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Kuala Lumpur, 28 August 2025 – INCEIF University, through its research arm ISRA Institute, has formalised a Collaboration Partnership Agreement with Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) at the Gender Outlook Forum 2025 today. The agreement was exchanged between ISRA Institute Deputy President Research Dr Marjan Muhammad and WBS CEO Puan Siti Faridah Abdul Samad. It was witnessed by YB Puan Anfaal Saari, Selangor’s Executive Councilor for Women Development and Social Welfare.
WBS, the state agency mandated to champion women’s empowerment in Selangor, focuses on strengthening leadership, entrepreneurship and socio-economic participation of women across diverse communities. The ISRA Institute is globally recognised for advancing thought leadership in Islamic economics, finance, and social policy.
This collaboration underscores the shared vision of both institutions to build an inclusive and sustainable society where no one is left behind. By combining WBS’s grassroots reach and programme delivery with ISRA Institute’s expertise in evidence-based research and policy innovation, the partnership is expected to deliver strategic outcomes that will:
- Position Selangor at the forefront of care economy policy and innovation.
- Support women-led MSMEs, older adults, families with special needs children, and other vulnerable groups.
- Generate research, indices and frameworks to guide State programmes and resource allocation.
- Strengthen entrepreneurial, technical and policy capabilities across the care economy ecosystem.
- Leverage the Islamic Economics Research & Innovation Fund (IERIF) to drive impactful applied research aligned with the Ekonomi MADANI agenda, enhancing Malaysia’s global standing in Islamic economics and social finance.
Three ongoing IERIF-funded research projects will serve as catalysts under this partnership: Coaching Framework for the Sustainability of MSME ECCE Operators; Incentivising At-Home Assistive Technology to Promote Ageing-in-Place; and the Financial Index for Special Needs Economic Stability and Empowerment (FINESSE).
Commenting on the collaboration, Dr Marjan Muhammad said: “This partnership brings together policy, research, and community impact to support some of society’s most important yet underserved groups. By working with WBS, we are able to translate Islamic economics and social finance principles into practical solutions that not only empower women and families, but also advance the vision of Ekonomi MADANI towards an inclusive and resilient Malaysia.”
Through this collaboration, INCEIF University and WBS reaffirm their commitment to advancing innovative policies, inclusive research, and empowerment programmes that will strengthen Selangor’s position as a model of an inclusive, care-driven economy.
Selangor is currently the only state in Malaysia with a dedicated care economy policy. The policy includes 39 action plans within 19 strategies running until 2030, focusing on advocacy and promotion, governance and regulation, upskilling of care workers, collaboration, and the use of technology. This integrated approach aligns with seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognising that 90% of caregivers are women. Selangor is working to increase women’s participation in the formal workforce, combating the undervaluation and underpayment of caregiving roles.
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