National framework to unify risk management across government

The Ministry of Labour, in cooperation with the National Risk Register, on Tuesday launched the National Enterprise Risk Management Governance Framework, a unified national reference for how government entities identify, assess and handle risks. The ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel Muscat was held under the auspices of Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour.
The framework is part of national efforts to develop institutional governance and raise the efficiency of government performance in line with Oman Vision 2040. Its launch coincided with the International Day for Disaster Reduction, observed on October 13 each year.
Said bin Abdullah al Balushi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources Development, said the framework would serve as a unified reference for risk management governance in the civil units of the state's administrative apparatus. It was prepared in line with international practices while taking into account Oman's institutional environment, and its success would require the cooperation of leadership and all employees to instil a risk-aware culture, he said.
Al Balushi said the ministry would work with relevant authorities in the coming phase to support implementation by qualifying targeted government entities, providing technical support, monitoring compliance and measuring institutional maturity. The ministry will also issue compliance certificates against set criteria and add an institutional risk management index to the 'Ejada' performance evaluation system. The work will be carried out in phases according to each entity's readiness.
The framework aims to move government entities from handling risks after they occur to a proactive approach based on identifying, predicting and monitoring early warning indicators. It treats risk management as part of the government management system rather than a separate function, linking it directly to strategic planning, decision-making, performance management and business continuity.
It classifies risks at three levels. Institutional risks are confined to a single entity that can manage them within its powers. Sectoral risks extend to more than one entity in a sector and require coordination, while national risks go beyond a single sector and call for a higher level of coordination and response. An escalation mechanism ensures risks are moved to the appropriate level at the right time when their scope or severity grows.
The framework also sets out categories of risk, including strategic, compliance and legislative, reputation, cybersecurity and information technology, project, and supplier and third-party risks. It makes risk ownership part of the duties of all organisational units rather than a single specialised team.
Colonel Zayed bin Hamad al Junaibi, Head of the National Centre for Emergency Management, said the framework sets out mechanisms for escalating risks to the National Risk Register, allowing the National Committee for Emergency Management to review national risks according to their priority.
Eng Eman bint Hamoud al Raisi, Director of the Risk Management Department at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), said the framework's importance lay in moving institutions from risk monitoring alone to using assessment results in decision-making, strategic planning and setting priorities.
The National Risk Register also launched the English version of its public edition, which outlines potential natural, service, health and major-incident risks, along with guidelines and preventive measures for residents and visitors.
The ceremony included working papers on the framework, Oman's emergency management system and institutional risk management, followed by a panel discussion. — ONA