Muscat: The Royal Academy of Management (RAM), in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, has introduced a specialized program aimed at Municipal Council members throughout Oman.
This innovative initiative was officially launched under the patronage of Sayyid Khalifa bin Al Murdas Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior.
The program is in line with the vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, which seeks to develop national leadership and enhance the skills of leaders prepared for the future, in support of Oman Vision 2040.
Fathiya Al Rashdi, Vice President for Programme Affairs at the Royal Academy of Management, stated, "The initiation of the Municipal Council Members Programme is part of our continuous commitment to strengthening the capabilities of national talent. This initiative aims to promote administrative and economic decentralization across Oman’s governorates. It examines best practices in local public governance while aiming to positively influence the development and competitiveness of these regions. This program is a crucial step towards empowering Municipal Council members to fulfill their roles effectively and creatively, highlighting the significance of utilizing available resources for sustainable development."
Dr. Al Rashdi further noted that the Municipal Council Members Programme includes interactive workshops, dialogue sessions, and case studies. It also presents practical models for operational plans and projects designed to enhance local development, boost the efficiency of national leadership, and improve administrative performance, all of which contribute to the economic growth of Oman.
The program is designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of Municipal Council members while broadening their capacity to propose and execute innovative initiatives. Additionally, it aims to improve their skills in overseeing developmental and public service projects, as well as to strengthen their proficiency in data analysis, strategic planning, performance assessment, and infrastructure development—essential components that promote sustainable local development in accordance with national priorities.
A primary goal of the program is to reinforce the position of Municipal Council members within the local governance structure. This involves providing them with leadership training, improving their ability to assess proposals and initiatives, and enriching their knowledge of administrative processes related to public service projects.
The program also promotes active participation from the community, ensuring that members play a significant role in local decision-making.
The importance of refining the skills of Municipal Council members to enhance the efficiency of public services and facilitate more informed decision-making for the benefit of the community cannot be emphasized enough.
An essential goal of the programme is to promote collaboration between Council members and young Omanis, fostering the creation of innovative community initiatives and public service projects that enhance sustainable development and elevate the quality of life for citizens throughout the governorates.
The Municipal Council Members Programme employs a structured educational framework, providing a thorough understanding of the Municipal Council's responsibilities and the members' roles in evaluating proposals, supervising service projects, and engaging with local communities.
Spanning five days for each group, the programme will host five groups, totaling 148 Municipal Council members from various regions of Oman. It will also include advisory sessions with government officials and private sector representatives to encourage knowledge sharing and institutional partnerships.
The curriculum encompasses two focused dialogue sessions on smart cities and project design and evaluation, in addition to essential modules covering emotional intelligence, effective communication, decision-making, strategic thinking, and data analysis.
These components work together to enhance governance performance across Oman’s governorates.
The initiation of the Municipal Council Members Programme builds on the Royal Academy of Management’s continuous efforts to improve local governance in Oman.
It further reinforces the role of Municipal Council members in fulfilling the leadership’s vision of optimizing resources to enhance the well-being of Omani citizens, who are the primary beneficiaries of all development initiatives.
The Royal Academy of Management has launched various national initiatives, such as the National Initiative for Local Administration Development, the Governors’ Programme, and the Walis’ Programme. These initiatives have played a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness and growth of Oman’s governorates by strengthening governance skills, encouraging administrative and economic decentralization, and integrating best practices in local public administration.
