KSrelief, IsDB Sign $100M Memorandum for Lives, Livelihoods Fund

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed a $100 million memorandum of financial contribution with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on the sidelines of the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in Riyadh on February 28, 2025. The agreement, formalized by Advisor to the Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah and IsDB President Dr. Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al-Jasser, establishes a major new funding stream for the IsDB’s Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF). The memorandum commits Saudi Arabia to supporting the second phase of the LLF, a multilateral financing mechanism designed to deliver concessional loans to the world’s most vulnerable communities.

The signing took place during one of the most significant humanitarian gatherings on the international calendar, underscoring Riyadh’s growing role as a convenor of global relief efforts. The Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum brought together policymakers, donors, and aid organizations from across the world to address pressing crises and to strengthen coordination among humanitarian actors. Against that backdrop, the KSrelief-IsDB memorandum signals that Saudi Arabia is not merely participating in global humanitarian dialogue but is backing its words with substantial financial commitments. The $100 million contribution will be channeled through the LLF’s second phase, which is structured to attract co-financing from other donors and to multiply the reach of every dollar committed. For a Kingdom that has consistently ranked among the world’s leading humanitarian donors, the agreement represents another concrete step in translating its Vision 2030 values of global responsibility and sustainable partnership into measurable impact on the ground.

Context and Background

Why does a single memorandum signed in Riyadh carry weight far beyond the Kingdom’s borders? The answer lies in the scale of the challenge the Lives and Livelihoods Fund was created to address. The LLF is a flagship initiative of the Islamic Development Bank, established to provide concessional financing — loans offered on terms far more generous than commercial markets allow — to tackle the root causes of poverty in IsDB member countries. Its focus areas include health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure, three sectors that together determine whether vulnerable populations can escape cycles of deprivation or remain trapped in them. The fund’s second phase, which this memorandum supports, is designed to expand that mandate and to bring in a broader coalition of donors.

KSrelief itself has a well-documented record of international humanitarian engagement, having implemented thousands of projects in partnership with United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and regional bodies. The center’s willingness to partner with the IsDB reflects a deliberate strategy of working through established multilateral institutions rather than duplicating their efforts. The Islamic Development Bank, for its part, brings decades of experience in development finance across its member states, giving the LLF the institutional infrastructure needed to disburse funds effectively and transparently. Together, the two institutions combine Saudi Arabia’s financial capacity and humanitarian reach with the IsDB’s technical expertise and regional networks — a partnership model that has become increasingly central to how modern aid is delivered.

The timing of the agreement is equally significant. It comes as global humanitarian needs reach record levels, driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability. Traditional donor budgets in many Western countries are under pressure, creating gaps that emerging donors are increasingly expected to fill. In that environment, Saudi Arabia’s decision to commit $100 million to a multilateral fund — rather than a single bilateral project — sends a clear message about the Kingdom’s preference for durable, systemic solutions. It also positions the LLF’s second phase to leverage additional contributions, since a major anchor commitment from KSrelief gives other potential donors confidence that the fund is credible, well-governed, and capable of delivering results at scale.

Key Details of the Agreement

What exactly does the memorandum deliver, and who stands to benefit? The financial contribution totals $100 million, directed specifically to the second phase of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund. The agreement was signed by two of the most senior figures in Saudi and Islamic development finance: Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General, and Dr. Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al-Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank. Their signatures formalize a partnership that both institutions describe as aligned with their core missions.

According to official Saudi information released through the Saudi Press Agency, the memorandum will support LLF projects that foster collaboration with other donors and facilitate co-financing. The fund’s concessional financing model is aimed at essential issues affecting vulnerable populations in IsDB member countries, with health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure identified as priority sectors. The scale of the intended impact is substantial: approximately 200 million individuals across 37 IsDB member countries are expected to benefit from projects funded by the LLF, with the majority of beneficiaries located in the Sahara Desert region of Africa and Asia. These are precisely the areas where climate stress, food insecurity, and limited healthcare access intersect most acutely.

The structure of the contribution matters as much as its size. By channeling funds through the LLF rather than disbursing them bilaterally, KSrelief ensures that its contribution is pooled with resources from other partners, amplifying the total financing available for each project. This co-financing approach is central to the fund’s design and explains why a $100 million commitment can support programs whose total value far exceeds that figure. The memorandum therefore represents not just a transfer of funds but an investment in a financing architecture that multiplies impact — a model that Saudi humanitarian officials have increasingly favored as they seek efficiency and sustainability in aid delivery.

International and Regional Impact

How will this agreement be felt beyond the immediate projects it finances? The LLF’s geographic footprint stretches across 37 countries, with a concentration in the Sahara Desert region of Africa and Asia — some of the most climate-vulnerable and economically fragile areas in the world. In these regions, investments in agriculture and rural infrastructure translate directly into food security and household income, while health financing strengthens systems that are often the only line of defense against disease outbreaks. For the millions of people expected to benefit, the fund’s projects can mean the difference between subsistence and stability.

The memorandum also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s standing as a bridge between the Global South and the international donor community. The IsDB’s membership includes many countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and the LLF gives Saudi Arabia a channel to support development in those nations through institutions they themselves govern. This South-South cooperation model is increasingly recognized as essential to achieving global development goals, and the KSrelief-IsDB partnership places the Kingdom at its center. For international observers, the agreement is further evidence that Riyadh’s humanitarian diplomacy is institutionalized, predictable, and aligned with multilateral norms — qualities that make Saudi Arabia a sought-after partner in crisis response and long-term development alike.

