The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Oman’s Social Protection Fund (SPF), successfully conducted the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) inaugural training workshop focused on the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of social protection systems. The event took place in Muscat, Oman, from November 2 to 5, 2025, and aimed to bolster the capabilities of 26 SPF officials alongside other national stakeholders involved in implementing the Sultanate’s significant Social Protection Law (52/2023).
This workshop introduced the TRANSFORM learning package, an innovative initiative designed to enhance social protection systems through structured learning, peer exchange, and institutional development. The program is guided by an advisory group co-chaired by ILO and UNICEF, including representatives from UNDP, UNESCWA, and WFP, focusing on the Arab region.
Oman’s commitment to comprehensive social protection reforms makes the establishment of a robust M&E system vital for effective policy guidance, assessment of socio-economic impacts, and improving service delivery. Trainers emphasized that strong monitoring frameworks are essential for ensuring cost-effectiveness and financial sustainability.
Strengthening Governance and Accountability
Radhiya Al-Mahroqi, Director General of Social Protection Policies at the SPF, highlighted the importance of enhancing M&E capacity for governance and the long-term sustainability of the reforms enacted under the Social Protection Law. “The establishment of the National M&E Committee and its active participation in this training demonstrate our commitment to embedding a strong monitoring culture across the newly unified social protection system,” she stated.
Luca Pellerano, ILO Senior Technical Advisor on Social Protection and STREAM Programme Manager, noted that delivering the first TRANSFORM M&E module in the GCC reflects Oman’s leadership in developing robust, transparent, and accountable social protection. “Monitoring and evaluation are not technical add-ons; they are the backbone of a system that learns, adapts, and delivers real results for people,” he said.
Participants included members of the newly formed National M&E Committee for Social Protection, established by the Omani government to streamline monitoring efforts across various ministries. This committee comprises representatives from multiple ministries, including Labour, Social Development, Finance, Health, Education, and Economy, as well as the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) and other relevant agencies. Their engagement underscores the government’s commitment to a coordinated system-wide M&E framework.
Enhancing Impact for Vulnerable Populations
Dr. Bilal Al-Kiswani, UNICEF Oman Programme Manager, emphasized that strong monitoring and evaluation provide policymakers with the necessary data and clarity to refine programs and measure their impact effectively. He stated, “Oman’s commitment to this work strengthens a social protection system designed to reach every child, especially the most vulnerable.”
Over the four-day training, participants engaged in case studies and practical exercises, focusing on building an evidence-based culture and enhancing the “supply side” of national M&E systems. The training explored how effective M&E can improve policy and program design, operational management, and accountability. Key topics included the selection and collection of indicators and data, balancing data generation with evidence and accountability demands, and establishing concrete accountability mechanisms.
Particular attention was given to developing indicators and methods to monitor the impacts of Oman’s new social protection schemes, ensuring access for the most vulnerable segments of society, including persons with disabilities, children, and migrant workers.
This initiative aligns with the ILO’s global mandate to monitor social protection systems worldwide. As the custodian of international social protection statistics and the publisher of the annual World Social Protection Report, the ILO advocates for transparency and evidence-based policymaking in social protection.
Moreover, this workshop plays a critical role in the regional effort to develop a GCC Social Protection Monitor in collaboration with GCC-STAT and the GCC Executive Bureau. This platform aims to provide standardized and comparable data on social protection coverage, adequacy, financing, and governance across all GCC countries for both national and migrant workers.
The ILO’s involvement in the TRANSFORM M&E training in Oman is supported by the STREAM Programme, a multi-country initiative designed to expand inclusive, gender-responsive, and rights-based social protection for migrant workers and their families throughout the South Asia-GCC migration corridor. This program is implemented in partnership with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Foreign Policy Instrument of the European Union, and the Ford Foundation.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a world where every migrant worker, regardless of gender, status, or sector, can access the social protection necessary to live and work with dignity.
