MLSD Minister confirms: The initiative of the electronic platform for training NGOs aims to raise their efficiency in financial management

25-04-2020

His Excellency Jameel bin Mohammad Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, affirmed that the initiative recently reviewed by the Council of Ministers, regarding an electronic platform for remote training of NGOs to raise their efficiency in financial management, aims to qualify workers in the private sector to obtain a professional certificate specialised in financial management as one of the axes of work under the eighth recommendation of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) concerned with combating the financing of terrorism in the non‑profit sector and protecting it from exploitation. He pointed out that the Ministry launched this initiative to help volunteers and workers in NGOs raise their efficiency in the field of financial management so that they are able to achieve their development goals in a comprehensive manner. Humaidan said that this initiative is the first of its kind to employ electronic technology in training NGOs. It targets at least 400 volunteers from civil society organisations in a professional training programme, prepared by specialised entities in financial management and accredited by a specialised Bahraini scientific authority. Through this programme, a series of successive training programmes will be made available over several months via the electronic platform, and trainees will be able to review the training material according to their available time, with the possibility of taking a test at the end of each course. They will then receive the evaluation results electronically so that they can move on to the next training course. In this context, the Minister of Labour and Social Development explained that the initiative targets members of the boards of directors of NGOs, members of general assemblies, university students interested in volunteer work, volunteers affiliated with the Ministry's Volunteer Development Centre, and others, as well as bank employees and those specialising in dealing with civil society organisations. Humaidan also emphasised that this initiative reflects a practical translation of a partnership and cooperation programme with various civil and private entities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He explained that the programme relied on various sources of financial, human and material support from governmental and civil entities for its funding, making them an important part of the electronic platform programme. He pointed out that the most important partners in the electronic initiative are: the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), the strategic partner in building the electronic platform and activating the electronic channel for remote training of NGOs (LMS), in addition to the Abdul Rahim Al Kooheji Charitable Foundation, the main supporter of the platform, which provided the expertise of “Talal Abu‑Ghazaleh” to develop, review and audit the scientific material. The Foundation also covered other costs for managing the project programmes. It is worth noting that the Non‑Government Organisations (NGOs) Support Directorate at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development oversees the implementation of the platform programme. To implement this programme, it has designed a systematic work structure and clearly defined responsibilities to ensure its professional and distinctive operation. It has also established a process for registration, accreditation, follow‑up and correction. Regarding the partners in the electronic initiative, Humaidan added that the Applied Science University contributed to reviewing the academic materials and cooperating in implementing the training modules, in addition to approving the training modules from university professors and amending the final exams for the training modules. The university also contributed to the linguistic correction of the legal modules, in addition to video‑recording the previously prepared accounting materials. He added that the partner NGOs cooperating in the programme also contributed. The initiative relied on the principle of “networking between NGOs,” which is a constant principle that the Ministry works to employ in its various pioneering programmes. This was done in cooperation with the Bahrain Internal Auditors Association (BIAA), which contributed to preparing the accounting material, the Accountants and Auditors Association, which contributed to preparing the accounting material, as well as the Good Word Society, and volunteer guides throughout the year to follow up with the trainees. The training programme comprises 12 units, delivered at one unit per month. Trainees must log in to the electronic platform to participate and acquire the necessary skills. The curriculum includes approved methods of delivery and assessment, as well as success criteria. In total, the programme comprises 100 approved hours. The training programme includes an introduction to the procedures for the elections of the general assembly of NGOs, an introduction to Decree‑Law No. (21) of 2013 regarding the regulation of collecting money for public purposes, how to obtain licences to collect funds, transfer or receive funds to or from abroad, how to prepare the accounting records that must be available in the organisation, the mechanism of receipt and disbursement in the organisation, the documentary cycle for such organisations and accounting principles, and how to prepare bank settlements, final accounts, and the estimated budget. Working committees have been formed for these tasks, including the Scientific Committee to follow up on the uploading of the scientific material, exams, and the self‑ and final evaluation of the trainees on the specified dates, the Correction and Examination Committee, and the Results and Certificates Accreditation Committee. A guide for trainees has also been prepared, including the platform’s work system, the objectives and duration of the training programme, the training materials, the time period, and the timing of the monthly exams. This guide has been displayed on the platform’s website and the Ministry’s official website. A training agreement has also been prepared for trainees registered by civil society organisations, outlining the trainee’s rights and obligations, as well as the obligations of the organisation nominating him for the programme. In this context, the Minister of Labour and Social Development emphasised that the initiative of the electronic platform for training NGOs falls within the framework of emphasising the importance of developing and enhancing the competencies of those working in civil society organisations, in order to provide them with the necessary skills for their work, with the aim of enhancing their efficiency and ensuring their continued engagement within a framework of permanent self‑governance. This supports the public‑benefit nature of these organisations, which in turn reflects goodness and development on the nation and its citizens.