The "Leadership in Humanitarian and Development Works Diploma" was jointly launched today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and United Arab Emirates University, UAEU, as part of the Year of Giving 2017 initiative announced by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It is also part of the directives of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum regarding the national strategy of the Year of Giving, which also tasked Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, with supervising the "Developmental Role of Humanitarian Organisations" track.

The diploma was launched during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the Ministry and UAEU, which aims to benefit from the UAEU expertise in running academic programmes in the field of humanitarian and development aid.

Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, signed on behalf of the Ministry, and Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Baili, Chancellor of UAEU, signed on behalf of UAEU.

The diploma aims to teach workers in the field of humanitarian and development aid the latest scientific foundations and international knowledge, to maintain the working efficiency of Emirati organisations in this field, according to the highest international standards.

The programme will commence in the academic year 2017/2018.

Another MoU was also signed between the two sides which will see the UAEU supervise the ministry-sponsored Technical Assistance Programme (UAETAP). Launched last year, the UAETAP aims to share the UAE experience with partner countries by connecting them with experts in their respective fields through several types of programmes: Expert missions to countries where technical assistance is required in particular area, focusing on the partner country’s needs and priorities; Training courses and workshops in the fields of the UAETAP’s partner entities and customised courses and training programmes to meet the needs of partner countries.