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Abu Dhabi: A group of National Experts Program (NEP) participants explored solutions to challenges facing the local community in Masfout, Ajman.
Developed under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the NEP is a launch platform for Emirati experts poised to play a transformative role in key areas that align with the UAE’s national priorities.
As part of the third phase of the eight-month programme, 15 NEP specialists participated in a three-day immersive experience at Masfout. The government aims to boost the economy of the Emirate of Ajman and the development of this small, land-rich regional destination known for its outdoor activities, in line with Ajman Vision 2030.
“Design Thinking”
The experience focuses on applying ‘design thinking’, a strategic, hands-on approach to problem solving – under the guidance of methodological experts.
The immersive experience is a fundamental part of the NEP as it embodies Sheikh Mohammed’s values of putting people at the forefront of driving change and working with the UAE community to contribute to the country’s development.
In the second phase of the programme, “NEP 2.0” participants visited the community of Del Mar Island in the West Region of Abu Dhabi. Their main lessons were applied to the third edition’s experience at Masfout to help achieve positive results.
During the three-day experience, participants interact with residents to gain insight into their needs and values, identify areas of opportunity and explore ways to build a sustainable cultural economy in Masfout.
cultural Center
Hamad Al Shehhi, ADQ Investment Manager and NEP 3.0 participant representing the food and water security sector, said: “By listening to people, we found that there was no centralized location to strengthen community connection activities and drive residents’ creativity. A potential way to improve community cohesion The solution was to create a wellness and cultural center where residents could not only grow local businesses selling homemade products, but also have access to healthy lifestyle places to exercise and experience.”
He added: “The center can be a hub for residents and subject matter experts to exchange business and wellbeing knowledge and expertise, while addressing community issues and concerns. Having a center of excellence and creativity would be the first step towards community growth and prosperity. “
irrigation upgrade
The immersive experience also gave Al Shehhi the opportunity to observe some practices in water irrigation and water treatment, and to think about possible improvements.
“While exploring Masfout, I observed that some of the irrigation systems used by local communities did not necessarily meet current best practice. This is an area that needs improvement and would benefit from technological innovation. The area also lacks water treatment facilities where water treatment facilities to drive sustainability initiatives,” Al Shehhi said.
upgrade business
Dr Abdulla Al Shimmari, Technology and Innovation Sector Participant at NEP 3.0 and CEO of HCMS.ai, said: “It is great to connect with the local community and understand what support they need to improve their daily lives. Masfout has tremendous growth potential and I believe there is an opportunity for technology to facilitate the sale of food produced there, as well as other products such as handicrafts and crops.”
He added: “A model where farmers or small businesses can partner with larger organizations will benefit Masfout and the local community. Technology can also help upskill local talent and give them the skill set they need to thrive. As a NEP participant , we have an incredible opportunity to shape a better tomorrow. It has been an amazing journey so far and I am determined to play my part to positively impact the future of the UAE and its people.”
A key part of the immersive experience was an insightful presentation from Dr. Corey Phelps, Dean of the Michael F. Price School of Business and Fred E. Brown Dean and Chair of the Fred E. Brown School of Business at the University of Oklahoma and McGill University two-part speech.
In his virtual session, he explains the importance of employing a design thinking process and why it is critical to the personal development of participants.
“Design thinking is an important toolkit that will be very valuable to future NEP participants. As future leaders, they need to apply design thinking in terms of problem solving and having the right mindset. Sometimes they may need to think outside the box Thinking or understanding how to approach a problem from a different perspective, so this is a very useful tool for their careers, and they can pass it on to others,” Dr Phelps said.
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