The Authority of Social Contribution "Ma’an" recently launched its first Accelerator programme with the aim of strengthening the efforts of social enterprises by assisting them in enhancing and growing their operations in Abu Dhabi.

The Authority has worked in collaboration with the programme's content developer - Plug and Play ADGM - to identify six existing social enterprises from six countries to participate in the first cycle of the virtual initiative. The first cycle will be focusing on boosting mental wellbeing.

Ma’an’s Accelerator programme is aimed at bringing together individuals and organisations in a bid to encourage social innovation. The programme will provide 1:1 mentorship and coaching to these individuals and organisations to enable them to develop innovative solutions to address social challenges across Abu Dhabi. It will also facilitate the flow of collaborations between entities and investors.

At the same time, the Authority will provide access to market information, assist in collaborations and facilitate the provision of other facilities such as office space and complimentary license registration at ADGM. It will grant priority access to Ma’an’s Grants Programme.

Through the Accelerator programme, participants will be provided on-demand training which will be tailored according to their needs. They will also have access to a network of industry professionals and government entities, including leading healthcare providers and insurers in accordance with their requirement.

The inaugural Accelerator programme of the Authority will be addressing "Mental Wellbeing". The Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development has identified mental wellbeing as a key social priority, particularly amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The Department is working with various initiatives in the region to mitigate the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ma'an has selected six established entities, noting that each of these ventures provides innovative solutions to the ongoing challenges. These six entities will now enter the three-month intensive programme aimed at expanding their services and operations.

Ma'an Director-General Salama Al Ameemi said that the launch of the Accelerator programme has come in line with the Authority's commitment to helping the Abu Dhabi community by strengthening the efforts of social enterprises in the emirate and encouraging the third sector to address key social priorities.

She added that Ma’an has worked towards increasing the scale of existing social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations in Abu Dhabi which has resulted in a significant rise in employment opportunities within the social sector. It has also helped in furthering awareness for social entrepreneurship as a key agent for boosting social change in the emirate, Al Ameemi underlined.

It has been highlighted that individuals and entities from the UAE, GCC and across the world can participate in Ma’an’s Accelerator programme, as long as they are able to anchor a base in Abu Dhabi. However, every entrant must have a pre-existing, validated and operating business model.

One of the major goals of the Accelerator programme is to attract impactful social enterprises from across the world to operate in Abu Dhabi. It will increase the number of legally-licensed social enterprises to operate in Abu Dhabi and will strengthen collaboration between the private, public and third sector entities with the help of engagement and contract deployment for mutual benefits.

Officially launched on December 7 with a virtual orientation day, the programme will be concluding in March during a demo day where enterprises will showcase their progress and achievements through the initiative.

WAM