Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Gulf states should rethink social services models: Report

1323573
1323573
minus
plus

There is an opportunity for GCC governments to evolve their social services model in the long-term. GCC governments can work with not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) and private-sector companies to supplement government offerings, moving social development beyond merely the government as a provider, according to a new report by Strategy&, part of the PwC network.


Good intentions notwithstanding, the current model is unsustainable financially and operationally. For decades, the region’s oil economy has paid for the provision of government-backed social services delivered by the public sector. However, an extended period of low oil prices has negatively affected state finances, and many governments simply cannot meet all the needs of all their constituents, stated the report.


Also, moving social development beyond the government will create more innovative products and services that improve the well-being of customers.


Commenting on the findings of the report, Fadi Adra, partner with Strategy& Middle East, said: “Given the current economic climate, it is apparent that the social services model we have in the GCC is not sustainable; it’s time for governments in the region to engage further with NPF organisations, as well as the private sector to be able to provide for its citizens without burdening the GDP. While this will need concerted effort and change in regulations, it is, in fact achievable.”


“Demographic trends compound the challenge. Populations in the GCC region are aging, due to improved healthcare and increased longevity, putting a strain on government-funded services. The unemployment rate among nationals of these countries is often high, as countries continue to rely on expatriates for most skilled labour in the short to medium term,” further added Fadi Adra.


The Strategy& report outlines three potential mechanisms that have not yet received attention in the region, which Gulf countries could focus on:


1. Build an ecosystem of NFPs, by clarifying what services are needed, making NFPs more financially sustainable, developing organisational capabilities, increasing awareness among the public, creating linkages with the private and public sectors, and putting the right regulatory environment in place.


2. Encourage companies to develop from corporate social responsibility, or the alleviation of social misfortune, to corporate social innovation — the creation of a positive agenda, through more capable internal operations and more innovative products and services.


3. Implement performance-based payments by the public sector to reward favourable outcomes, including proven mechanisms such as social impact bonds, which bring investors to the market for the most promising social initiatives.


Sami Zaki, principal with Strategy& Middle East, added: “This model has been used successfully in several western countries and can in fact be replicated in the Middle East. We believe that change can be affected by easing regulations as the current NFP ecosystem is vastly underdeveloped in the region. Today, any GCC country has around 1,000 to 2,000 NFPs — contrast that with, say, a country like the United States which has about 1.5 million non-profits, and the disparity is apparent.”


The report concluded that the current approach to social services provision in GCC region countries is unsustainable. Instead, countries can change their approach to move social development beyond the government by creating a vibrant ecosystem of NFPs, encouraging a change in the private sector from corporate social responsibility to corporate social innovation, and financing public services through outcomes-based commissioning models.


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon