I. The Issue: Recent official reports reveal that Oman generates an annual food waste exceeding 560 tons, resulting in an annual cost of 60 million Omani Rials, with the majority concentrated in Muscat. The local culture of generosity and hospitality is frequently showcased through extravagant banquets at family gatherings, events, or even at home, inadvertently exacerbating this issue. Our project aims to foster a generational shift towards sustainable thinking and practices, recognizing the deep-rooted values that underlie these gatherings.

II. The Solution: We are developing a multi-sectoral project that will bring together government organizations, private companies, NGOs, and academic institutions to address the escalating food waste problem in the city. We have identified a significant gap in the local public-school curriculum, particularly concerning environmental education in the native Arabic language. In collaboration with local industry experts and partners, we plan to organize educational workshops and field trips to educate young students about the environmental impact of food waste, thereby creating awareness and advancing climate action. This initiative will align with the UNDP's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including

• #12 – Responsible Consumption and Production


• #11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities,


• #15 – Life on Land, and


• #13 – Climate Action.

Furthermore, this project is consistent with Oman's 2040 Vision, which aims to enhance the country's long-term development plan by promoting sustainable and secure food systems

A. Demographics:

• Target Community: Omani and Arabic-speaking residents


• Target Schools: Public schools


• Economic Profile: Low to middle income


• Age: Students in Grades 7-9 (Aged 12-15)


• Number of Students: 40 To create an impactful project, our pilot initiative will focus on four schools, comprising two all-boys schools and two all-girls schools. Each school will nominate ten students.

B. Program Outline:

• Part 1: Conducting a food waste awareness and action workshop (covering the current situation, causes and effects, repurposing, composting, and more).


• Part 2: Organizing a field trip to a local nursery or food bank.


• Part 3: Launching an online competition to showcase the learning outcomes from the workshop and field trip, with a special emphasis on a Ramadan Campaign.


• Part 4: Hosting an awards and recognition ceremony.


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III. The Impact: We will gauge our impact through the following methods:

• Project Milestones: Evaluate progress at each stage of the timeline on a monthly basis.


• Quantitative Measures: Measure number of students impacted through pre and post-event surveys, establish annual collaborations with local organizations, form long-term partnerships, and track social media metrics.


• Qualitative Measures: Gathering video stories, assess competition outcomes, and monitor climate actions taken by participants.

Our long-term vision involves the launch of an annual national program, expanding our initiatives to raise awareness about food conservation and climate protection across the Sultanate. This program aims to instill environmental responsibility in younger generations and nurture their interest in climate action, environmental studies, and research.