The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi (DCD) announced the fifth cohort of its Capacity Building Programme, an accredited academic initiative that runs for four months and targets professionals in the emirate’s social care sector. The programme aims to build knowledge, skills and competencies that align with adopted standards while advancing individual career pathways and overall service quality for communities. DCD positioned the effort as part of its regulatory mandate to foster a licensed, professional workforce capable of delivering consistent support to individuals and families.
Mahasen Al Hosani, Director of the Social Standards Department at DCD, highlighted the programme’s role in workforce development. “The Capacity Building Programme is one of the key initiatives supporting the qualification, development, and upskilling of professionals working in the social care sector,” Al Hosani said. “The launch of the fifth cohort builds on our continued efforts to develop an integrated professional ecosystem that enhances service quality, strengthens community trust, and supports the continued advancement of the social care sector.”
Registration for the cohort opened in May 2026, accompanied by introductory workshops held through June to prepare prospective candidates. Applications remain open until the end of August ahead of the academic component that commences in September. The department confirmed that the structured pathway allows participants to meet licensing requirements while contributing to sector-wide improvements.
DCD announcements on prior editions reported that the first and second cohorts together graduated 153 professionals, while the third edition selected nearly 130 additional candidates who did not initially meet educational criteria for licensing. Those earlier cycles established a foundation that subsequent iterations have expanded, according to the authority’s updates. The current fifth cohort extends this sequence as the programme enters its later stages of implementation.
Al Hosani noted that the department continues to invest in human capital to drive social sector progress. “By enhancing professional practices and bridging competency gaps, the programme contributes to workforce readiness and supports the delivery of consistent, sustainable, and high-quality social care services that respond to the needs of the community with efficiency and professionalism,” she said. The initiative also functions as a contributor to the emirate’s social licensing and control framework, DCD stated in its announcement.
