The humanitarian innovation centre at Universitas Gadjah Mada will connect research with field solutions, backed by $1.6 million in funding.
YOGYAKARTA: A new humanitarian innovation centre backed by Sharjah institutions is being established at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, creating a permanent platform designed to turn academic research and humanitarian expertise into practical solutions for communities.
The humanitarian innovation centre was announced by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Humanitarian Envoy of The Big Heart Foundation, during his visit to Indonesia.
The Jawaher Al Qasimi Humanitarian Innovation Centre is being established through a partnership between The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), NAMA Women Advancement Establishment and Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The partnership has total funding of $1.6 million. TBHF is contributing $1 million, NAMA is providing $500,000 and Universitas Gadjah Mada is contributing $100,000.
The centre will connect academic knowledge, research and innovation with field-based humanitarian experience. Its work will focus on developing solutions that can be tested and implemented in communities, with areas including food security, livelihoods, climate resilience, women’s empowerment, disaster risk reduction and maternal and child wellbeing.
Four strategic tracks will guide its activities, spanning multidisciplinary research and policy studies, humanitarian innovation challenges and project incubators, field testing of solutions, and community engagement programmes.
Universitas Gadjah Mada will also provide approximately two hectares for a “Living Humanitarian Lab” focused on agricultural innovation, applied experimentation, food security, sustainable agriculture and community empowerment.
An investment endowment fund is also planned to support sustainable financing for the centre’s programmes.
During the visit, Sheikh Sultan toured the university’s Innovation and Creativity Centre, library and the future headquarters of the new centre. He also witnessed the signing of the establishment agreement by Mariam Al Hammadi, Member of the Advisory Board of TBHF and Director General of NAMA, and Dr Danang Hadmoko, Vice Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada for Research, Business Development and Partnerships.
The initiative builds on existing cooperation between NAMA and the Indonesian university through the Jawaher Fund for the Advancement of Women’s Education, which supports women pursuing postgraduate studies.
Sheikh Sultan’s Indonesia visit also included a NAMA-supported coffee farm in Central Java, where a programme aims to equip around 2,800 women with skills to strengthen their participation in the coffee sector.
He also visited the “Home for a Home” initiative in Gunung Kidul village, launched by Arada in partnership with TBHF and implemented locally by Habitat for Humanity Indonesia. Plans include 250 new homes, including 50 adapted for people with disabilities, benefiting more than 3,700 people.
Impact to expect
The humanitarian innovation centre could strengthen long-term cooperation between Sharjah and Indonesia by connecting university research, humanitarian expertise and community needs, while creating solutions that could eventually be expanded across Southeast Asia.
