ICD Headquarters, 10th June 2006 __ In order to support income-generating projects for Palestinian poor families, and as per the directives of the CEO & General Manager, Mr. Abdulmajied Bannan, Chairman of the ICD Solidarity Fund Committee, has recently met Ms. Fatima El Gadaa, owner of "El Hana" needle work and sewing workshop in Kalkelia, Palestine, to look into how ICD can support such projects.

Ms. El Gadaa has been awarded the IDB Prize (for individuals) in recognition of her contribution to improving the living conditions for low-income families in the IDB member countries.

The Solidarity Fund aims to contribute to social development by raising awareness in the healthcare and educational sectors in the ICD member countries, strengthening community and family foundations in these countries through financial support for healthcare projects and for those organizations which contribute to raising awareness in terms of production and environment among the poor, productive micro projects for the low-income population, projects for increasing the income of productive families and to sector-based research and studies and conferences in the member countries.

By virtue of Decision No. BOD18/10/424, the ICD Board of Directors has approved the establishment of the ICD Solidarity Fund and has thereafter, by virtue of Decision No. BOD20/6/424, approved the By-Laws of the Fund.

The objective behind the establishment of the ICD Solidarity Fund is to allow ICD to contribute to charitable projects and activities that have a social, cultural and welfare development impact on the Ummah through healthcare, educational, community service and family associations and foundations. The Fund will be financed mainly through earnings from ICD's non-Shariah compliant investments.

Pursuant to the approved By-Laws, eligible areas are as follows:

1. Education and public libraries for the purpose of eliminating illiteracy.

2. Basic healthcare, hospitals treating chronic diseases, people with special needs.

3. Efforts aimed at raising awareness in terms of production and environment among the poor populations or areas.

4. Activities generating income for the poor, micro-project financing, productive family projects, and projects for women family providers.

5. Sector-based research and studies, and conferences on development and private-sector support policies.

Eligible applicants are non-profit-making associations and foundations operating and officially registered in the countries concerned, and which have the technical, financial and administrative capacity to run the project and provide the necessary resources.

If the above 2 requirements (Eligible Areas and Eligible Applicants) are met, the applicant must produce the following documents and send them to the ICD for consideration:

a) Complete the attached application form.

b) Preferably attach additional information to the Form (feasibility study, pictures, detailed statements).

c) Provide copies of the following documents:

- Statement of the members of the Board of Directors and the project managers.

- The registration documents issued by the competent authorities.

- The ownership deed of the project's land (if relevant)

- The association's/foundation's statutes.

- The financial and administrative report of the association/foundation for the last three years.

The ICD Solidarity Fund Application Form

E-Mail:[email protected]