The National Board of Zakat (BAZNAS) made another achievement by winning the Global Islamic Finance Award (GIFA) 2020 trophy, where this award is recognized as a prestigious international level award for the world of Islamic finance. BAZNAS won the category as the world zakat organization with the Best Zakat Distribution 2020 and the GIFA Special Award category for the Leadership Role category which was specifically given to the chairman of BAZNAS, Prof. Dr. Bambang Sudibyo MBA.CA for his role in developing zakat leadership in Indonesia and spurring the world zakat movement through the World Zakat Forum.
The presentation of the 2020 GIFA Awards was conducted online and broadcasted live via the YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/UE_zPJ1DMJ0 , at 16.00 WIB, Monday (14/9).
Bambang Sudibyo expressed his gratitude that BAZNAS was able to continue the positive trend of winning international awards even though the world was currently in a difficult condition. This award is also one evidence that zakat management in Indonesia has received positive recognition from the international community.
"Alhamdulillah, BAZNAS has received the 2020 GIFA Award as a zakat organization in the 2020 Best Zakat Distribution Program category in recognition of various innovations in assisting and empowering the poor and other groups of zakat recipients," said Bambang, in his statement, Monday (14/9).
Bambang added that this was the third time for BAZNAS to receive an award, after previously BAZNAS won an award from the GIFA Awards for the first time in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina, in 2018.
"Thank you to the Deputy Chairperson, all members, the entire board of directors, and all BAZNAS amilin and amilat for their hard work. This award is the result of the dedication of all amil and Indonesia zakat institutions, as well as all zakat activists in various parts of the world in their effort to carry out the zakat movement for the benefit of the people," he said.
For the last five years, BAZNAS has won a series of awards both nationally and internationally for the effort and commitment of BAZNAS in the world zakat movement. In 2020, BAZNAS previously won several awards including the Global Good Governance SDGs Champion Award 2020 from Cambridge International Financial Advisory (IFA), and the zakat institution with the Best Digital Fundraising in the Indonesia Fundraising Award (IFA) 2020 program.
Furthermore, in regard to the role in advancing the world zakat movement, BAZNAS has assigned its representative, which is Bambang Sudibyo, who is trusted to carry out the mandate as Secretary General of the World Zakat Forum (WZF). In November 2019, Indonesia was also selected as the host of the agenda for the annual meeting of the world zakat institution, World Zakat Forum, which took place in Bandung, West Java.
In this pandemic condition, BAZNAS works with an agency under the UN, namely UNDP to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in reducing the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
From March to August 25, BAZNAS has distributed aid to 432,771 people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Zakat, Infaq, Alms and Other Religious Social Funds (DSKL) worth Rp. 44 billion are channelled in the form of Health Emergency, Socio-Economic Emergency program assistance, as well as the continuity of existing programs that have been implemented by BAZNAS previously.
"Hopefully this award can stimulate the vision of zakat institution in Indonesia to continue to strive together to help those who are struggling in facing this crisis," concluded Bambang.
Trans: Puskas BAZNAS