Monday 10 / February / 2025
Muscat: The Royal Academy of Management (RAM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, has launched a specialised programme for Municipal Council members from across Oman.
The innovative programme was recently inaugurated under the auspices of Sayyid Khalifa bin Al Murdas Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior.
The initiative aligns with the vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, which aims to cultivate national leadership and enhance the skills of future-ready leaders to meet the goals of the Oman Vision 2040.
Fathiya Al Rashdi. Vice President for Programme Affairs at the Royal Academy of Management, said,"The launch of the Municipal Council Members Programme is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the capabilities of national talent further, this time by fostering administrative and economic decentralisation in Oman’s governorates. It explores the best practices in local public governance while focusing on positively impacting the development and competitiveness of the governorates. It represents a fundamental step towards empowering Municipal Council members to innovatively and effectively perform their role and emphasises the importance of leveraging available resources to achieve sustainable development."
Dr Al Rashdi added that the Municipal Council Members Programme incorporates interactive workshops, dialogue sessions, and case studies. It also features practical models for operational plans and projects that enhance local development, improve the efficiency of national leadership, and advance administrative performance, all contributing to the growth of Oman’s economy.
The programme aims to fine-tune the leadership skills of Municipal Council members and expand their ability to propose and implement innovative initiatives. It also seeks to boost their competencies in monitoring developmental and public service projects and build their capabilities in data analysis, strategic planning, performance evaluation, and infrastructure development, which are all key areas that drive sustainable local development in alignment with national priorities.
A key objective of the programme is to strengthen the role of Municipal Council members within the local governance framework. This includes equipping them with leadership expertise, enhancing their ability to evaluate proposals and initiatives, and deepening their understanding of administrative procedures for public service projects.
The programme encourages active community engagement, ensuring members contribute effectively to local decision-making processes.
The significance of fine-tuning skills of the Municipal Council members to deliver even more efficient public services and make more informed decisions that serve the greater good cannot be overstated.
An important objective of the programme is to foster collaboration between
Council members and young Omanis, encouraging the development of innovative community initiatives and public service projects that support sustainable development and improve the quality of life of citizens across the governorates.
The Municipal Council Members Programme follows a structured learning approach, including a comprehensive overview of the responsibilities of the Municipal Council and the role of members in reviewing proposals, overseeing service projects, and engaging with local communities.
Running for five days per group, it will accommodate five groups, comprising a total of 148 Municipal Council members from across Oman. It will also feature advisory sessions with government
officials and representatives from the private sector to facilitate knowledge exchange and institutional collaboration.
The programme’s curriculum includes two dedicated dialogue sessions on smart cities and project design and evaluation, alongside core modules on emotional intelligence, effective communication, decision-making, strategic thinking, and data analysis.
These elements collectively contribute to enhancing governance performance across Oman’s governorates.
The launch of the Municipal Council Members Programme builds upon the Royal Academy of Management’s ongoing efforts to advance local governance in Oman.
It further strengthens the role of Municipal Council members in realising the leadership’s vision of optimising resources to further improve the well-being of Omani citizens, who should be the ultimate beneficiaries of all development initiatives.
The Royal Academy of Management has introduced several national initiatives, including the National Initiative for Local Administration Development, the Governors’ Programme, and the Walis’ Programme, which all have been instrumental in supporting the competitiveness and development of Oman’s governorates by developing governance capabilities, promoting administrative and economic decentralisation, and incorporating best practices in local public administration.
