A packed townhall bringing together leaders of Bahrain’s non-governmental organisations turned into a lively exchange of ideas yesterday, as Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi led an open discussion on how to strengthen the kingdom’s civic sector.
The gathering, organised by the Social Development Ministry at the Mubarak Jassim Kanoo Social Centre in Sanabis, drew chairpersons and board members from across Bahrain’s 662 registered NGOs for what many described as an opportunity for direct dialogue with decision-makers.
Also present was the Under-Secretary Zeyad Darwish and assistant under-secretary for community development Enas Al Majed.
Mr Al Alawi said the workshop was part of an ongoing effort to ‘open doors wider’ between government and civil society.
“This is not a formal lecture. It is an open house,” he told attendees. “We want to hear directly from you – your challenges, your ideas and your ambitions – because you are partners in social development, not just beneficiaries of regulation.”
He stressed that NGOs play a pivotal role in reaching segments of society that government programmes alone cannot always fully cover.
“The strength of any society lies in the vitality of its civic work,” he said. “Our goal is to create a supportive and motivating environment that helps your initiatives grow sustainably and continue serving the community with impact.”
Discussions ranged from governance practices and financial sustainability to volunteer management, transparency standards and ways to modernise administrative processes within associations and charitable institutions.
Participants described the session as unusually candid, with NGO leaders openly raising concerns over procedural hurdles, funding mechanisms and the need for clearer guidance on compliance and reporting requirements. The minister assured attendees that their feedback would not end with the meeting.
“We are here to listen and to act,” he said. “Your observations and proposals will feed directly into how we develop policies and improve the environment in which you operate.”
The event concluded with group discussions, allowing NGO representatives to delve deeper into specific operational challenges and propose practical solutions.
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