Islamic endowments and trusts (awqaf) are increasing exponentially across the Gulf Region and continue to play a significant role in the sustainable development of regional societies— both human and economic. It is estimated by the World Bank that globally, the value of assets held in and deployed through waqf structures range from USD 100 billion to USD 1 trillion.

While the institution of waqf offers a powerful mechanism to generate sustainable resources, financial sustainability has become one of the greatest challenges faced by waqf institutions regionally. Waqf institutions have the capacity to play a far greater role in the progression of social and economic development with education, health care, social welfare and other community-based programs. In order to make such contributions, there is a need to pay attention to the development of existing waqf assets to revitalise their purpose and capability to deliver these essential services both in the present and the future.

The proper management, governance, and deployment of  waqf assets is imperative to achieving sustainable development by ensuring that the income generation of these awqaf are maximised and reach their full potential while ensuring their sustainability.

Led by David Russell QC, this webinar will highlight how to maximise social investment through awqaf, and underline international best practices in establishing, managing, sustaining and investing in awqaf.

The following topics will be discussed:

• The concept and origin of awqaf
• The principles of sound waqf management
• The values and concepts that underpin governance frameworks for awqaf
• Risk management and good governance based on International best practice

Join us for this webinar which focuses on how Theory of Change (TOC) will assist you to:

• Clarify your investment decisions
• Align your mission with that of your grant recipients
• Determine the most appropriate monitoring and evaluation

TOC is an essential tool that connects:

• What you hope to do -the change you hope to bring about
• Why and how you plan to do this
• What will change as a result of your work

Hosted in collaboration with the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) and Hogan Lovells, this webinar will equip you to consider how best your foundation/social purpose organisation can best strengthen its programes, understand and measure results, and identify opportunities for learning and improvement.

Register here to learn more about how to develop your TOC!

This webinar will aim to:

• Explain the concept of digitalisation and its value for small businesses,
• Align digitalisation with corporate governance adoption within small businesses, and 
• Explain to MSMEs the potential of adopting digital solutions for streamlined and robust business practices.

Register here!

Diversity in business leadership and organisational settings is a commonly praised endeavour, one that many businesses have publicly acknowledged, praised, and implemented to varying degrees. However, when analysing the direct opinions and experiences of women in the workforce, it is found that there is still a long way to go for businesses to support women employees, their careers, and their ambitions. Additionally, it is also revealed that there are many policies and procedures that can be implemented by businesses to facilitate women’s career successes – but these are missing or not employed correctly.

Based on the findings of research undertaken in 2018 by the Pearl Initiative and NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, this webinar workshop serves to discuss the ways in which businesses can and should support women employees for holistic business success. It will examine the factors that hinder and facilitate women’s career success, as reported in our 2019 survey by regional residents, and will build strategic solutions to create a supportive environment for women in the regional workforce.

Topics discussed will include:

• The factors that impact women’s workforce participation,
• The obstacles to women’s economic engagement, and 
• Concrete solutions that would support women at all career stages at individual and company levels.

Register here!

A common lament in small business circles is that finding sources are too few and far in between. With economic conditions playing as harrowing a role as a lack of funding in MSME management, it is important to understand how small businesses should approach funding – and how they can get access to financing strategically.

This webinar will aim to:

• Explain the current finance scenario for Gulf region MSMEs,
• Explore how corporate governance principles and procedures can help build financial confidence in a small business, and 
• Teach MSMEs how they can be strategic about looking for and accessing financing using good governance practices.

Register here!

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in September 2015 by all UN Member States (also known as Global Agenda 2030), with a view to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Both governments and businesses across the Gulf Region have taken important steps to align their activities with the SDGs.

The integration of 17 Goals and its 169 Targets presents an exciting opportunity to drive sustainability into the core of the business. However, successful implementation of SDGs across businesses remains largely dependent on the degree to which sustainability departments would be able to illustrate clearly the business value that the SDGs could create.

This webinar will discuss the various means in which organisations, at large, can align their operations with the SDGs. It will present a case study of Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) sustainability strategy (as a construction company) and how the strategy aligns with the SDGs.

