The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) finances development projects, with preference given to joint Arab projects. The Fund’s members are all the countries of the League of Arab States.
AFESD encourages the investment of private and public funds in Arab countries, and it provides technical assistance in support of Arab economic and social progress.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
Approximately 5% of AFESD’s annual net income is allocated to grants. Grants support technical and economic feasibility studies; seminars and conferences, and other institutional support and training. Thematic areas include agriculture and dry lands, water supply, environment, and many others.
- Inter-Arab (i.e., regional) grants are made to inter-governmental organizations, NGOs, and civil society organizations on regional themes and issues.
- National grants are made to governmental organizations, NGOs, and civil society organizations.
Grant size varies from the equivalent of less than US$20 thousand to US$10 million and over.
APPLICATION: Requests for grants from AFESD can be submitted by a member state or any eligible Arab, regional, or international organization.
Requests for national grants should be accompanied by a letter from the Fund Governor of the country from which the request is being made.
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
The League of Arab States comprises the countries listed below.
Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Sub-Saharan Africa: Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan
AFESD’s website is available in Arabic and English.
The Arab Fund Fellowships Program provides Arab Ph.D. holders with opportunities to conduct advanced research and/or teaching internationally. Arab nationals who are currently working at universities in AFESD’s member countries are eligible to apply.
AFESD publishes annual reports, which offer details of the Fund’s operations (including grant making).
AFESD provides the services of the Coordination Secretariat of the Arab National and Regional Development Institutions, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Contact Us provides the information for AFESD’s headquarters in Kuwait.
February 2021