After reviewing the transaction received from the Royal Court numbered 2618 dated 18/1/1436 AH, which includes the letters from the Ministry of Finance numbered 4800 dated 7/6/1435 AH and 8552 dated 11/10/1435 AH, regarding the request for approval to establish a permanent national center within the administrative organization of the Ministry of Finance called (National Center for Project Management).

After reviewing paragraph (2) of Article (24) of the Council of Ministers System, issued by Royal Order No. (A/13) dated 3/3/1414 AH.

After reviewing Council of Ministers Decisions No. (7) dated 8/1/1430 AH and No. (320) dated 25/9/1433 AH.

After reviewing the server Process No. (246) dated 4/5/1436 AH, prepared by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers. 

After reviewing the recommendation of the General Committee of the Council of Ministers No. (1833) dated 2/11/1436 AH.

It is decided as follows:

Establish a national program named (National Program for Supporting Project Management in Public Entities), aimed at contributing to enhancing the efficiency and quality of project implementation in public entities by applying the best global practices in the field of project management.

 Without prejudice to the competencies and responsibilities of various entities in the state, the program shall undertake all necessary actions to achieve its objectives, including the following:

• A- Establishing the necessary criteria to identify public entities whose projects require the establishment of "Project Management Offices" to monitor and coordinate their project management, and ensuring their implementation.

• B- Coordinating with Project Management Offices in public entities on matters that enhance the achievement of the program's objectives.

• C- Developing a scientific and practical methodology for project management that assists public entities in this regard using the best global practices.

• D- Determining the type and level of academic and practical qualifications for employees in Project Management Offices in public entities.

• E- Ensuring the presence of qualified personnel academically and practically in the field of project management working in Project Management Offices in public entities, and assisting them - materially and technically - when needed to attract specialized competencies to work in those offices.

• F- Contributing to the qualification of national personnel working in Project Management Offices to ensure the enhancement of their performance, and assisting those personnel in obtaining accredited professional licenses in project management and monitoring.

• G- Establishing guiding standards for projects that require contracting with specialized companies and institutions in project management for their implementation.

• H- Establishing the necessary guiding standards for public entities to contract with specialized companies and institutions in project management, and preparing a model contract for project management to be applied when public entities contract with those companies and institutions for the implementation of their projects.

• I- Proposing systems and regulations and suggesting amendments to the existing ones that ensure the development of what relates to enhancing the efficiency and quality of project management, and submitting that through the Minister of Economy and Planning in accordance with the applicable regulatory procedures.

• J- Establishing an information unit within the program, responsible for collecting data on projects that require contracting with a specialized company or institution for their management, and providing the project owner, the Budget and Organization Agency in the Ministry of Finance, and the regulatory entities with periodic reports on the extent of that entity's commitment to implementing those projects in accordance with the foundations and standards approved by the program.

• K- Supporting and encouraging studies and research in the field of project management.

• L- Raising awareness of the importance of project management.

The program is overseen by a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister of Economy and Planning, with the membership of:

• A- A representative from the Ministry of Finance.

• B- A representative from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

• C- A representative from the Ministry of Education.

• D- A representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

• E- A representative from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

• F- A representative from the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.

• G- A representative from the Saudi Council of Engineers.

• H- A representative from Saudi Aramco, appointed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company.

• I- The General Director of the program.

• J- A representative from the private sector, nominated by the Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and appointed by a decision from the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The term of membership for the members of the Board of Directors is three years, renewable, and the job level of representatives from public entities in the council must not be less than the (fifteenth) rank or its equivalent.

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the program to ensure the achievement of its objectives, particularly the following:

• A- Monitoring the implementation of the program's activities.

• B- Approving the general and detailed plans for the program's activities.

• C- Adopting project management standards in the relevant public entities.

• D- Monitoring the implementation of the systems and regulations related to project management by public entities.

• E- Approving the organizational structure of the program and its financial and administrative regulations in accordance with the highest standards of administrative governance.

• F- Approving the program's budget, after coordinating with the Ministry of Finance regarding the assistance allocated to it by the state.

• G- Approving the annual report on the progress of the program and its activities and the obstacles it faces.

• H- Approving the final account of the program and submitting it to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs for approval.

• I- Approving the regulations for contracting with experts, consulting firms, and specialized companies in the field of project management that the program contracts with.

• J- Appointing a General Manager for the program from specialists in project management.

• K- Nominating the external auditor for the program and submitting it to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs for approval of their appointment.

The Board of Directors of the program holds its meetings periodically, not less than four times a year upon the invitation of its Chairman, and meets whenever necessary for the interest of the program. The validity of the meeting requires the presence of the majority of the members, including the Chairman of the Council or a member designated by him to preside over the meeting. Decisions are made by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the side that the Chairman of the meeting voted for prevails.

The program shall have a full-time General Manager to perform his duties based on a nomination from the Board of Directors, who shall be responsible for managing the program and coordinating work within it, representing it before others and the Judiciary within the scope defined by the Council in this regard, and he shall specifically have the following:

• A- Implement the tasks assigned to him by the Council.

• B- Supervise the progress of work in the program financially, administratively, and technically, and appoint employees within it.

• C- Propose general and detailed plans for the program's activities, and supervise their implementation after the Council's approval.

• D- Supervise the preparation of the program's budget project and the final account, and submit them to the Council.

• E- Prepare the agenda for the Council's meetings, attend its meetings, and follow up on the implementation of its decisions and recommendations.

• F- Submit an annual report to the Council on the progress of the program's work, its activities, and the obstacles it faces.

• G- Contract with experts, consulting firms, and specialized companies in the field of project management to achieve the program's objectives, according to the regulations set by the Council.

• H- Any other task that the Council deems appropriate to assign to him.

The state funds the program in the form of an annual grant included in the budget of the Ministry of Economy and Planning, with the provision of administrative and specialist support from the Ministry to the program to carry out the assigned tasks.

 The specialist and administrator positions in the program are filled through contracts in accordance with the Labor Law, and it is not permissible to appoint them to permanent positions in the state budget.

 The program addresses public agencies through the Minister of Economy and Planning, and the private sector through the General Director of the program unless the Minister deems otherwise.