AMMAN — Minister of Social Development and Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment Wafa Bani Mustafa on Sunday met with UNICEF Representative to Jordan Philippe Duamelle, to discuss areas of cooperation within the framework of the National Social Protection Strategy (2025–2033) and its first executive plan covering the years 2025 to 2028.

 

During the meeting, Bani Mustafa stressed the importance of the partnership with UNICEF in supporting social protection initiatives, both at the policy and programme levels, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

She emphasised the need to continue empowering the most vulnerable groups, reiterating the ministry's commitment to strengthening and expanding this cooperation.

 

The minister reviewed joint programmes previously implemented in collaboration with UNICEF, particularly the comprehensive process of updating the national social protection strategy. This included technical support, extensive national consultations across governorates and sectors, and the preparation of a strategy document aligned with Jordan’s modernisation visions, culminating in the official launch of the strategy.

 

The cooperation also extended to the implementation of a nationwide communication and outreach plan, which featured a broad awareness campaign that accompanied the strategy's launch.

 

Bani Mustafa also underlined the importance of continued cooperation on the execution of the strategy’s action plan, the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework, and the enhancement of communication mechanisms in the social protection sector. She also called for intensified public awareness efforts about the various social protection programmes available throughout the Kingdom.

 

The minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong partnership with UNICEF in supporting media capacity-building in the field of social protection, developing a classification mechanism for associations, and strengthening the role of the voluntary and civil society sectors in implementing protection programmes.

 

Other priorities discussed included institutionalising the “Makani” project within community development centres affiliated with the ministry, professionalising social work, and enhancing alternative care services, all of which are outlined in the first executive plan for 2025–2028.

 

For his part, Duamelle commended the institutional cooperation in updating and implementing the National Social Protection Strategy, highlighting the long-standing partnership with the Ministry in shaping protection and care policies and jointly implementing social programmes that contribute to improving services and better supporting target groups.