Humanitarian crises continue to affect millions worldwide, leaving them in need of desperate assistance. While a noble pursuit, the path to helping people in affected zones is riddled with legal and political complexities—one of the major barriers to the delivery of life-saving support today.
LIFE for Relief and Development, under the leadership of Dr. Hany Saqr, CEO, is at the forefront of providing humanitarian help in crisis zones. Driven by a passion for helping these people and relieving their suffering, Dr. Saqr continues to steer Life for Relief and Development toward success–making him one of The Most Visionary Business Leaders To Watch In 2024.
Leading toward Empowerment
Dr. Hany Saqr’s leadership revolves around teamwork, transparency, and empowerment. He believes in clearly setting goals, actively listening to his team, and empowering everyone to achieve the set goals in the most efficient way.
By inspiring people to take ownership of their roles, he fosters a collaborative and dedicated environment—reflecting compassion and integrity in every aspect of the organization. A fundamental aspect of Dr. Saqr’s leadership has been hands-on involvement and commitment to open communication—aligning efforts toward LIFE’s ultimate objectives.
To balance risk innovation, stability, and profitability, Dr. Saqr takes data-driven decisions and pilot tests new initiatives to assess their viability and impact. He is always open to fresh ideas and perspectives to improve LIFE’s workflow and output. When the new ideas are suggested, they are researched thoroughly and then trial-tested several times. Only when the positive outcomes are demonstrated, Dr. Saqr employs the method further.
Nurturing In-House Talent
The talent nurturing at LIFE comes through a focus on continuous learning and professional growth. Dr. Hany Saqr places a strong emphasis on mentorship, providing guidance and support to team members—helping them achieve their full potential and strengthening the effectiveness of the organization.
Dr. Saqr believes that growth for anyone who is a part of a team is growth for the entire team. Employees at LIFE are encouraged to complete further education and certification and go to conferences and workshops to build up their individual abilities.
Compassion, Integrity, and Equality
Incepted in 1992, LIFE for Relief and Development is a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing aid and relief to vulnerable populations globally. Founded on the principles of compassion, integrity, and equality, LIFE works to stop suffering and promote dignity among those affected by crises. The organization engages and specializes in an array of activities— emergency relief, medical care, education, clean water initiatives, community development, family assistance, and refugee support programs. These services are designed to address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations and promote long-term sustainability and development.
In the last 32 years, LIFE has distributed just under $600 million in global humanitarian aid. For its efforts, it has earned a 95% rating on Charity Navigator, is recommended by USAID, and was voted one of the top humanitarian organizations in the U.S. by Impactful Ninja.
However, delivering these services isn’t without challenges that threaten to block the delivery of crucial aid to those in need. With his effective leadership, Dr. Hany Saqr has tackled these blockades with persistent advocacy, strategic diplomacy, and building strong local partnerships. His skills have been pivotal to showcasing the impartiality and necessity of LIFE’s aid—earning the trust and cooperation of political players, community members, various partners, and donors.
Seamless Experiences Driven by Tech
Today, technology is integral to humanitarian work both in the running of the organization, the participation of donors, and in the receiving of aid. LIFE has digitalized the entire organization—moving from paper to online databases. It has updated all the programming to run the latest software for more efficiency.
The latest software also helps in its distribution channels for emailing, SEO, running the website, press releases, and more to reach more potential donors and update the current donor list online. It also helps streamline the donation process to make everything as effortless as possible.
To disrupt the traditional working methods, Dr. Hany and LIFE have revolutionized humanitarian aid delivery through advanced technologies such as data analytics, satellite imagery, and AI and a strong focus on community involvement. Their innovative approach ensures rapid and precise aid distribution. By collaborating with local vendors and community members for sourcing and delivery, they not only expedite the process but also stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and strengthen community ties.
Pillars of Success at LIFE
Dr. Saqr prioritizes continuous assessment and feedback to identify areas for improvement and expansion at LIFE. By staying attuned to community needs through local offices, partners, and the U.N., he ensures the organization’s services evolve to meet emerging challenges. For instance, recognizing the urgent need for shelter in Gaza, LIFE swiftly provided 1,000 tents and has 2,000 more on the way—demonstrating the organization’s ability to respond quickly and effectively.
The people at LIFE are the pillars of its success at large. The constant effort from its staff, partners, donors, and board members is what drives this organization forward. Dr. Hany Saqr believes that all this growth was possible because these people truly care and enjoy their work. A testament to LIFE’s recent success was the opening of new offices in Yemen, Kenya, Malaysia, and Somalia.
A key growth driver for LIFE was its efficient resource mobilization and aid delivery during crises like the Gaza crisis. This success, featured on prominent media channels like AP News, boosted LIFE’s global credibility, leading to increased trust and support from donors and partners.
“Since its foundation, LIFE has seen significant growth, building nearly 300 water wells worldwide, sponsoring over 13,000 orphans, and distributing $16 million in medical supplies in 2023 alone.”
