A new strategic focus will see Bahrain’s labour fund Tamkeen deliver support programmes driven by quality and not quantity, the authority's top official has said.

Chairman and acting chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa said the benchmark for success will no longer be the number of customers served or programmes launched, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

“Rather, it will be the impact of those programmes on Bahrainis and businesses and economic development at large,” he said on the sidelines of a stakeholder consultation forum at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel and Spa yesterday (September 28).

“We are also aiming to increase our ability to assess impact and make Tamkeen's spending more cost-effective.”

The semi-autonomous labour fund authority said its programmes have 100,000 beneficiaries to date, including 70,000 Bahrainis and 30,000 enterprises.

Tamkeen's new approach sees its focus shifting from the type of support to outcomes to be achieved by people and enterprises benefitting from the support.

Shaikh Mohammed said by making the programmes more flexible, efficient, transparent and measurable, Tamkeen is looking to not only prevent fraud and misuse but also address market requirements.

“Applicants for grants will now need to present clear development goals, which can be measured,” he said.

“There will be continuous monitoring and enforcement and stringent abuse penalties.”

He also said the revamped programmes will be offered as integrated packages that address specific needs.

The authority is more keen to foster entrepreneurship and support business diversification and expansion.

Tamkeen is also seeking to improve service delivery channels and reduce processing times, he said.

The consultation was held to brief more than 200 participants including business owners, entrepreneurs, employees, job-seekers, students and representatives from different organisations on Tamkeen's draft strategy for 2015-2017.

The new strategy also incorporates feedback from stakeholders, results of its impact assessment studies, and recommendations of the National Audit Court, in addition to the lessons learnt from the 2010'“2014 strategy, Shaikh Mohammed added.

Tamkeen senior manager for customer engagement and support Yousif Ali said the authority will also work to further develop the customer relationship side of its operations, with more direct outreach through Tamkeen community representatives, in addition to visits to local majlises and social media channels.

“The strategy will also be uploaded online on Tamkeen's website, and visitors will be able to register, download and provide feedback via an online form until the end of next month,” Ali said.

Once the consultations are concluded, the feedback will be collected and integrated within the 2015-2017 strategy to be approved by Tamkeen's board by year-end.

Earlier this month, Tamkeen said it was relaunching the Enterprise Development Support Scheme after a six-month freeze.

The revamped scheme includes fraud prevention measures.

A new Internet portal currently being developed will make the process of availing grants easier with applicants being able to track their application.

Tamkeen was founded in 2006 with a mandate to develop, enhance, up-skill and re-skill Bahrainis and to drive increased productivity and improved efficiency in businesses for sustainable competitiveness and growth. - TradeArabia News Service