Tawasul e-Report

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021

CREATING, CONTRIBUTING & COLLABORATING FOR A BETTER FUTURE

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TAWASUL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021

People of Oman, the trust thrust on our shoulders and the resultant immense responsibilities require us all to work together for the sake of our country’s magnificence, with a persistent resolve to promote it to the loftiest levels. This cannot be realized without your support and cooperation and combination of all efforts to achieve the desired supreme national goal. Your contribution to enrich all efforts of progress, development and prosperity will be highly appreciated.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq

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TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction: About this report About Tawasul & Duqm Letter from the Chairman & CEO Message A year in review

II. Our Business: Mission and Vision Our themes Governance, our values & our criteria Founding members and partners

III. Achievements: Programmes and achievements Covid-19 response Stakeholder engagements

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A. Introduction

About This Report Tawasul is honoured to present the l sustainability report highlighting the details on sustainable performance for the year 2021.

The report entails some of the foundation’s best practices in social, environmental and governance this past year. The particulars of these initiatives, and the support it has received have been provided to all relevant stakeholders; customers and employees during the pandemic and has been mentioned here. ed This sustainability report has been developed in conformity with the Global Standards for o Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI). To ensure the content in this report aligns with the necessary GRI standards, all reporting principles have been applied to maintain quality. This report fundamentally tracks our overall contribution towards our commitment to global sustainability.

It presents to all the relevant stakeholders a ntal, complete overview of Tawasul’s environmental, g social and economic contributions, including outlining the performance. It reverberates with n our belief in displaying data and information about the organization that is not only transparent but also accurate and reliable. Al Alll nd data present in the report has been revised an and e approved by stakeholders in their respective departments. Additionally, no third-party orr independent agency or individual has been involved in developing this report.

To find out more details, visit our website www.tawasul.om Any feedback is much appreciated and valuable to us.

Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD) The Special Economic Zone at Duqm was established on 26 October 2011 to attract a wide range of economic activities such as refineries, petrochemicals, commercial, tourism, logistics, light and medium industries, fish industries and real estate development projects.

Stretching over 2,000 square kilometers, SEZD meets the demands of potential investors who are looking for large areas to establish their investment projects. This allows developers, who wish to carry out a variety of projects on more than 50 hectares of land, to set up their projects with additional benefits given. The Special Economic Zone at Duqm is located on the Arabian Sea, overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its prime location has gained a strategic advantage being on the international shipping lines between East and West and near consumer markets in Asia and Africa.

The SEZD enjoys a set of comparative and competitive advantages that qualify it to become a regional hub for maritime transport and a logistics supply gateway for the GCC region. Other features of SEZD include an enormous fishery wealth and proximity to the oil and gas production areas. Al Wusta Governorate has also many minerals that can be invested in the establishment of industrial projects. Therefore, this qualifies SEZD to become an integrated platform for industries that rely on natural raw materials available in the Governorate. Moreover, the construction of the refinery and the establishment of the heavy and petrochemical industries projects are a key for attracting other medium and small projects. To render SEZD further attractive, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) backs these features with a package of incentives, privileges, and facilities.

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TAWASUL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021

About Tawasul Established in 2018 by The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD) in partnership with six founding members, and endorsed by a Ministerial Decree No. 58/2018, Tawasul is a not-for-profit organization that is set up to plan and execute strategic social initiatives and projects, including emphasizing the social and economic development of the Duqm community, and the Al Wusta Governorate in general.

Letter from the Chairman Our focus lies on capitalizing on the economic opportunities that present themselves within SEZD, ensuring a positive and notable impact is being created in the Duqm and Al Wusta Governorate, including promoting a healthy lifestyle, building national talent, constantly encouraging and supporting creativity and innovation, and most crucially, empowering the youth to become integral partners with other relevant stakeholders in Oman’s journey towards achieving “Vision 2040”.

