THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OMANI WOMEN: A CASE STUDY APPLIED TO THE OMANI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Civil society organizations are one of the active sectors in achieving development and a key element in contemporary societies, supporting the governmental and private sectors in establishing stable communities capable of facing various life challenges.The importance of these organizations stems from their role as indicators of the prevailing democratic system in the country, as well as their work in various fields to achieve social, educational, economic, and other goals.Omani women's associations are considered one of the pioneering civil society organizations in the Sultanate of Oman, having been established in the early 1970s.They form an essential part of the social fabric and are relied upon to work alongside the government and private sectors to empower women and enhance their developmental roles by raising social awareness, providing economic and social support to families, and promoting partnership, cooperation, and social justice between genders.This research paper aims to identify the types of programs and services provided by Omani women's associations in order to develop women, as well as the developmental areas these associations focus on.Additionally, it seeks to examine the societal gaps in women's development that need to be addressed to achieve developmental goals and the future directions planned by Omani women's associations in the field of women's development in the Sultanate of Oman.To achieve these objectives, the current study will adopt a case study methodology for selected Omani women's associations.The researchers expect that Omani women's associations contribute to achieving social and economic development for Omani women through the diversity of programs and services