Laila Al Suwaidi: Our leadership is keen to empower talents and enhance sustainable digital transformation skills

H.E Laila Obaid Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), assured that the general framework for adopting sustainable digital transformation, which was recently launched by the Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation and approved by the Cabinet as a guiding policy to integrate the principles of sustainability into all digital transformation activities and initiatives in government entities in the country, is an initiation of a significant phase and a framework for the great efforts made by the UAE government at all levels in order to enhance sustainable digital readiness among employees and institutions, as a work culture and daily practice.

She said: The UAE government is proactive to everything new and to keep pace with the accelerating technological transformation. She added that our wise leadership is keen to empower government institutions and talents with digital transformation skills, and enhance their readiness and support them with the skills of the future, so that they are able to look forward to the future and shape its features, where FAHR had previously launched several important strategic initiatives for this purpose and to enhance its future directions towards leadership and global competitiveness.

H.E Al Suwaidi added: We, at FAHR, had the honor of participating in the efforts of sustainable government digital transformation in terms of launching several supportive initiatives and managing other initiatives such as (the digital cadre initiative in the federal government, the “Jahiz” initiative for the future of government talents and its digital platform, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai – may Allah protect him – in late 2022, as one of the major transformational projects, aiming to enhancing the readiness of the government and its cadres for the future, by adopting continuous learning and acquiring new skills, such as (digital skills and 10X skills to enhance productivity and accelerate achievement. This is in addition to data and artificial intelligence skills, and new economy skills).

The general framework for adopting sustainable digital transformation aims to institutionalize and activate the principles of digital sustainability in all digital transformation initiatives and activities, which enhances government digital readiness and excellence, by focusing on new work mechanisms that enable government entities to invest in green technology opportunities effectively and support the process of sustainable development in the UAE and hence provide a global model in digital sustainability.

The framework comprises eight guidelines that represent a guiding reference for government entities to ensure achievement of a sustainable digital future. It includes the “Paperless Government” initiative by promoting the shift to digital services and processes in order to reduce the use of paper documents; and the “Cashless Government” project to provide seamless digital payment solutions that reduce the need to visit the service centers. The framework also encourages dealing with data centers and cloud service providers committed to sustainability and energy efficiency, and setting sustainability standards within the processes of purchasing and contracting with digital suppliers.

The framework adopts sustainable practices for designing websites and applications, developing reusable software, and adopting circular economy principles in management of digital devices, by focusing on reuse and responsible disposal of e-waste. It also supports the development of training programs that focus on sustainable practices in the field of digital transformation. The framework further strengthens usage of digital collaboration tools to reduce the environmental impact of meetings and commuting.