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Observer
02-08-2025
- Business
- Observer
Charitable sector's role in Oman's development
In Oman, the charitable sector—comprising voluntary teams, non-profit organisations, waqf-based entities, and government-linked foundations—plays a vital role in driving inclusive economic development. From direct poverty alleviation to support for entrepreneurship, social welfare, and empowerment, charitable organisations contribute significantly to national development strategies outlined in Oman Vision 2040 and national five-year plans. This article examines the regulatory and institutional landscape, key stakeholders and initiatives, economic development mechanisms, evidence of impact, prevailing challenges, alignment with Vision 2040, and potential future directions. REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK Legal structure & oversight: In 2024, Oman's Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) introduced new regulations requiring charities to obtain licenses before soliciting public donations. Organisations must maintain transparent records and submit detailed reports within 15 working days after any fundraising campaign. Violations may lead to penalties, license suspension, or revocation. Government ministries and waqf oversight: The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MARA) supervises Islamic charitable mechanisms such as zakat and waqf (endowments). It ensures endowment assets are protected and utilised to support sustainable charitable projects in health, education, and social welfare. Government-established foundations: MoSD's 2025 launch of the Bait Al Hassan Charitable Foundation reflects a shift toward more structured and strategic philanthropy. It supports education, youth empowerment, and regional development through partnerships with civil society and the private sector. KEY PLAYERS AND INSTITUTIONAL ACTORS National charities and volunteer teams: Well-known national NGOs like Dar Al-Atta'a, Al Rahma Association, and Oman Charitable Organisation have long operated across Oman. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided crucial support through food distribution, financial aid, and education assistance, often coordinated through volunteer teams. Corporate-led and CSR-centred funds: The Tawasul Charitable Organisation, founded in the Duqm Special Economic Zone, links CSR initiatives with community development. It funds training centres, vocational programmes, and SME support in underserved areas, bridging corporate capital with social needs. SME Support via Waqf-Backed Funds: The Ishraq Endowment Investment Fund, introduced in 2024, uses a sustainable waqf model to fund charitable services while investing in growth-oriented sectors. Initial capital of RO 10 million provides a base for Sharia-compliant returns that support educational, medical, and housing assistance. Dedicated SME development vehicles: Sharakah, established in 1998, blends charitable principles with economic objectives. It provides financing and mentorship to entrepreneurs, supporting job creation and private sector participation in line with national goals. MECHANISMS: HOW CHARITIES SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Direct poverty alleviation and social welfare: Charities provide essential support—cash transfers, food aid, utility bill payments, and emergency relief. In 2021, RO 3.5 million was mobilised to help families impacted by the pandemic, stabilising livelihoods and preventing deeper poverty. Financial inclusion and micro-credits: Microfinance initiatives like the Sanad Programme give job seekers and low-income families access to interest-free loans. This supports self-employment and income-generating activities, particularly for youth and women. Entrepreneurship and youth empowerment: Charities like Bait Al Hassan and Tawasul offer entrepreneurship workshops, business incubators, and mentorship schemes that enable youth and women to launch startups. These programmes also help diversify Oman's economy beyond oil. Capacity building and skills development: Many charities invest in human capital through vocational training, STEM education, and financial literacy. These initiatives directly align with Vision 2040's human development pillars, ensuring future workforce readiness. CSR channels and hybrid models: Corporate social responsibility efforts, especially those led by large infrastructure or tourism firms, support community-based initiatives such as artisan training, eco-tourism, and sustainable agriculture, adding an economic layer to charitable goals. ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES Job creation and SME growth: Access to micro-credit, training, and advisory services leads to the launch of thousands of micro-enterprises and SMEs annually. These businesses generate employment, especially in rural and underserved regions. Poverty reduction and human capital improvement: Education sponsorships, health support, and food security initiatives break the cycle of poverty. By enabling access to essential services, charities help beneficiaries move toward long-term economic self-sufficiency. Social cohesion and national solidarity: Charities often serve diverse populations, fostering inclusion regardless of gender, age, or economic background. They help reintegrate vulnerable groups—such as the disabled, single mothers, or migrants—into the broader economy. Supporting economic diversification: Charitable and waqf-based funds channel investment into non-oil sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture, aiding in the national shift toward a knowledge-based economy. CHALLENGES FACING THE CHARITABLE SECTOR The charitable