The following topics will be discussed:

• The concept of sustainable development
• Building a sustainability strategy
• Integration of the SDGs into businesses strategies
• CCC case study

* Please note that this webinar will be delivered in Arabic.

Please click here to register!

Contemporary discussions around supporting MSMEs and educating them on market risks come from analyses of success stories in the small business realm. What is missing from these conversations is an analysis of why more MSMEs fail than succeed, and what lessons can be imparted from failure to create a culture of strategic planning and prudence for MSMEs to prosper.

This webinar will aim to:

• Explain the concept of survivorship bias and contextualise it in the business world,
• Discuss case studies or stories of failures within MSMEs, or the most common reasons MSMEs fail, and
• Derive strategic lessons from past failures to help MSMEs, both established and new, to create a roadmap that can prevent similar failures and pitfalls.

Register here!

Much has been said about the necessity of supporting women in the workplace and the business and moral cases for the same. Such a change, however, can only come about with the support of senior management and leaders within the company. The tone from the top is essential to ensure women feel included and appreciated at work, and for employees to make gender equality a top priority at all levels of the company.

This webinar will aim to:

• Explain the necessity for increased women in leadership positions,
• How senior management can be held accountable for D&I messaging and outcomes, and
• How companies can establish goals and targets to track and measure D&I results across all levels and departments.

Register here!

Increasing numbers of women are turning to entrepreneurship, starting businesses, and achieving new heights of business success! But the entrepreneurial road is a challenging one, and more so for women, who face gender-specific challenges. There is much that can be done to support women entrepreneurs – and all of us can make a difference. As the first step toward change begins with education, the Pearl Initiative is proud to present a webinar dedicated to women in entrepreneurship and supporting women who are looking to set up their own businesses.

 This webinar will aim to:

• Explore the MSME landscape in the Gulf region and the journey to start a business,
• Discuss the business case to support women entrepreneurs, and
• Discuss supportive policies and activities which help support women entrepreneurs, both present and future.     

Register here!

As family businesses grow, the importance of applying corporate governance best practices has become imperative – in fact, their growth largely depends on it. Research by the OECD notes that family firms that integrate corporate governance measures outperform their rivals; achieving both superior returns and higher profitability. In addition, these measures provide constructive solutions to family ownership challenges, especially when it comes to succeeding generations.

Nevertheless, family businesses have room to improve in the implementation of effective corporate governance standards. Although family firms across the Gulf Region account for a significant margin of private sector companies and thus, are a substantial value addition to economic growth, only 30% survive into the second generation and a mere 12% continue to be profitable into the third generation.

With approximately $1 trillion USD worth of family business assets being transferred to the next generation in the Middle East in the next 10 years, the urgency of succession planning has increased with the new generational cohort of family members imminently approaching. This webinar will broadly discuss building resilience, success and long-term sustainability  in family firms across the Gulf Region, through proactive and effective succession planning.

The follow topics will be discussed:

• Exit strategies as a key component of succession planning
• Building a holistic roadmap: Technical & intangible tools
• Empowering the next generational cohort
• Succession as a private matter: The impact familial relations have on business
• Understanding and building expectations for the future of the business

Please click here to register!

As the landscape of giving evolves across the Gulf Region, the lineation between the functions of the various giving vehicles utilised by individuals and organisations become increasingly apparent. Donations, sponsorships, grants and partnerships all serve social purposes, but the scalability of the impact of each vary.
 
With growing demands from the philanthropic and development sectors, comes a strain in supply from governments and intergovernmental organisations. At this juncture, there is substantial potential and opportunity for the private sector to create value in their communities by helping close the investment gap.
 
By understanding strategies for corporate giving, it can be ensured that funds committed by the private sector are being utilised to their optimum impact. This webinar will broadly discuss how to ensure funding and grant making is done effectively and responsibly.
 
The following topics will be discussed:

• Identifying the differences between corporate sponsorship & grant making
• Defining the scope and clarifying the objective of a grant
• Understanding the returns of social investing
• How to partner for success and growth