Executive Board Approves UNICEF Oman Country Programme Document 2022-2025

NEW YORK, 10 September 2021 – The Executive Board, UNICEF’s governing body, has approved Oman’s Country Programme Document (CPD)  for 2022 to 2025.

The CPD, UNICEF Oman’s ninth, sets out programme priorities and strategies over the next four years. It continues work initiated under the previous Country Programme 2017 to 2021: ensuring children of all ages have more equitable access to quality services in protection, education and health, and enhanced opportunities to realize their full potential.

The new CPD also builds on fresh initiatives rolled out in 2020 and 2021 which are in line with Oman’s National Development Plan for the years 2021 to 2025 (Tenth Five Year Plan) and Oman’s Vision 2040.  It also includes innovative financing for children, youth programming as well as support for the re-opening of pre-schools and schools within the COVID-19 recovery context. 

Oman’s Minister of Health, HE Dr Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Saidi, attended a panel discussion during the Executive Board session on “The new face of child malnutrition in a changing world: Addressing overweight and obesity in children living in a globalized, urbanized, and unequal world leveraging multiple systems.” Oman was one of 12 countries globally participating in the panel.   

HE Dr Al-Saidi spoke about the regularity framework and enabling environment in Oman that helps promote good health. He referenced Oman’s milestone introduction in October 2020 of a 50 per cent tax on all sweetened beverages, amongst a raft of other initiatives.

“We at the Ministry of Health look forward to working closely with UNICEF under the new Country Programme which reinforces existing nutrition initiatives and helps bridge any gaps that exist,” he said. 

“The exemplary partnership between UNICEF and the Government of Oman continues to offer a unique model in the region,” said Mohamed al Hassan, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations, who attended the Executive Board session. “The new programme of cooperation supports Oman’s progress towards Vision 2040 goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.”

“The new Country Programme maintains our shift towards more strategic work to support national priorities,” said UNICEF Oman Representative Lana Al Wreikat. “Moreover, we have a new focus on youth and adolescents – underscored by the recent launch of the UPSHIFT initiative in Oman which seeks to equip youth and adolescents with the skills they need to make a smooth transition from school to work. The second decade of life is becoming an increasingly important area of work for UNICEF.”

The Executive Board is the governing body of UNICEF, providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organization, in accordance with the overall policy guidance of the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. The Executive Board reviews UNICEF activities and approves its policies, country programmes and budgets. It comprises 36 members representing the five regional groups of Member States at the United Nations.