Sharjah24: Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, revealed that the Ministry will apply new procedures to increase the licensing of Non-Benefit Public Associations, NGO’s and Social Solidarity Funds (Takaful) in accordance with the federal law No. (35) of 2020 concerning the ratification of some provisions of the associations and double increase the number of declared associations all over the UAE.
Her Excellency stated the ministry’s important role in coordinating and unifying social work all over the UAE in collaboration with the local authorities that related to supervise and monitor NGO’s not at the federal level only. Such a step facilitates the ministry's efforts to protect this sector from the risks of exploitation and achieve the UAE leadership directives to coordinate joint goals, objectives and visions as in support of the sustainable social development process adopted by the Ministry.
Her Excellency noted that the Ministry of Community Development was very keen to organize workshops and awareness programs targeting regulatory authorities that are responsible for overseeing and monitoring Non-Profit Associations as part of the ministry’s efforts and vision to increase the awareness of the international standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and weapons proliferation as issued by the Financial Action Task Force “FATF”. Such an act reinforces the commitment of UAE monitoring authorities with the laws and regulations to combat money laundering crimes, terrorist financing in non-profit organizations sector.
Her Excellency stressed the importance of collaboration between the Ministry and the regulatory authorities to supervise and monitor non-profit associations, sector, organize joint workshops and awareness programs and take the necessary precautions to project this sector from exploitation in supporting and financing terrorism.
Her Excellency revealed that the total number of Non-Benefit Public Associations, NGO’s and Social Solidarity Funds in the UAE reached (501) while the number of declared Non-Profit Associations, NGO’s and Social Solidarity Funds by the Ministry reached (274), including those associations and NGO’s who reconciliated their status in accordance with decree no. (35) of the Federal Law 2020 divided as follows: (222) Non-Benefit Public Associations, (34) NGO’s and (18) social solidarity funds “Takaful”. Her Excellency also referred to the joint efforts between the Ministry and local authorities on the reconciliation status of the other associations that are locally licensed while their supervision and monitoring procedures to be implemented through memorandums of understanding between the ministry and competent authorities.
Her Excellency noted that the role of the Non-Benefit Public Associations Department is to promote the efforts of Associations & NGOs through setting up new e-services and procedures that would achieve development goals, accelerate and facilitate the process while at the same time benefiting the members of the society and targeted audience too.
According to the registered figures at the Ministry of Community Development records, the (222) Non-Benefit Public Specialized Associations are dividing with (7) classifications all over the UAE as follows: public and cultural service associations reached (88), professional associations (37), folkloric arts associations (29), humanitarian services (30), clubs and communities (16), theatres (14) and finally women's associations (8) all over the UAE.
The number of NGOs reached (34) while the social solidarity funds “takaful” reached (18) all over the UAE.
The Ministry of Community Development inspects and analyses the financial statements and final accounts of Non-Benefit Pubic Associations on an annual basis to identify the sources of income, subsidies and donations received by the associations as well as their disbursements. The Ministry also supervises and monitors the annual meetings of Non-Benefit Public Associations general assemblies to discuss the financial and administrative reports of the associations and organize the elections of the boards of directors. The Ministry also implements field visits to non-benefit public associations to determine their compliance with the law and regulatory decisions.
The of the ministry's tasks is to supervise Non-Benefit Public Associations & NGOs, issue certificates for opening bank accounts in banks and financial institutions, approve the signatures of those authorized people to manage and operate these accounts in accordance with the statutes of NGOs & Non-Benefit Public Associations, continuously assure that both banks and financial institutions do not permit Non-Benefit Public Associations & NGOs to receive any funds from outside the UAE through their accounts until they are approved by the ministry.
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