Call for proposals - Training for Oman – MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP)

This call is open for Dutch training providers who:

• have a track record of providing training on the requested topics
• have experience in Oman or comparable countries in the region
• are interested in giving training in Oman
• are interested in customising a training for the Authority of Public Services Regulation (APSR) in Oman
• agree with the MSP TMT Grant Conditions.
• meet the general criteria.

Oman has limited freshwater resources, with 2014 estimates putting total renewable water resources (excluding desalination) at 1,400 million m3 per annum. Since the 1970’s, desalination has played an important role in supplying the country’s potable water needs.

Bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and Oman was intensified in 2017 when the Oman Netherlands Taskforce on Water was established. Oman is especially looking into the water efficiency expertise that the Dutch water sector offers.

Oman Vision 2040, the national reference for economic and social planning for the period of 2021-2040 includes structural reforms in the water sector to increase water efficiency, expand sanitation services, and use modern technology in wastewater treatment. The Vision recognises that managing traditional resources requires a balance between development requirements and environmental sustainability.

The Water Sector in the Sultanate of Oman was restructured following the promulgation of Royal Decree 131/2020 on 9 September 2020. The Authority is responsible for the regulation of the provision of potable water, collection and treatment of wastewater and transportation and supply of treated effluent arising from the wastewater treatment process. The restructuring of the sector is expected to deliver benefits for Oman through the introduction of an independent economic regulatory regime.

Website link: https://apsr.om/

The APSR is looking for a broad, introductory course on a beginner to intermediate level. The topics are categorized as either technical, technical-economic or economic.

The Authority is a multi-regulator, regulating energy; water & wastewater; gas transmission, and they are expecting the addition of more sectors to regulate. The water & wastewater sector is a new addition to their responsibilities. Thus, authority would like to benefit from the Dutch expertise in the water sector. The Authority is new to water regulation with many fresh graduates and employees with an energy regulation background now transitioning into water regulation.

Economic

• Regulatory frameworks and compliance enforcement
• Price Control Mechanisms: knowledge of different methods of price control such as RPI-X, price caps, price floors, contracts, and subsidies
• Water pricing and tariff structures

Economic + Technical

• Performance benchmarking

Technical

• Water quality standards and monitoring
• Water conservation and efficiency measures
• Wastewater treatment and disposal methods: Exploring innovative and sustainable approaches for treating and disposing of wastewater
• Sustainable water resource management & emerging technologies

The Authority for Public Services Regulation is the regulator for the electricity, water, wastewater, and gas transmission sector. Its role is to control, monitor and evaluate these sectors to ensure fair competition and that services are provided at reasonable prices and high quality.

The training is primarily for the water regulation teams from both the technical and economic departments. Their educational background is economics and mechanical engineering, from fresh graduates to experiences employees. It will mainly be staff, but 3-4 participants will be from a managerial level.

The Economic Regulation Team
The economic regulation team is responsible for setting price control for the operators, subsidy calculation, setting water tariffs, and preparing and developing tools and models relating to economic regulation and ensuring alignment with international practices.

The Technical Regulation Team
The technical regulation team is responsible for regulation of water, waste water and treated effluent such as:

• Water quality specifications.
• Efficient water demand forecast planning.
• Network expansion.
• Water losses reduction.
• Water and wastewater network equipment specifications.
• Level of service.

The training is mainly for the above mentioned teams, however there will be employees joining from other departments because their work is either contributing or impacted by the water sector. Apart from the Water & Wastewater technical and economic team, 1-2 employees will join from the following Directorates:

• Energy Regulation
• Legal & Customer Affairs
• Sustainable Energy
• Communications
• Planning & Institutional Performance Development

Other organisations will be invited to join the training:

• Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (Policy maker)
• Nama Water Services (operator)
• Nama Dhofar Services (operator)
• Others as needed

The expected number of participants is 30, with about 15 participants per week depending on what training is most relevant to their needs.

• Location: Muscat, Oman
• Preferred dates: Q1 2024 - Preferred months: Feb & May (please avoid March and first week of April)
• Expected training duration: 2 weeks (not consecutive)
• Train the trainer component required.
• The training can be conducted in English, with no translation required.
• Online sessions are not preferred.

Logistics

Training providers have to include a training venue, lunch and coffee/tea in the budget. APSR can provide a list of training locations with rates.

More information

Please reach out to the Authority of Public Services Regulation through Ikhlas Al Mawaly, ikhlas.almawaly@apsr.om. Please copy in cc: shamsa.alruqaishi@apsr.om and Zainab.AlLawati@apsr.om

Budget

75.000 Euro

Deadline

Tuesday 28 November, 5 pm CET.

More information on MSP TMT

Read more on procedures and additional documents for this call on the MSP call overview page.

How to apply?

You can find all information on the process of applying and the required documents on the MSP page. Please use the proposal form to submit your application.

Application document

Proposal form (103.4 kB) (102.88 kB)