NAMBR: A Summary
NAMBR is a recently established consulting company that provides business ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) advice. The company is focused on applying business methods to the promotion of the social and environmental well-being of people. NAMBR’s mission consists of providing benefits to its community. The founders of the organization recognize their duty of producing a return on investment, but they believe that the term can be expanded to include various beneficial outcomes. In this regard, the improvement of the well-being of the community is another form of return.
United Arab Emirates: Demographics
The demographics of the UAE are peculiar. As reported by the World Bank Group (n.d.), the population has been growing since the 1960s. However, between 2003 (when the UAE had about 3.7 million people) and 2013 (when the UAE had a little over 9 million people), the population experienced extreme growth. Since 2013, the increase has been less steep, and as of 2017, the UAE was estimated to have over 9,400,000 people. According to the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] (n.d.), the UAE population grows at a rate of 2.37% nowadays. Also, the CIA (n.d.) reports that the ratio of males to females in the UAE is 2.18. In other words, men greatly outnumber women in the UAE.
When considering mobility, it is important to note that the increase in the population is attributed to immigrants. The net migration rate in the country is the ninth highest in the world (CIA, n.d.). Furthermore, the proportion of Emirati in the country is small. In 2005, it amounted to slightly more than 20% (Government.ae, 2017c). However, in 2017, Emirati constituted only 11.6% of the population (CIA, n.d.). According to CIA (n.d.), the largest group in the UAE is the Indian people (38.2%). Additionally, there are Egyptians (10%), Bangladeshi, and Pakistani (over 9% each), as well as some other nations.
From the religious perspective, the county is predominantly Muslim (76%); 9% of the population is Christian, and some other confessions are also present (CIA, n.d.). According to the CIA (n.d.), the median age in the UAE is 30 years, and life expectancy amounts to over 77 years. The country has good literacy statistics (United Nations Children’s Fund, 2013); 94% of the population can read and write (CIA, n.d.). According to CIA (n.d.), the unemployment rates are very high among females (21.8% in 2008); for males, they are slightly below 8%.
According to the data of 2014, 3.6% of the country’s GDP was spent on healthcare (CIA, n.d.). The most recent statistical data on disability in the UAE comes from the 2005 census; according to it, over 30,000 people were disabled back then (Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, 2017). The most frequent issues included vision, speech, or hearing impairments. The country has been implementing the means of protecting these groups of people (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR], 2016). The UAE government recognizes the needs of its population (Government.ae, 2017c; OHCHR, 2016), and appropriate policies are being drawn.
The Social Needs of the UAE
The social needs of the UAE are associated with the issues that are present in the country. For instance, there are ongoing attempts to meet the needs of seniors, especially those related to medical and other services (Government.ae, 2018d). People with disabilities are being integrated into modern life, but the policies that would help them with employment are still a draft (OHCHR, 2016). Healthcare expenses have been growing (Bedir, 2016), but the government reports the need for an increase in the numbers of nurses and physicians. Additionally, multiple specific health issues are a problem for the country, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and smoking (Government.ae, 2018c). Furthermore, animal rights awareness is still being developed by the Emirates Animal Welfare Society (Government.ae, 2018b). The UAE is also in the process of developing a sustainable transport system. Thus, the needs of the UAE seem to be relatively generic (health, vulnerable groups, and so on), but they are affected by the specifics of the issues experienced by the country.
The Problem to Be Addressed and Existing Solutions
In the circumstances of increasing healthcare expenditures, NAMBR has decided to focus on a preventable and treatable issue that can be solved by a variety of public policies and initiatives: obesity. In 2016, almost a third of the UAE population was affected (CIA, n.d.), and the country’s population has become the fifth most obese in the world (Ibrahim, Awadhi, Shaban, & Nair, 2015). Additionally, it is anticipated that the numbers can proceed to grow (Sulaiman et al., 2017). Therefore, the issue is significant and needs to be addressed.
The UAE government recognizes the problem of obesity, and it focuses on children. According to the UAE government, 15% of the UAE school pupils suffered from obesity in 2014 (Government.ae, 2017a). Multiple interventions have been developed to tackle the issue. An original one is the Health Heroes App, which is an application that focuses on obesity prevention and the promotion of healthy behaviors (Government.ae, 2018a). Other solutions include the development of a comprehensive Healthy Children Initiative, which educates children and parents about healthy lifestyle and incorporates the efforts of governmental and private organizations (Government of the United Arab Emirates, 2015). Additionally, the government ensures the promotion of healthy foods in schools (Government.ae, 2017a). Finally, the investigation of the issue is supported; Al Jalila Foundation and Public Health Research Center are concerned with obesity research (Government.ae, 2017b). Thus, governmental and private organizations fight obesity in the UAE.
