International Cooperation
Under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, “may Allah protect him”, Qatar has adopted an open economy that relies heavily on international trade, globalization and interdependence. International cooperation therefore plays a pivotal role at the national level in many areas: building the capabilities of national institutions, modernizing statistical systems to measure progress towards national and international development goals, and advancing human rights, transparency and the fight against corruption. It also brings international expertise, technical cooperation and best practices to ministries and government bodies.
International cooperation also helps build partnerships with the United Nations and with international, regional and specialized bodies, so that they can play a catalytic role in national development. These partners include:
Qatar’s strategy for international cooperation contributes to the three pillars of sustainable development (social, economic and environmental) at the national, regional and international levels, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs leads Qatar’s international cooperation policy and its pillars, including international development policy, coordinating with local and international governmental and non-governmental bodies in line with national development plans.
Qatar’s cooperative partnership with all United Nations agencies places it at the forefront of countries that support the rule of law, international charters and norms, and preventive diplomacy, and that reject the threat of force and interference in internal affairs. Qatar also supports cooperation between countries and their sovereign equality as the main path to security, peace and stability at the regional and international levels.
History of International Cooperation
The State of Qatar draws its driving force from its well-established civilizational and cultural heritage, adopting a policy of moderation and cultural, civilizational and religious tolerance towards all. Proud of its Gulf and Arab affiliation, Qatar is an active member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as groupings concerned with human rights and with economic, political and cultural relations, such as the Group of 77 and China and the Non-Aligned Movement. Through this diverse representation, it acts as a bridge of understanding and cooperation to achieve security, peace and development for the peoples of the region.
Since its independence in 1971, Qatar has paid great attention to international cooperation. It joined the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen its regional role economically, politically and culturally, support the dialogue of civilizations, and contribute to global peace and security.
Guided by Qatar National Vision 2030, which describes Qatar as an active and responsible member of the international community contributing to international peace and security through political and economic initiatives and development and humanitarian aid, the State of Qatar has contributed actively to international cooperation across development and humanitarian fields.
Priorities for International Cooperation
Qatar’s strategy for international cooperation supports greater economic and social development in low-income countries, in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also supports the global partnership for development to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and promote economic development and environmental sustainability.
Aid is directed mostly to low-income and least developed countries, and to countries affected by natural disasters and conflicts. Qatar is keen to deliver aid to those affected through bilateral and multilateral channels, in line with best practices and with a high degree of professionalism.
Qatari humanitarian and development aid has reached more than 100 countries across the world’s continents. Qatar has provided urgent aid following the tsunami in Indonesia and the earthquakes in Pakistan, China and Haiti, as well as to those affected by floods in Pakistan and drought in Somalia, in addition to sheltering and assisting people displaced and affected by wars around the world.
Achievements in International Cooperation
The State of Qatar enjoys a well-developed relationship with the international community, and its achievements have made it an active, pioneering country in promoting international peace and security, international development and global partnership. Qatar has contributed to strategic visions on international issues, including the Middle East conflict, believing that a just peace based on the two-state solution is essential to settling the Arab-Israeli conflict. It has also supported peace initiatives in many parts of the world and undertaken numerous mediation efforts to resolve international disputes and crises. Mediation has become one of the pillars of Qatar’s foreign policy, earning it a reputation as a peacemaker.
Qatar’s most important achievements in international cooperation
Resolving armed conflicts and enhancing international peace and security
- Hosting the signing of the Doha Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States of America and the Taliban in February 2020.
- Contributing personnel to United Nations peacekeeping forces in many parts of the world, including Lebanon, Eritrea and Bosnia.
- Mediating in internal crises in countries such as Eritrea and Lebanon, in civil conflicts in Yemen and Sudan, in border disputes between Djibouti and Eritrea, and in humanitarian issues arising from the war in Ukraine.
- Launching initiatives to address crises in Arab countries, including Darfur, Yemen, Lebanon and Palestine.
- International mediation: Qatar’s foreign policy follows the approach of dialogue, good offices, mediation, preventive diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes, with full impartiality and independence, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Global partnership for development and international development aid
- Evacuating stranded Afghans and foreigners at risk in Afghanistan and providing them with urgent humanitarian aid.
- Contributing to international efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting countries in need and the relevant international organizations.
- Evacuating stranded people from countries around the world, including United Nations staff, to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Providing development assistance around the world, especially in health, education, and water and sanitation, as well as emergency humanitarian aid to countries struck by natural disasters such as floods and droughts.
- Establishing the Silatech Foundation, with a capital of 100 million US dollars, to tackle unemployment among young people worldwide, especially women and the disadvantaged. Silatech has implemented initiatives in Arab countries such as Yemen, Morocco and Syria, helping young people find jobs and the resources to start and grow their own projects through innovative employment and entrepreneurship solutions with local, regional and international partners.
- Establishing the Education Above All Foundation to protect and support the right to education in areas affected or threatened by crises, conflicts and wars. Through programmes such as Educate A Child, Al Fakhoora, and Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict, the Foundation has launched more than 55 projects in 48 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Arab world, covering primary, technical and higher education as well as health, well-being and basic rights, with more than 67 partners, including governments that support and finance education and development projects.
Bilateral agreements
Signing numerous bilateral agreements with countries around the world to promote and protect investments, avoid double taxation, and strengthen trade, economic, cultural, political, scientific and development relations, as well as technical cooperation and the exchange of expertise.
Hosting major international conferences and forums
Qatar has hosted many global conferences and forums on trade, development, new democracies and financing for development, in cooperation with the United Nations and other international organizations. The most important include:
- 2001World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference.
- 2005Second South Summit of the Group of 77 and China.
- 2006Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies.
- 2008Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus.
- 2011Fourth Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
- 2012Thirteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII).
- 2012Eighteenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (COP18).
- 2021Afghan peace talks between senior Afghan leaders in Doha (July).
- 2021International meeting on Afghanistan (10 August).
- 2022Interfaith Dialogue Conference (24–25 May).
Various Aspects of International Cooperation
International cooperation contributes to international and regional partnerships on issues such as energy, water and environmental protection, and on building, training and qualifying Qatari human capacity. It also supports academic and research partnerships with international universities and research centres in computing, energy, the environment, biomedical and social research, information technology and the humanities, and provides material, technical and moral support to researchers working in Qatar, as well as scholarships for students from Arab and Islamic countries, low-income countries and countries affected by conflict.
Qatar’s humanitarian support focuses on developing and least developed countries, in support of Sustainable Development Goal 17 on global partnership for development. This partnership also strengthens national institutions (governmental and non-governmental), businesses, interests and values, and supports Qatar’s national security, global harmony, and international peace and security. It helps build peaceful, inclusive societies with strong, accountable and efficient institutions in which social justice prevails, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 16.
Examples of International Cooperation
Sports
The State of Qatar is one of the sponsors of the United Nations resolution on sport for development and peace. Believing in the role of sport in promoting development and peace, Qatar has hosted many international sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup 2022, and spread a culture of sport through local and international initiatives such as Qatar National Sports Day and the ‘Doha GOALS’ forum, a global platform for development through sport.
Climate Change
Qatar National Vision 2030 calls for supporting international efforts to mitigate climate change and for a proactive regional role in limiting its negative effects, especially on the Gulf countries. Qatar hosted the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP18) in Doha, and opened the regional office of the Global Green Growth Institute in Doha to help developing countries adopt sustainable development strategies.
- Qatar signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on 22 April 2016.
- Qatar is a member of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), supporting the United Nations “Sustainable Energy for All” (SE4ALL) initiative, particularly in developing countries.
- Qatar is a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.