- Lujan Mourad: KSQF programmes in 2025 concentrated on strengthening child protection systems at both community and institutional levels.
- KSQF reached over 36,000 people in 2025 through child protection programmes across Morocco, Mexico, and Zanzibar.
- The Foundation delivered outcomes with four international and local on-ground partners, strengthening prevention and child protection systems.
- Aligned with key UN SDGs, including ending child labour, trafficking, and violence against children.
- 2026 set to be a pivotal year, with major announcements planned to expand programmes and partnerships.
Sharjah, UAE: The Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) has announced the outcomes of its humanitarian programmes in 2025, marking a year of expanded international engagement focused on strengthening child protection systems and addressing the growing risks of exploitation, violence, and harm affecting children worldwide.
With projects operating across Morocco, Mexico, and Zanzibar, KSQF’s initiatives in 2025 reached more than 36,000 individuals through a combination of direct protection services, community-based interventions, and institutional capacity-building programmes. These efforts were undertaken in collaboration with four international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have a direct on-ground presence, including Plan International, Bayti Association, Aman Foundation for Childhood Protection, and Save the Children.
KSQF’s work is guided by the humanitarian vision of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi and led by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, with a focus on long-term preventive solutions rather than short-term humanitarian response alone, to ensure sustainable positive impact in the lives of children and their communities. As part of its commitment to strengthening the social impact of humanitarian work, the foundation is supported by a number of local partners, most notably Alef Group as its Founding Principal Partner, alongside Bee’ah and Crescent Petroleum as Founding Partners. These partnerships support the sustainability of the foundation’s programmes and enhance integrated efforts in the field of child protection.
Addressing rising global risks to children
According to international estimates, approximately 138 million children worldwide remain engaged in child labour, while children account for nearly 38 per cent of identified victims of human trafficking. These risks have intensified in recent years as conflict, displacement, economic instability, and climate-related emergencies place additional strain on already fragile child protection systems.
Against this backdrop, KSQF’s programmes in 2025 prioritised preventive child protection, early intervention, and strengthening the systems responsible for safeguarding children at both community and institutional levels. The programmes in 2025 contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG Target 8.7 on eliminating child labour, SDG Target 16.2 on ending child trafficking and violence against children, and SDG Target 5.3 on eliminating child marriage.
A structured approach to child protection
KSQF’s work is guided by three core pillars: safeguarding, advocacy, and capacity building, which are embedded across all programmes and partnerships.
Safeguarding focuses on preventing harm by reinforcing child protection systems and improving access to essential services. Advocacy promotes children’s rights through policy engagement, public awareness initiatives, and collaboration with governments and civil society organisations. Capacity building supports long-term impact by equipping individuals, institutions, and communities with the skills and resources needed to sustain effective child protection efforts.
Morocco: Strengthening national and community-based child protection systems
In Morocco, KSQF led two major initiatives aimed at strengthening national and community-based child protection systems, targeting more than 6,000 children, families, and local communities.
One initiative, in partnership with Fondation Amane pour la Protection de l’Enfance (FAPE) in the Sous-Massa region, focused on community mobilisation, institutional coordination, and mobile outreach. The 17-month programme is set to reach around 740 direct beneficiaries and over 5,000 family members, while bringing together the efforts of 180 government, community, and local institutions. The initiative supports prevention efforts, case management, and improved access to protection services, while contributing to Morocco’s Integrated Public Policy for the Protection of Children. The project’s contributions will continue and its social impact will grow even after its conclusion.
A second initiative, jointly funded with The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), and implemented by Bayti Association across the nation’s major urban centres, focused on rehabilitation and care for children in street situations. The programme will provide shelter, healthcare, psychosocial support, education, and vocational training for more than 100 children, while supporting an additional 140 family members through reintegration and family-strengthening services. Complementary awareness programmes and community workshops address the root causes of child labour and family disintegration.
Zanzibar: Expanding support services for survivors of violence
In Zanzibar, KSQF launched its first initiative in partnership with Save the Children International, expanding support services for survivors of gender-based violence in Pemba and Unguja.
The programme directly supports over 1,000 survivors, while reaching another 10,000 individuals through community outreach and awareness campaigns. Delivered through existing One Stop Centres at Jitimai Hospital in Unguja and Abdalla Mzee Hospital in Pemba, the initiative strengthens referral pathways, access to integrated medical, psychological, and legal care, and coordination among service providers. The programme responds to national data indicating that children constitute a significant proportion of gender-based violence victims in Zanzibar.
Mexico: Protecting migrant and at-risk children
In Mexico, KSQF partnered with Plan International to implement the Guardians of Children programme, addressing the protection needs of migrant and at-risk children exposed to heightened risks of exploitation and abuse due to displacement.
The initiative supports around 7,000 migrant children and adolescents across Tapachula, Mexico City, and Ciudad Juárez, with a further 15,000 individuals benefiting indirectly through awareness campaigns and community capacity-building efforts. The programme combines direct protection support, safe spaces, psychosocial services, mobile health units, and training for community members to strengthen local responses to trafficking and exploitation risks along key migration routes.
Long-term focus on sustainable solutions
Commenting on the Foundation’s work, Lujan Mourad, Director of KSQF, said: “The challenges facing children today are increasingly complex, underscoring the need for protection efforts that go beyond immediate response with short term aid. In 2025, KSQF concentrated on strengthening child protection systems at both community and institutional levels, with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and coordinated action that reduces vulnerability over time.”
She added: “This approach reflects the humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi and is carried forward under the leadership and vision of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. Their shared commitment continues to guide the Foundation’s long-term focus on sustainable solutions that safeguard children’s rights and reinforce protection systems across diverse contexts globally. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our partners, whose commitment strengthens collaboration and advances child protection systems through shared values and lasting impact.”
Key announcements planned in 2026
Building on this systems-based model, KSQF will announce strategic expansions in 2026, including new geographic partnerships and initiatives designed to set benchmarks for child protection in the world’s most fragile contexts.
The Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) implements long-term, systemic solutions focused on prevention and resilience. Headquartered in Sharjah, KSQF partners with global NGOs, local actors, and institutions to build resilient communities and safeguard vulnerable populations, with child protection as a core priority.
