The NGO sector in Kuwait consists of a few hundred organisations with a wide range of interests, ranging from traditional, Islamic charitable societies working for public benefit – some of which operate internationally - to smaller mutual benefit groups involved in supporting sports and business activities locally.
A significant feature of the sector is the substantial amount of Kuwaiti private humanitarian and development aid which flows to poor countries, mainly in Africa, through its international charities. Because of the country’s small size and homogenous local population, much public charitable giving still takes place on the basis of reputation and trust.
Kuwait’s seventy or so public benefit NGOs are regulated under Law No. 24 of 1962 concerning Public Utility Associations and Clubs, available in English. Under this law and its subsequent amendments, the responsibility for registering and monitoring public benefit NGOs and societies lies with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL).
In 2005, the Department for Charitable Societies and Foundations within MoSAL helpfully produced a Guide Book, in Arabic and English, containing copies of all laws and decisions relating to charitable work in Kuwait.
The principle regulator of NGOs in Kuwait is MOSAL.
Other governmental bodies have an interest in the effective regulation of Kuwaiti charities operating internationally, for example the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which monitors Kuwaiti NGO activities overseas and the Central Bank of Kuwait, which follows up on international money transfers.
When registering with MoSAL NGOs are required to provide a copy of their constitution (governing document), aims, activities and sources of income.
MoSAL also requires NGOs to submit its annual accounts and a narrative report describing its activities every year.
Although supportive of the achievements of its active charitable sector, traditionally the Kuwaiti government has limited its involvement to the provision of annual subsidies (ranging between KD 12,000 and 230,000) and/or material support in kind, for example the donation of land on which to build a centre, and overall supervision.
As yet there is no explicit government vision for the sector or plan for its development although there is increasing interest in initiatives to develop its capacities, including its ability to be externally accountable and transparent.
Civil society in Kuwait can be characterised as a relatively young although charitable traditions have longstanding and deep, faith-based (Islamic) roots. According to UNDP, the sector as a whole is comprised of:
• Associations for the collective benefit (70).
• Philanthropic organisations and charitable institutions (29).
• Workers syndicates and federations (41).
• Professional groups and unions (18).
• Chambers of commerce and industry.
• Sports clubs and Olympic committees (28).
• The cooperative sector (47).
• Endowment foundations in support of voluntary and charity activities.
• The Foundation for Scientific Progress, political groups and organizations (15), besides individual distinguished initiatives.
Clearly this represents a diverse range of organisations with differing purposes, identities and ways of working. Of the 70 or so public benefit NGOs mentioned above, approximately 12 are involved in activities overseas, such as the International Islamic Charitable Organisation (IICO), Direct Aid and Al Najat Charitable Society.
In addition to these official societies, and similar to other Gulf countries, Kuwaitis also hold informal public meetings in their homes, collectively called Diwaniyas. Their number has increased in recent years, and they play an important role in the political process by allowing for the debate of current affairs. NGOs themselves are prohibited from taking part in political activities.
Until recently there were no umbrella bodies in Kuwait but this changed in 2006 with the establishment of the Humanitarian Forum (HF), a London-based charity which networks eastern and western humanitarian organisations, which then chose Kuwait to be one of its four pilot countries.
The Kuwaiti chapter of the HF is still in the process of formal registration with the Government but is already active in bringing together its member NGOs to network, share information and work to meet the capacity building needs of the sector.
The International Programme has been working with the NGO regulator and the NGO sector in Kuwait since 2007. Our work has included hosting two visits to the UK for government officials and representatives from NGOs based in Kuwait to develop a shared understanding of good practice in NGO management and how that can be effectively supervised by government.
We are currently working in partnership with the Humanitarian Forum and INTRAC to develop a programme of technical assistance for Kuwait which will (a) take forward an initiative to devise a unified reporting and accounting system for the NGO sector and (b) start to address its capacity building needs.
For information about our work in Kuwait, please contact Robin MacGregor at robin.macgregor@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk