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Establishing the SDGs in Focus Labs
Objective
Establish an innovative mechanism, aligned with the five-year development plan of Oman, to engage stakeholders in a practical dialogue on the status of each SDG, the challenges it faces and solutions to overcome those challenges.
Overview
As part of the 2024 Voluntary National Review process, Oman established the "SDGs in Focus Labs" as an innovative national institutional mechanism to engage various stakeholders in a practical dialogue on the status of the SDGs, the challenges they face, and how to overcome these challenges through short- and medium-term solutions and initiatives.
Representatives of stakeholder groups were invited to participate and given sufficient time to deliberate differing viewpoints over several rounds with limited intervention from the organizing administrative team. This mechanism allowed participants to agree on overall ideas which were then converted into initiatives and executable programmes.
Unlike traditional workshops, the labs concluded with practical measures such as launching projects, earmarking investments or signing contracts.
The labs covered all 17 SDGs by focusing on carbon management; simplification of government procedures; education for sustainable development; education, learning and scientific research; food security; investing in sports; service development for persons with disabilities; the national strategy for youth; information technology; the private sector; legislation, the judiciary and oversight; wellbeing and social protection; citizenship, identity and national culture; manufacturing and industries of the future; and developing women organizations.
As an example, the food security lab was organized in 2023 to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. Around 200 participants representing 100 entities engaged in the lab. Linked to SDG 2, the lab focused on agriculture, fisheries, and water resources. It tackled 59 challenges and proposed 40 enabling initiatives and 139 investment projects. Other outputs included the National Food Security Strategy 2026-2030 and its executive plan as well as training and employment initiatives.
Another noteworthy example is the manufacturing and industries of the future lab which links to SDG 9. The lab was attended by 116 participants representing 83 entities from the public, private and academic sectors. Outcomes included an industrial clusters programme and an industrial innovation and entrepreneurship programme. The lab identified 14 investment opportunities in health, services, waste management, and minerals and proposed 24 investment projects of which half are ready and the other half under development.