, Brookings Institution
Mona Atia, Gerhart Center
Noureddine Benmalek, High Communication Authority, Morocco
Roksana Bahramitash, University of Montreal
Patrice Brodeur, University of Montreal
Paul Dhalla, Aga Khan Development Network
Khaled N. Diab, Qatar Red Crescent
Hany El Banna, Islamic Relief
Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Arab Democracy Center
Omnia Nour, Reach Out to Asia
Salman Shaikh, Office of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Ali Yurtsever, Rumi Forum

Project background interviews

Hady Amr, Brookings
Interview

Mona Atia, University of Washington, Consultant, Gerhart Center
Interview

Roksana Bahramitash, University of Montreal
Interview

Hany El Banna, Islamic Relief
Interview

Noureddine Benmalek, High Communication Authority, Morocco
Interview

Patrice Brodeur, University of Montreal
Interview

Amadou Cisse, Islamic Development Bank
Interview

Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Arab Democracy Center
Interview

Tom Kessinger, Aga Khan Development Network

Marie Juul Petersen and Sara Lei Sparre, Danish Institute for International Studies
Interview

Ali Yurtsever, Rumi Forum
Interview