29 March 2015, Doha, Qatar – Qatar e-Nature, the first-of-its-kind smartphone application in the region, has received a second honour for excellence. In a ceremony in Kuwait, representatives of Sasol and Friends of the Environment Centre received a “Best Arab Government Smart Applications” award as part of the Smart Government Awards. Nominations from UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco were evaluated by a specialised committee for the awards that honour excellence in delivering government and public sector information and services via smart technology. The awards were held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Central Agency for Information Technology in Kuwait.
Jack Saba, GM of Public Affairs at Sasol Qatar received the award on behalf of Sasol and FEC from Minister Al Sabah at a ceremony held in Kuwait last week.
“We are honoured to receive this award from the organisers under the patronage of Minister Al Sabah. The growing number of awards Qatar e-Nature has received from around the region speaks to the unique and significant value it provides to bring the love of nature to life for the young generation and citizens in general. We hope that it inspires others to use innovative technologies to bring the love of nature to more people in the GCC,” said Dr. Saif Al-Hajari, Chairman of Friends of the Environment Centre.
Launched in December 2013, the Qatar e-Nature app highlights plant, bird, insect, mammal and reptile life in the country. Sasol created the app under its corporate social responsibility programme in partnership with Friends of the Environment Centre. The app, which features content in Arabic and English, aims to support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 to promote sustainable development by contributing towards an environmentally aware population.
Marjo Louw, President of Sasol Qatar, commented: “We are proud to see the growth and recognition the Qatar e-Nature application has received in the region. Our simple concept – putting nature in the palm of people’s hands – has captured the attention of governments as well as individuals for its ability to use technology to drive an appreciation for the environment in a fun and engaging way. We thank Minister Al Sabah and the government of Kuwait for their recognition of our efforts.”
This Smart Government Award comes shortly after the Qatar e-Nature app received the Best mobile-Government Service Award in the environment category on a regional level from by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The user-friendly Qatar e-Nature app is available for download free of charge on Apple App Store, Google Play store for Android, and Windows Phone Store. A web version of the app (www.enature.qa) is also available for desktop access, while information on the ‘Qatar e-Nature’ schools contest can be found on contest.enature.qa and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The application is updated regularly, having added mammals and reptiles earlier this year. Future updates will include marine life to further benefit users of the application.
