December 10, 2023

The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, represented by the General Directorate for Digital Transformation and Sector Empowerment, is implementing a series of specialised workshops to execute the first phase of the Unified National Portal for Electronic Government Services. The initiative involves the participation of representatives from government institutions targeted in the first phase.

The initiative aims to efficiently and securely provide citizens and residents with government services through a unified electronic gateway. The launch involved specialised workshops to engage relevant government entities in the initial phase of the project, emphasising the portal's role as a centralised electronic gateway for users to access government information and services.

The workshop discussed the involvement of service providers in the unified portal, focusing on documenting all aspects of the project, maintaining key project agreements and decisions, ensuring effective communication among stakeholders, providing necessary data and updates, coordinating internal portal project tasks, and adapting to changing project requirements.

In the first phase, priority services from various government institutions, such as the Ministries of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, Housing and Urban Planning, the Royal Oman Police, and others, are targeted for inclusion in the unified portal.

The user journey in the portal includes clear guidance on completing services step-by-step, easy and quick searching of available government services, real-time tracking of user requests, and personalised dashboards for users. The workshop also covered the criteria for selecting services in the unified portal, considering different maturity levels (electronic, semi-electronic, manual) and the impact of essential services on users' life paths. Additionally, the session highlighted the evaluation mechanism based on surveys to assess business and technical requirements at the service provider level.

The project's objectives include creating a unified portal consolidating all government electronic services, providing a standardised user experience, offering data-driven services with strategic design based on data analysis, and digitizing manual services using embedded tools and communication technologies.

Source: Times of Oman

January 29, 2024

Today, Sunday, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology launched the “Edaad” program for leaders of change in its second edition. Which comes within the ministry’s efforts to empower digital transformation teams in government institutions and achieve the goals and indicators of the government digital transformation program 2021-2025, and continues for a week with the participation of 8 government institutions: the National Documents and Archives Authority, the Interior Governorate, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Education, The Civil Aviation Authority, the State Financial and Administrative Control Authority and the Royal Oman Police.

The “Edaad” program aims to qualify and prepare those responsible for implementing change management strategies in digital transformation teams in government institutions and grant them accredited specialized certificates in change management, in addition to providing enabling platforms and tools that will help them carry out the work entrusted to them professionally.

During the first day, focus was placed on the importance of change management and its impact in accelerating and doubling the success of the government digital transformation program 2021-2025, and the importance of the role of change leaders in accelerating their organizations’ work in digital transformation, instilling a culture of change, and transferring the knowledge gained from the program to their teams.

A study published by Prossay this year was also reviewed about the most prominent changes that are expected to occur in institutions in various sectors around the world in the year 2024 AD. The study indicates that the top 5 changes will focus on the following: information technology and digital transformation (37%), Regulatory Changes and Compliance (10%), Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change (9%), Talent Retention and People Change (9%), and Cultural and Organizational Change (9%), which underscores the importance of managing change in IT and digital transformation in more systematic and precise ways.

Then, the change journey of the government digital transformation program 2021-2025 was highlighted, and the role of change leaders in transferring the knowledge gained from the program to their teams, and adopting and supporting leadership to accelerate the work of the program, in addition to discussing the challenges facing government institutions in advancing the wheel of digital transformation.

The program will continue until Thursday, February 1, 2024, and the change leaders in the digital transformation teams in government institutions are expected at the end of the program to come up with 10 change plans for digital transformation ready to be implemented in their institutions.

April 24,2024

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) announced the launch of its first edition of the Government Digital Excellence Award 2024. This initiative is part of the Sultanate's ongoing commitment to accelerate digital transformation and to foster innovation within the government sector in alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and to enhance Oman's potential to improve its ranking in the global competitiveness index for e-government development, increase awareness, and foster the adoption of innovation and digital transformation culture in the governmental sector.

“In an era where digitisation is paramount for progress, the Government Digital Excellence Award aims to enhance the momentum of digital transformation in this sector towards greater efficiency, inclusivity, and innovation. The award embodies our shared commitment to harnessing the latest technologies in governmental services while setting new standards for excellence in service delivery, serving as a beacon for others to follow suit.," said H.E. ENG. Saeed bin Hamoud Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

“The Government Digital Excellence Award aims to enhance digital services and utilise advanced technologies to establish an agile and innovative administrative apparatus that shapes the future. Additionally, it aims to promote adopting a digital transformation culture, stimulate outstanding national competencies, recognise exceptional achievements, and reward outstanding entities in accelerating the fulfilment of digital transformation requirements,” He added.

The Government Digital Excellence Award will be organised within four main tracks: Entities, the categories include 'Best Government Entity for Achieving Digital Transformation' and 'Best Performing Entity in Achieving Outstanding Digital User Experience and Beneficiary Satisfaction'. Initiatives are celebrated through 'Best Integrated Initiative for Digital Transformation', 'Best Initiative for Digital Participation' and 'Best Initiative in Innovation and Use of Advanced Technologies'. In the Services realm, awards are given for 'Best Digital Government Service Provided to Beneficiaries' and 'Best Digital Government Service Provided to the Business Sector'. Lastly, under Competencies, the awards distinguish 'Best Team Leader for Government Digital Transformation' and 'Best Digital Change Leader'. Each category is precisely devised to encapsulate the full spectrum of digital excellence within the governmental domain.

It is worth mentioning that the Digital Excellence Award in the government sector represents a significant step towards realising the country's digital aspirations by recognising the efforts made in the field of digital transformation and innovation in governmental institutions. This initiative reflects Oman's commitment to supporting the national digital ecosystem to move forward.

For additional information, details about the award and to apply, please visit the following link: 

https://www.mtcit.gov.om/ITAPortal/Pages/Page.aspx?NID=292734&PID=961861