Aid Doesn't Need to Be Costly to Be Effective: Faisal's TED Talk

His vision isn’t just a theory—it’s happening now, proving that with a bit of risk and a lot less red tape, we can turn small investments into something transformative.

Big news: Faisal’s TED Talk is now available to watch online!

In his thought-provoking talk, Faisal dives deep into a question that has troubled the world for decades: Why hasn’t traditional aid worked in the Middle East? After trillions spent and billions allocated to development, why are we still seeing brain drain, instability, and limited economic opportunity?

Faisal takes us behind the scenes of a radical new approach—one that reimagines aid as an investment rather than charity. Instead of bloated bureaucracies and ineffective middlemen, this model bets on the people themselves. By directly funding local entrepreneurs with market-driven ideas, the results have been nothing short of extraordinary.

Consider this: under the conventional system, a million dollars might create 50 jobs. With this new approach? 35,000 jobs—at a fraction of the cost. And it’s already changing lives. IBB’s Innovation Hub program models the success of this approach.

He shares the stories of people like Hakam Hesham, who launched a female-staffed taxi service in post-ISIS Mosul. Or Hani Hamade, a Syrian refugee in Turkey, who built a thriving language academy that no longer relies on aid—with just $3,000, he now employs 57 people.

The message is clear: trust people, reduce barriers, and real change happens.

Faisal’s vision isn’t just theory—it’s happening now, proving that with a bit of risk and a lot less red tape, we can turn small investments into something transformative.

And if this resonates with you, share it. Support the vital work our partners on the ground are spearheading. The more people who hear this message, the closer we get to a future where opportunity isn’t dictated by geography.