The fundamental thought behind Tawasul Foundation is to ensure the growth of Duqm is focused on the sustainable development of the local communities. The main achievement in 2021 was the “Future Makers Program” in instilling creativity amongst 150 students, by encouraging them to put their thinking caps on and identifying sustainable solutions, to the “Enterprise Development Program” in helping 15 entrepreneurs and SMEs to develop their business, including identifying new business opportunities, we have come a long way. In addition to education and enterprise development, Tawasul also laid emphasis on offering the local community good healthcare solutions by contributing to equip Duqm hospital lab that serves more than 34,000 patients annually. Over this period, we also understood the importance of sports in the community and upgraded playgrounds for seven schools, which benefited almost 1,500 students. Our significant achievement was organizing the first-ever Women & Community forum for over 180 Omani women and a participation from both public & private sectors to help and empower them to make social and economic decisions that would create a positive change in the Duqm region and the Al Wusta Governorate.

We work closely with our partners and stakeholders to promote inclusive growth and build local capabilities, including recognizing opportunities that bring out positive changes in the lives of people to create sustainable platforms for knowledge sharing and to keep pace with the constantly changing world. Under the guidance and leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Tawasul is committed to pursuing excellence, ensuring our developmental projects and initiatives achieve a much brighter and more sustainable future for local communities in this region.

Dr. Rashid bin Ali Al Balushi Chairman

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CEO’s Message

“Nation-building and development are a public responsibility that requires the commitment of all, without exempting anyone from their role, in their respective specialities, and within their capabilities.” Drawing inspiration from these words of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, we aim to plan, build and execute strategic social investment initiatives that focus on five main themes – health and environment, enterprise development, community empowerment, fostering creativity and innnovation, and building national talent.

Our sincere efforts towards sustainable development have driven us to successfully integrate and manage development projects in 2021, and to serving the best interests of the people in Duqm and Al Wusta. We are thankful to our founding members & partners, our highly experienced and driven board, the regulatory authorities: Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), and The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD), as well as our passionate team to help us stay committed to achieving our plans.

Ms. Muna Said Al Shukailia Chief Executive Officer

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A Year in Review A year faced with a lot of uncertainties and slowly getting acclimatized to the ongoing pandemic saw us focus on four key sectors:

EDUCATION

HEALTH

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

We created a positive impact for over 37,000 beneficiaries with our initiatives and development projects for the local communities in the Duqm region and the Al Wusta Governorate in general.

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Our Vision

Our Mission

Pioneering in implementing sustainable social investment and socio-economic development projects for the local communities of the Duqm region and the Al Wusta Governorate in the Sultanate.

To inspire, support and encourage a culture of social responsibility among individuals and organizations in the Duqm and Al Wusta Governorate to deliver sustainable community projects to the highest international standards, with transparency and competent, professional management.

Our Themes By building strong and successful partnerships with the relevant stakeholders from across various sectors, we focus on delivering sustainable development projects based on five themes. These themes were identified in line with the Oman “Vision 2040” and based on studies conducted by the concerned authorities, including the needs of the community.

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1. Enterprise Development We wholeheartedly believe that the cornerstone of Oman’s economy is small and medium-sized businesses. Through building partnerships, whilst focusing on our core values and principles, we are encouraging entrepreneurs in the Duqm and Al Wusta Governorate region to enhance their skills, and networking capabilities to leverage new business opportunities leading to significant growth in the community.

2. Training for Development and Employment In line with one of our vital values to build and develop national talent, we are concentrating on several initiatives toward human capital development and empowering young Omani individuals. Our six basic pillars of human capital development include – productivity, empowerment, security, cooperation, sustainability, and equity. At Tawasul Foundation, we are ardently undertaking training programs for the gainful employment of the youth in the local community, including development of skills, focusing on harnessing creativity and encouraging innovation. This is one of the major crucial driving factors to stay on course in achieving Oman’s “Vision 2040”.

for everyone in the community, including promoting a healthy lifestyle. Our diverse stakeholders in the government and corporate sectors enable us to create public awareness on healthcare standards in the community, help develop healthcare infrastructure, and conserve the environment.

4. Supporting Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Sports Clubs We are aware of the role that NGOs play in empowering local communities. That is why we are constantly collaborating and supporting not-for-profits that align with our values and vision of building a sustainable community.

The Omani nationals pride themselves in being caring, cooperative, and sports-loving.

The youth in the Al Wusta Governorate are passionate not only about modern sports, but also traditional ones. We are convinced that being an athlete is not only focusing on developing and strengthening their physical attributes, but also developing a competitive spirit and making them mentally strong to deal with any tribulations that life throws at them, including achieving their goals. Through our projects, we aim to support volunteering, and sports and cultural activities in the Duqm community.

5. Sponsorships and Donations

3. Health and Environment Here at Tawasul, we believe to achieve the perfect balance for sustainable community living, there must be infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and economic growth. We are committed to making honest efforts to ensure first-class healthcare facilities

The foundation’s primary objective is based on the fundamental theme of sharing is caring. Our goal is to eliminate obstacles and identify opportunities by creating solutions that can make a difference among people in the community. Our focus mainly lies in supporting low-income families, empowering the women of Oman, innovation and creation, and supporting individuals with special needs.

Governance Tawasul being one of the well-established non-profit organisation in Oman, is constantly innovating itself and staying ahead of the curve to face challenges head-on in an everchanging environment. The foundation pride itself on its experienced and committed workforce who carry out the daily functions of the organization with integrity and within the framework of the overall regulatory practices of Oman. Additionally, its stake holders and strong business practices are other sources of our significant strengths. Tawasul goes above and beyond in approaching issues competently and systematically.

Oman Airports Management Company Member Mr. Reggy Vermeulen Dr. Rashid bin Ali bin Ibrahim CEO of Port of Duqm.

Al Balushi Member Chairman of Nas-ha bint Mohammed al Falahi Oman Company for the Mr. Stephen R. Thomas GM Corporate Affairs Development of Special Economic CEO of Nahdat Al Duqm Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Zone at Al Duqm Holding Company Industries Company OQ8 Chairman Member Member Mr. Haitham Al Taie Chief Operating Officer at Oman Drydock Company.

Ms. Muna Said Al Shukailia Member Chief Executive Officer

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Our Values • Striving to be a responsible organization committed to the community’s growth and welfare • Being fair and transparent in our transactions with all our stakeholders • Ensuring maximum satisfaction in all our development projects and initiatives • Creating a safe and efficacious environment for employees and partners

Our Criteria Tawasul maintains certain criteria and standards that are recognized internationally when implementing projects or initiatives in the community.

• Lasting impact: Delivering lasting and selfsustaining development projects • Measurable: Positive impact is measured environmentally, economically, and socially • Transparent: Frequently monitoring and evaluating progress, and results are transparent and reported openly • Funding: Leading to increased benefits • Replicable: To speed up the learning curve and reduce implementation costs

Founding Members In 2021, our founding members and partners played a vital role in empowering Tawasul to create a positive impact on people and communities in the Duqm and Al Wusta Governorate region. Their constant support has given us the motivation and drive to carry out projects and initiatives, that will help in creating a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow for Duqm

Partners

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C. Programmes and Achievements

EDUCATION: Shaping the younger generation for a brighter future leading to the development of Oman, we initiated the ‘Future Makers Program’, in line with our aim to support and empower the youth of the country.

The Future Makers Program This initiative aimed to develop the skills of the students in Duqm Wilayat. It was a fiveweek program that focused on key scientific fields and the latest technology. In the fifth week, an Ideathon challenge was organized to encourage students to put on their thinking caps and come up with creative ideas and solutions by customizing scientific fields and modern technologies that were handed to students within the first four weeks. The goal was to improve their cognitive and scientific sides to define future courses and directions.

The program also aimed to encourage students of Duqm Wilayat to determine the scientific fields of the fourth industrial revolution and how to personalize said fields to generate creative ideas to resolve challenges and issues mainly within the Wilayat, and how they could benefit from the fourth industrial revolution to drive forward development. Those ideas were discussed and evaluated during the closing ceremony of the program.

The Future Makers Program targeted 150 students from Duqm schools, from the grades eighth to eleventh. During the five weeks, students were trained in the fields of programming and robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) to help them analyze complicated data and take competent and accurate decisions using IoT. Additionally, the students also attended workshops on drones, 3D printing, teamwork and presentation skills, as well as the five bits of intelligence - Mental, Emotional, Political, Ethical, and Flexible Intelligence. They were also taught lessons on English and how 22

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to use the language in their daily lives to enrich the vocabulary of students and learned the fundamentals of mathematics which included addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions.

