Riyadh – The award was conferred on Oman during its participation in the ISSA meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The main prize was awarded to the Sultanate of Oman in response to its recent project on expanding social protection coverage. The project constitutes a comprehensive national platform for launching various social care efforts and activities. It provides mechanisms for the reconstruction of social insurance and retirement systems operating in the Sultanate. It also seeks to improve the quality of life and promote social justice through a comprehensive set of social protection policies and programmes.

Oman, represented by the SPF, also received 8 certificates of merit within the ISSA competitions for best practices at the Asia-Pacific region level.

Three of the SPF projects received certificates of merit, with special commendation. The winning projects were titled as follows: ‘Internal Change Management’ – with focus on smooth transition of human capital; ‘Linking Environmental, Social and Institutional Governance Standards in Investments’; and ‘Media Preparation for the Issuance of the Social Protection Law’.

Four more projects of the SPF received certificates of merit. They were titled: ‘Social Protection Benefits: Towards Comprehensive Protection’; ‘The Mystery Shopper’; ‘Financial Integration Methodology for Pension Funds in the Sultanate of Oman’; and ‘Delegation of Authority Matrix’.