The Butterfly Inclusive Employment Ecosystem: celebrating two years of inclusive progress

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On 25 June, Aldar Square in Abu Dhabi came alive with The Butterfly’s celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the Inclusive Employment Ecosystem (IEE). This event marked two years of dedicated efforts to improve inclusion practices for the employment of persons of determination (UAE term for persons with disabilities).

The Inclusive Employment Ecosystem (IEE) is a network of esteemed companies including Siemens Energy, Standard Chartered Bank, E&, Atkins-Realis, Serco, Aldar, FASSCO International, M42, ADIB, Khadamat and Dubai Islamic Bank that promote inclusive practices through monthly workshops, sharing of expertise, coordinated initiatives, inclusive employment fairs, an online knowledge hub of inclusion subjects, and collaborations with the public sector for policies changes.

During the event, the IEE reflected on their members’ progress in understanding disability, recognising inclusivity as part of ESG goals, increasing specialised training, and promoting inclusivity across all departments. They celebrated the implementation of workgroups, employee resource groups, neurodiversity committees, supplier diversity programmes, mentorship programmes, and increased employment of persons with disabilities and so much more.

They were honoured by the presence of distinguished guests from the UAE Government’s Department of Community Development and the Ma’an Authority for Social Contribution. One of the highlights was a pre-recorded message from the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) which sparked enthusiasm for future collaborations to improve inclusive employment.

The Butterfly and IEE’s second year celebration serves as a powerful reminder of the collective impact that can be achieved when you prioritize inclusion. This celebration not only recognised the efforts of IEE member companies, but also inspired continued progress.

The Butterfly expresses their heartfelt thanks to all those who participated and supported this important occasion and hope to achieve even greater goals in the future.