The customer at the heart of consular services development: the MOFAIC experience
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The UAE government has always
endeavored to respond to the needs of the community, and to translate this, in
addition to all the initiatives and programs launched across the country, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has adopted
innovation in the creation and design of its services. The Ministry was
recognized by the country's wise leadership in September 2021, as it was ranked
among the top 5 government agencies in digital services following a performance
evaluation of the federal government, the efficiency of its services, and
customers' access to services at any time and anywhere.
In implementing the seventh
principle of Principles of the 50 as part of digital, technical and scientific
excellence plans set by the UAE to design its development and economic journey,
and to consolidate the country's stature as a capital for talent, companies and
investments in these fields and make it the next capital of the future, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation seeks to engage all
segments of society in the innovation and design of its services and the way
they are provided to customers within a pioneering methodology that contributed
to their upscaling to meet the needs of each individual in the community
through the involvement of customers in designing the services they need, and
how to obtain these services.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation elaborated an integrated strategy to hone its
digital services, as it aimed to design and develop sustainable digital
services in partnership with the community, to enhance customer trust and
quality of life. The Ministry then assessed their needs and expectations regarding
the speed of services and various delivery channels. The digital services team
in the ministry remains in full swing to continuously refine all available
services and work on digitizing them.
The Ministry's work teams spared
no effort in a comprehensive re-design of processes and services with the aim
of transforming them in line with the UAE digital government strategy 2025 and
under the supervision and follow-up of Emirati competencies specialized in the
field. They employed emerging technologies for capacity building and data
collection through user engagement, placing customer needs and comfort as main
determinants in the re-designing processes, services, and policies. The
ministry rolled-out comprehensive mechanisms to ensure user involvement in all
stages of service design and development, making user voice and opinion a
reference in identifying needs and bridging the gaps that may exist in the
service provision process.
Work teams got together with a
number of customers from various social segments to get a closer look at how
they use all the services available through the ministry's website and
smartphone application, and to collect opinions and feedback about steps,
technical elements, and improvement possibilities. They were thus able to draw up
and implement the necessary plans and test the resulting changes.
As the UAE sails towards its
centennial, the government sector must periodically test the services it
provides, to keep pace with global developments and the achievements of the
country where all is possible. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation remains committed to continuing to meet the
aspirations of customers and enhance their confidence in using its digital
services through effective communication and their involvement in the
development process of seamless and integrated services.

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