Our gratitude goes to the Ministry of Education, Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), and ASYAD Dry Dock.

Playground Renovations We also understand that sport plays a vital role in the physical and mental development of children providing a holistic approach towards their growth. Tawasul Foundation upgraded seven school playgrounds for over 1,500 students from; Duqm School, Baher Al Arab School, Dahar School, Al Shumukh School, Raas Madraka School, Maseer Al Khair School and Haitam School.

Testimonials Through the “Future Makers” Program, I learnt about various topics in 3D printing, robotics, the fourth industrial revolution, which has piqued my curiosity and interest to earn and better myself.

Thank you for this wonderful initiative..

Noura bint Said Al Junaibiya, a student in grade 10

The “Future Makers” Program not only inspired me but also stimulated me to actively participate in the exercises. I can safely say that this program significantly contributed to my growth and development, and gave me a sense of identity as to what I would like to pursue in the future.

Zainab bint Sami Al Ghassaniya, a student in grade 10 The “Future Makers” Program encouraged me and my friends to work on projects that were presented to us and come up with sustainable solutions that would not only benefit the community of Duqm, but also make it a notable tourist destination by celebrating the rich heritage and landmarks the region has to offer.

Khalid bin Faisal Al Junaibi, a student in grade 9

Being part of the “Future Makers” Program, it has given me a sense of understanding and purpose for what I want to be when I grow up. I greatly benefited a lot from this program.

Bashar bin Salim Al Junaibi, a student in grade 10

The contribution of the “Future Makers” Program in the field of science and technology has led to a positive development in us making a sustainable change in all walks of life.

Fatima bint Mattar Al Junaibiya, a student in grade 8.

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT: Enterprises form the backbone of the elp and economy and we constantly strive to help te a encourage the SMEs and youth to create better future for themselves.

Enterprise Development Program Tawasul’s initiative Enterprise Development Program, provided entrepreneurs and SMEs in the Duqm and the Al Wusta region an opportunity to develop their business skills. The program shortlisted 15 entrepreneurs, ran for three months, and helped create five new business opportunities.

Through this initiative, the entrepreneurs were provided with the necessary skills in: Business development: through business planning, they were educated on mistakes to be avoided in the future by carrying out a SWOT analysis, business process, etc. Financial management: educating entrepreneurs on budgeting, pricing plans, and profits. Legalization: intellectual property protection, companies and employees contracts, legal risks, and registration. Marketing: various communication channels, branding strategy, and advertisement. Customer service management: attitudes and ethics, preventing deals, and communication techniques. Supply chain: logistics, transportation, performance, inventory e management, procurement, and warehouse management.

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The Enterprise Development Program helped me to branch my cleaning business into new avenues. I was completely content and clueless about expanding my business. This program helped me identify new market opportunities, and helped me create a sustainable business about how this new opportunity would help in generating income over time.

Entrepreneur Said Abullah Salim, Corporate cleaning services

Testimonials Through the Enterprise Development Program, I was able to enhance my knowledge in the legal, financial, and management field. Going forward, I am looking to create a professional profile that will target large organizations to grow my business even more.

Through the Enterprise Development Programme, I was able to organize the budget of my business much more efficiently.

Additionally, I was able to open a new branch office in Muscat and even hire a new team to support the business, including helping with strategies to grow even further.

Entrepreneur Abdullah Humaid Al Amri, owner of a Construction and Contracting Company Due to COVID-19, I closed down my business.

Having enrolled myself in the Enterprise Development Program, I was able to determine the current market trends and identify new opportunities. I reopened a few months with the help of funding through utilizing all the research I gathered from the program.

Entrepreneur Said Dhafer Al Junaibi, Hypermarket owner

Entrepreneur Saqer Abdullah Al Junaibi, owner of various businesses

Being a government employee, I always wanted to start my own business and with the help of the Enterprise Development Program, I was able to gain valuable insights to open my own company and carry out the required market research to create a sustainable and profitable commercial avenue.