sector is highly dependent on fluctuating donations: During downturns, such as the 2016 austerity phase, many organisations struggled to maintain services. Sector fragmentation and limited coordination: Oman hosts many small, independent NGOs and volunteer teams. Without coordinated platforms, overlapping efforts reduce efficiency and dilute potential impact. Capacity and governance deficits: Many organisations lack skilled staff and professional systems to monitor, evaluate, and report on programmes. This limits their ability to attract sustained donor support. Regulatory burden and compliance issues: While new legal frameworks increase transparency, they also add administrative complexity. Smaller organisations may lack the resources to comply, risking suspension or fines. Well-known national NGOs like Dar Al-Atta'a, Al Rahma Association, and Oman Charitable Organisation have long operated across Oman. ALIGNMENT WITH OMAN VISION 2040 & NATIONAL STRATEGIES Developing human capital: By funding schools, training teachers, and providing scholarships, the charitable sector enhances Oman's educational capacity—central to Vision 2040's goals. Promoting economic diversification: Waqf investment funds and social entrepreneurship hubs create new income streams outside oil, helping Oman transition toward a more resilient and diversified economy. Enhancing social protection and inclusion: Charities provide a vital safety net, ensuring that vulnerable populations are supported while being empowered to become active economic contributors. FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Scale through digital platforms: Digital tools like Tarabut Gateway and online donation systems should be expanded to unify charity efforts, centralise data, and track impact in real-time. Strengthen capacity and professionalism: Investing in leadership, training, and organisational systems is crucial. Government and donors should provide institutional support and technical training. Expand waqf and endowment-based financing: Waqf models offer sustainability and growth. More institutional waqf funds should be established to reduce dependence on annual donations. Deepen private sector integration: CSR strategies should be embedded in corporate policies, with clear impact metrics. Partnerships between firms and charities amplify social and economic returns. Focus on women, youth, and marginalised communities: Targeted programmes for women entrepreneurs, rural youth, and persons with disabilities can significantly enhance inclusiveness and innovation. Improve monitoring, evaluation, and research: Rigorous data collection and analysis are essential. Academic partnerships and government agencies should help develop national charity performance dashboards. CONCLUSION Oman's charitable sector is an indispensable pillar of its economic development strategy. Through job creation, SME development, education, and social support, charities make meaningful contributions to the country's Vision 2040. As regulatory frameworks strengthen and new waqf models emerge, the sector stands poised to deepen its impact—provided it addresses fragmentation, enhances professionalism, and continues aligning with national development priorities.
Observer
12-07-2025
- General
- Observer
Oman's Child Care Centre focuses on growth, integration
MUSCAT: The Child Care and Youth Homes Centre is the only centre in the Sultanate of Oman dedicated to caring for children and youth without family care. Under the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), the Centre continues to provide advanced and diverse services to this important group, while constantly improving and introducing new initiatives. The Centre implements a wide range of programmes and activities designed to develop children and youth, address their needs and build their personalities. These efforts instill core values, develop skills and talents, enhance self-confidence and promote active integration into society through participation in various community events. Oman's Child Care Centre focuses on growth, integration For 2025, the Centre's annual plan includes 43 approved programmes, of which 22 have been implemented and completed. Additionally, 32 extra programmes have been carried out in cooperation with civil society organisations. A major milestone was the implementation of the alternative family system in 2010, tailored to Omani social customs and Islamic values. The Centre is operated by qualified national staff and continuously adapts its care model to ensure a nurturing environment. Salah al Daihani, Assistant Director, explained: "As part of community integration efforts, the MoSD has established youth integration homes for male children aged 14 and above, located outside the Centre. This encourages coexistence with their peers without discrimination, fosters a sense of independence, builds self-confidence and promotes responsibility". The Centre continues to provide advanced and diverse services to children and youth The Centre's core mission is to find families for children deprived of family care and to help them determine their future, enabling them to build lasting relationships in a family environment. According to the latest statistics, 83 children and young women currently reside within the Centre, while 77 young men live in youth homes outside the Centre. The Centre actively supports higher education, with 18 young men and women currently enrolled in various university programmes. It also works to secure job opportunities tailored to each individual's interests and qualifications, ensuring a sustainable future. To date, 49 young men and women have been successfully employed in both public and private sectors.
