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Risk Management

Compliance with NCEMA Guidelines

In a race against time, governments are issuing directives on effective precautions against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) globally to prepare for what is to come as peak-virus over the next 4 to 6 weeks.

In the face of one of the biggest global pandemics the world has experienced in the 21st century, governments and health organizations increasingly encourage the public to practise isolation and social distancing. In the UAE, companies are opting for mobile working to ensure continuity of business operations.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) of the UAE has released the Business Continuity Readiness Guidelines for UAE Organizations (AE/SCNS/NCEMA 7002:2020) to maintain the provision of essential services and goods, and to reinforce sustainable cooperation as well as the importance of synergy between all concerned organizations.

The guideline instructs all organizations at federal, local, and private levels across the UAE to adopt the specified approach to assess the risks, threats, weaknesses and consequences to organizations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommended Actions

We, at Grant Thornton, understand that you want to be agile and responsive as the consequences of the COVID-19’s outbreak unfold. Therefore, we are here to support you and your organization as you adopt the guidelines provided by NCEMA, and to help you prepare to face the current crisis. In this context, you are recommended to implement the below easy-to-follow 6-step guide which will assist you in complying with the Government issued guidelines.

 

  1. Activate your business continuity plan by enabling procedures to respond to the current crisis.
  2. Ensure readiness of your IT infrastructure to implement “work from home” facilities for the foreseeable future.

  3. Ensure readiness of your employees to leverage digital tools to operate remotely and at flexible hours.

  4. Determine the number of employees for customer facing / backend jobs, and facilitate them to work from different locations in order to reduce contact.

  5. Coordinate with your third party service providers to ensure minimum disruption to your entire supply chain management of the business.

  6. Ensure data privacy and cyber security of your business while adopting innovative ways to operate in this crisis.

Contact us for a fast-track assessment of your organization readiness to comply with NCEMA 7002:2020 guidelines and to combat the risks this global pandemic poses to your organization. You can contact Avik Chandra, Associate Director of Transformation Advisory, for more information avik.chandra@ae.gt.com.