The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) has been awarded the African Arabian Excellence Award, both at the institutional and individual levels, as a testimony to the organization’s excellence in its various humanitarian and development fields of work, and as a recognition of its leading role in institutional work and its efforts to raise institutional capacities at the local and regional levels.
The ceremony to announce the winners of the first edition of the award kicked off on Sunday, September 17, 2023, in Dubai – the capital of excellence, innovation and renovation – with the participation of institutions and individuals from several Arab and African countries, including: Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Oman, and Syria.
The African Arabian Excellence Award (2022-2023), which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, honored ARDD at the institutional level, and its Chief Executive Director, Samar Muhareb, at the individual level -in the CEO category- in acknowledgment of its distinguished leadership role, institutional efficiency, and efforts to promote Arab initiatives with standards of excellence, quality, and good governance.
In this context, Muhareb pointed out that what sets this award apart is adding sustainable development goals and integrating them within the standards of excellence, and raising the quality and operational efficiency of companies and institutions, as there is a direct correlation between the sustainability of institutions and accomplishing sustainable development goals, considering that “there is no sustainable excellence without human sustainability supported by institutionalization factors, which are concerned with programs to raise competencies, as well as research and innovation, and the ability to overcome crises and withstand the changing circumstances around us.”
Muhareb also pointed to the need to “adopt a scientific approach that supports collective institutional work and reduces fragmentation and empty slogans,
especially in an important sector like civil society institutions, whose contribution is no less important than that of other sectors to the efforts to support stability as well as economic, social, and cultural development in our societies.”
Muhareb valued the efforts of those in charge of the African Arabian Excellence Award, stressing that this award embodies the culture of ARDD, who has a project that calls for advancing our businesses and societies in the Arab world, and aims to achieve the work strategies to which we are trying to adhere, in order to keep building the building blocks of an institution capable of development, resilience, and excellence, which nowadays requires a lot of mastery, governance, transparency, and the management of resources that have become scarce due to the successive crises and wars along with high operational costs.
The founder of the African Arabian Excellence Award, Samuel Bishay, pointed out that the aim of the award is to provide an opportunity for all institutions and those in charge of them to develop, improve, and practice international standards of excellence. The award also provides an opportunity to compete regionally with distinguished institutions from the Arab world and Africa, as well as stimulating the spirit of excellence at the staff level, where the distinguished ones are honored morally, which consolidates the values of giving, belonging, and excellence, and motivates everyone to raise their performance level and adhere to the standards of quality and excellence.
ARDD was founded in 2008 in Amman, Jordan. Its primary objective is to spearhead an Arab Renaissance initiative that catalyzes the ongoing transformations within the Arab world. it draws inspiration from the pivotal accomplishments and concepts of past Arab renaissance initiatives, as well as the collective endeavors of individuals striving for democratic governance, progressive development, and social equity.
ARDD implements an array of research and developmental initiatives. These initiatives are strategically designed to actively engage with the Arab reform agenda, promote modernization, and contribute to developmental efforts across the region.
The Organization primarily operates in Jordan. At the same time, and in line with its vision and mission, it’s programs, projects and research cover other countries in the Arab world. It is supported and funded by a growing number of donors, international agencies, and NGOs.
ARDD´s overarching vision is an Arab world in which all people enjoy fair, inclusive, and sustainable rights and opportunities.
