ABU DHABI // Hiring Emirati talent for the private sector is a challenge for employers, but recruitment in the non-profit sector can be even more difficult, say those in the philanthropic sector.
A change in perceptions is needed, said speakers at the Youth Philanthropy Summit.
Opening the two-day Emirates Foundation event on Tuesday, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon, managing director of the foundation and chairman of the Department of Transport, said attracting the best talent was crucial to developing the philanthropic field.
At the third annual foundation summit he called on public and private organisations to embrace the paradigm shift that the sector was witnessing.
Maytha Al Habsi, the foundation’s chief programme officer, said: “No matter how good a business idea may be, or how well it is designed, ultimately it is the skills and leadership of its talent that make a venture successful.”
Attracting talent was a challenge for the “third sector” in the region for a number of reasons, she said. These included the field’s comparatively lower salaries, and the perception of a lack of self development opportunities and lower prestige.
“If your entire family and community have worked for the public sector, you’re not going to know what the philanthropic sector is about,” said Clare Woodcraft, chief executive of Emirates Foundation.
The foundation is now using role models of those who have made the switch to non-profit organisations, she said.
Hassan Al Damluji, head of Middle East relations for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, used to work in the private sector but was inspired to move to the non-profit sector after events in his homeland of Iraq.
“It was a difficult decision to make the switch because I did fear that working for non-profit wouldn’t be as dynamic or develop my career,” the 33-year-old told the summit.
“The youth want to change the world, but it is not enough to sell them on this. They want prestige, personal development, to have an impact and to have a future.”
Mr Al Damluji said the Gates Foundation was developing a fellowship programme for Emirati and Saudi youth, to make the non-profit field appealing.
“We will be creating a programme that is very difficult to get into, to give it prestige. We’ll develop them intensely to provide a sense of personal development. We’ll put them in the most challenging roles so they can have impact, and after the programme they will know they have options,” he said.
Princess Banderi A R Al Faisal, director general of the King Khalid Foundation, said she hired a young Saudi in marketing but he faced opposition from his family about leaving his advertisement agency job.
“It’s a big challenge because they still don’t see it as a legitimate career, so we have to find ways to make it appealing and interesting and in getting their attention,” she said.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
