The announcement was made by Social Development Minister Dr Sharifa bint Khalfan Al Yahya’eyah at the country’s first forum for NGOs here on Monday, inaugurated by Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq Al Said, Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan.
Some 80 volunteer organisations from around the Sultanate are participating in the discussions.
Dr Sharifa said the ministry was in the process of developing a national strategy for NGOs and expected to announce it soon, adding that it would incorporate recommendations made by the forum which aims to activate and develop voluntary work in the country.
“We hope that this forum will come out with valuable recommendations to develop this sector, activate its performance and provide the broad outlines of the national strategy for voluntary work,” she told the audience, consisting of ministers, key government officials and other dignitaries, at the opening ceremony. The forum will cover a number of themes including the role of volunteerism in social integration, management and legislation of voluntary work; the existing legal framework for NGOs and their impact on social life; and analysis of NGOs Law No. 14/2000 and its amendments.
The conference will also examine social and cultural changes in the Omani society over the years and their effect on volunteerism and the volunteering culture, and the role of the media in enriching this. Other issues on the agenda include the concept of social investment and its contribution in developing the society and elevating community life.
Dr Sharifa observed that voluntariness was one of the integral attributes of the Omani society, adding that throughout the ages Omanis had provided good examples of solidarity and unity. “The concept of volunteering work emanates from the self desire to do good without waiting for financial or moral return,” she pointed out.
The Social Development Ministry, Dr Sharifa said, had always tried to “enhance the concept of volunteerism by disseminating this culture in the society and highlighting its benefits.” She called upon intellectuals, writers, media men, preachers and men of letters to promote the culture of volunteer work among the youth and children. Noting that charity work in the Omani society had developed from an individual initiative to an organised institutional concept, she urged all NGOs to adopt ‘good planning and sound management practices’ to be able to attract more volunteers in different fields.
Sayyid Shihab lauded the role of NGOs in the country, adding that he hoped they would continue “providing their charitable services that serve the society in general.”
In remarks to journalists, he noted that Omanis had always been supportive of each other. NGOs in the country, he said, did not focus on certain categories of society, but had helped in solving a number of social issues.
“The more these NGOs are diversified, the better the role they can play in identifying and handling social problems,” Sayyid Shihab stressed.
He had a special word of praise for women volunteers and in particular for the contributions of the Omani Women’s Associations in social projects. These associations, he said, were always in the forefront to identify the needs of citizens and the society in general.
