UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today a new milestone collaboration between its Refugee Zakat Fund and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), an entity of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). In continuation of their support, IIFA will now serve as UNHCR’s Zakat Fund, overseeing the external compliance review of the Refugee Zakat Fund, reinforcing UNHCR’s unwavering commitment to transparency and Sharia compliance.

This agreement builds on the existing five-year partnership between UNHCR and IIFA which was signed in 2021. It aims to enhance support for refugees by providing UNHCR with scholarly guidance and jurisprudential expertise to strengthen its Islamic philanthropy efforts. In 2020, IIFA issued a fatwa authorizing UNHCR to collect and distribute Zakat funds through its Refugee Zakat Fund.

Since 2017, the annual external compliance review of UNHCR’s collection and distribution of Zakat funds has been conducted by Tabah Foundation, ensuring that UNHCR adheres to the principles of Sharia. With the addition of IIFA, UNHCR is further strengthening its governance and alignment with Islamic principles, offering an added layer of trust for donors globally. Meanwhile, UNHCR’s Islamic Philanthropy team continues to perform the internal compliance review on an annual basis, ensuring that the Refugee Zakat Fund maintains the highest standards of governance and transparency.

“This milestone in our partnership with IIFA underscores our unwavering commitment to Sharia compliance. It further solidifies UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund as a trusted, verified, and compliant platform, enhancing its impact while ensuring the highest standards of transparency and governance” stated Dr. Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner for Islamic Philanthropy and UNHCR’s Representative to the GCC countries.

“IIFA’s Sharia Board for the Refugee Zakat Fund will amplify trust and facilitate fulfilling our promise to the Zakat donors. It underscores our commitment to optimizing and maximizing the impact of our response efforts on vulnerable forcibly displaced people, through the Refugee Zakat Fund, per Sharia laws,” he added.

On his part, H.E. Prof. Koutoub Sano, Secretary-General of IIFA, said: “UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund represents a pioneering initiative in Islamic Philanthropy, ensuring that Zakat reaches those who need it most with full Sharia compliance and ethical governance. Our collaboration reinforces the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to Islamic principles in humanitarian efforts. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to upholding the values of justice, compassion, and solidarity that lie at the heart of Islamic giving.”

Since its launch, the Refugee Zakat Fund has provided life-saving assistance to over 8.9 million refugees and internally displaced people, offering critical life-saving support by providing cash assistance, food, shelter, healthcare, and education, among other services. With the growing impact of the fund, partnerships with Islamic institutions, such as IIFA, ensure its ongoing success in supporting those most in need.

UNHCR remains dedicated to providing donors with full visibility and confidence in the use of their Zakat and other contributions, ensuring that every donation is a step toward much-needed relief for refugees and displaced people worldwide.