Manama: The Ministry of Social Development held a ceremony to honour civil society organisations that obtained the ISO 26000 certification for social responsibility, as part of the Al Kooheji Charitable Foundation initiatives, in cooperation with the Regional Network for Social Responsibility.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the ceremony was held in the presence of Osama bin Saleh Al Alawi, Minister of Social Development, and attended by a number of civil society leaders and representatives of supporting entities. In his remarks, the minister said that earning the ISO certification reflects the commitment of these organisations to applying quality and governance standards. He noted that this aligns with the Ministry's vision to develop the civil society sector based on best institutional practices.
He said that the Al Kooheji Charitable Foundation initiative has helped build the capacities of associations and enhanced their readiness to implement international standards. He reiterated the Ministry's commitment to supporting civil society organisations by continuing to train and prepare future cohorts to uphold approved standards and improve performance quality.
During the ceremony, the Ministry announced a new group of organisations that will be enrolled in the next phase of the Al Kooheji grant programme, aimed at strengthening institutional excellence and enabling the civil society sector to advance sustainable development goals.
The honoured organisations included the Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled, Hamad Town Charity Society, Bahrain Voluntary Work Society, Bahrain Women Association for Human Development, Al Kawthar Society for Social Welfare, Tree of Life Social Charity Society, Children and Mothers Welfare Society, Future Society for Youth, Bahrain Food Bank, and Isa Town Social Charity Society.