NEP 2.0

Civil society and, in particular the segment of activities carried out by philanthropic, non-profit and voluntary organizations, is normally known as the Third Sector. It is difficult to quantify how large the sector is, but it is clear that the complex set of roles it plays in societal development is shifting in tune with the rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Building happier, more inclusive societies requires stronger engagement with communities and organizations in civil society. 

After working as the Academic Program Manager at New York University, Hajer joined Sandooq Al Watan - a national initiative launched by Emirati businessmen to support research in sustainable development - as the Strategic Program Manager. “What fascinates me about this sector is the voluntary nature of community development and the effective community engagement aspect that's completely away from profit making. This spirit finds strong roots within our giving and philanthropic Emirati community.” 

In 2017 Hajer earned her master’s in Public Administration from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government and served as a member of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council until 2018. She aspires to use her experience at NEP to secure more adaptable regulations, policies, and other types of interventions to support the Third Sector. “Building the capacity of our Third Sector is crucial to ensure our global and regional competitiveness as well as maintaining a sustainable trajectory of development and growth through which communities are active players.”