The Strategic Importance of Humanitarian Aid Associations and Technology in the Development of the Islamic World

The Strategic Importance of Humanitarian Aid Associations and Technology in the Development of the Islamic World

Development in the Islamic world is not just about economic growth; it's a holistic process that protects human dignity, strengthens justice, enhances institutional capacity, and builds societies resilient to crises.

In this journey, humanitarian aid associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are the structures that establish the fastest contact in the field, carry trust relationships, and often assume a “complementary” role between the state and the private sector.

Alhamdulillah, while the impact of these institutions has increased in recent years, the magnitude of needs and the shrinking of resources have made technology no longer an “option” but a “necessity.”

1) Why now? Increasing needs, shrinking resources

Today, the humanitarian aid ecosystem is under two major pressures:

• • Increasing needs: According to the United Nations OCHA's 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview, it is stated that 305 million people worldwide will need urgent humanitarian aid and protection in 2025. unocha.org
• • Funding pressure / gap: In OCHA's 2025 overview, it is emphasized that a very large global call has been made; however, funding rates fall short of targets in many crises. unocha.org

Additionally, updates within 2025 report that “total humanitarian funding” levels have declined. humanitarianaction.info

This points to the equation of “more needs with fewer resources.” Here, technology emerges as a tool for creating more impact with a unit donation, reducing waste, and enhancing transparency and trust.

2) What makes humanitarian aid NGOs “unique” in development?

2.1. Access to the field and trust infrastructure

Humanitarian aid associations can establish the fastest access and local trust relationships, especially in crisis regions. This is critical for the continuity of basic needs, the first step in development.

2.2. Solutions for micro-needs unreachable by the state

Public policies generally operate on a “macro scale.” NGOs, however, target at micro levels such as households, neighborhoods, camps, orphans, disabled people, and refugees. When this targeting is combined with accurate data, the development impact multiplies.

2.3. Effective channel of Islamic social finance (zakat-sadaqah)

Especially in the Islamic world, mechanisms like zakat and sadaqah are strong sources of finance for both humanitarian aid and development with proper governance. According to UNHCR's 2024 “Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report,” zakat contributions supported over 474,000 eligible refugees and displaced persons in 22 countries in 2024; additionally, support reached over 500,000 people in the first half of the year. UNHCR Zakat Fund

These types of data show that when the right model is established, the Islamic donation ecosystem can produce scalable impact in the field.

3) Why has technology become a “growth engine”?

Technology directly addresses three fundamental problems of NGOs:

• • Transparency and trust (donor trust → sustainable income)
• • Operational efficiency (producing more benefits with the same team)
• • Impact measurement and strategic decision (which project is more effective, where should resources be increased?)

This transformation is now even more possible because the access base is growing. For example, according to GSMA's MENA report, by the end of 2023, there will be 427 million mobile subscribers in the region, and 49% of the population will be mobile internet users (approximately 327 million people). event-assets.gsma.com

This shows that end-to-end digital processes, from donation to field tracking, can be applied to large masses.

4) In which areas should NGOs use technology? (Practical and scalable topics)

The following topics are areas that provide institutional capabilities rather than “individual tools”:

4.1. Digital donation and collection infrastructure

• • Multi-channel payment (card, transfer, QR, mobile)
• • Automatic receipt/e-receipt
• • Campaign-based targeting and reporting