Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA supports its partners and subsidiaries in empowering and including People of Determination

As part of its social responsibility, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) continues its efforts to support its subsidiary companies in integrating and empowering People of Determination (POD) in the work environment and society. This is part of its ‘Inclusion People of Determination Innovation Incubator’ Initiative launched in 2019. The initiative includes programmes such as the Motivating Leadership, Training, Knowledge Management, Benchmarking Visits and Successful Stories.

As part of this initiative, DEWA held a series of online workshops in collaboration with Ministry of Community Development and Dubai Club for People of Determination, to shed light on the most essential practices adopted in the Universal Design, inclusive employment, inclusive community initiatives, corporate capacity building in including and empowering POD.

As part of its ‘motivating programme for suppliers on POD inclusion,’ DEWA also organised video awareness sessions, among suppliers about ways of supporting People of Determination, in compliance with DEWA’s standards and the government goals in this regards, such as the Dubai Universal Design Code and the standards and procedures of inclusive health and safety.

DEWA’s efforts in transferring its experience, knowledge and skills to its partners and its subsidiary companies have motivated many success stories, monitoring and documenting best practices in this area. Last February, DEWA honoured two of its subsidiaries: Mai Dubai and Data Hub Integrated Solutions LLC (Moro), and the Swiss company ABB with prizes and certificates. This is in recognition of their efforts in meeting the requirements of the Inclusion POD Innovation Incubator. These companies have succeeded in building the capacity of their staff in etiquette for dealing with POD, consolidated their inclusion and empowerment,  as well as approved inclusive policies that attract and employ POD. They also outlined clear plans that facilitate POD’s access to their buildings and service information, contributing to their happiness.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, highlighted DEWA’s keenness to localise knowledge and promote the inclusion of POD among stakeholders and provide an inclusive environment for them. This is in line with the National Policy for Empowering People of Determination , launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create an inclusive society that ensures empowerment and a decent life for People of Determination and their families, and the ‘My Community... A City for Everyone’ initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a friendly city for People of Determination by 2020. DEWA achieved a breakthrough in including and empowering POD by applying the best local and international practices. It strives to encourage partners to provide a seamless and inclusive experience for POD.

Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, said that society happiness towards DEWA’s role in supporting POD inclusion reached 94% in 2019. POD customer happiness reached 94% in the same year. DEWA has come a long way in including and empowering POD and redesigned 100% of its facilities and buildings to meet the Dubai Universal Design Code. It has also dedicated a group of services and facilitation for people of determination.