The Western Region Development Council (WRDC) – the central co-coordinating body leading development and promoting opportunity in Al Gharbia, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi – has announced the establishment of a Professional Development Network for women in Al Gharbia during a ceremony held at the Family Development Foundation Theatre in Al Mirfa city to honour the participants in the program.
The network, part of WRDC’s Women in Technology Program, offers a dedicated strategy providing training and enhancing development skills for women. Financed by Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the US State Department and in collaboration with the West Coast Centre of the Institute of International Education (IIE) as the main financier, the project will provide a major impetus to women entrepreneurship in Al Gharbia. The Professional Development Network will focus on shaping career options and creating an alumni group for women with the support of General Women’s Union and the WRDC.
The establishment of the network is one of the most important objectives within the Women in Technology Program. These objectives aim to help maintain contact with graduates and provide suitable job opportunities for them, in addition to promoting the program among different groups in the local society and in government and private institutions.
In his comments, H.E. Mohamed Hamad Bin Azzan Al Mazrouei, Director General of WRDC, said: “The launch of the Professional Development Network is a major step towards our efforts to create more career and internship opportunities for women in Al Gharbia. WRDC joined the Women in Technology program last year to equip the women with the necessary skills and help them in their professional development which results in the process of sustainable development.”
Recently, Mr. Mohamed Al Hosani, Acting Director of the Regional Development Division, WRDC and Ms. Heather Murphy, representative of the Institute of International Education distributed certificates to the graduates of the first and second class of the Women in Technology Program in Al Mirfa.
The network will also unveil its dedicated website soon, which will facilitate information and knowledge sharing and participation from women across Al Gharbia and other emirates to share their ideas and experiences.
The representatives of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) praised the role of the Women’s Union and the WRDC due to both entities working together successfully to support the delivery and completion of the program across such a vast region.
