New monitoring and evaluation framework in Oman advances evidence-based social protection

MUSCAT (ILO News) – The Sultanate of Oman has developed a pioneering monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for its social protection system, jointly developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Social Protection Fund of Oman.

The framework establishes a common approach for assessing performance, identifying gaps and understanding the contribution of social protection to people’s well-being across Oman. It links policy objectives to measurable results, supporting evidence-informed decision-making on programme design, implementation and the allocation of resources. Developed in support of Oman’s ongoing social protection reforms, the framework is closely aligned with the Social Protection Law, promulgated by Royal Decree No. 52/2023, and the objectives of Oman’s Vision 2040.

The framework and its dashboard are now being handed over to the Social Protection Fund, marking a transition from the tools’ development towards their institutionalization and routine use in policy and programme management.

At the framework’s core are social insurance and social assistance schemes administered by the Social Protection Fund, alongside the important role of other national institutions in the broader social protection system. This approach will support a coherent assessment of how different programmes work together to protect individuals and families throughout their lives, including both national and non-national workers.

“Developing the monitoring and evaluation system represents a pivotal step toward strengthening governance and transparency across the social protection system,” said Dr Faisal Al Farsi, CEO of the Social Protection Fund of Oman. “It also reflects the Fund’s commitment to working in an integrated manner with its various partners to ensure tangible and sustainable outcomes for citizens and residents who benefit from social protection programmes.”

The framework is also linked to ongoing work on Oman’s Social Protection Observatory and to the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Regional Social Protection Observatory being developed under the ILO’s STREAM programme (Extending social protection to migrant workers and their families in the South Asia–Gulf corridor), in collaboration with the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-STAT) and the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs (GCC Executive Bureau). These initiatives provide opportunities to align indicators, definitions and data sources across the national and regional levels. Oman’s Observatory aims to provide a broader statistical and analytical picture of social protection with a focus on effective access. The M&E framework will connect this evidence to programme objectives, performance assessment and management decisions. Strengthening these links will advance consistent reporting, reduce duplication, improve the use of social protection data, and help identify gaps in coverage, access and outcomes across different population groups. In these ways, it will advance national priorities and international commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Monitoring and evaluation are the backbone of a system that learns, adapts and delivers real results for people,” said Luca Pellerano, ILO Senior Social Protection Specialist and STREAM Programme Manager. “We are proud to support the Social Protection Fund and national counterparts as Oman operationalizes its ambitious social protection reforms. Institutionalizing this new M&E framework will help turn evidence on coverage, adequacy and effective access into practical improvements for national and non-national workers.”

"UNICEF is proud to support national efforts to strengthen evidence-based social protection systems,” said Sumaira Chowdhury, UNICEF Representative to the Sultanate of Oman. “This framework represents an advanced model of multisectoral collaboration aimed at measuring results and improving the quality of services and programmes, thereby achieving a positive and sustainable impact on children and families in the Sultanate of Oman.”

Paying attention to differences across population groups is central to this approach. The use of disaggregated data will help identify inequalities and barriers affecting children, women, persons with disabilities, older persons, and national vs non-national workers.

“The M&E framework’s focus on disaggregated data is complemented by a dashboard that presents key indicators in an accessible visual format, enabling users to track progress, identify trends and interpret results more effectively,” Said Momin Badarna, ILO Regional Social Protection Officer. “These tools will help assess whether benefits are reaching eligible people, whether support is adequate and timely, and where administrative barriers may need to be addressed.”

Following the handover, the ILO will continue to support the Social Protection Fund of Oman in institutionalizing the M&E framework and refining its dashboard. Ensuring alignment with the Social Protection Observatory will promote consistent indicators and complementary analysis. It will strengthen the coordinated development of both tools, while advancing the effective use of evidence to improve social protection policies and outcomes.

The ILO STREAM Programme (Extending social protection to migrant workers and their families in the South Asia–Gulf corridor) is a multi-country, multi-partner initiative designed to expand inclusive, gender-responsive and rights-based social protection coverage for migrant workers and their families across the South Asia–GCC migration corridor. Implemented by the ILO in partnership with and with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Foreign Policy Instrument of the European Union, and the Ford Foundation, STREAM aims to create a world where every migrant worker – no matter their gender, status, or sector – can access the social protection they deserve to live and work in dignity.