1.4.4 Policy Addressing Poverty
Canadian University Dubai — Policy Engagement, Financial Inclusion and Partnerships for Poverty Reduction
Our Commitment
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) recognises that poverty is a multidimensional challenge requiring coordinated action across education, employment, financial inclusion, public services and social protection.
Effective poverty reduction depends upon collaboration among governments, academic institutions, financial organisations and civil society to develop policies and programmes that improve economic opportunities and reduce structural disadvantages.
As a higher education institution, CUD seeks to contribute to evidence-based decision-making through academic research, policy-relevant knowledge exchange, partnerships with public institutions and engagement in discussions concerning sustainable development.
The University has an established record of research and public engagement addressing financial inclusion, access to education and the economic challenges faced by disadvantaged communities.
These activities contribute to the knowledge base relevant to SDG 1 — No Poverty, particularly through their connection to financial inclusion, educational opportunity and sustainable economic participation.
1. Research on Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
CUD's existing SDG 1.4.4 documentation identifies the research and public engagement of Professor Dr. Mohammed Nurul Alam, who examined the role of Islamic banking and microfinance in addressing poverty in developing countries.
His research included engagement with financial institutions in Kenya and investigation of microfinance approaches associated with the Grameen Bank model.
The research considered how microfinance could provide individuals experiencing financial disadvantage with access to smaller loans and financial services.
In a published interview with the New Dawn newspaper, Professor Alam discussed the potential of Islamic banking to expand financial inclusion, particularly among individuals in rural communities who encounter barriers to conventional banking.
He also described proposing the incorporation of microfinance mechanisms into Islamic banking to enable financially disadvantaged individuals to obtain Sharia-compliant lending.
This research is relevant to the development of poverty-reduction policies because access to finance can support entrepreneurship, household resilience and economic participation.
The University's public documentation demonstrates an established contribution to research and dialogue concerning financial inclusion.
However, the available record does not establish the adoption of these proposals by a government authority, participation in a formal policymaking committee or a new policy consultation undertaken during 2025.
The research is therefore reported as historical policy-relevant academic engagement rather than confirmed 2025 governmental policymaking.
2. Collaboration with Government Institutions
CUD maintains relationships with government bodies that support public-sector capacity development, professional education and research collaboration.
These relationships demonstrate the University's role in connecting higher education with public institutional priorities.
Dubai Health Authority — Educational Capacity Building
CUD previously established a partnership with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to provide scholarship opportunities for government employees.
The arrangement included a Chancellor's Scholarship supporting postgraduate business education and professional development.
This partnership illustrates cooperation between the University and a public-sector institution to strengthen access to professional education.
Educational capacity building can contribute to the effectiveness of public services and long-term workforce development.
However, the historical DHA scholarship arrangement is not, by itself, evidence of participation in government policymaking specifically designed to reduce poverty.
Dubai Municipality — Research and Knowledge Exchange
On 20 November 2025, CUD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Municipality to support collaboration in environment, health and safety research.
The agreement established opportunities for joint research, technical knowledge exchange and the investigation of emerging approaches to public-sector challenges.
Areas of potential cooperation include food safety, environmental health and risk assessment.
The partnership demonstrates CUD's participation in research collaboration with a local government institution.
Although improved environmental health and public services can benefit disadvantaged populations, the agreement does not explicitly establish participation in poverty-reduction policy formulation.
Accordingly, it is presented as a confirmed 2025 government partnership and a potential pathway for future policy-relevant research, rather than a completed anti-poverty policymaking contribution.
3. International Engagement and Poverty-Related Policy Dialogue
CUD has historically engaged students, faculty and external partners in international discussions addressing poverty, humanitarian challenges and sustainable development.
Its existing SDG 1.4.4 documentation includes participation in educational and leadership activities involving themes such as poverty reduction, refugee protection, social development and financial inclusion.
Examples include:
International Leadership Symposium
CUD Student Council representatives previously participated in the University Scholars Leadership Symposium, organised by Humanitarian Affairs.
The event brought together participants from different countries to explore social challenges, humanitarian needs and sustainable development.
Activities included discussions concerning poverty, displacement and access to education.
Model United Nations and Global Citizenship Education
CUD has hosted Model United Nations-related educational activities addressing global challenges, including poverty, inequality and sustainable development.
These initiatives encourage participants to examine international policy issues through simulated negotiations, debate and collaborative problem-solving.
SDG Education and Public Dialogue
CUD has also promoted wider awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through educational events and discussions concerning social responsibility and sustainable development.
Such activities help prepare students and future professionals to understand poverty-related policy challenges.
However, participation in educational conferences, simulated policymaking or awareness events does not demonstrate formal institutional involvement in developing or implementing government anti-poverty policies.
The reviewed activities are included as historical context rather than verified 2025 policy contributions.
4. Partnerships Supporting Educational Access and Social Inclusion
CUD's institutional approach to poverty reduction includes programmes intended to reduce barriers to higher education.
Its Financial Hardship Scholarship provides eligible students with tuition assistance based on documented financial circumstances.
The University also supports externally sponsored students through administrative coordination and academic guidance.
