International Waqf  Conference Southern Africa

Cape Town,   17-19 August 2007 Z 3-5 Shabaan 1428

 

Jointly organised by: National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa (AWQAF SA),

Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) - a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB),  and Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation (KAPF).

 

Theme: “Developing Waqf Institutions for Sustainable Community Development and  Poverty Eradication (Shari'ah, Legal, and Regulatory Perspectives).”

 

Conference Recommendations

 

WHEREAS various topics and issues were deliberated and concern was expressed for the development, revitalisation, promotion, protection, governance, and successful implementation of the Waqf Institution for poverty alleviation and community development within the Southern African Region and Internationally, the Conference hereby  makes the following recommendations for the further development of Waqf Institution in line with the theme of the Conference:    

 

1.        That  each country,  especially in minority Muslim communities such as the SADC region, develop a broad community based Waqf  institution.

 

2.        Establish  and capacitate  a “Southern African Awqaf Development Council” with the following objectives:

a.        to bring together Waqf Institutions and Commissions in the region;

b.        to promote and create Waqf/Awqaf  in the respective areas/countries;

c.        to develop Waqf investments according to a set of criteria and laying down specific guidelines;

d.        to formulate regulatory, governance, accounting and reporting standards for Waqf institutions with the involvement of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), International Financial Services Board (IFSB) and  Islamic Rating Agency (IRA);

e.        to establish (i) a Professional Code of Conduct and a Code of Ethics for Mutawallees/Trustees, Management,  and other full time and volunteer workers of the Waqf financial services industry;  (ii) a Governance Charter for the Waqf Boards & Commissions, and (iii) an  international accreditation authority to enforce such charters and professional codes.

f.         to establish a Shari’ah Advisory Council in order to provide Waqf institutions with the necessary expertise on Shari’ah compliance and related issues;

g.        to build capacity in the region for local Waqf institutions; and

h.        to open dialogue with governments in order to facilitate systems and enabling legislation for the creation and regulation of Waqf.

 

 

3.        Work towards a Waqf Education,  Training, and Awareness programme in the region in order to:

a.        promote the training and advocacy on Waqf matters including the history,  theory,  practice, and management of Waqf;

b.        create Waqf training at all levels: (i) establish a Chair on “Awqaf  Studies” at either a Muslim managed University or a tertiary institution that offers programs in Islamic Economics and related sciences; (ii) develop  certified courses as well as Post Graduate Courses at honours, masters, and PHD level  at selected tertiary institutions in the region and around the world; (iii)  develop an Awqaf   Studies  curriculum for schools and madaris;  and (iv) provide training to volunteers;

c.        extend the KAPF “Waqf Cadre” training programme to Southern Africa and in addition to hold special programmes for the training of Ulama in the various regions;

d.        establish a scholarship fund for potential students in  Awqaf  Studies wherever the studies are being (or will be) offered; and

e.        popularise the Waqf system to the broader ummah and public.

 

 

4.        That the partners of this Conference, namely Awqaf SA, IDB/IRTI and KAPF, together with other institutions  present at the Conference (e.g. Muslim Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS); Awqaf & Minors Foundation, Dubai), and other stakeholders cooperate in the establishment and promotion of the following:

a.        capacity building for Waqf institutions in the various regions in Africa and  around the world;

b.        support institutions in poverty alleviation and community development on the African continent;

c.        establish structures for microfinance and micro enterprise to assist communities in need,  and develop practical models for their implementation;

d.        encourage and support the holding of more international and regional Waqf conferences, seminars, and symposia  in order to keep abreast with new thinking and development in the field; and

e.        a follow-up strategic workshop be held prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to track and monitor the post conference  gains.

 

 

5.        Develop an inventory and a register of Waqf properties in the region and identify properties for development in cooperation with the Awqaf Property Investment Fund of the IDB and other stakeholders.

 

6.        Create forums, special sessions, seminars and conferences, and affirmative action programmes regarding the involvement of women as paper presenters, their roles in Waqf making, fieldworkers, and in the management of Awqaf; investigate, study, and advise how Awqaf may be established to cater for the special needs of women – as beneficiaries, benefactors, service providers,  and office bearers in the Waqf sector.  

 

7.        Commission a team of experts to draft a model Waqf Law  for possible adoption, with adaptation, by countries within the region and beyond with the purpose of protecting, enhancing, and regulating Waqf institutions particularly in Muslim minority countries.

 

 

8.        That resolutions of all past and present Waqf conferences and seminars be compiled and studied for follow up and accountability purposes.

 

9.        That all papers of all prior Waqf conferences and seminars be compiled and selected papers be published.

 

10.     Facilitate the translation of relevant literature from Arabic to regional languages.

 

11.      Establish an online Waqf Library in the main languages of the various regions.

 

12.     That the partners of the Conference and other stakeholders be encouraged to invest  Waqf/ other  funds in the region for the sustainability of the Waqf institution as well as the relevant community development and poverty alleviation projects with a view to achieving social justice.

 

13.     That Waqf institutions should focus on the social development priorities, needs, and concerns of the communities in their respective regions and countries taking into account national social development imperatives and policies by means of social justice philanthropy.

 

14.     That innovative methods be developed on a continuous basis in the revitalisation of the Waqf system and mobilisation of Waqf funds and to transfer successful experiences to the broader Awqaf sector.  

 

15.     That Waqf institutions use new shari’ah compliant financial instruments to mobilise Waqf funds for the development of Waqf properties.

 

16.     That the Islamic Financial Services sector including Islamic Banks, Islamic Windows of conventional banks, Shari’ah compliant Mutual/Unit Trust Funds, and Takaful  institutions be encouraged  and called upon to  (i) structure investment products (ii) provide investment opportunities and (iii) create financing mechanisms for the development of Waqf properties that are commensurate with Waqf aims and objectives;

 

17.     That the Islamic Development Bank leads the way towards the establishment of an International Awqaf Bank.

 

18.     That an International Awqaf Development Council (IADC) be established under the auspices of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank to promote and develop the Waqf sector in various regions of the world as major role player and stakeholder in Community development and poverty alleviation.  The IADC should be a representative body of the various regional and country Waqf institutions and also have observer status at the OIC.

 

19.      Recognising that  Waqf  in  several countries is state controlled, the Conference urges Governments and Ministries of Awqaf of the OIC member countries and the governments in the SADC region  towards  the formation of  well regulated civil society community based Waqf/ Charitable Endowment Institutions, a thriving NGO sector, with maximum tax benefits for donors and exemptions  for Waqf Institutions in cooperation with bodies such as the proposed regional and International Awqaf Development Councils.

 

20.      That Awqaf SA, and  IRTI/IDB jointly take the responsibility of establishing a working committee with a view to pursuing the implementation of the foregoing resolutions in consultation with KAPF and where appropriate, in partnership with other stakeholders.

 

 

The above recommendations have been duly accepted and endorsed by the Conference and its organisers.

 

National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa (AWQAF SA),

Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) - a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB),  and

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation (KAPF).

 

 

21 September 2007/  9 Ramadaan 1428