Muscat – The Social Protection Fund (SPF), in partnership with UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO), is developing an integrated national monitoring and evaluation system to measure the performance and impact of social protection programmes across Oman.

The initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve programme effectiveness and assess how social protection measures benefit individuals and families, including citizens and residents. It aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the 11th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and the Social Protection Law promulgated under Royal Decree No. 52/2023.

Development of the system began around a year ago, involving technical meetings and consultations with key government entities, including the ministries of Economy, Social Development, Health, Education and Labour.

The process has produced an integrated results framework featuring performance indicators and a monitoring dashboard designed to track progress and assess outcomes and impact at national and sectoral levels. It is also intended to strengthen coordination among institutions responsible for delivering social protection services.

The system will complement the National Social Protection Platform being established by the SPF, bringing together data, indicators and analysis to support planning, policymaking and programme development.

Dr Faisal Al Farsi, CEO of the SPF, described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening governance and transparency across the social protection system.

He said the framework reflected the fund’s commitment to working with national and international partners to deliver sustainable results by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of programmes benefiting citizens and residents.

Sumaira Chowdhury, UNICEF Representative in Oman, said the system represented an advanced model of multisectoral collaboration, helping institutions measure results, improve service quality and deliver lasting benefits for children and families.

Luca Pellerano, Senior Social Protection Adviser at the ILO, said monitoring and evaluation were essential to building systems that could adapt and deliver meaningful results. He added that the framework would help national institutions assess progress in expanding coverage, improving benefit adequacy and strengthening delivery mechanisms.

The next phase will focus on testing and piloting the system, building the technical capacity of participating institutions and strengthening data integration ahead of its official launch.

Once operational, the framework is expected to provide a unified basis for monitoring and evaluating social protection programmes nationwide, supporting Oman’s efforts to advance comprehensive and inclusive social protection.