Ministry of Labor and Social Development launches the electronic platform for civil society organizations

28-12-2019

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Administration, today (Thursday) launched the electronic platform initiative for remote training in financial management for NGOs. The ceremony was attended by the Director of the Institute of Public Administration, Dr Raed Mohammed bin Shams; Professor Dr Ghassan Fouad Awad, President of the University of Applied Sciences; Dr Wahib Ahmed Al Khaja; and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the AbdulRahim Al Kooheji Charitable Foundation, Mr Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Rahim Al Kooheji, alongside supporters, and the heads and members of participating civil society organisations and trainees registered on the platform. The online platform will train 400 volunteers and staff of NGOs remotely over 12 months, granting a professional certificate in managing civil society organisations’ funds and qualifying graduates to serve as financial secretaries or accountants on the boards of directors of NGOs. Structured training programmes will be released monthly via the platform; trainees may review materials at their convenience, sit an assessment at the end of each module, and receive an immediate electronic result enabling progression to subsequent modules. The initiative aims to strengthen the financial and administrative management capacity of NGOs, raise compliance awareness to protect them from exposure to money‑laundering and terrorist‑financing risks, and enhance their ability to utilise available financial resources effectively within established legal and administrative frameworks. Multiple working groups have been formed to oversee delivery, quality, and learner support throughout the training cycle. In line with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development’s directives to develop the competencies of NGOs’ personnel, and pursuant to Recommendation 8 of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) on combating terrorist financing in the non‑profit sector, a results report on the electronic platform initiative will be submitted to the Central Bank of Bahrain, as the entity responsible for following up Bahrain’s report on combating money laundering and terrorist financing. On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister underscored the importance of launching the electronic platform to empower NGOs in the Kingdom of Bahrain by enabling them to manage their funds efficiently and professionally. He commended the cooperation achieved with the Institute of Public Administration and the University of Applied Sciences, as well as the support of the private sector and specialised professional associations. His Excellency further praised the principle of community partnership between official institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector, which empowers NGOs to fulfil their developmental role and to elevate institutional performance, particularly in financial management. In this regard, he welcomed the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry and the Institute of Public Administration to implement the initiative; highlighted the importance of integrating efforts to build the capabilities of NGOs to manage their development institutions with professionalism and integrity; and expressed appreciation to the strategic partners and supporters of the initiative. He expressed confidence that this cooperation will advance NGOs towards greater professionalism in financial management and that such partnerships will continue to support the civil sector, strengthen workforce capabilities, and enable it to perform its mandated developmental role. For his part, Dr Raed Mohammed bin Shams, Director of the Institute of Public Administration, emphasised the strategic importance of the e‑platform for training NGOs, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. He noted that the project supports national strategic goals for smart transformation in public services and for building the capabilities of national cadres; that the platform will significantly raise the efficiency and competencies of members of NGOs; and that this, in turn, will help realise Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. During the launch, Ms Najwa Abdullatif. Janahi, Director of Non-Government Organizations' Support at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, delivered an introductory briefing on the platform’s regulations, including graduation requirements and assessment criteria. She explained that dedicated teams have been assigned to ensure smooth operations: an examinations team; a learner‑support team to facilitate access; a registration team responsible for enrolment and system access; and technical teams in accounting and financial management who prepared the programme content, including audio‑visual materials. Trainees received individual user accounts and a comprehensive user guide; they were introduced to the platform’s operating procedures, undertook practical familiarisation, and a ceremony was held to honour partner entities that cooperated in and supported the electronic platform project.