120 Engineers Join Six-Month ‘Imkan 3’ Capacity-Building Programme

Imkan 3 Expands Participation to 35 Government Entities

Muscat:  The Projects, Tenders, and Local Content Authority today launched the “Imkan 3” programme to enhance the efficiency of national cadres working in project and contract management across government entities, improve project implementation systems and raise the quality of outcomes.

The six-month programme targets 120 engineers and specialists representing 35 government agencies, including 15 entities participating for the first time—reflecting the programme’s expanding scope and growing demand among public institutions.

“Imkan 3” builds on the previous editions, “Imkan 1” and “Imkan 2,” and seeks to establish an integrated platform for developing national competencies in government project and contract management. The programme also studies the development of Project Management Office (PMO) systems, facilitates staff rotation between entities, builds a comprehensive competency framework, classifies related job roles and promotes the adoption of a unified project quality strategy aligned with international standards.

The initiative aims to strengthen both technical and administrative capabilities through a blended development methodology combining theoretical training and practical application in line with global best practices. It also includes field visits to ongoing projects across various governorates to reinforce learning objectives.

Abdullah Saif Al Hosni, Acting Talent and Project Development Consultant at the Authority, said the programme adopts a blended learning approach that integrates in-person and distance training, field visits to projects under implementation, research and case studies, career guidance and the use of artificial intelligence technologies in training.

He added that the programme incorporates accredited professional certifications and hands-on applications on live projects to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Participants are selected through a rigorous mechanism based on years of experience, engineering qualifications, assessment of skills and current job roles. Consideration is also given to the scale, strategic importance and cost of projects, their sectors and the anticipated impact of each entity’s participation.

Al Hosni noted that “Imkan 3” places strong emphasis on measuring impact and maximizing return on investment in training. This is achieved through an assessment center, an integrated competency matrix, a human resources database for optimal utilization and smart development plans to address competency gaps, in addition to projects that deliver applicable solutions.

Participants are evaluated through a combination of knowledge tests and skill-based assessments, culminating in certificates of completion and excellence. The programme seeks to enhance human resource efficiency in project management, establish a professional rotation system, generate in-country value (ICV) and set clear standards for evaluating technical performance within organizational units.

The launch of “Imkan 3” coincides with the rollout of the “Imkan Plus” programme as part of a broader effort to build national capabilities capable of managing projects with high efficiency, enhance the readiness of engineering cadres and ensure the sustainability of government projects in support of development objectives and the national economy.