Amman, Jan. 18 (Petra) – The Ministry of Social Development launched Saturday at a workshop held at the Royal Cultural Center, the national consultations on the draft framework for the National Social Protection Strategy (2025–2033).

The event brought together ministers, representatives from public and private sectors, heads of the strategy’s pillars, and UNICEF representatives to foster dialogue on developing a comprehensive and sustainable social protection system.

Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa, who sponsored the event, stated that updating the strategy aligns with the three reform tracks political, economic, and administrative led by His Majesty King Abdullah II and followed up by HRH Crown Prince Hussein. She highlighted that His Majesty’s directives to the government, led by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, emphasized updating the strategy to align with the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV) and its executive program.

Bani Mustafa noted that the government is committed to launching the updated strategy by the second quarter of this year, as announced by the Prime Minister in his policy statement. The updated strategy aims to expand its scope, adopt best practices, enhance economic empowerment programs, and improve the efficiency of social assistance. It will include coordination among government entities, voluntary organizations, the private sector, and civil society institutions, with a focus on inclusivity, targeting, and service quality improvement.

The minister emphasized that the strategy aims to integrate with the national modernization tracks, enhance inclusivity and efficiency, build proactive and resilient social protection systems, and address crises through its "Resilience" pillar. It also seeks to reduce dependency on social assistance, incorporate technology and artificial intelligence, and foster financial and institutional sustainability through systematic private-sector and civil society engagement.

Core Pillars and Vision
According to Bani Mustafa, the updated strategy is based on four main pillars:
1. Dignity: Focused on social assistance, including cash and in-kind aid and targeted support.
2. Empowerment: Encompassing social services such as primary healthcare, health insurance, education, and social protection services.

3. Opportunity: Related to social security and labor market programs, including employment and labor-related insurance.
4. Resilience: Addressing crisis and shock responses, including those caused by climate change.

The vision of the strategy, Bani Mustafa explained, is to build a "Jordanian society that lives with dignity, is empowered, resilient, and prosperous," aligning with sustainable development goals and international definitions while integrating with Jordan’s modernization plans.

National Consultations and Feedback Mechanisms

Bani Mustafa highlighted that the updated strategy is the first to involve civil society and private-sector stakeholders actively during the preparation phase. The consultations include in-person sessions, a dedicated WhatsApp number, and a QR code system to gather inputs from individuals and institutions.

The consultations will be held across all governorates, engaging officials, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, youth, experts, and academics to ensure the strategy reflects a consensus and enhances its implementation within set timelines.

//Petra// AF

18/01/2025 21:40:04