Entrepreneur Sulayim Said Al Junaibi, Government employee

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT: Developing the local community is imperative mperative mark foru um for Tawasul. From organizing a landmark forum e Omani for women & society to upgrading the orting low w Women Association nurseries, supporting income families and much more, we played a mprove vital role in societal development to improve communities this past year.

Omani Women’s Forum Tawasul in partnership with Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) and Dar Al Mubadara organised the first-ever women o and society forum in Duqm, which was held to highlight the role of Omani women in social development, and recognize and champion ll their contributions to social, economic, and all other levels. At the end of the forum, several initiatives in the educational, social, health and cultural fields were honoured. This forum was the first of its kind and had more than 180 participants, including participants from both public and private sectors and nineteen partners and sponsors. There were three working papers focusing on Women in Oman & “Vision 2040”, Role of women in raising awareness around health, education, and women’s legal rights and project management and entrepreneurship.

Nursery Renovation Tawasul in partnership with Nahdat Al Duqm Holding company, contributed to refurbishing the Omani Women Association nursery that now offers safe, healthy, and welcoming accommodation for more than 30 children, with providing better education tools. It was a little attempt on our behalf to provide better education facility to small children.

Ramadan Contribution During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Tawasul contributed to 167 families with an aim to serve the community and supporting families with limited income.

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HEALTH: The health and well-being of everyone have been the most pressing concern. As we slowly try to adapt to the new normal and resort to some semblance of normalcy, we still focus on ensuring local communities in Duqm have access to quality healthcare and infrastructure.

Duqm Hospital: Tawasul Foundation in the past year supported the Duqm Hospital Lab with medical equipment, which catered to 34,000 Omanis and looked after their well-being.

COVID-19 Response COVID-19 to this day continues to pose a major threat to businesses, individuals and communities not just in Oman, but across the globe. With physical interaction slowly dwindling, it was important for us to adapt and find innovative ways to reach out to our partners and stakeholders, whilst maintaining the protocols set by the health and safety department.

The use of digital platforms has continued to play a crucial role in engagement. When the lockdown came into effect, our priority was to take care of our participants across all programs and activities by ensuring that they and their family members did not get affected. We introduced remote working and training, where our team members and contractors were able to diligently carry out the day-to-day operations without any hassle. Through the use of our social media channels, we were able to drive out engaging content that made stakeholders aware of our contributions to the development of the community in Duqm during these trying times.

Our emphasis on educating our team and the community on the importance of social

distancing took precedence last year. And, when our employees and trainees had to return, we ensured every corner was sanitized at regular intervals to prevent any unforeseen outbreaks, and most importantly, the safety of everyone present around.

Through these safety protocols, we were able to mitigate the after-effects of the pandemic and make way for the new normal.

Stakeholders Engagements At Tawasul, we value our partnerships with stakeholders. Our identity is defined in our logo. All the components are fingers that form a caring hand, with the community in the middle. We pride ourselves on collaborating with stakeholders that share our same vision and principles that align with Oman’s “Vision 2040”.

From engaging with stakeholders in the field of education to carrying out initiatives like the “Future Makers Program” which focused on encouraging the Omani youth to secure their future by offering access to quality education, engagement in entrepreneurship opportunities, and making use of the country’s innovative value mechanisms; to giving the women of Duqm and Al Wusta region an opportunity to create a change in the economy through the women’s forum focusing on the enhancement and development of their skills.

Tawasul also understood the lifeforce of the Omani economy - SMEs, where we carried out a program for entrepreneurs to help them maximize the potential of their businesses and delve into new business opportunities ultimately leading to their growth. With healthcare being of an utmost priority this past year, with our stakeholders, Tawasul was able to carry out initiatives that gave quality healthcare access to the residents in the Duqm region.

The ongoing pandemic has been a roadblock to carrying out certain developmental projects, but without our stakeholders, we would not be able to create change and a brighter future for the people of the Duqm region in particular and the Al Wusta Governorate in general. Their constant support has given Tawasul the opportunity to not just develop the community, but also create positive change amongst the individuals to help create a sustainable future.

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