World Zakat Forum: Optimizing funds to reduce poverty

BANDUNG, Indonesia

Global zakat funds have not been effective to reduce poverty in Muslim-populated countries.  

The issue was addressed during the Conference of World Zakat Forum in Bandung, West Java, earlier this week.

“Twenty-four out of the 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) need humanitarian assistance due to conflict and displacement,” said Sikander Khan, director of the UNICEF emergency relief center Thursday.

A study by the World Bank and the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) estimated global zakat funds reached $550 billion to $600 billion per year. Meanwhile, the official

Read more: World Zakat Forum: Optimizing funds to reduce poverty