ACCORDING to the official website of the Labour and Social Development Ministry, there are 662 licensed NGOs and organisations in Bahrain.
This alarming – and illogical – number includes charitable, private, professional, co-operative and other associations. The list goes on.
I have written on this subject more than once, but officials in the concerned ministry do not care about what these associations do for Bahraini society, their responsibility being only to issue the licence!
I would like to know what is the role and the responsibility of the ministry with regard to the work and activities of these associations, some of which exist only in name.
The ministry’s responsibility should not be limited only to publicise these associations and ensure that they conform to the law, but there should be a system that monitors and follows up their work. The intent here is not to monitor or interfere in their activities, but to ensure their commitment to its programme and annual work plan.
We do not want this to work in the traditional, useless and unrealistic way, but expect satisfactory results. This is why a scientific management method should be applied and that is the key to success.
The ministry must form an effective body to ensure full compliance with the programmes of these associations. It must review the minutes of the meetings and ensure attendance and absence, and ask societies to define their annual or two-year goals and plans. It must also prove that programmes that it specified in its work plans have been implemented on the ground. And if it is not able to prove the reasons and causes and other administrative and organisational matters, they should be delicensed.
Many of these associations are in deep slumber, and I do not want anyone to tell me this is because of the pandemic.
Unfortunately, we are a people who do not want to work with sincerity and dedication, and always deceive ourselves and make up excuses. Yes, let’s be honest and realistic, as we love self-love, selfishness and fame, and we highlight ourselves in the newspapers at the expense of the association’s work and team work!
We want to know what is the role of the societies in educating people and spreading awareness and guidance in all aspects of life. We have the largest number of associations in the world and in all disciplines, and I believe that we deserve to be included in the Guinness Book of Records.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are applied in many successful institutions, including banks and companies. I have also worked with one of the major companies for many years and can say this is the best way to apply it to the performance and evaluation of the work of associations.
If we do not, we will face great challenges of failure and dispersal of efforts, capabilities and human and material resources without benefiting the state and society alike.
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