The Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) has activated the role of the nonprofit sector through signing an agreement to widen its contribution in offering all-inclusive services that were previously provided by the ministry. The ministry's move to empower the nonprofit sector comes within the Vision 2030 and objectives set by the national transformation program aiming to develop social services that would leave a wide impact on beneficiaries because of its effectiveness and fairness. Khaled Abalkhail, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, said the ministry is working on a number of pathways, activities, programs and initiatives to support and develop the voluntary sector in the fields of humanitarian and charitable work as well as care services. Such schemes enable charitable organizations to offer services and carry out projects, which were previously offered by the ministry, said Abalkhail. Meanwhile, the ministry inked an agreement with Al-Wedad Charity Foundation on offering services for orphans, which was a stepping stone for achieving the strategic transformation. According to the agreement, the foundation is taking care of children with special conditions whose age is not less than two years and who will be fostered by suitable families. The signing ceremony was led by Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Mufrej Al-Haqbani and Chairman of Al-Wedad Hussein Bahri, which took place at the ministry's headquarters. The spokesman clarified that the ministry is working hard to combine the services and assistance through the nonprofit sector by assigning them to foundations and extend their reach to beneficiaries. He said another agreement is expected to be signed for assisting newly weds, elders and persons with disability. Furthermore, the ministry is giving significant emphasis to building capabilities of the nonprofit sector through providing financial support and implementing mechanisms that make the sector grow in terms of quality and quantity. It also strives to develop appointment process for qualified staff of charitable foundations and volunteers, as well as allowing society to take part in charity work to ensure long-lasting impact on beneficiaries, Abalkhail said. He said the ministry's aim is to create an environment that encourages exchange of ideas and values and to benefit from both private equity and government's support, which he hoped would lead to the development of creative solutions that are deemed more effective and sustainable for resolving social issues.
