ACCORDING to the official website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, there are 662 registered NGOs and organizations in Bahrain.

This alarming – and illogical – number includes charitable, private, professional, cooperative and other associations. The list continues.

I have written more than once on this topic, but the relevant ministry officials do not care what these associations do for Bahraini society, their responsibility is only to issue the license!

I would like to know what the department’s role and responsibility are with regard to the work and activities of these associations, some of which exist only in name.

The department’s responsibility should not be limited solely to publicizing these associations and ensuring that they comply with the law, but there should be a system that monitors and follows up on their work. The intention here is not to monitor or interfere in their activities, but to ensure their commitment to its program and annual work plan.

We don’t want it to work in a traditional, unnecessary and unrealistic way, but expect satisfactory results. This is why a scientific management method must be applied and this is the key to success.

The ministry must form an effective body to ensure full compliance with the programs of these associations. He should review the minutes of the meetings and ensure attendance and absence, and ask the companies to define their annual or biennial objectives and plans. He must also prove that the programs he has specified in his work plans have been implemented on the ground. And if he is unable to prove the reasons and causes and other administrative and organizational matters, they must be dismissed.

Many of these associations are in a deep sleep, and I don’t want anyone to tell me it’s because of the pandemic.

Unfortunately, we are a people who do not want to work with sincerity and dedication, and who always make mistakes and find excuses. Yes, let’s be honest and realistic, because we like self-esteem, selfishness and notoriety, and we put ourselves forward in the newspapers at the expense of association work and teamwork!

We want to know what is the role of societies in educating people and in spreading awareness and guidance in all aspects of life. We have the most associations in the world and in any discipline, and I believe we deserve to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are applied in many successful institutions including banks and corporations. I have also worked with one of the larger companies for many years and can say this is the best way to apply it to the performance and evaluation of the work of associations.

If we do not do this, we will face great challenges of failure and dispersion of efforts, capacities and human and material resources without benefiting both the State and society.