The onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic has gripped the world and indeed the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region as governments try to slow the spread with varying degrees of success. The current restrictions on movement are largely accepted as necessary, despite the significant blow to the region’s economies. Much less understood, however, is the way in which the pandemic will play out for the region’s most vulnerable people and the civil society organisations that serve them directly.
There is severe distress among refugees, low-income families and other vulnerable individuals as they struggle to survive without earning daily wages during the lockdown of the past few weeks.
READ Coronavirus: how AI identified the outbreak and alerted people before the UN
Record numbers have turned to small NGOs in their communities for cash assistance and vouchers for prescription drugs and food. Without additional support, NGOs and social enterprises in Mena are at risk of buckling under the pressure, just when they are needed most.
Civil society under pressure
For the few well-established NGOs that have pre-existing multi-year grants from international aid agencies or large foundations, there is some positive news: donors have been strategic and compassionate in working with the NGOs to repurpose funds and allow maximum flexibility to meet urgent needs.
While the demand outstrips their funding, they are still far better off than the majority of NGOs and social enterprises in the region that rely on individual donations, fundraising events and sale of their products and services.
With funding seeing a reduction and and cash flow falling short, it is impossible for NGOs to carry on with their critical programming, let alone address the surge in demand for relief.
The non-profit sector has always been able to rely on the generosity of individual donors and their own communities to manage year on year. But long before Covid-19, NGOs had exceeded their limits.
Persistent crises such as the long war in Syria and the weak economic and political conditions in countries like Lebanon and Iraq threatening total collapse of the governments have left the non-profit sector over-stretched and depleted.
NGOs now face an existential challenge. Unlike in developed countries like Canada and Australia, where government sponsored Covid-19 relief packages provide salary subsidies, grants and other benefits for non-profits, NGOs in Mena are struggling to maintain their staff and cover their basic operational expenses. This is not a new phenomenon.
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The non-profit sector here depends on the generosity embedded in the region's culture. Yet, because the nature of giving is charitable and targets individual level beneficiaries, NGOs have never been able to invest in their capacity and financial sustainability that would have enabled them to withstand crises such as the coronavirus.
What NGOs need: a new approach and collective effort
Covid-19 makes it abundantly clear how important civil society is to Mena. In 2020, the region needs a new collective and innovative approach to supporting the non-profit sector, one that rises to meet the scale and magnitude of this pandemic.
Without a complete transformation to financing and supporting the vital work of local NGOs on the front lines in the most vulnerable communities, the region will not be able to stave off a potential humanitarian disaster.
NGOs in the Mena region are struggling to maintain their staff and cover basic operational expenses
Covid-19 is one of the biggest challenges to ever face Mena. While governments focus on reducing the spread of the disease and the pressure on the health sector, private individuals and corporations must do their part.
It is time for individual donations to be subsumed by collective effort. It is time for leading philanthropists and responsible corporations to team up with leaders from the non-profit sector. It is time to put their minds, financing, networks and technology to address the impact of the pandemic on the region’s most vulnerable people.
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A collective effort is needed to provide funds urgently, massively scale up the capacity of NGOs and social enterprises by investing in up-skilling the non-profit workforce and digitising operations and services. This is needed so for them to survive this crisis and sustain themselves beyond it.
The good news is that several NGOs are actively working on upgrading their capacity. Some are moving their education programs for refugee children online, offering tutoring and support through WhatsApp. Others have launched online crowd-funding campaigns to raise money for hygiene kits and food.
But such short-term measures are insufficient. In order to sustain non-profit services and meet the needs of their beneficiaries, NGOs need a sustainable source of funding.
Their staff need to be trained to work together remotely. They need to be taught to facilitate learning, provide counselling online and know how to run their marketing and fundraising digitally.
While individuals, foundations and corporations should provide cash aid as a first priority, there is also a great need for in-kind donations in the form of skills transfer and products.
Corporations, for example, could donate computers and software. They could reduce costs for mobile services and loan their staff to work on solving critical immediate challenges, such as transferring from cash payments to mobile payments for their un-bankable beneficiaries.
Once the crisis subsides, the private and non-profit sectors must then turn to the bigger issue of partnering to address the matter of investing in the sustainability of NGOs and social enterprises. Together, they can begin to develop new financing mechanisms and outcome-based financing models.
For their part, NGOs must recognise that they must begin transforming their organisations even as they are responding to the immediate fallout of Covid-19.
READ Lebanon's spike in lockdown domestic violence cases reveals a legal system left wanting
Out of necessity, long overdue changes must be implemented quickly and with the same urgency given to serving their beneficiaries. Without those changes, they may not be relevant.
From Iraq to Sudan, local NGOs are the only lifeline for millions of Arabs – orphans, refugees, elderly, people with disabilities, widows, and the unemployed.
If the Mena region is to have a chance to withstand the damage of Covid-19, beyond the immediate health concerns, it has to transform the way it supports the non-profit sector now.
Maysa Jalbout is a visiting scholar and special advisor on the UN Sustainable Development Goals at MIT and ASU, non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution and senior fellow at the Issam Fares Institute at AUB
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
Company%20profile
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FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
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Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16
Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs
K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
