Dubai Cares has committed to contributing AED2,938,800 (US$800,000) over four years to expand the reach of the International Publishers Association's, IPA, programmes in Africa, as well as to cooperate on new initiatives with regard to sustainable development, education, and publishing.

Kenya and Morocco have been identified as initial focus countries, with other beneficiary countries to be announced at a later stage.

A Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed to this effect by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Vice President of the IPA, and Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares.

Commenting on the new partnership, Al Qasimi said, "Our work in Africa is based on quickly moving from words to action, and Dubai Cares is one of the most agile, responsive partners we could hope to partner with. IPA and Dubai Cares will be working with a range of on-the-ground partners, including publishers, policymakers, and civil society, to implement innovative, replicable solutions to transform the future of African publishing."

Highlighting that Africa and the Arab World have young, increasingly digitally connected populations, Al Gurg said, "For this reason, the publishing industry has significant potential to contribute to sustainable development. Through this partnership, we will work with the IPA and local implementing partners on tough, systemic challenges, such as textbook shortages and rural literacy, which prevent a number of African countries from achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4."

In 2018, the IPA initiated its Africa Seminar series, which has evolved into a continent-wide, multi-sectoral platform for creative thinking, collaboration, and action to shape the future of African publishing. Through IPA’s seminars and cooperation with entities such as Dubai Cares, it is piloting innovative, replicable solutions to the African publishing industry’s most pressing challenges, while supporting sustainable development.