Abu Dhabi's Third Sector Forum Celebrates Achievements And Announces New Council For Social Impact

The Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi recently wrapped up the third edition of the Third Sector Forum. This event, held in partnership with ADNOC at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, celebrated achievements within the third sector. The forum honoured winners of the Third Sector Awards across six categories, recognising leaders in volunteer teams, socially driven companies, and public benefit associations for their contributions to social responsibility.

Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, and Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, were among the attendees. The forum is part of ongoing efforts to foster a supportive environment for third-sector entities. It aimed to enhance knowledge and address opportunities and challenges through dialogue sessions featuring both local and international speakers.

The sessions focused on empowering the third sector to positively impact society. They discussed strategies to strengthen partnerships between third-sector institutions and both public and private sectors. Innovative and sustainable approaches were highlighted to amplify the sector’s role. Additionally, collaboration was promoted to foster social solidarity and encourage volunteering and community participation.

A significant announcement during the forum was the formation of the Third Sector Council. This council will include members from public benefit institutions and serve as a platform for addressing challenges, fostering collaboration for solutions, and identifying growth opportunities. It aims to strengthen ties between the third sector and government while representing its voice in policy-making processes.

The forum featured an awards ceremony recognising outstanding contributions across six main categories. The Emirates Cancer Society received the Non-for-Profit of the Year 2024 award, while Operation Smile was named Most Impactful Non-for-Profit 2024. Nadeera Company won Social Enterprise of the Year 2024, with E-Youth Company taking Most Impactful Social Enterprise 2024.

The Volunteering Team of the Year 2024 award went to The Emirati Marshals programme Team. ADNOC's "Energy for Education" programme received recognition as CSR Initiative of the Year 2024. These awards highlight significant contributions made by various organisations in enhancing societal well-being.

Leadership Vision

Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili expressed pride in seeing the forum succeed in establishing leadership values aligned with Abu Dhabi's vision for a cohesive society. He stated: "We are proud to see the Third Sector Forum continue to succeed in establishing the values of leadership that are in line with the vision of our wise leadership to build a cohesive and connected society."

He further added: "We were delighted to host experts from the social sector at the forum. Their participation included many inspiring ideas and experiences that promote adoption of advanced technologies and innovative practices to address social challenges." This reflects aspirations towards strengthening innovation for a prosperous future.

Inspiring Contributions

Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, Executive Director at Community Engagement and Sports Sector within Department of Community Development, highlighted remarkable success achieved by this forum. He emphasised: "The important role of Third Sector Awards inspires contributions to this pioneering sector." These awards strengthen its impact on addressing social priorities while enhancing quality life across all societal segments.

This year's forum underscored its commitment towards building an inclusive society that embodies cooperation values through expert insights shared during sessions aimed at advancing technological adoption within social sectors.

With inputs from WAM