Designing a Waqf Development Plan

By Dr Hassan Mahfooz

This session, presented by Dr Hassan Mahfooz at the International Waqf Conference in Port Louis, Mauritius, explores how a waqfnama can be translated into a practical and sustainable waqf development plan. It explains how waqf development turns the waqif’s purpose and intention into clear decisions covering assets, projects, financing, income generation, governance, risk management and measurable outcomes.

The session introduces 11 key planning blocks for waqf development: the waqif’s vision and intention, asset identification, project identification, financing and investment strategy, income-generation strategy, waqf management, governance and accountability, Shari’ah and legal documentation, risk and compliance, monitoring and reporting, and technology for waqf administration.

Through practical APIF case studies and a comprehensive example of an income-generating waqf property funding scholarships, the session demonstrates how market analysis, appropriate financing, professional management, transparent governance and effective monitoring can transform idle waqf assets into sustainable sources of social and economic benefit.

The session emphasizes evidence-based planning, clear accountability, financial sustainability and Shari’ah and legal compliance. It also highlights the role of digital tools in accounting, rent collection, property management, document management, impact monitoring and transparent governance. Overall, the session provides a structured framework for developing waqf projects that preserve the original purpose of the waqf while adapting implementation methods to contemporary economic and social needs.