In a significant move towards enhancing social responsibility among businesses, “Mujra – the National Fund for Community Responsibility” has partnered with the Ministry of Family to launch the “Family Impact Award for the Private Sector.” This national initiative aims to honour companies that go beyond traditional corporate social responsibility practices by implementing innovative initiatives that deliver measurable, reliable, and sustainable impacts on families and society, emphasising the importance of investment in family as a criterion for institutional excellence.
Aiming for Meaningful Change
The Family Impact Award seeks to motivate the private sector to develop innovative initiatives and solutions that address the needs of families while aligning with national priorities related to family welfare. This effort aims to foster national models that are scalable and replicable, reinforcing a corporate culture that views investment in families as investment in the future of society. The ultimate aspiration is for the award to become a national reference point for encouraging and measuring the contributions of the private sector in supporting families.
Key Areas of Focus
Focus will be on initiatives that surpass compliance and standard practices to provide genuine solutions. These include empowering parents in their familial roles, improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, enhancing the economic stability of families, supporting child and youth development, and creating innovative solutions for family-related challenges.
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation process will hinge on seven key criteria, awarding a total of 100 points. These criteria include: impact on families and communities (25%), measurable impact (20%), sustainability and continuity of impact (15%), innovation in family solutions (15%), replicability and scalability of initiatives (10%), partnerships and integration (10%), and institutional commitment (5%).
The award will predominantly focus on the tangible impact that companies have on families and communities, with internal policies and practices serving as supportive indicators reflecting genuine corporate commitment to family well-being. According to the framework of the award, external social impact constitutes 95% of the focus, while internal policies account for 5%.
Recognising Excellence
Ten exemplary companies will be recognised for their family impact, which will help showcase leading national models and promote positive competition among private sector institutions. Special commendations will also be awarded for excellence in innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships, based on a robust evidence-based evaluation methodology.
Process of the Award
The award process will unfold in several stages, beginning with the opening of nominations and submission of company files according to the established criteria. This will be followed by technical evaluations, deliberations by the judging panel, and the announcement and celebration of the winning companies during the Impact Summit, using a unified mechanism that promotes fairness and national representation.
Supporting Sustainable Impact
Through the “Family Impact Award for the Private Sector,” the Ministry of Family and “Mujra” aim to galvanise the private sector towards enhancing community contributions targeted at families, supporting a system of sustainable impact, and establishing family impact as a criterion for institutional excellence. This endeavour contributes to the creation of shared national impact.
Abdullah Ali Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Family and Child Sector at the Ministry of Family, affirmed that supporting families and enhancing their stability and quality of life is a national priority and a shared responsibility. He emphasised that the private sector plays a crucial role in achieving this goal through collaborative efforts. The Family Impact Award is a tribute to the quality initiatives that companies provide to support families and aims to highlight pioneering models that have made a tangible and lasting impact on families, thereby allowing for broader application across the country.
Sarah Shaw, Executive Director of “Mujra – the National Fund for Community Responsibility,” stated, “The Family Impact Award represents an important step towards enhancing the role of the private sector as an effective partner in creating shared national impact, transitioning from traditional initiatives to solutions that yield reliable, measurable, and sustainable effects on families and society.”