Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA) has launched the third phase of the "Ethraa" initiative to assess, develop, and empower public benefit organizations, reinforcing the emirate’s commitment to strengthening the third sector and supporting the goals of the Dubai Social Agenda 33.

The new phase aims to build a more impactful and sustainable third-sector ecosystem by enhancing institutional performance and promoting governance, transparency, and operational excellence across public benefit organizations.

Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority, said the initiative reflects the UAE leadership’s vision of placing people at the heart of development, adding that the program seeks to empower public benefit organizations and transform ambitious ideas into initiatives that deliver measurable social impact while reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in community development.

She revealed that 146 public benefit organizations have joined the third phase, where they will receive institutional development support based on international best practices in governance, administration, finance, and technical performance.

Dr. Ahmed Al Hashemi, CEO of the Regulatory and Community Services Sector at CDA, described the new phase as a significant step forward in strengthening administrative, financial, and technical capabilities across the third sector.

He added that an introductory workshop hosted by Al Khawaneej Majlis, attended by more than 200 representatives from public benefit organizations, highlighted the sector’s readiness to adopt advanced institutional development practices.

The initiative is built around three core pillars: institutional empowerment and governance, human and community capital with sustainability, and performance excellence. Participating organizations will compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze Ethraa Excellence Awards at the end of the evaluation cycle.

The initiative has already demonstrated tangible progress, with the number of award-winning organizations increasing from 25 in the first cycle to 30 in the second, reflecting growing commitment to governance standards and institutional excellence.