Sharjah 24: The Higher Volunteering Committee in the Emirate of Sharjah, in coordination with the Sharjah Volunteer Centre of the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD), launched its strategic plan for the years 2021-2023. The plan is in line with the directions of the Government of Sharjah and its pioneering role in humanitarian work.

The strategic plan stems from a vision that seeks to consolidate volunteer work and enhance Sharjah’s leadership in sustainable volunteer work through concerted efforts by introducing complementary programmes among volunteer work parties in line with its 2030 vision.

The strategic objectives of the plan were divided into three main tracks: "Policies regulating the volunteering of Sharjah government employees", "Organised volunteer initiatives that achieve efficiency and effectiveness and have a sustainable impact in the emirate", and "Integrated civil efforts in volunteering".

The three strategic tracks are based on six strategic objectives including updating the systems of volunteer work policies and guides, and promoting the culture of volunteer work in government institutions in the Emirate; improving the quality of volunteer work, facilitating the introduction of volunteer opportunities, and highlighting successful volunteer work; in addition to mechanisms of promoting volunteer work efforts in the Emirate.

The Higher Volunteering Committee confirmed that the 2021-2023 strategic plan came to form a road map for volunteer work, and to enhance its role in the emirate, by setting plans and goals in line with the directions of the Sharjah Executive Council under the leadership of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, to make volunteering a comprehensive sustainable and community institutional culture with social and societal responsibility.

The committee pointed out that it is working in integration with all relevant authorities, partners, and federal authorities in order to sustain volunteer work, and enhance its social and institutional benefits, noting that the most prominent results of volunteer work that were implemented during the first half of this year amounted to about 152 volunteer opportunities, participated in by of 2325 volunteers, with a total of 100,174 volunteer hours.

The committee that was formed by decision of the Executive Council No. 13 of 2020, is concerned with setting standards and controls related to the volunteering of Sharjah government employees during the emerging coronavirus pandemic, organising and coordinating the launch of voluntary initiatives in the Emirate of Sharjah to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, and coordinating with the competent authorities to launch voluntary initiatives available in the emirate.