Oman

The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Majles A’Dawla chamber of the bicameral Council of Oman initiated cooperative activities in August 1999 with the introduction of the research and information department to the field of parliamentary and legislative research. Since that time, IRI has expanded its institutional assistance to include the popularly elected Majles A'Shura. IRI is currently implementing an assistance program with the Majles A'Shura that includes legislative drafting, budget analysis and policy research training for Majles members and staff.

IRI has recently embarked upon a program of technical assistance and training to strengthen civil society in the Sultanate. The program is designed to help participants develop successful, sustainable organizations that will tackle problems and issues in their own communities.

As representative institutions in Oman take on greater responsibilities, IRI is playing a supporting role in strengthening governance capability and institutional capacity of the Council of Oman. IRI's program in Oman also strives to expand public input in political and social reforms. IRI is supporting increased grassroots involvement reform by building the capacity of civil society through a series of civic education and public awareness efforts, as well as capacity building with the nascent nongovernmental sector.

Over the last two decades, Oman has experienced what many see as a deliberate and steady progression towards the realization of popular participation in the government's decision making process.

In the 1990s, advances were consolidated with the establishment of the Council of Oman, comprised of an elected Majles A'Shura and an appointed Majles A'Dawlah. The Council of Oman was the first bicameral body in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as the first representative institution in the GCC in which women are active members. While the Omani parliament is purely advisory in nature, Sultan Qaboos has introduced new measures to expand democratic participation among Omanis. Prior to elections in 2003, the Sultan granted universal suffrage to all male and female Omani adults for the Majles A'Shura. The election in 2003 of more than 50 first-time members as well as the election of the only women serving on elected national institutions in the Gulf are encouraging democratic developments in Oman.

As the country continues down a path of incremental change, increased participation by civil society is crucial to deepening reforms undertaken to date. Assistance to nascent civil society institutions to help them develop the skills and capacity necessary for more active participation in public life is needed. The continued evolution of representative institutions in the Sultanate to assist them in becoming more responsive to constituencies and better suited vehicles for representation of the popular will is equally important.

Political Overview

Chief of State: Sultan and Prime Minister Qaboos bin Said al-Said

Type of Government: monarchy

Elections Calendar

Program Overview

Focus of Program: legislative capacity building and civil society support

Funding Source: U.S. Department of State