In 2025, CUD publicised a commitment to provide 50 fully funded scholarships for refugee students through an initiative associated with the Brand Me Summit and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
This announcement demonstrates engagement with educational access challenges affecting displaced populations.
Refugee education is relevant to poverty reduction because displacement can intensify economic insecurity and restrict access to qualifications and employment opportunities.
Nevertheless, scholarship provision is an institutional programme rather than evidence of government policymaking.
The public announcement also does not establish how many scholarships were awarded or taken up during 2025.
These activities therefore demonstrate CUD's programme-level contribution to educational access, not verified participation in national or international poverty policy formulation.
5. Policy Participation by Governance Level
CUD's available evidence can be assessed against the four geographical levels specified in THE's methodology.
| Policymaking Level | Relevant CUD Evidence | 2025 Verification Status |
|---|---|---|
| Local | Dubai Municipality research agreement and established public-sector relationships | Partnership confirmed; specific poverty policymaking contribution not established |
| Regional | Historical engagement in Middle East sustainability, educational access and humanitarian discussions | No verified 2025 regional anti-poverty policy consultation |
| National | Institutional activities aligned with UAE social development priorities and collaborations with public organisations | No verified 2025 participation in national anti-poverty policy formulation |
| Global | Historical microfinance research, international SDG dialogue and refugee education engagement | No verified 2025 global anti-poverty policy contribution |
This assessment distinguishes institutional expertise, research collaboration and community programmes from formal participation in policymaking.
For the purposes of SDG 1.4.4, additional evidence is required to establish CUD's role in the development, consultation or implementation of poverty-related public policies at any of the four levels.
6. Evidence of Institutional Contribution
The University's available records establish the following:
| Activity | Documented Contribution | Evidence Status |
|---|---|---|
| Microfinance Research | Academic research and public commentary concerning financial inclusion and poverty | Historical research engagement |
| Dubai Health Authority Partnership | Educational capacity building through government employee scholarships | Historical institutional partnership |
| Dubai Municipality MoU | Research and knowledge-exchange framework established in November 2025 | Confirmed 2025 government partnership |
| International Leadership and SDG Dialogue | Student and faculty engagement with poverty and development challenges | Historical educational engagement |
| Refugee Education Initiative | Commitment to 50 fully funded refugee scholarships publicised in 2025 | Announced initiative; award outcomes unverified |
| Formal Anti-Poverty Policy Development | Direct institutional contribution to local, regional, national or global policy | Not established for 2025 |
7. Strengthening Policy Engagement and Documentation
CUD recognises the importance of connecting academic expertise with public-sector decision-making.
The University's research capabilities and institutional relationships provide opportunities to contribute to policy discussions addressing financial inclusion, educational inequality and barriers to sustainable livelihoods.
Future institutional documentation could strengthen evidence of such participation by recording:
- Formal invitations to government consultations addressing poverty or social protection.
- Membership of relevant policymaking committees or advisory groups.
- Research reports, policy briefs or recommendations submitted to government institutions.
- Consultations with international organisations concerning poverty-reduction strategies.
- Records of recommendations incorporated into official programmes or policies.
These records would help distinguish participation in policymaking from general research, educational activities and public awareness initiatives.
Conclusion
Canadian University Dubai contributes to the knowledge and institutional partnerships relevant to poverty reduction through research on financial inclusion, educational access initiatives and public-sector collaboration.
The University's historical research on microfinance has addressed mechanisms for expanding financial services to disadvantaged communities, while its partnerships and educational initiatives support broader social development objectives.
During 2025, CUD strengthened government collaboration through its agreement with Dubai Municipality and publicised a refugee education scholarship commitment associated with UNHCR.
These activities provide a foundation for policy-relevant engagement.
However, the currently available evidence does not establish that CUD directly participated in the formulation or implementation of a specific government anti-poverty policy during 2025.
Further documentation of formal consultations, advisory roles, policy submissions or government responses would be required to substantiate participation under this indicator.
Supporting Evidence
Evidence 1 — CUD SDG 1.4.4: Policy Addressing Poverty
Existing institutional evidence covering microfinance research, international engagement, public-sector partnerships and poverty-related educational activities.
Evidence 2 — Professor Dr. Mohammed Nurul Alam Discusses Benefits of Microfinance in Developing Nations
Historical CUD faculty research and public discussion concerning financial inclusion and poverty reduction.
Linked from the existing CUD SDG 1.4.4 evidence page.
Evidence 3 — Canadian University Dubai Creates Scholarship to Support Government Staff in Higher Education
Historical government education partnership with Dubai Health Authority.
Evidence 4 — CUD and Dubai Municipality Sign MoU to Advance Environment, Health and Safety
Official announcement of the November 2025 government research partnership.
Evidence 5 — CUD Community and Outreach Activities
Institutional information concerning refugee education, UNHCR-related collaboration and community engagement.
https://www.cud.ac.ae/sustainability/social-responsibility/community-and-outreach-activities
Evidence 6 — CUD Scholarships
Institutional provisions addressing access to education for students experiencing financial hardship.
https://www.cud.ac.ae/scholarships
Responsible Units: Centre for Sustainability and Innovation; Office of Research Services; School of Management; and relevant public-sector partnership teams.
Reporting Period: 1 January – 31 December 2025, with historical institutional activities identified separately.