7 September 2025
Birmingham, UK – 8-9 September 2025 – Leading scholars, humanitarian practitioners, policymakers, and philanthropists will gather at the University of Birmingham for the Symposium on Gender, Displacement, and Islamic Philanthropy: Advancing Humanitarian Innovation, co-hosted by the Making Aid Work for Displaced Women project (University of Birmingham) led by Dr Sandra Pertek and the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (Indiana University) led by Dr Shariq Siddiqui.
The two-day event will convene senior figures from the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), International Committee of the Red Cross, Islamic Relief, Qatar Charity, Muslim Aid, and other global actors to explore how Islamic philanthropy and humanitarian innovation can address the urgent needs of displaced women worldwide.
“Displaced women face unique vulnerabilities that require both gender-sensitive and faith-sensitive responses,” said Dr Sandra Pertek, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and symposium host. “This symposium is a milestone in advancing inclusive frameworks that bridge humanitarian practice and Islamic philanthropy to improve outcomes for women.”
Highlights include:
- Keynotes from Khaled Khalifa (UNHCR), Aisha Al-Ayafi (OIC) and Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh (UCL).
- Expert panels examining the future of Islamic social finance in displacement contexts, humanitarian diplomacy for women, and the role of Muslim donors in shaping humanitarian resilience.
- Research presentations from scholars across the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East on themes such as gender justice in zakat, women-led philanthropy, faith-sensitive protection models, and community-based responses to displacement.
- A collaborative workshop developing a potential faith-informed protection framework for displaced women, facilitated by humanitarian and academic experts.
The symposium provides a unique platform for knowledge exchange and cross- sector collaboration, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and donors to reimagine how humanitarian aid can be more inclusive, sustainable, and transformative.
About the Organisers
- Making Aid Work for Displaced Women is a UKRI-funded initiative led by the University of Birmingham to improve outcomes for displaced women by integrating Islamic philanthropy with the international humanitarian system.
- The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) at Indiana University is a global leader in research, teaching, and convening on Muslim giving and philanthropy.
Event Details:
- Date: 8-9 September 2025
- Location: University of Birmingham, UK
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