-Muscat

Today, the Royal Academy of Management, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development, launched the "Tasmou" initiative to develop the leadership competencies of Omani women. Under the patronage of Her Excellency Dr. Layla bint Ahmed al-Najjar, Minister of Social Development, this initiative is the first of its kind dedicated to female Omani leaders across various governmental, private, and civil society sectors. The initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of Omani women and strengthen their contributions to comprehensive development in the Sultanate of Oman by developing their leadership skills and knowledge on both personal and professional levels.

The "Tasmou" initiative includes a range of programs, sessions, meetings, and field visits aimed at enhancing the capabilities and vital role of women in the ongoing development of the Sultanate of Oman. The initiative consists of four main components, each contributing to the achievement of its objectives. Key aspects include empowering female leaders to make decisions, lead teams, and implement plans, as well as applying leadership methods based on the latest global practices. This will help increase the participation of Omani women in economic activities and the labor market.

Regarding the importance of the "Tasmou" initiative for developing the leadership skills of Omani women, Her Excellency Dr. Leila bint Ahmed Al-Najjar, Minister of Social Development, explained that Omani women in the Sultanate of Oman have received significant attention from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq – may God protect and preserve him. This is evident in the trust placed in their abilities and the numerous opportunities provided for them to take on leadership roles in various sectors. Omani women have become a successful model of effective leadership and service to their country. Her Excellency emphasized that this success is the result of a collaborative effort by all relevant entities to support and enhance institutional frameworks in line with the goals of "Oman 2040" Vision and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, as well as fulfilling international commitments. Omani women are thus making significant achievements on local, regional, and international levels, contributing to the ongoing renaissance of Oman.

Her Excellency also highlighted that this initiative aims to enhance the contribution of Omani women to comprehensive development by improving their capabilities in supervisory roles. This will be achieved by providing them with a wealth of knowledge and successful experiences, developing their self-leadership skills both personally and professionally, and creating a community of successful Omani women leaders. This, in turn, is expected to positively impact the increase in the number of Omani women working as general managers, business leaders, and investors. The initiative aims to align national indicators with international standards, thereby showcasing competitiveness and progress in gender equality and equal opportunities for leadership roles in decision-making positions.

In a statement, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Qasim bin Jawad Al-Lawati, Chairman of the Royal Academy of Management, emphasized that Omani women are essential partners in driving development in the Sultanate of Oman. They have held many leadership positions across various fields. He confirmed that the dedication of the "Tasmou" initiative to Omani women highlights the Royal Academy of Management's commitment to engaging female leaders in all national leadership programs. This aims to elevate their capabilities and enhance their effective contributions, aligning with the national objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which places great importance on empowering women and integrating them into various sectors.

His Excellency affirmed that the initiative aims to develop Omani women's competencies to the highest global standards by enhancing their personal and professional leadership skills according to the latest international practices. It will also highlight the societal impact of female leadership by showcasing success stories and sharing experiences.
He added: "We wish to take a more strategic view, not limited to the program's details, to understand its position within the developmental thought that has adopted a new concept of development itself. Recently, international references have developed a new concept of development, combining sustainable development and human development under the title of 'Sustainable Human Development,' which refers to the process of expanding human choices by maximizing their capabilities and opportunities in ways that ensure sustainability from economic and social perspectives. This approach benefits the present without affecting the future. His Excellency emphasized that this new phase of developmental work should be characterized by inclusiveness, meaning it should not exclude anyone but rather include all groups—women and men, rural and urban, etc. It should focus on achieving equality and justice for all. This approach has been affirmed by high-level statements on all occasions and embodied by many initiatives, including this one."
He further added: "The new phase of development policies that we look forward to, which this initiative aims to reinforce and contribute to establishing, is one that considers women in an inclusive and fair manner, enhancing their role as active partners in shaping government policies and decision-making."
The initiative will enhance participants' skills through a leadership media visibility program to prepare leaders and strengthen personal appearance skills, manage interactions with various media, and improve professionalism when speaking in public. It will also focus on building digital identity and developing sustainable financial plans to enhance participants' skills in managing financial resources, project budgeting, stakeholder engagement, and effective economic and financial risk management. Additionally, the initiative will include a self-leadership camp to boost self-leadership skills and raise awareness about the correct paths for guiding their future leadership roles. Participants will be graduated on October 17, coinciding with Omani Women's Day.

It is worth noting that the Royal Academy of Management, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development, launched the "Tassamu" initiative for developing leadership competencies for Omani women in conjunction with International Women's Day 2024, which falls on March 8th each year.