CALL FOR PAPERS

Under the Patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
The Faculty of Economics and Management of Sfax Organizes in partnership with
Group of the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Institute of Research and Training

and with the assistance of the Tunisian Association of Zakat and the Tunisian Association of Islamic Economics


The Second International Forum of Sfax on Islamic Finance

Theme: ISLAMIC VISION ON THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT:
Zakat, Waqf and Islamic Microfinance



27, 28 and 29 June 2013
Hotel Syphax, Sfax (Tunisia)



RATIONALE:
The volume and intensity of poverty and unemployment in most Muslim countries raise the need to seek alternative development strategies to those already adopted. Today, the awareness of the availability of solutions to the problems of poverty and unemployment enhances the hope for a better future in light of Islamic institutions, such as those of the Zakat and those of Waqf that once contributed to the alleviation of poverty and the realization of human welfare and social justice.
Nowadays, Islamic institutions have advocated new ideas which have played a basic role in the redistribution of opportunities and efforts enabling the poor to become productive and generate income. The Malaysian experience of Zakat collection companies, the experience of Diwan Al Zakat in Sudan, the development experience of Waqf through securitization (the example of Sukuk al waqfia), the Takaful insurance regime based on the institution of Waqf in Pakistan, and the microfinance model based on Zakat and Waqf are all examples illustrating innovative instruments for the development of Zakat and Waqf institutions in their roles of alleviating poverty and unemployment.
The objective of the second Sfax International Forum on Islamic Finance fits into this logic of organizational restructuring of the Zakat and Waqf institutions which basically show how these Islamic institutions can strengthen efforts to reduce poverty and the realization of human well-being while complying with Islamic principles and values.
By bringing together academics, experts and professionals in the field of economics and Islamic finance, the 2nd Sfax International Forum on Islamic Finance comes to deepen the reflection on the opportunities offered by the Zakat and Waqf institutions in alleviating poverty and unemployment in the current economic and social context of Muslim countries.
This appointment is also intended to be an opportunity for young researchers to present their work in this area and discuss various issues related to the theme of the Forum which will focus on various theoretical, institutional, legal and methodological aspects. It is also seen as an opportunity for professionals in Islamic finance to expose their views and aspirations. Four themes have been suggested.

Suggested topics:

1) Islamic Economics: Islamic Vision of poverty and unemployment

2) Islamic Financial Engineering: Zakat and Waqf: legal, institutional, financial and economic aspects

3) other countries experiences: roles of Zakat and Waqf institutions in the alleviation of poverty and unemployment

4) Islamic Microfinance: Institutions models of Microfinance based on Zakat and Waqf
Practical arrangements
Proposals for papers, written in Arabic, English or French (summary of two pages in PDF form) should be sent to the following address:
Pcifi2013@gmail.com
Detailed information on the organization of the meeting and how to participate will be available during January 2013 on the site of the Forum:
http://www.cfi.aer-fsegs.org/
For further information, please contact:
mahmoud.neji@fsegs.rnu.tn
The selected best papers will be extended and published in the IRTI journal.
The best paper will be awarded the best paper award.

calendar
• Deadline for submission of abstract of the paper: 15 March 2013
• Decision of the Scientific Committee: 15 April 2013
• Deadline for submission of selected texts: May 15, 2013

Technical Committee:
Borhen TRIGUI (Prof. Dean FSEG-Sfax), Ridha SAADALLAH (Prof., President of ASTECIS), Salman Syed Ali (Senior Researcher Economist and Director of the Islamic Economics and Finance Research Division of IRTI), Mahmoud Sami Nabi (Senior Researcher Economist).

Scientific Committee:
Borhen TRIGUI (Prof. Dean FSEG-Sfax), Ridha SAADALLAH (Prof. President ASTECIS) Mohamed EL-TAHIR EL MESSAWI (Prof. International Islamic University, Malaysia), Dhafer SAIDANE (Prof., University of LILLE, France), Mohamed BOUDJELLAL (Prof. M'sila University, Algeria), Abderrahmane Lahlou (Expert, Abwab), Jamel Gharbi (Prof. University of Lille, France), Fathi Abid (Prof. FSEG-Sfax), Hichem GRISSA (Prof. Vice-President, University ZITOUNA) Borhen NEFFATI (Prof. University ZITOUNA), Mounir TLILI (Prof. University ZITOUNA) Kaouther JOUABER (Prof. Dauphine University, France), Najib HACHICHA (Prof. FSEG-Sfax), Mahmoud Sami Nabi (Researcher, IIRT, Jeddah), Rami Abdelkafi (IDB, Jeddah), Habib KALLEL (Prof. SG ATZ), Mohamed GOWIDER (Prof. Member ATZ), Mohamed MEGDICH (accountant, President of ATZ), Mohamed Triki (Prof. FSEG-Sfax), Habib CHABCHOUB (Director Prof. IHEC-Sfax), Anis JARBOUI (Prof. Director ISAA-Sfax) Yacin JERBI (CT-FSEG Mahdia), Jamel Ajroud (CT FD-Sfax), Mohamed Najib OUERTANI (Lecturer, FSEG-Sfax) Nejm eddine GHORBEL (Researcher in Islamic Economics and Regional Development).

Organizing Committee:
Mahmoud NEJI (Prof.Président AER), Mohamed MEGDICH (Accountant, President of ATZ), Maher JAOUA (Assistant professor, FSEG-Sfax), Mohamed Najib OUERTANI (Lecturer, FSEG-Sfax), Nejm eddine GHORBEL (Researcher in Islamic Economics and regional Development), Sameh Borgi-ZOUARI (Assistant professor, IHEC-Sfax), Chafik ALOULOU (Assistant professor, FSEG-Sfax), Saida DAMAK (Assistant professor, FSEG-Sfax), Rania GUIRAT (Assistant professor, FSEG-Sfax).