International development
Supporting Jewish and Israeli professionals and volunteers to use their skills and values to tackle global challenges.
“The more I learned about international development, the more I realised that it is impossible to solve global problems alone. So our foundation’s approach to funding in this sector has been one deeply reliant on long-term partnerships – investing not only in relationships with a few trusted organisations but also creating “field builders” who can grow and support the sector as a whole.”Sir Trevor Pears CMG
Pears Foundation supports Jewish and Israeli organisations committed to global development and service. Our flagship programme is the Pears Scholars and our organisational partners include Tevel b’Tzedek, IsraAid, and NALA. We also support World Jewish Relief, the British Jewish community’s international humanitarian agency. Their work spans humanitarian response, community development, public health, and capacity building, from Africa to Southeast Asia, bringing Israeli and Jewish innovation, expertise, and values to address some of the world’s most pressing development challenges.
To strengthen the wider ecosystem, we also helped to establish SID-Israel and OLAM, two infrastructure organisations that serve as convenors, capacity builders, and champions for Jewish and Israeli engagement in global development.
From delivering disaster relief in the Philippines and Nepal to educating students and young professionals, SID-Israel and OLAM are working together to build the field of international development and raise the profile of this vital work.
OLAM
Co-founded by Pears Foundation in 2015, OLAM convenes and mobilises Jewish individuals and organisations working in international development, humanitarian aid, and global service. Rooted in Jewish values and a commitment to the highest ethical standards, OLAM strengthens the field by:
- Supporting practitioners through professional networks, convenings, and shared learning opportunities.
- Empowering Jewish leaders via training, study trips, resources and thought leadership to advocate for the world’s most vulnerable.
- Cultivating the next generation by providing young Jews with the tools and opportunities to volunteer, study, and build careers in international development.
“OLAM” – Hebrew for “world” – reflects a vision of global responsibility deeply tied to Jewish identity.
Pears Foundation also supports the Pears Program for Global Innovation which is dedicated to harnessing the power of Israeli innovation to address the needs of the developing world.
Partner since: 2015
Funding invested: £1.4 million
Society of International Development – Israel
Although Israel has a rich history of international cooperation its development work has often remained under-recognised at home. To bridge this gap, Pears Foundation helped an Israeli branch of the global Society for International Development (SID).
Today, SID-Israel connects over 140 member organisations across civil society, business, government, and academia. Its work includes:
- Professional development and training for practitioners.
- Policy advocacy to build a supportive environment for aid and development work.
- Local and international networking to promote collaboration across sectors.
SID-Israel plays a central role in elevating the profile and impact of Israel’s contribution to global development.
Partner since: 2013
Funding invested: £3.1 million
Nura – Global Innovation Lab
Incubated and supported by Pears Foundation, Nura connects Israel’s world-class innovation ecosystem with real-world challenges in low- and middle-income countries. Launched under the Pears Program for Global Innovation, Nura supports the development of sustainable, technology-driven solutions in:
- Agriculture
- Climate resilience
- Health
- Digital and financial inclusion
By harnessing Israeli ingenuity for global good, Nura exemplifies our belief in scalable, impactful solutions for a better world.
Partner since: 2013
Funding invested: £3 million