Partners In Impact Forum 2023 To Celebrate Third Sector Contributions In Abu Dhabi

The Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi is set to host the third "Partners in Impact" - Third Sector Forum on 18th November at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre. This event, organised with ADNOC, aims to empower third sector entities to advance societal progress and improve life quality. The forum will feature dialogue sessions with local and international speakers, focusing on enhancing knowledge and addressing opportunities and challenges.

For the first time, the forum will include a Third Sector Awards ceremony. This event aims to recognise outstanding efforts by third sector entities and guide organisations and individuals aiming for positive social impact. By celebrating these achievements, the awards seek to build trust in the third sector as a significant contributor to social impact while promoting participation, innovation, and social responsibility.

This year's Third Sector Awards will have six main categories: NFP of the Year, Most Impactful NFP, Social Enterprise of the Year, Most Impactful Social Enterprise, Volunteering Team of the Year, and CSR Initiative of the Year. Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Sports Sector at DCD, stated that the forum highlights the vital role of the third sector in realising Abu Dhabi’s vision of a supportive environment that empowers public benefit organisations.

Al Balooshi further mentioned that this edition would announce Third Sector Awards winners. It provides a platform to celebrate contributions towards sustainable development alongside volunteer teams. The award also honours achievements in social responsibility and their positive societal impact. A committee from various federal and local institutions has been formed to review entries for these awards.

The forum will explore strategies to empower the third sector in creating meaningful societal impacts. Topics will include strengthening partnerships between third-sector institutions and public-private sectors, adopting innovative approaches for enhancing roles within society, promoting cooperation concepts, and fostering an environment encouraging volunteering.

The discussions will also focus on social entrepreneurship's importance and corporate social responsibility's role in addressing societal challenges. Foundational practices for developing projects with social objectives will be covered alongside strategies for building capabilities within third sector entities.

The event underscores DCD's commitment to awarding prizes based on expert evaluations by specialists from various institutions. This approach ensures recognition goes only to distinguished entries demonstrating excellence in their respective fields.

By hosting this forum annually, DCD aims not only at recognising achievements but also at fostering an environment where innovation thrives through collaboration among different sectors contributing positively towards society’s needs.

With inputs from WAM