Zakat in Sudan Alamin Ali Abdelgadir, General director of Information center at Zakat Chamber Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam, taken from adult Muslim who owns wealth over a certain amount known as Nisab. The most common level of Zakat on wealth from cash, equities and gold etc is 2.5 % of the total value. 1
The legal and constitutional framework for Zakat in Sudan. There have been four stages to the implementation of Zakat in Sudan. The first came with the establishment of Zakat Fund in 1980.However,at that time Zakat was collected voluntarily. The second stage began with establishment of Chamber of Zakat and Taxation in 1984, when Zakat collection by the state was made compulsory. The third stage came with the establishment of distinct chamber of Zakat designed to rectify the mistakes of previous stage by attempting to build the social function of Zakat. The fourth stage Zakat Act 1990 amended 2001. Coverage SZC has recently conducted comprehensive poverty census in Sudan which its general outcome are: Total Poor and needy families in the Sudan 2,291,789 out of 37.96 million population Families covered by ZAKAT First category 330,703 230,000 Second category 1,729449 1,250,000 Third category 231,637 20,000 2
Cash transfer programme targets 750000 house holds. Micro finance programme. Re- targeting and re- profiling poor people in sudan through the use of proxy means Test (PMT) TOOLS. Dsigning poverty map in sudan. Conducting social survey and create database. SZC approaches to social protection: providing means of production (micro and small enterprises, transportation vehicles, tractors, sheep, cows, milky goats ). training for members of fragile community who able to work. provide education for fragile community ( Establishing and rehabilitating schools, provide books, uniforms and school feeding. 3
cash and in-kind distribution to cover the basic needs monthly salary for elderly and disabled,cash support in urgent. Contributing to covering the urgent needs during disasters,and floods idemics in order to preserve human life and dignity Contributing to water and health services programs in areas where a large number of poor people live. Helping forced displaced people whether internal due to conflicts or natural disaster or refugees from neighboring countries. by providing food and shelters and help them to go back home. 4
The role and responsibility of Zakat in Sudan? Sudanese Zakat Chamber SZC mission is to collect Zakat from Muslims who own Nisab and according to Zakat law distributes the same to the eight categories mentioned in the Holy Quran SZC has Board of Trustees which represents the supreme authority chaired by Minister of MoSSd. Every state has Board of Trustees chaired by the State Governor. SZC operates through : (a) Federal level i.e. SZC General Trusteeship which approves the states plans and monitors the implementation of the same (b) the state level which carries out the plans approved by Board of Trustees.SZC has Fatwa ( legal opinion ) committee controls its operations according to Shariah law. SZC also works in collecting and distributing Zakat through Zakat grassroots committees. Zakat and it relationship with MoSSd and other line ministries The Minster of MoWSS is the chairman of SZC Board of Trustees which approves SZC plans and reviews its implementation. Thus SZC works closely with MoSSd in the federal and state level. The Governor of each state is the chairman if the state zakat Chamber. SZC coordinates with Ministries such as : Ministry of Finance. Ministry of education. Ministry of agriculture. Ministry animal resources and fishery. 5
The family is considered poor if it fulfilled one or more of the following elements: 1. The head of the family is unemployed and the family has no income from somewhere else and does has on eits members who has ability to work. 2. The family income is less than the minimum wage and has no income from somewhere else. 3. The head of the family compulsory unemployed. As a result of the inability of disease or lack of work. 4. The family with costly diseases and the head of family works with salary. The family is considered poor if it fulfilled one or more of the following elements: 5. The retiree head of the family if he has a chronic disease and the family has six-members or more, and all them go to schools and do not have any other source of income. 6. The head of the family who owns assets such as a house or agricultural land or idle vehicle. These assets do not generate revenue.he or she does not have the money to invest and has dependents. 7. Craftsmen,such as carpenters, farmers and blacksmiths who do not produce their efficiency of sustenance and do not have other income. 8. Agricultural workers and herdsmen who do not have livestock and do not have other income, and they have families consist of six members. 6
The role of zakat chamber in cash transfer program The lists of the cash transfer is sent to the states, along with a letter from the Ministry of security and Social development in addition to a letter from the General trusteeship of the Zakat Chamber. The lists show the number of beneficiaries and payment amounts of each payment. The role of zakat chamber in cash transfer program The procedures 1- The lists are received by the Zakat Chamber in the concerned state (the Disbursement Dept.) 2- The Zakat Chamber Audit Department reviews the lists and payment amounts. 3- The payment amounts are transferred by the Savings and Social Development Bank. 4- The lists are transferred from Zakat Chamber HQ and with the payment amounts (for each locality beneficiaries list and payment amounts). 7
5- The locality is divided into sectors which include villages and neighborhoods. Zakat Chamber staff disburses and approves the beneficiaries signatures. 6- The Zakat Chamber grassroots committees follow up payments in the villages,neighborhoods or at the Zakat Chamber s office. 7- In case beneficiary does not show up during payment thus his / her payment will be returned to the Zakat Chamber office. The Zakat Chamber staff in coordination with grassroots committee will go back for his / her payment. The Zakat Chamber staff confirms the existence of such beneficiary. 8- The payment is conducted by the original national number and shall be matched with national number mentioned in the list. 9- After two months the pay amounts shall be returned to the HQ. 10- The families that did not show up are replaced by the families did not get paid. 8
11- The replaced families shall have original national number. 12- The beneficiary replacement shall be approved the supreme committee which chaired by the Minister of Welfare and Social Security in the relevant state. 13- The lists shall be sent to the poverty center at the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security HQ. 14- The administrative cost is 1 SDG per each month. What are the key challenges and how will the chamber plan to address them? insufficient efforts and the difficulty of identifying eligible recipients and therefore difficulties in receiving Zakat. weakness of control over the performance and its assessment. lack of coordination with other social safety nets. 9
What is the future vision of Zakat Chamber to target the poorest in Sudan? Developing zakat legislation in order to achieve SZC objectives and to cope with rapid changes. Developing SZC relations with regional and international & other related institutions Directing state economic and social financial institutions policy towards the poor and needy. The Ministry of Higher Education shall conduct scientific research of SZC trial (experience)?? Establishment of a fund for the safety,security and social development in Sudan. Pursuing the application of modern Information management systems in all zakat operations, and giving special attention to technological progress in MIS. Promoting Zakat propagation and raising zakat awareness through media channels such as television, radio, lectures, seminars, publications and all modern media channels targeting all zakat payers,and upgrading zakat propagation to fill the knowledge and jurisprudence gap. the adoption of quality and excellence and job satisfaction. The future vision Implement social productive program to support vulnerable communities. To coordinate all efforts in one package and monitor and manage (ssn) through and evidence based system. Strengthen partnership with (ministries,donors,civil soceity.private sector. 10
Thank you! 21 11