Abu dhabi: Majra, the National CSR Fund, and the environmental charity Emirates Nature-WWF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. This partnership marks a pivotal step in advancing environmental responsibility in line with the UAE's 'Year of Community.'

According to Emirates News Agency, the collaboration aims to empower youth and enhance the role of the private sector and local communities in fostering sustainable environmental impact. It underscores the importance of cross-sector collaboration in achieving systemic and sustainable change in environmental fields.

As part of this strategic partnership, Majra and Emirates Nature-WWF have announced a landmark initiative focused on empowering youth in environmental sustainability. Majra will sponsor memberships for 500 Emirati youth under the Emirates Nature-WWF's 'Leaders of Change' programme, a nationwide initiative that empowers individuals to take meaningful action for nature and climate.

This partnership reflects the shared vision of both organizations to nurture a generation that is environmentally conscious and capable of driving sustainable impact. The 'Leaders of Change' programme offers young people, families, professionals, and community leaders hands-on opportunities through training, innovation sessions, and nature conservation field trips. These activities enable participants to actively support the UAE's national priorities in biodiversity preservation and climate action. By turning knowledge into action, participants will contribute to advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship across the nation.

Sara Shaw, CEO of Majra, expressed pride in the partnership, stating, "In conjunction with the UAE's Year of Community, we are proud to announce this partnership with the environmental charity Emirates Nature-WWF to advance environmental corporate social responsibility and achieve a sustainable national impact by sponsoring the membership of 500 Emirati youth under the Leaders of Change programme. We are investing in a generation of aware and empowered youth capable of turning knowledge into tangible actions that make a real difference on the ground."

Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director-General of Emirates Nature-WWF, emphasized the significance of the collaboration, saying, "We are proud to partner with Majra to advance our shared vision of an active civil society - one that recognises the vital connection between nature and humanity. Through our Leaders of Change programme, more than 10,000 individuals across the UAE have already contributed over 37,000 volunteer hours to nature and conservation. This partnership marks an important step toward enabling hundreds of young people to engage in environmental action and help build a sustainable future for generations to come."

The signing of the MoU at the IUCN World Conservation Congress highlights the UAE's growing role as a regional hub for innovation in corporate social responsibility and sustainable impact. It showcases effective models of collaboration between the public sector, private sector, and civil society, where corporate contributions are directly transformed into measurable environmental outcomes.

The 'Leaders of Change' programme is a movement for nature launched by Emirates Nature-WWF. It provides a national platform that empowers youth, professionals, families, and community leaders to take meaningful action for nature and climate through over 200 conservation experiences, capacity-building workshops, and citizen science activities each year.

Since its launch, the programme has engaged over 10,000 members who have contributed more than 37,000 volunteer hours, recorded thousands of nature observations, restored natural habitats, and developed nature and hiking Eco trails. These efforts demonstrate the tangible and sustainable impact of these initiatives on both the environment and communities across the UAE.