Economic and Strategic Significance

What does this memorandum reveal about Saudi Arabia’s broader economic and strategic priorities? At its core, the agreement reflects a vision of aid that is integrated with development. Concessional financing through the LLF does not simply provide relief; it builds productive capacity in agriculture, strengthens health systems, and creates rural infrastructure that supports economic activity. That orientation mirrors the Kingdom’s own transformation under Vision 2030, which emphasizes sustainable development, private-sector growth, and the creation of opportunity rather than dependency.

Strategically, the partnership deepens Saudi Arabia’s relationships across the IsDB’s member states, many of which are important partners in trade, energy, and investment. Humanitarian and development finance is increasingly understood as an instrument of soft power, and the Kingdom’s consistent record of generosity — through KSrelief and through multilateral funds like the LLF — enhances its reputation as a responsible global stakeholder. The $100 million commitment is also a signal to other donors that Saudi Arabia is willing to anchor major funds, potentially catalyzing additional contributions that extend the LLF’s reach further. In an era when humanitarian financing gaps are widening, that kind of leadership carries disproportionate weight.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does a humanitarian memorandum connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term national vision? Vision 2030 is built on the principle that the Kingdom’s prosperity is inseparable from the stability and development of the wider world. By supporting the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, KSrelief is advancing that principle in practice, directing Saudi resources toward health, agriculture, and infrastructure in countries where progress benefits regional stability and global well-being. The agreement also reflects the Vision’s emphasis on institutional excellence: KSrelief’s partnership with a major multilateral bank ensures that Saudi contributions are managed according to international standards of transparency and effectiveness.

As the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum concluded, the memorandum stood as a tangible outcome of the Kingdom’s convening power and its commitment to multilateral solutions. For international audiences, the message is clear: Saudi Arabia is not only a participant in global humanitarian efforts but a leading financier and strategic partner. The $100 million commitment to the LLF’s second phase will support projects touching the lives of millions across Africa and Asia, and it will do so through a model that encourages co-financing, sustainability, and local ownership. In that sense, the agreement is both an immediate act of generosity and a long-term investment in the kind of world Vision 2030 envisions — one in which Saudi Arabia’s progress is shared, and its partnerships are built to last.

20 Questions

Q1. What did KSrelief and the Islamic Development Bank sign?

A1. They signed a $100 million memorandum of financial contribution to support the second phase of the IsDB’s Lives and Livelihoods Fund, on the sidelines of the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum.

Q2. Who signed the memorandum on behalf of KSrelief?

A2. Advisor to the Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah signed on behalf of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

Q3. Who signed for the Islamic Development Bank?

A3. IsDB President Dr. Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al-Jasser signed the memorandum on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank, formalizing the partnership with KSrelief.

Q4. What is the Lives and Livelihoods Fund?

A4. The LLF is an IsDB initiative providing concessional financing to address poverty and vulnerability in member countries, focusing on health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure projects.

Q5. How much money does the memorandum commit?

A5. The memorandum commits $100 million from KSrelief to support the second phase of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, aimed at expanding its development impact.

Q6. Where was the memorandum signed?

A6. It was signed in Riyadh on the sidelines of the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, a major international gathering of humanitarian policymakers and organizations.

Q7. How many people are expected to benefit from LLF projects?

A7. Approximately 200 million individuals across 37 IsDB member countries are expected to benefit from projects funded by the Lives and Livelihoods Fund.

Q8. Which regions will benefit most from the fund?

A8. The majority of beneficiaries are located in the Sahara Desert region of Africa and Asia, areas facing significant climate, health, and infrastructure challenges.

Q9. What sectors does the LLF prioritize?

A9. The fund prioritizes health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure, targeting essential issues that impact vulnerable populations in IsDB member countries.

Q10. What is concessional financing?

A10. Concessional financing refers to loans offered on more generous terms than commercial markets, such as lower interest rates or longer repayment periods, to support development in poorer countries.

Q11. Why is co-financing important to the LLF?

A11. Co-financing allows the fund to pool resources from multiple donors, multiplying the total financing available and enabling projects that a single donor could not support alone.

Q12. How does this agreement align with KSrelief’s mission?

A12. It aligns with KSrelief’s strategy of partnering with regional and international humanitarian organizations to strengthen global relief efforts and deliver aid efficiently at scale.

Q13. What is the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum?

A13. It is a major international forum hosted in Riyadh that brings together humanitarian leaders, donors, and organizations to address global crises and improve aid coordination.

Q14. How does this agreement support Saudi Arabia’s global role?

A14. It reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a leading humanitarian donor and a bridge between the Global South and international development institutions, enhancing its soft power.

Q15. What is the Islamic Development Bank?

A15. The IsDB is a multilateral development bank with member countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, dedicated to fostering economic development and social progress.

Q16. How many countries are IsDB members benefiting from the LLF?

A16. The fund’s projects are expected to benefit people in 37 IsDB member countries, with a concentration in Africa and Asia.

Q17. Why is the timing of this memorandum significant?

A17. It comes as global humanitarian needs reach record levels and traditional donor budgets face pressure, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in filling critical financing gaps.

Q18. How does the memorandum relate to Vision 2030?

A18. It reflects Vision 2030’s emphasis on global responsibility, sustainable development, and institutional excellence, positioning Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner in international humanitarian efforts.

Q19. What kind of projects will the LLF’s second phase support?

A19. The second phase will support projects in health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure that address essential issues affecting vulnerable populations in IsDB member countries.

Q20. What does this agreement mean for the future of Saudi humanitarian aid?

A20. It signals a continued shift toward multilateral, co-financed, and sustainable aid models, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role as a long-term partner in global development.

Reader Feedback

We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.

Name *

Message *

Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.