Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 13 April 2025 – Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Chairman, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, delivered a keynote address at the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) Conference in Riyadh during a special session on “Cooperation as a Priority – Weaving Our Collective Safety Net.” Held under the theme “Beyond Readiness,” the HCI Conference is a premier global platform convening leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore innovative approaches to future-proof human capital through education, skills, and inclusive growth. Dr. Al Jasser emphasized that in a world shaped by disruption, technological shifts, climate change, and geopolitical volatility, human capital remains the greatest renewable resource for building resilient, inclusive societies.

He reaffirmed IsDB’s commitment to placing people at the center of development, stressing that the strength of societies is measured not only by resources, but by investments in education, health, and inclusive economic opportunity. To date, IsDB has mobilized over US$68 billion in human capital development, including US$15 billion in education and health across its 57 member countries.

Dr. Al Jasser highlighted the Bank’s contributions to education through nearly 2,000 projects totaling US$4.9 billion. Initiatives such as the Smart Education Financing Initiative have reached 28 million out-of-school children in 37 countries through digital tools. In Uganda, improved school infrastructure has boosted enrollment, while in Nigeria, a US$10.5 million bilingual education program is helping reintegrate marginalized youth. The Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development supports over 20 flagship programs advancing literacy, inclusive education, and access for girls and persons with disabilities.

He stressed that education must also lead to empowerment. In Guinea, IsDB-supported TVET programs are aligning youth skills with labor market demands, while vocational literacy programs in rural areas are unlocking livelihoods for women and underserved groups through a combination of literacy and job training.

On healthcare, Dr. Al Jasser noted that good health is a prerequisite for dignity, productivity, and national progress. In 2023 alone, IsDB approved US$1.4 billion in health projects. In Mauritania, maternal and neonatal care has been expanded to reduce preventable deaths. He highlighted the Lives and Livelihoods Fund—a US$1.5 billion collaboration with KSRelief, the Gates Foundation, and other partners—as a major platform for expanding vaccines and strengthening primary healthcare.

He also announced the Health Impact Investment Platform, launched with the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and the World Health Organization, to unlock concessional and private capital for expanding cancer diagnostics and care in underserved regions.

Dr. Al Jasser concluded by underscoring the need to embed human capability in all policy and investment decisions, noting that IsDB’s legacy will be defined not by material wealth, but by how effectively it nurtures minds, safeguards health, and empowers communities to build a future where every child learns, every youth thrives, and every individual lives with dignity.