MA’AN LAUNCHES ITS FIRST ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME EMPOWERING EXISTING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN ABU DHABI

• The first cycle will focus on “Mental Wellbeing”, an identified social priority within Abu Dhabi
• Ma’an aims to empower existing social start-ups to achieve strong business growth and maximise their positive impact to emirate’s community  
• The three-month initiative will ensure social services are provided to a wider community and positively impact a higher number of beneficiaries  

Abu Dhabi, 20 December 2020: The Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, has launched its first Accelerator programme, which aims to elevate the impact of social enterprises by supporting them to scale up and grow their operations in Abu Dhabi.

Working in collaboration with Plug and Play ADGM, the programme’s content developer, six existing social enterprises from six countries have been identified to enter the first cycle of the virtual initiative, which will focus on mental wellbeing. 

Ma’an’s Accelerator programme encourages social innovation by bringing together individuals and organisations, enabling them to create innovative solutions to social challenges in Abu Dhabi by providing 1:1 mentorship, coaching and the facilitating of deal flows with entities and investors. Ma’an will also offer access to market information, support collaborations and provide facilities including an office space and complementary license registration at ADGM as well as gain priority access to Ma’an’s Grants Programme

The Accelerator programme will offer on-demand training, tailored to the participants’ needs, including access to a network of industry professionals and government entities, including major healthcare providers and insurers to support the cohort’s theme. 

Ma’an’s inaugural Accelerator programme will be themed to address “Mental Wellbeing”, a social priority that has been identified by Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development, directly in response to the growing need for initiatives in the region to help negate the social impact of COVID-19. 

The six established ventures, which each provide innovative solutions to the challenge, have been selected by Ma’an and will now enter the three-month intensive programme to expand their operations and offering,. 

H.E. Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of Ma’an, said: “The launch of the Accelerator programme signifies Ma’an’s commitment to benefitting Abu Dhabi’s community through empowering social enterprises in the emirate, encouraging Abu Dhabi’s third sector and addressing key social priorities. 

“Ma’an has established an increase in the scale of existing social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations in Abu Dhabi, this has resulted in a rise in jobs within the social sector and further awareness for social entrepreneurship as an agent in driving social change.” 

Participants in Ma’an’s Accelerator programme can be based in the UAE, GCC or internationally, as long as they are able to anchor a base in Abu Dhabi. Entrants must already have a validated and operating business model. 

One of the goals of the programme is to attract impactful global social enterprises to operate in the emirate, increasing the number of social enterprises legally licensed in Abu Dhabi and strengthening collaboration between the private, public and third sector entities through mutually beneficially engagement and contract deployment. 

The programme was officially launched on 7th December with a virtual orientation day and will conclude in March during a demo day where the enterprises will demonstrate their progress and achievements. 

About Ma’an

Ma’an was established in February 2019 under the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi with the aim of bringing together the government, the private sector and civil society to support a culture of social contribution and participation. The authority will deliver solutions for social challenges with five main pillars of work – a Social Investment Fund, a Social Incubator Program, Community Engagement Programs and the introduction of a new type of public contracting, Social Impact Bonds, as well as Outreach Management.

Ma’an will support the third sector to flourish in Abu Dhabi, enabling responsible not for profit associations or foundations and social enterprises to contribute to the development of strong, active and connected communities.

Ma’an Authority for Social Contribution is a ‘Ghadan 21’ accelerator programme initiative, supporting Abu Dhabi to become one of the best places in the world to do business, invest, live, work and visit.