International Awqaf Conference concludes in Mauritius with IsDB Institute participation

The Islamic Development Bank Institute, a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, in cooperation with the Mauritius Awqaf Foundation, concluded the International Awqaf Conference, held over three days in the capital Port Louis under the theme: "Reviving Awqaf for Community Empowerment: Building Strong Foundations through Strategic Management, Good Governance, and Sustainable Investment."

The conference brought together delegations from Comoros, Madagascar, Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives, Mozambique, Réunion, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom, alongside representatives of NGOs and community leaders.

Participants discussed a range of topics including investment and economic principles of awqaf, governance models, asset development strategies, Islamic finance approaches, practical solutions, legal documentation, and the role of awqaf institutions in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable social impact.

Conference sessions and international experiences

The sessions covered the history and principles of awqaf, the current state of awqaf work in Mauritius, governance and accountability models, and mechanisms for sustainable structuring of awqaf assets. Delegates also reviewed leading international experiences from Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The program included a session on financing awqaf projects through the Islamic Development Bank's Awqaf Properties Investment Fund, highlighting the importance of establishing supportive legal frameworks, ensuring sound credit oversight, robust documentation, professional asset management, and adopting innovative financing mechanisms to advance the sector.

Expert insights and IsDB commitment

Experts from the Islamic Development Bank Institute, the Awqaf Properties Investment Fund, and partner institutions shared practical insights on the roles of founders, trustees, beneficiaries, and regulators, as well as strategies for awqaf development, best practices, development plan design, and the essential elements of awqaf documentation.

This participation reflects the Islamic Development Bank Group's commitment to supporting member countries and Muslim communities in strengthening Islamic social finance institutions, promoting knowledge-based solutions, unlocking the developmental potential of awqaf, and advancing capacity building, applied research, and knowledge exchange in Islamic economics and finance.