Muscat Daily
07-07-2025
- General
- Muscat Daily
‘Our Safe Home' promotes family stability, security in Oman
Muscat – Through its Directorate General in Dakhliyah, Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) launched an initiative called 'Our Safe Home' on Monday aimed at reinforcing family security and fostering a society based on mutual respect, understanding and compassion. The initiative seeks to strengthen family cohesion, encourage open dialogue among household members, and promote shared values that support psychological and social development. Authorities view these as critical to maintaining stability in households and the wider community. As part of the initiative, three specialised workshops were organised focusing on mental health, family relationships and parenting in the digital age. Dr Hilal bin Salem al Abri, a guidance and counselling specialist at Sultan Qaboos University, led the first session titled 'How to be Successful Amidst the Crowds and Comparisons'. Aimed at youth aged 13 to 28, the workshop addressed the psychological effects of social comparisons and offered tools to enhance self-awareness and mental well-being. The second workshop – Red Light – was conducted by Dr Kafala bint Hamoud al Omairi, Head of Marriage Counselling Team in Dakhliyah. It focused on recognising early warning signs in relationships, particularly during engagement and the initial phase of marriage. Participants were introduced to techniques for emotional regulation and community-based support strategies. In the final session – Digital Upbringing in a Fast-Paced World – Dr Nahla bint Rashid al Shabibiyah of Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs highlighted the challenges of raising children in the digital era. The session outlined differences between traditional and digital parenting and provided strategies for maintaining a healthy balance between online and offline life. The 'Our Safe Home' initiative was part of Ministry of Social Development's broader efforts to promote social resilience and enhance family communication, contributing to the development of a more cohesive and supportive society.
Muscat Daily
06-07-2025
- General
- Muscat Daily
Volunteers welcome launch of ‘Ayadi' platform
Muscat – Volunteers across Oman have welcomed the launch of 'Ayadi', a new digital platform developed by Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) to organise voluntary work and encourage civic participation. The platform is designed to unify national volunteer activities under one system, enabling individuals, teams and institutions to coordinate initiatives across sectors such as health, education, environment and emergency response. Hamoud bin Murdad al Shabibi, Advisor for Planning to Minister of Social Development, said the platform will help manage volunteer hours, monitor team activities and reduce duplication, particularly during emergencies. 'It will allow better coordination and lower operational costs while attracting specialised competencies,' he said. As the first platform of its kind in the sultanate, Ayadi will offer a centralised database of volunteers and organisations. Institutions can submit initiatives, track contributions, and generate reports to ensure transparency and improve performance oversight. MoSD also plans to support volunteer teams through training programmes aimed at building capacity and reinforcing the role of community partnerships in national development goals. Abdullah bin Khalfan al Abri, a member of Ibri Charity Volunteer Team, said Ayadi will enhance coordination between volunteers and institutions. 'It will help us implement targeted initiatives more efficiently,' he said. His team is currently running the Sawaed al Khair initiative, which provides roadside assistance and rest areas for pilgrims passing through the wilayat. Ahmed bin Saif al Rashidi, Head of Barka Charity Team, said the platform resolves several challenges, including tracking volunteers and linking individuals with relevant opportunities. 'It enhances transparency and helps document our efforts,' he said. His team has completed several projects, such as construction of houses for the needy and launch of digital donation tools, including a WhatsApp-based charity channel and the 'Ataa Barka' application. Volunteers said the structured framework provided by Ayadi will support professional civic work and help instil values of social responsibility, especially among young people. MoSD stated that it hopes Ayadi will position the volunteer sector as a strategic contributor to Oman Vision 2040 objectives and sustainable community development.
Observer
30-06-2025
- General
- Observer
MoSD launches phase two of summer centres
MUSCAT, June 30 The activities of the second phase of the Ministry of Social Development's (MoSD) participation in the 2025 Summer Centres in Al Batinah North Governorate have begun. The participation, supervised by the Office of the Governor of Al Batinah North, is a continuation of community efforts to harness the energies of children and youth during the summer vacation. Sultan bin Qais al Abri, Director-General of the Directorate-General of Social Development in Al Batinah North Governorate, said, "The participation comes within the framework of effective partnerships between various community institutions to provide an educational and recreational environment for our students during the summer, contributing to building their personalities and developing their capabilities in various fields." The efforts to activate summer centres activities came through quality activities implemented by civil society organisations across the governorate. They were organised with the participation of charitable groups and civil society organisations, the Al Wafa Centres for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities and Omani Women's Associations. The participation of OWA included a variety of programmes and workshops, including traditional crafts and palm-frond workshops, in addition to scientific programmes and workshops in the field of creative thinking, a number of health workshops and various volunteer initiatives. As for the Al Wafa Centres for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, their activities varied across several wilayats in Al Batinah North Governorate, focusing on a number of artistic industries, including gypsum and accessories, and candle mould making. As part of the participation of charitable groups and civil society organisations, the Liwa Charity Harvest Team organised several interactive workshops, including the 'Protect Yourself' workshop and the 'Skilful Speaker' workshop, in addition to awareness programmes titled 'Your Awareness Saves Lives' and the importance of cybersecurity. This participation affirms the importance of activating institutional community work and integrating efforts between government agencies and civil society organisations, contributing to enhancing the capabilities of children and adolescents and honing their skills in a safe and stimulating environment.
