QBWA, JMJ Associates sign partnership to develop organisational strategy

The Qatari Business Women Association (QBWA) has signed a partnership agreement with JMJ Associates, a global management consultancy specialising in developing high-performing organisations and project cultures.

The parties agreed to work on the development of QBWA’s strategy, reformulate its vision and objectives, build organisational capability, and enhance the association’s long-term impact.

The agreement was signed by QBWA vice-chairwoman Aisha Alfardan and JMJ Associates Middle East director Simon Giffin. They agreed to strengthen ties to promote the role of women and build their capabilities as well as improve QWBA’s performance.

Alfardan said, “We always strive to develop our strategy and revisit our vision and evaluate our goals. We believe that an institution that doesn’t perform regular review and evaluation of its strategy and objectives is weak and lacks ambition.”

She noted that the agreement represents an opportunity for the QBWA to take advantage of its experiences in past years and learn from experiences of JMJ Associates.

“We consider JMJ Associates a vital partner and a pioneer in the development of QBWA’s performance and we will do our best to get the best outcomes of this agreement to achieve our objectives and develop the performance of women in Qatar and enhance their role,” Alfardan added.

JMJ Associates Middle East director Simon Giffin said, “We are delighted to have signed this partnership agreement with the QBWA to support the development of the strategy, vision, and objectives of the organisation.”

Giffin said “the huge passion and commitment” of the QBWA leadership to make a difference for the women in Qatar “is very clear and forms a great foundation to create the next breakthrough in achievement.”

He added, “Our team here, a significant proportion of which is female, has long supported the development and enhancement of the role of women in society and so this really is a meeting of two organisations with a common aim. We look forward to working together over the coming months and years.”

Over the last few months as part of the partnership with JMJ Associates, QBWA has organised a number of sessions with its board members that sought to re-examine and evaluate the vision, mission, and objectives of the association.

JMJ Associates, which has been in Qatar since 1996, will continue to assist QBWA under the agreement in a number of capacity-building activities. Together, they will develop a long-term strategy to build organisational capability and identify and remove problems and obstacles faced by the association.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, QBWA will be launching a series of events and workshops, including a monthly business to business meeting that will develop the exchange between members of the association.

This includes the QBWA’s Annual Networking Dinner as well as a number of training workshops for members in addition to the fifth edition of the Qatar International Businesswomen Forum on December this year.