ABOUT THE HIGH LEVEL WORKING GROUP
The Islamic Blended Finance High-Level Working Group (HLWG) is a two-year international initiative led by the Islamic Finance Council UK (UKIFC), with the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) serving as Secretariat.
The Working Group brings together select stakeholders across Islamic finance, sustainable finance and the wider blended finance ecosystem to explore how Islamic blended finance can connect different pools of capital and mobilise additional private capital towards sustainable development.
2026–2028 | Launching at COP31 Türkiye
OUR VISION
Our vision is to bring together the Islamic finance and wider blended finance ecosystems to develop and advance Islamic blended finance as a viable financial mechanism, connecting diverse pools of capital and unlocking investment at scale for sustainable development.
Build the proposition for Islamic blended finance and increase awareness across the Islamic finance ecosystem.
Develop structured frameworks that integrate OECD-aligned blended-finance principles with robust Shariah governance.
Identify and address barriers to the development and adoption of Islamic blended finance globally.
From collaboration to practical action
The Working Group will be shaped by its members, with initial areas of activity including:
- Connecting Islamic social and commercial finance — facilitating greater interaction between Islamic charitable organisations and Islamic financial institutions.
- High-level convening — bringing senior stakeholders together to examine key issues and opportunities in Islamic blended finance.
- Market research — framing the market landscape of Islamic blended finance.
- New financing instruments — engaging stakeholders to encourage the development of new Islamic blended finance structures.
- Mainstream engagement — building awareness of Islamic blended finance across the wider finance ecosystem.
- Practical examples — showcasing market-tested approaches and supporting their adoption and scaling as emerging best practice.
Strategic Partners and Members
The HLWG is inviting organisations with relevant expertise and experience to participate as Strategic Partners or Members.
Participants will be selected based on:
- Commitment to the green and sustainable finance agenda
- Knowledge and experience of the global Islamic finance industry
- Practical experience and examples relevant to the Working Group’s objectives
Strategic Partners
Members
The UKIFC is a leading not-for-profit body committed to the promotion and enhancement of the global Islamic and ethical finance industries. A pioneer in advocating the role of Islamic finance in delivering positive social outcomes, For the Islamic Blended Finance High-Level Working Group, UKIFC provides leadership and expertise in Islamic finance and supports the development of the Working Group’s agenda and activities.
The Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) is a global platform focused on addressing systemic barriers and scaling ethical and sustainable finance. GEFI works across policy, capital and institutions, bringing stakeholders together to develop practical approaches that support the transition from commitment to implementation.
For the Islamic Blended Finance High-Level Working Group, GEFI serves as Secretariat, supporting coordination, stakeholder engagement and delivery of the Working Group’s programme.