RIYADH: Human capability should be ingrained in every policy and investment made in order to safeguard health, according to the chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group.
Speaking on the first day of the Human Capability Initiative 2025 in Riyadh, Mohammed Al-Jasser explained that good health is not a privilege but a prerequisite for dignity, productivity, and national development.
This aligns with the group’s goal to promote comprehensive human development, focusing on the priority areas of alleviating poverty, improving health, and promoting education, as well as enhancing governance, and bringing prosperity to the people.
“To be truly ready, we must ingrain human capability in every policy we shape and every investment we make. Our legacy will not be measured by material wealth but by how effectively we nurture minds, safeguard health, and empower communities,” Al-Jasser said.
“In 2023 alone, the Islamic Development Bank approved $1.4 billion in healthcare investments,” he added.
The IsDB chairman noted that the group supported the expansion of maternal and neonatal services in Mauritania, helping to reduce preventable deaths and protect the next generation.
“Our partnership with UNICEF through the Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund delivers lifesaving nutrition, clean water, and essential health services to children in crisis zones,” Al-Jasser said.
He added: “We are proud of our role in the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, our $1.5 billion collaboration with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, The Gates Foundation and other donors, this initiative is transforming lives by expanding access to vaccines and strengthening our primary healthcare.”
The chairman also shed light on the recently launched Health Impact Investment Platform in partnership with the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the World Health Organization.
“This bold initiative reimagines health as an investable asset, channeling both concessional and private capital to scale up cancer diagnostics and care in underserved regions, particularly in Africa,” Al-Jasser said.
The two-day event unites government entities, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations to foster collaboration and drive innovation in human capabilities.
Organized by the Human Capability Development Program — a part of the Vision 2030 realization undertakings — in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the conference is also expected to explore breakthrough learning models and strategies for future workforce readiness.
HCI 2025 will host over 100-panel discussions across four main stages, focusing on key future trends in developing human potential. It will explore innovative methods to empower individuals and communities while fostering stronger public-private sector collaboration to create sustainable and impactful solutions for the future.
