Strategic partnership between Cambridge IFA and DDCAP Group renewed

London: Professor Humayon Dar, Executive Chairman of Cambridge IFA and Director General of Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance, recently announced that Cambridge IFA and DDCAP Group^TM (DDCAP) will carry on with their joint efforts in respect of supporting, promoting and advocating the Islamic banking and finance industry, especially as it recovers from the pandemic. The two organisations have been at the forefront of Islamic financial advocacy and policy development through cooperation on projects like the Global Islamic Finance Report (GIFR), the WOMANi (Most Influential Women in Islamic Business & Finance) programme, the Cambridge Islamic Finance Leadership Programme (IFLP), and ISIRE (the only print magazine in Islamic finance being published from London). 

London-based DDCAP is a leading provider of asset facilitation services across a diverse range of Shari’a-compliant products and instruments in both primary and secondary markets. In addition to its main business activities, it has received acknowledgement due to its unwavering support for infrastructure building activities and projects in Islamic banking and finance.

For nearly half a decade, Cambridge IFA and DDCAP have helped the Islamic finance industry achieve several strategic objectives in women empowerment, leadership development and in dissemination of authentic Islamic financial intelligence. The renewal of the partnership agreement will allow both the partners to continue their advocacy roles in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has paralysed the global economy, affecting the growth of Islamic banking and finance. “We are aiming to continue our activities with a new optimism and renewed fervour to develop and help the industry move forward,” said Professor Humayon Dar, Executive Chairman of Cambridge IFA. 

DDCAP will further its collaboration within the partnership to support industry-building initiatives and programmes, encompassing the Cambridge Islamic Finance Leadership Programme (IFLP) held at the University of Cambridge every year, the most influential and highly sought-after annual report in the IsBF industry, GIFR, as Strategic Partner, as well as the bi-monthly journal-magazine ISFIRE.

“We have a number of projects lined up for this year, including the WOMANi Awards to be held in the second quarter of 2021, as well as our bi-monthly magazine on Islamic business and finance, ISFIRE to be published as per schedule,” said Khuram Shehzad, Head of Project Implementations at Cambridge IFA.

Stella Cox, CBE, Managing Director of DDCAP Group™, will continue to serve as Patron-in-Chief of WOMANi, a project culminating in an annual report and an awards ceremony celebrating the success and contributions of leading women in Islamic business and finance. Stella Cox, CBE, will also continue to provide her expertise and support the initiative of disseminating Islamic financial intelligence by serving on the International Editorial board of ISFIRE. These programmes are initiated with a particular focus on diversity and awareness to further develop Islamic financial education, awareness and ultimately its growth as an alternative and viable economic system.

The following statement was issued by DDCAP on the occasion.

DDCAP Group™ is proud to announce the continuation of its strategic partnership Agreement with Cambridge IFA.

This ongoing partnership encompasses a number of leading initiatives, amongst them the 6th Cambridge Islamic Finance Leadership Programme (Cambridge-IFLP). The DDCAP Group IFLP scholarship is also awarded to one individual from the WOMANi annual list to attend the Cambridge-IFLP for the purpose of personal career and leadership development. Fully aligning with DDCAP’s priorities to deliver against UN Sustainable Development Goals and targets for Quality Education, Gender Equality and Partnerships, the programmes within the partnership continue to focus on diversity, equality and awareness with a worldwide outreach.

Stella Cox CBE, Managing Director of DDCAP Group™ commented “DDCAP firmly believes that forming partnerships and supporting collaborative efforts with like-minded organisations is key to accelerating positive impact and we are delighted to have the opportunity to continue our much valued, proactive relationship with Cambridge IFA.”

About Cambridge IFA

Cambridge IFA is a financial services intelligence house that specialises in developing and utilising powerful cutting-edge analytical tools to evaluate business data, assess macroeconomic indicators and understand market trends, leadership positioning and brand development relevant to the development of the financial services industry globally. The principal activity of Cambridge IFA is developing performance indicators specific to alternative practices of banking and finance. It also aims to provide strategic advice to governments, financial institutions and multilateral organisations in the development of financial markets including alternative banking and finance products, procedures, practices and policies.

About DDCAP Group™

Headquartered in London, DDCAP Group™ (DDCAP) has pioneered Sharia’a-compliant intermediation services, bringing automation to the industry sector through the Group’s ETHOS Asset Facilitation Platform™ which delivers to clients and counterparties across the globe access to a diverse range of responsible and sustainable Shari’a-compliant products, asset classes and instruments. DDCAP has also invested, for its own account, in a number of Islamic financial sector firms and initiatives. In 2016, DDCAP was one of the first Islamic financial sector firms to be awarded Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Signatory Status. DDCAP is also a Stakeholder Endorser of the UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and is a signatory to the HMT Women in Finance Charter. Outside of its London headquarters, DDCAP’s international footprint includes representative offices in the DIFC, Dubai and in Kuala Lumpur. 

© Press Release 2021