His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of Department of Community Development (DCD), chaired the monthly meeting of the Community Development Committee pertaining to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi social sector. DCD organizes these meetings periodically to follow up the work progress of the projects, initiatives, and programs related to the social ecosystem.
The meeting was held in the presence of directors- general and leaders of the following entities engaged in community development, in addition to DCD: Dar Zayed for Family Care, the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Zayed House for Islamic Culture, Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Social Care and Minors Affairs Foundation, Family Development Foundation, Authority of Social Contribution “MAAN”, Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, Shelters for victims of human trafficking “Ewaa” and Abu Dhabi Early childhood Authority.
HE first welcomed the attending committee members and emphasized the tireless efforts exerted by all entities since the start of the pandemic until today. He stressed the need to continue to provide a better quality of life for all members of society in the Emirate by enhancing lifestyles through implementing quality strategies, projects, and initiatives that contribute to making a change in real life and meet the needs of citizens and residents.
In a speech during the meeting, HE affirmed: “The wise leadership provides complete support to all members of society, as it believes in the importance of the role of every individual in promoting comprehensive and sustainable development, and the prosperous landscape in which the community of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi lives, which is based on two pillars: a cohesive family and interconnected societies. Hence, the role of the social sector is to establish a flexible and effective social system and create a highly educated and healthy generation that is aware of its responsibilities, rights, and duties towards its society and homeland.”
HE underscored the need to ensure the integrity of the ecosystem by all relevant government entities and partners in order to guarantee cooperation and work in a team spirit to achieve the desired goals that are in line with the agenda of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi social sector.
In the fifth meeting in 2021, which was held using video communication technology, the strategic and operational plans of the entities engaged in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi social sector were presented. These plans were aligned to ensure joining efforts with the departments and entities in the Emirate to achieve the main objectives of creating a society that enjoys a decent life and promote the identity and culture among the members of the society.
Reinforcing the risk management ecosystem
The committee reviewed the efforts that have been achieved in risk management and business continuity in the social sector in the Emirate, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the methods of crisis management by providing an integrated package of services, programs, and initiatives that have greatly contributed to reducing potential risks, as a result of pre-measurement and mapping risk management mechanisms.
Data analysis
The members of the committee listened to an explanation about data analysis of life quality survey and a presentation about shared data ecosystem with the competent entities in the government and social sector, which includes a shared database based on inputs that reflect the lives of community members. The ecosystem allows linking all information from the entities for case management in order to ensure the development of policies and strategies that help bridge gaps, if any, while improving the quality of services provided to community members by DCD or partners.
In its previous meetings held since the start of this year, the committee reviewed a range of major projects and strategies that contribute to the development of the social sector ecosystem, and a presentation of the final stages of Abu Dhabi Family Quality of Life Strategy that targets senior citizens, youth, and families as a whole. The Strategy will contribute to enhancing the quality of life by promoting mental and physical health, increasing welfare rates, developing social bonds, and enhancing family cohesion, as well as creating a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.
The previous meetings also included a presentation of DCD plans with the social sector in Abu Dhabi regarding corporate social responsibility in the Emirate. The organizational frameworks for organizing community contributions and encouraging investment in the social sector were reviewed, in addition to developing programs to raise and spread awareness about the importance of community contributions. This aimed at creating a clear organizational framework for developing the social responsibility of private companies. The project also includes, in its first phase, an assessment of the current status of corporate social responsibility, followed by the development of a framework for corporate social responsibility.