program "Enrichment" Honors 30 public benefit organizations
Dubai, December 18 / WAM / The Community Development Authority in Dubai celebrated the efforts of public benefit institutions
Before the end of the “Year of Community,” which witnessed great achievements that serve to build a more cohesive social fabric, during a ceremony held at the Emirates Towers, the Authority honored 30 institutions within the second session of the “Ithra Program to Empower Public Benefit Institutions,” in a step that reflects the pivotal role of the third sector (non-profit public benefit institutions) as a primary partner in social development in the emirate.
The honor came according to three main levels: gold, silver and bronze. 13 institutions ranked in the gold level, 10 institutions in the silver level, and 7 institutions in the bronze level, based on their performance in terms of governance standards, quality of services, sustainability, and effectiveness of partnerships, in addition to the initiatives that contributed to enhancing social impact during the year.
The “Ithra” program is based on three main axes, including: institutional empowerment, human and community capital, sustainability and performance excellence. Through these axes, the program aims to enhance the capabilities of public benefit institutions, develop the quality of their services, and raise their social impact in line with the directions of the Dubai Social Agenda 33.
The second session of the “Ithra Program to Empower Public Benefit Institutions” was an extension of the success of its first session, and a confirmation of the Community Development Authority’s commitment to developing the public benefit system in the Emirate of Dubai, in cooperation with the Dubai Quality Group. This session aimed to evaluate the performance of 159 public benefit institutions according to the legal classification approved in Federal Decree Law No. 50 of 2023, through an integrated evaluation system that witnessed qualitative developments that focused on strengthening governance and aligning institutional performance with goals and activities, through an impartial evaluation carried out by specialized experts, as “Ithra” constitutes a comprehensive empowerment system that contributes to expanding the positive impact of public benefit institutions, enhancing community confidence in them, and providing a clear path for continuous development and improvement.
Her Excellency Hessa bint Issa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, said: “Every development step begins with an idea, and every sustainable social impact requires an environment that believes in partnership and social responsibility. In Dubai, these values are transformed into a tangible reality through initiatives and programs that support the third sector and give it more space to make change. Today’s honor comes as an embodiment of Dubai’s firm conviction that social work is an extended partnership between the government sector and the third sector. ‘Ithra’ has demonstrated the ability of public benefit institutions to develop qualitative initiatives that contribute to empowering Community groups and enhancing the cohesion of the social fabric. We are proud that this session comes at the end of the ‘Year of Community’ and is loaded with results that confirm Dubai’s leadership in building an integrated social system.”
Hariz Al Murr bin Hariz, Executive Director of the Organization and Community Services Sector at the Community Development Authority, said: “The results of this session reflect clear progress in the level of compliance with governance standards and quality of services, and public benefit institutions have demonstrated remarkable institutional maturity and development in their initiatives and operational processes. The course has also witnessed a remarkable growth in partnerships between public benefit institutions and government and private agencies, which reflects the development of the sector and its readiness to expand its tangible positive impact in supporting the quality of life in the emirate. “Ithra” plays a role in enhancing the readiness of the third sector and enabling it to adopt more effective and sustainable practices, in line with the social priorities of the Emirate of Dubai.”
Officials of the honored institutions expressed their deep appreciation for the “Ithra” program, stressing the pivotal role it played in developing their institutional journey. Participation in the program contributed to a comprehensive and objective evaluation of their performance, which allowed them to identify real development opportunities and improve the efficiency of services provided to the community.
Officials of the institutions included in the honor confirmed that the program provided valuable practical tools that contributed to strengthening governance practices, developing work mechanisms, and raising the level of institutional readiness in a way that reflects their commitment to achieving a sustainable social impact, noting the impact of the experience in establishing a culture of continuous improvement within their institutions, which enhances their ability to provide more efficient and sustainable community services.
This comes at a time when the Community Development Authority continues its commitment to supporting public benefit institutions and encouraging them to provide services that meet the needs of society and contribute to achieving the strategic development goals in the Emirate of Dubai for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
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