Amman: Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa on Sunday opened a specialized workshop on the "Karama-Dignity" pillar of Jordan's National Social Protection Strategy (2025-2033). The event brought together representatives of ministries and partner institutions to review progress and set priorities for the next phase.
According to Jordan News Agency, Bani Mustafa, who chairs the National Aid Fund's board of directors and the strategy's Higher Steering Committee, emphasized that the "Karama" pillar is a crucial component of the national strategy. It reflects Jordan's commitment to translating the King's vision and the country's modernization agenda into programs, policies, and measures that ensure a dignified life for its citizens.
She highlighted King Abdullah II's focus on social protection as a central national priority, emphasizing the importance of investment in people, social justice, and equal opportunities as the foundation for sustainable development and social stability. Bani Mustafa outlined that economic growth should be supported by an efficient and equitable social protection system to protect vulnerable groups, strengthen resilience, and expand opportunities for empowerment, productivity, and participation.
The strategy, she elaborated, provides an integrated national roadmap for building a more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable social protection system. It aims to link assistance with empowerment and investment in human capital in line with Jordan's political, economic, and administrative modernization priorities. The "Karama" pillar specifically aims to improve the efficiency and fairness of delivering social assistance, enhance program responsiveness to families' needs, and integrate assistance with education, health, and social care services.
Bani Mustafa noted that Jordan has made tangible progress in recent years by expanding social assistance coverage and improving targeting mechanisms. Advancements in digital transformation and increased spending efficiency have contributed to greater transparency and ensured support reaches eligible beneficiaries more effectively. She acknowledged the role of partners in the social protection sector, particularly the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in helping assess progress, identify priorities for the next phase, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders.
National Aid Fund Director General Khetam Shanikat expressed that the first year of implementing the National Social Protection Strategy marked a crucial transition from planning to execution. National institutions have worked collaboratively to translate the "Karama" pillar into tangible programs and initiatives benefiting Jordanian families. She emphasized that progress depends on coordinated efforts and shared resources, with the fund leading implementation in partnership with ministries, national institutions, and supporting organizations.
Built around three interconnected goals, the "Karama" pillar seeks to develop better-targeted and more coordinated social assistance programs, strengthen human capital, and enhance shock-responsive social assistance systems. Shanikat stressed the importance of improving the preparedness of social protection institutions to respond to crises.
Deputy UNICEF Representative in Jordan Shairose Mawji commended Jordan's significant progress in strengthening social assistance systems. Expanding digital solutions, improving coordination, reinforcing referral pathways, and advancing institutional reforms have been pivotal. Mawji highlighted the modernization of social assistance systems, the adoption of a "cash-plus" approach, and the enhancement of shock-responsive social protection as key areas where coordinated technical cooperation can yield meaningful results. She praised the Ministry of Social Development and the National Aid Fund for their leadership in coordinating and strengthening joint action across the social protection sector.