Oman’s Madayn Launches First “Institutional Integrity” Awareness Forum

Madayn Launches First “Institutional Integrity” Awareness Forum

Muscat: The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), in cooperation with the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution, launched today the first awareness forum titled “Institutional Integrity”, as part of efforts to strengthen regulatory awareness and promote the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability.

The two-day forum aims to enhance institutional practices that contribute to improving performance efficiency, optimizing the use of resources and preventing conflicts of interest. It also seeks to strengthen coordination between the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution and internal audit units and promote a work environment based on responsibility, commitment and institutional discipline.

The forum supports the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly those related to transparency, justice and integrity in developing effective institutions, strengthening public confidence and achieving sustainable development.

Alia bint Yaqoub Al-Hinai, Director of the Internal Audit Department at Madayn, emphasized the importance of consolidating integrity and transparency within institutional practices and strengthening a culture of oversight and responsibility.

She noted that the forum provides an opportunity to exchange expertise and knowledge and promote practices that contribute to enhancing governance and institutional integrity.

Madiha bint Nasser Al-Sibani, an auditing expert and Director of the Department of Auditing for the Institutions and Food Security Sector at the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution, said that the forum forms part of the institution’s awareness initiatives implemented in cooperation with audited entities, educational institutions and civil society organizations.

She explained that the initiatives aim to raise awareness of integrity and transparency in the workplace, clarify professional duties and responsibilities, and enhance knowledge of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the protection of public funds.

She stressed that institutional partnership is a fundamental element in achieving common objectives, noting that promoting integrity goes beyond legal and regulatory frameworks and also depends on awareness, responsibility, commitment and daily professional practices.

She added that the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution provides a range of awareness materials through its website and social media platforms to promote understanding of public funds and responsibilities associated with public service.

The first day of the forum featured specialized working papers addressing “Transparency and its Role in Promoting Integrity and Protecting Public Funds,” “Job Rights and Duties: Insights from the Code of Professional Conduct,” and “A Reading of the Law on Protecting Public Funds and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest.”

The second day will focus on “Institutional Integration between the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution and Internal Audit Units” and “Complaints and Reports: Towards an Effective Partnership in Protecting Public Funds,” in addition to reviewing key observations and practices identified by the institution.

Through the forum, Madayn seeks to enhance awareness of the role of transparency in promoting integrity, accountability and the protection of public funds, while highlighting legal and regulatory provisions related to conflicts of interest, employment duties and professional conduct.

The forum also addresses the importance of coordination between external oversight and internal audit units in strengthening the institutional control system, improving governance and enhancing overall institutional performance.