Terms and conditions for accredited observer rewards: 7 regulations from the Ministry of Municipalities

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia announced a detailed regulatory framework comprising seven binding requirements for disbursing financial rewards to whistleblowers, as part of the "Certified Monitor" initiative. This step comes within a comprehensive strategy aimed at engaging the community in municipal oversight efforts and improving the urban landscape across the Kingdom.

Details of the seven requirements for eligibility for the bonus

The ministry has set precise standards to ensure the seriousness of reports and the integrity of the oversight process. The conditions are as follows:

• Effectiveness of the report: The information provided by the reporter must directly and effectively lead to the detection and proof of the violation, thus ensuring the efficiency of field work.
• Preventing conflicts of interest: The regulations prohibit the disbursement of the reward if the informant is an employee of the ministry, secretariats, or municipalities, or a worker in the monitoring companies contracted with it. The prohibition includes their first-degree relatives.
• Qualification and training: Those wishing to join are required to pass the approved training program for informants, to ensure their knowledge of the systems and correct monitoring methods.
• Record integrity: The whistleblower's record must be free of any previous malicious or fabricated reports.
• Credibility: Emphasis will be placed on not fabricating violations for the purpose of financial gain, as any attempts at fraud will be dealt with firmly.
• Timeframe: Submitting the request for the reward payment within a specified period that begins after the violation is officially approved and the regular objection period has ended.
• Priority of detection: The violation must not have been previously detected by other entities or other observers.

Context of the initiative and the goals of Vision 2030

The “Certified Observer” initiative aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , specifically within the “Quality of Life” program, which aims to enhance services provided in Saudi cities. The Ministry has been working for years to combat visual pollution, and this initiative represents a qualitative leap, transforming citizens and residents from passive recipients of services to active partners in preserving the urban environment.

This step reflects a governmental trend to enhance transparency and governance, as modern technologies and the ministry’s applications (such as the Baladi application) provide easily accessible platforms to enable individuals to exercise their oversight role consciously and responsibly.

Mechanism for calculating financial rewards

The ministry explained that the disbursement of rewards is subject to a rigorous governance system, where the reward amount is determined based on several criteria, including the severity of the violation, the difficulty in detecting it, and the amount of effort expended in identifying it. It noted that the reward may reach a maximum of 25% of the total fine collected for the detected violation.

Strengthening community oversight

The “Certified Observer” program is an extension of the Ministry’s advanced community oversight model, adopted under the slogan “Because it’s my country.” These efforts aim to instill a culture of compliance with municipal regulations, promote a shared sense of responsibility towards public property, and protect roads and facilities from encroachments and haphazard practices that mar the appearance of Saudi cities.