Field Visits Strengthen Institutional Communication Between Muscat Governorate and Walis’ Offices
26/02/2025
Muscat Governorate, through its Department of Communication and Media and the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Office, conducted field visits to Walis’ offices across all wilayats in February. These visits aimed to introduce the National Platform for Complaints, Suggestions, and Reports(Tajawob) and highlight the Department’s role in showcasing the initiatives of walis’ offices while addressing their challenges.
During the visits, the Department of Communication and Media presented strategies to enhance the role of Walis’ offices as key partners in sustainable development and institutional excellence. The session also sought to reshape perceptions of their responsibilities. Additionally, a dedicated presentation on the Tajawobe-Platform emphasized its commitment to efficiently handling public inquiries and suggestions. It detailed the platform’s functionality, the process of escalating complaints, and the expected response times for user requests.
The meetings fostered stronger collaboration between Walis’ offices and the Department of Communication and Media, focusing on coordinated planning for events, initiatives, and projects. Both sides also agreed on maintaining regular communication and visits to ensure continuous updates on developments that merit media coverage.
One of the key recommendations from these visits was the appointment of a media coordinator within each Wali office. This coordinator would serve as the main liaison with the Department of Communication and Media, ensuring the timely exchange of news and updates, responding to departmental inquiries, and providing necessary briefings. Additionally, coordinators would receive training in basic press writing skills to enhance media reporting.
These efforts align with Royal Decree No. 36/2022, which outlines the responsibilities of Walis. Their duties include maintaining public order, overseeing tribal affairs, engaging with sheikhs, community leaders, and citizens to understand their concerns, and supervising Shura and Municipal Council elections. Walis also contribute to the formulation and implementation of development plans, reinforcing their crucial role in governance and progress.