It should be mentioned that children’s obesity is included in the Vision 2021 goals (Government.ae, 2018c). However, no similar objectives are present for adults. The choice of childhood obesity is understandable: it is a specific problem that harms children’s health immensely (Hung et al., 2015). Still, the issue is relevant for people of all ages. Additionally, the adult people who have obesity maybe not be provided with sufficient advice on diet and exercise in healthcare facilities in the UAE (Ibrahim et al., 2015). Thus, it would be appropriate to consider expanding the agenda to include adult people.
NAMBR Solutions
NAMBR intends to use facts and attention to business realia to improve the well-being of the UAE. Some solid evidence indicates that healthy diets and exercise are crucial for obesity prevention and management (Higuera-Hernández et al., 2018; Hung et al., 2015; Ibrahim et al., 2015; Roberto et al., 2015). Also, a recent study suggests that the related information is necessary for the UAE adults since it is difficult for them to acquire (Ibrahim et al., 2015). Thus, NAMBR suggests focusing on relevant companies and attempt to promote individual improvements or policies on the matter.
Regarding dietary problems, the businesses that prepare or serve foods should be addressed. Currently, school nutrition is regulated in the UAE (Government.ae, 2017a). NAMBR suggests promoting more health-oriented policies in other institutions that serve food. Some of the requirements could include the obligation to provide detailed information about the calories and ingredients of a dish, the introduction of specific menus for people with different health problems, and health events. Regarding the latter option, the companies in question can be creative about them; for example, special healthy breakfasts could be offered with a discount in the morning.
Apart from informing people about healthy options and prompting them to eat healthier, such approaches would be beneficial for companies as well. Recent research proves that CSR can attract new employees and improve the attitudes of stakeholders; also, some evidence suggests that CSR can be profitable (Schmitz & Schrader, 2013). NAMBR will be willing to provide consultations on the matter to help companies in making their CSR strategically aligned.
When considering exercise, a couple of suggestions can be made that may be of interest to governmental and private organizations. The first solution consists of improving the country’s transport systems. As sustainable means of transport are being developed, it appears logical to enhance the opportunities for walking and using bicycles, as well as other types of exercise-friendly devices. Furthermore, sports awareness events can be held by the government and individual businesses. Moreover, organizations can promote various sports by offering related opportunities to their employees (for instance, table tennis).
Finally, it should be noted that obesity in the UAE, as well as other non-Western countries, is understudied (Ibrahim et al., 2015). Consequently, the promotion of research is required. It is also noteworthy that among expatriates, the problem of obesity is particularly common (Sulaiman et al., 2017). Therefore, it could be helpful to research different communities to be able to address their needs. In this regard, NAMBR can help by proceeding to raise awareness through the above-described methods and finding funds. The cooperation with the Al Jalila Foundation and Public Health Research Center could help in this regard. Additionally, the Health Heroes App can be augmented to be of use to adults as well. It can apply the research on the topic to become customized and serve different groups in the UAE. In summary, NAMBR can help the UAE businesses to be socially responsible by assisting the country in its combat against obesity in adults.
Benefits and Drawbacks of NAMBR
Certain drawbacks of NAMBR should be mentioned. NAMBR is a young company, which means that it lacks experience and status that would be beneficial in performing the suggested activities. Also, the mentioned initiatives cannot be implemented entirely by NAMBR; it will need support and collaborators. However, the company’s primary advantage is its focus on the needs of the UAE and the social, as well as business-related, benefits of the mentioned suggestions. NAMBR addresses obesity, which is a real problem in the UAE that affects different groups, including immigrants who are particularly numerous (nearly 90% of the population). As a result, the initiative would be expected to gain support, especially from the government. Additionally, NAMBR uses recent research to demonstrate that CSR can become a unique advantage that will help businesses to remain profitable while being socially responsible. This perspective should attract businesses. Thus, NAMBR’s goals, philosophy, and methods are its major advantages, which will help it to address the stated need.
NAMBR will be willing to consult small businesses for free or a small fee, but it will also work with larger organizations and assist in fundraising activities for profit. As a result, it will put the skills of its consultants to use throughout the development of obesity reduction initiatives. This way, it will gain experience and reputation while making a profit. As a result, NAMBR will do well as a business while meeting the real needs of its community and improving people’s well-being.
References
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