The Authority of People with Disability (APD) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), represented by the Skills and Training Agency, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at creating a structured framework that facilitates the unification of efforts, the exchange of knowledge, and the implementation of e-education and training best practices. Dr. Hisham bin Muhammad Al-Haidari, CEO of the APD, and Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Zahrani, Deputy Minister of Skills and Training at the HRSD, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations on the sidelines of the International Labour Market Conference, which is held in the capital Riyadh during the period 13–14 December 2023.
In order to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, the MOU seeks to strengthen the role of integration between the two organizations by facilitating the acquisition of disability-related rights for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and by collaborating to develop and promote the services offered by the relevant authorities. This will ensure that PwDs have the means to live a decent life and are able to participate fully and effectively in society.
Furthermore, it seeks to establish a structured framework that facilitates the unification of efforts, the exchange of knowledge, and the implementation of e-education and training best practices. This is accomplished by integrating the APD's deliverables into the strategies of the HRSD's initiatives and projects, which include the Skills and Training Agency, in order for them to collectively support the objectives of both organizations.
As per this memorandum, the HRSD is entrusted with several significant responsibilities for its implementation. These include incorporating training initiatives into the national strategy for persons with disabilities through the "WAAD" program, examining the application of spatial accessibility in all facilities and digital accessibility in the electronic environment, and conducting research on skills and national professional standards for professions within the draft professional standards.
One of the primary responsibilities outlined in this memorandum for the APD is to provide recommendations pertaining to activities that are within the two organizations' areas of expertise and competencies. These recommendations are intended to facilitate the attainment of shared objectives and enhance trainers' understanding of PwDs, thereby enabling the implementation of training programs for them.
The memorandum sets out some of the joint tasks that are jointly implemented by both organizations, most notably cooperation in building joint initiatives under the umbrella of social responsibility to serve the objectives of both organizations in the fields of education and training and the exchange and sharing of studies, research, and relevant statistical indicators.
It is worth mentioning that the APD serves as the umbrella organization for all matters pertaining to persons with disabilities, granting them full rights and empowering them in cooperation with relevant authorities. In addition, increase their visibility in diverse development programs. The APD strives to promote the independence of PwDs, empowering them by involving them in various activities and fully integrating them in all aspects of life to progress towards an inclusive and harmonious society.