The Department of Community Development - Abu Dhabi (DCD), in partnership with ADNOC, has launched the third edition of the Third Sector Forum.

The event will take place on 18 November 2024 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center, underscoring the department's commitment to supporting and empowering third sector entities to advance society and enhance the quality of life for individuals.

In its third edition, the Third Sector Forum aims to further the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi's efforts to create an integrated, supportive environment for third sector entities.

The forum will enhance knowledge-sharing and address key opportunities and challenges through panel sessions featuring a distinguished lineup of local and international speakers. Topics will centre on empowering the third sector and strengthening its capabilities and skills in alignment with leading international best practices.

For the first time, the forum will host the Third Sector Awards ceremony, which works to highlight notable entities in the third sector and inspire and guide other entities and individuals who seek to make a social impact by celebrating and honouring them.

This helps establish confidence in the third sector as an effective contributor to social impact, in addition to enhancing the culture of participation, innovation and social responsibility.

His Excellency Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, Executive Director of the Community Engagement and Sports Sector at DCD, said: “The forum is an annual platform to spotlight the essential role of the third sector in supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision of creating an environment that embraces public benefit institutions and enhances their role in improving quality of life.”

His Excellency Al Balooshi highlighted the significance of the third edition of the Third Sector Forum featuring the announcement of the winners of the Third Sector Awards, which celebrate the contributions of the third sector to sustainable development, as well as recognise volunteer teams and socially driven enterprises. The award also honours outstanding contributions to social responsibility and their positive impact on society.

His Excellency Al Balooshi further revealed the formation of a committee of experts and specialists from various federal and local institutions to review and evaluate the entries, selecting those that qualify for the final stage. This underscores the DCD’s commitment to awarding only the most distinguished entries based on expert evaluation.