At a meeting in Doha, Qatar, NEF (Near East Foundation) President Linda Jacobs and Roger Hardister, Vice President for Program Development, participated in the creation of a new forum to improve co-ordination and understanding between aid organizations in Muslim countries and those in the West.

Humanitarian Forum was officially given full backing by 18 international aid organizations at the March 1 meeting, capping a series of global discussions and conferences over four years. The group was founded to increase understanding and effectiveness among Islamic organizations, organizations from Muslim countries, and Western organizations working in Muslim countries. Representatives around the table were from Oxfam UK, Qatar Red Crescent, Islamic Relief, and Mercy Corps, among others.

"This is a unique, and an important--even vital--effort to alleviate the misunderstandings and fears of Islamic charities by Western donors in the aftermath of 9/11 and the terrorism sanctions put in place by the US Government," the NEF President said. "In order for donors--whether 'Western' or 'Muslim'-- to feel secure about 'where their money is going' when they give to groups working in the Middle East, there needs to be transparency and accountability on the part of the agency," Dr. Jacobs continued, adding, "At the same time, Western organizations working in the Middle East have to be able to reassure their donors that the groups they work with are beyond reproach."

"At a time when many people continued to disagree, we all agreed to establish this Forum," stated Dr. Hany El Banna, president of Islamic Relief Worldwide--a UK-based organization--and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Humanitarian Forum. "Now more than ever, it is vital for humanitarian organizations to work together," agreed Sir Nicholas Young, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross and Deputy Chairman of the Forum board.

It was agreed that, in addition to increasing transparency and effectiveness of all organizations, it was also imperative that Western organizations be made sensitive to the cultural and philosophical differences involved in charitable/development work in Muslim countries, and respond to these differences in designing and implementing their programs.

Among the Forum's aims are: * providing a platform for dialogue; * promoting mutual understanding; * supporting capacity building and development of nongovernmental organizations and charities; * advocating for a legal framework for greater transparency and accountability; * promoting humanitarian principles and standards * improving communication and cooperation.

The Humanitarian Forum, in its initial stages, conducted interviews and focus groups in 14 countries with over 1,200 agencies to prioritize the needs of these groups in relation to Western nongovernmental organizations.