The document outlines the creation of a National Mechanism for Equity Monitoring in Oman called the Social Observatory Research Program (SORP). SORP will be established under The Research Council of Oman to continuously monitor societal changes through research. SORP's organizational structure and steering committee are described. Its vision is to establish a basic social data infrastructure and indicators to analyze social changes and provide research findings to stakeholders. Key research priority themes include youth values, family cohesion, and employment/standard of living. SORP will influence policies through discussion forums and direct research requests, and monitor issues using research priorities and a social indicators database.

1. The Project of Creation of a National
Mechanism for Equity Monitoring ,
The Research Council
(Sultanate of Oman)
1

2. 2
Outline
1.Introduction
2.The Research Council
3.Social Observatory Research
Program (SORP)
• The need for SORP
• Organizational Structure
• Steering Committee
• Vision and mission
• Themes
• Mechanisms to Influence Policies
• Mechanisms for Monitoring Social
Issues

3. 3
Introduction
Sultanate of Oman

4. • Head of Government: His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al
Said
• Area : 309,501 km2
• Population: 4,055,418
• Currency: Rial Omani (OMR)
• Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi,
East African (Zanzabari), South
Asian (Indian, Pakistani,
Bangladeshi)
• Languages: Arabic (official),
English, Baluchi, Urdu, Swahili,
Hindi and Indian dialects.
• Natural resources: Petroleum, 4
Introduction
Sultanate of Oman

5. 5
Total Population=
4,000,345
Introduction
Population (2014
data)

6. 6
Total Omani Population=
2,232,949
Introduction
Omani Male vs. Female (2014
data)

7. 7
Introduction
Omani Population Pyramid
(2013)

8. 8
In 2012, The
Research Council of
Oman has taken the
initiative to
establish a national
social observatory.

9. 9
The Research
Council

10. The Research Council (TRC) was established by a royal decree 54/2005 to
regulate, encourage & support the research affairs, and to consider TRC the basic
reference in this filed
1.Organize & Support the research activities
with all means
2.Set up a national research strategy and
follow up its development
3.Specify priorities in the national research
strategy
4.Prepare programs for implementation of the
national research priorities
5.Announce the national research strategy and
its priorities
6.Support the individual creativity and
TRC duties

11. 11
The Research Council
Organizational Structure

12. 12
Vision
i. Regional hub of innovation – leader in
producing new ideas, products and services
ii. Deepest research capacity in the Middle East
iii. Research excellence in selected areas
iv. Receptive to local social and economic needs
v. Infrastructure for evidence-based policy
Mission
Create an innovation ecology that is responsive to
local needs and international trends, fosters social
harmony, and leads to creativity and excellence.
The Research
Council
Mission & Vision

13. 13
The Research
Council
Goals

14. 14
ocial Observatory Research Program (SORP)

15. Social Observatory
Research Program
Why We Need It?
• His Majesty Instructions to emphasize
social development and monitor the
changes in society in order to optimize
the economic development.
• The Omani society is considered a
young society
• The needs for social research as
inputs for the social and economic
development plans and policies. 15

16. 16
Social Observatory
Research Program
Organizational Structure

17. 17
Social Observatory
Research Program
Steering Committee

18. Continuous scientific monitoring
of societal changes by means of
research
18
Social Observatory
Research Program
Vision

19. Social Observatory Research Program strives to be
an active institution in social development in the
Sultanate through:
1.Establishing a basic data infrastructure and
social indicators to be provided for utilization
continually.
2.Observing social changes and highlighting them
to be analyzed.
3.Providing funds to conduct scientific-oriented
research to study social changes and, then,
provide research findings to various stakeholders.
4.Enriching social research in Oman by 19
Social Observatory
Research Program
Mission

20. Social Observatory
Research Program
Themes
20

21. 21
1. SORP Steering Committee consists of Top
decision makers from various government
entities
2. SORP reports to the TRC board which
consists of High level officials from various
public and private organizations.
3. Conducting Discussion forums and seminars
to disseminate research results.
4. Accepting direct request for a research from
the following entities:
• Government Sector
Mechanisms to Influence
Policies

22. 22
1. Development of Research Priority
2. Social Indicators Database
3. Direct Request from Public and Private
Organizations
Mechanisms for
Monitoring Social Issues

23. SORP Research
Priorities
1.Youth Values
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i. Social media and its impact on the productivity of the
individual.
ii. Social media and its impact on social relations.
iii. The use of technology and its impact on students’
academic achievement.
iv. Factors influencing professional attitudes of pre-
university students.
v. Methods and risks of drug trafficking among high
school students.
vi. Tobacco and the manifestations of its prevalence in
society.

24. SORP Research
Priorities
2.Family Cohesion
24
i. Parental education and its impact on children’s
intellectual and social development.
ii. Family relationships and the emergence of
bullying behaviour among children.
iii. Early marriage: reality, forms and social impacts.
iv. Inbreeding-related genetic diseases and their
impact on academic achievement.
v. Inbreeding-related genetic diseases and their
impact on spinsterhood.
vi. Expatriate domestic workers and their impact on children’s socialization.

25. SORP Research
Priorities
2.Family Cohesion
(cont.(
25
vii. Wife’s intellectual level and its impact on
household consumption pattern.
viii. Women’s employment and its impact on family
cohesion.
ix. The relationship between age of first marriage and
family cohesion.
x. Care for the Elderly and people with special needs
and its impact on family cohesion
xi. Care for the Elderly and people with special needs
and its impact on women’s employment.

26. SORP Research
Priorities
3.Employment & Standard
of Living
26
i. Self-employment and entrepreneurship: Analysis
of the current situation and impacts on education,
training, and funding.
ii. An in-depth study of poverty and social security in
Oman.

27. 27
1.Development of Research Priority
2.Social Indicators Database
3.Direct Request from Public and
Private Organizations
Mechanisms for
Monitoring Social Issues

28. Thank
you
28