Qatar Foundation: A Sustainability Innovator

Addressing sustainability issues requires a complex multisectoral systems shift that cuts across government and public sector to private sector and civil society. Non-state actors have long played a role in promoting sustainability; from nonprofits to youth movements, to civil activists’ think tanks and policy institutions, there are several examples of how these have shaped sustainability considerations worldwide. However, it is rare to find areas of intersection for the different actors. Far too commonly, efforts are siloed and as a result miss out on potential synergies from collaboration. Nowhere in the world do research, education, and civil society come together as they do in Qatar Foundation (QF), which is what places it so well as a critical sustainability innovator. Sustainability has been at the core of QF’s mission for over 25 years. Recognizing its own role as a contributor to the country’s ecological footprint, QF has been striving to enhance its sustainability practices and is committed to advance education on sustainability, promote and pilot innovative solutions, and advocate for national policy change. This chapter highlights this unique case study, one of the few places where preK-12 and tertiary education are found together, alongside NGOs, research institutes, think tanks, and cultural institutions, resulting in a unique ecosystem catalyzing innovation in sustainability.

Other Information

Published in: Sustainable Qatar : Social, Political and Environmental Perspectives
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
See chapter on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7398-7_5