Doha, April 01 (QNA) - Under the esteemed patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) will organize the first edition of the "Rawda Award" for Excellence in Social Work on Sunday to honor the winning social initiatives.

The Rawda Award represents Qatar's first national recognition in the field of social work. It was established under Amiri Decision No. 16 of 2025, providing an institutional framework to celebrate the most impactful and sustainable social initiatives across five main categories: individuals, families, non-profit institutions, the private sector, and media organizations.

The Award's Board of Trustees is chaired by HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, and operates under the MSDF in strategic partnership with the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (DAAM).

The initiative aims to nurture, develop, and encourage a culture of social work in Qatar, promote societal values, and motivate the private sector and all community segments to compete in leading community initiatives by recognizing outstanding achievements across all contributors to social development, aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Ministry has established the general policies and standards for the award to ensure alignment with national strategies and the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly in the areas of human and social development, and to strengthen the principle of transition from care to empowerment.

The Board of Trustees oversees the award's governance and organizational structure, approves the executive and sub-teams, and ensures maximum transparency, integrity, and fairness in selecting the winners.

The Ministry also enhances strategic partnerships with government entities, the private sector, civil society institutions, and media organizations to expand the award's impact, promote a culture of excellence and social responsibility, and encourage sustainable social initiatives.

HE the Minister of Social Development and Family emphasized that the award continues Qatar's approach to supporting high-quality initiatives that enhance quality of life and create a lasting positive impact on society.

She noted that the award provides a leading platform to exchange experiences and showcase inspiring social work practices, contributing to the development of innovative practices, allowing successful initiatives to expand their reach, reflecting the maturity and integration of Qatar's social work ecosystem, and highlighting the importance of investing in human-centered initiatives guided by clear standards of efficiency and sustainability.

HE MSDF's Undersecretary and Deputy Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees Khalifa bin Issa Al Kubaisi stated that the award's final ceremony, which honors distinguished achievements, contributes to realizing the social development pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.

He highlighted that the award represents a national journey built on appreciation, encouragement, and motivation, supported by a rigorous evaluation and judging system that ensures transparency and credibility.

The award's launch is based on the Amiri Decision, which emphasizes its aim to promote and develop a culture of social work in Qatar, strengthen societal values, encourage the private sector and all community groups to compete in pioneering social initiatives, document winning initiatives, and build a national database of distinguished social practices.

These efforts aim to enhance integration between community and institutional initiatives, raise the quality of projects, and support the development of Qatar's social work ecosystem.

The Award's Executive Director Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Ishaq stated that the award has undergone key stages in its establishment, including setting standards, frameworks, and governance for participation. Committees were formed to screen, evaluate, and judge the entries leading up to the final ceremony.

Initially, the scientific committee reviewed all entries against the award's core criteria, followed by assessment committees for each category, and finally the Supreme Judging Committee selected the final list approved by the Board of Trustees.

He expressed gratitude to the evaluation and judging committees, the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (DAAM) as a strategic partner, and wished success to the winners, while encouraging those who did not win this edition to further develop their initiatives for future participation. (QNA)