CEO of Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Ishaq (right) during the press conference.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) unveiled yesterday the details of the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work.
This came during a press conference attended by a contingent of national leaders, representatives of public agencies, civil society institutions, and media professionals engaged in social affairs.
The Award represents the first official national Qatari award dedicated to honouring individuals, families, institutions, and key actors who have contributed with outstanding efforts and innovative, sustainable initiatives in service of the Qatari community.
The award operates within an organised MSDF-led institutional framework, embodying the values of magnanimity, social responsibility, and active citizenship that characterise the State of Qatar.
The award is a national initiative that intends to build an excellence culture in social work based on recognition, encouragement, and motivation within an evaluation system and accurate judging standards that ensure transparency and credibility, said CEO of the Award, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Ishaq.
Al Ishaq noted that Minister of Social Development and Family H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi issued a ministerial decision appointing the Award’s vice-chair and members of the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the provisions of Amiri Decision No. 16 of 2025, establishing the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work.
He added that the decision designated Khalifa Essa Al Kubaisi as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, along with the appointment of representatives from relevant government entities, namely Nasser Abdulaziz Al Mugaisib, representing MSDF; and Najla Faisal Al-Thani, representing the Ministry of Culture.
Other members include Fawaz Abdullah Al Musaifri, representing the Ministry of Sports and Youth; Maryam Abdullah Al Muhannadi, representing the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Najla Majid Al Khulaifi, representing the Council of Ministers Secretariat General; Saud Ahmed Al Buainain, representing the Government Communications Office; Rana Madi Al Hajri, representing the Audit Bureau; and Al Anoud Ali Al-Thani, representing the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority.
Al Ishaq further elaborated that the decision encompassed the appointment of independent members with proven expertise and competence in the award’s programmes and initiatives, namely Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Ishaq, and Fahad Mohamed Al Attiyah.
This falls within the framework of enhancing the independence of strategic direction and consolidating the principles of governance, reflecting the principles of accountability, institutional integrity, and proactive leadership.
This decision embodies the legal and institutional framework governing the award and reflects institutional integration among national entities, ensuring sound governance, impartial oversight, and the alignment of the Board of Trustees’ work with the award’s objectives and national mission, Al Ishaq underlined.
Al Ishaq explained that the award comprises five main categories: individuals, families, non-profit organisations, the private sector, and media, noting that the total annual prize pool amounts to QR2.7m, granted to the initiatives demonstrating the greatest impact and sustainability in serving the community.
The official outlined the nomination mechanism, clarifying that a select group of experts specialised in social work, community initiatives, corporate social responsibility, and community media will be engaged to nominate eligible individuals, families, institutions, and projects for the award.
This process, he said, relies on their professional expertise and direct role in monitoring initiatives that have a national impact. Al Ishaq added that the specialised nomination experts and relevant entities will submit to the Board of Trustees of the award the nomination lists, enclosed by explanatory reports detailing the justifications for each selection.
The Board retains the right to request any supporting materials or additional documents, or to decline any nomination that does not meet the award criteria or falls outside the approved scope of authority, he highlighted.
Al Ishaq also noted that the award represents a focal point between official and community efforts, serving as a national platform to honour generosity, exchange expertise, and build partnerships across various sectors.
The award’s executive team will, immediately following the conclusion of the conference, engage with the specialised nomination experts and relevant entities to submit their nominations for the first cycle of 2025, he remarked.
In addition, Al Ishaq affirmed that the award is not limited to symbolic recognition alone, but rather represents a national call to adopt responsible institutional practices that keep up with the nation’s developmental and social transformations.
