(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, Oct. 8 (Petra) – Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa said that placing the social protection sector at the heart of Jordan's comprehensive modernization drive came in direct response to directives from His Majesty King Abdullah II, reflecting His Majesty's belief in the sector's role as a key pillar in empowering individuals and communities to actively contribute to national productivity.
She said the Royal directives outlined in His Majesty's letter of designation to Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan gave social protection a central place in the Economic Modernization Vision, as the sector acts as a safety net for the most vulnerable families. The government, she added, has committed to launching the National Social Protection Strategy 2025–2033, which was rolled out in May.
Bani Mustafa made her remarks during a panel discussion hosted by the Economic and Social Council (ESC) on Wednesday, titled "Social Protection and the Economic Modernization Vision," as part of a series of dialogues on the 2025–2029 executive plans for economic, administrative, and political modernization.
She stressed that the essential link between economic and social policies is not a choice but a strategic necessity to ensure social justice, dignity, and a decent quality of life for citizens.
Bani Mustafa emphasized that the social protection system in Jordan is not a burden on the budget but a strategic national investment in citizens and their future. It is, she said, a cornerstone for social stability, which paves the way for sustainable economic growth.
The minister explained that the National Social Protection Strategy aligns with the three reform tracks political, economic, and administrative and reinforces the integration between the strategy and the Economic Modernization Vision.
She noted that the strategy was developed through extensive national consultations with stakeholders and sectors across the Kingdom, including dialogue sessions held in all governorates to ensure a consensus-based approach that meets the strategy's objectives.
Bani Mustafa said the ministry, in cooperation with partners, continues to strengthen a comprehensive, effective, and flexible social protection system capable of responding to changing needs and translating strategic goals into tangible programs.
She added that in recent years, the social protection sector has undergone a strategic transformation, moving gradually from a welfare and relief model to one focused on empowerment and sustainable development. This shift is reflected in expanding alternative care for persons with disabilities, launching active aging programs through senior day clubs, introducing the Unified Social Registry, activating e-services and early warning systems, and transitioning families supported by the National Aid Fund to productive programs. The transformation also includes improving social security services to boost economic participation, especially among women.
The strategy, she said, is built around four main pillars: "Dignity," which focuses on coordinated social assistance and inclusive services; "Empowerment," which promotes economic inclusion and universal healthcare; "Opportunity," which aims to create decent jobs and effective labor market programs; and "Resilience," which enhances the social protection system's response to crises and shocks.
The strategy's executive plan includes several initiatives, such as launching the Unified Social Registry, expanding the Takaful Plus program, increasing the number of community development and *Makani* centres, and institutionalizing social work.
Among the tangible achievements, she highlighted the launch of a unified cash support program, improved targeting mechanisms, the enactment of the Social Development and Child Rights laws, the strengthening of alternative care and school feeding programs, the creation of the *Himaya* platform for labor complaints, and the development of the National Employment Program to encourage private-sector job creation.
She noted that Jordan is among the first countries to adopt regulations professionalizing social work and issuing practice licenses.
On progress in implementing the strategy, Bani Mustafa said that the ministry has completed key reference documents and operational frameworks, including the executive plan, monitoring and evaluation plan, and communication strategy, and has begun staffing the monitoring and evaluation unit at the Ministry of Social Development with qualified personnel.
She added that social protection activities have been incorporated into institutional budgets, with initial implementation of priority projects already underway, including a public awareness campaign, the creation of a unified social protection webpage, and preparatory work for capacity-building and communication projects.
The ministry, she said, has also launched initiatives to improve access to early childhood services, enhance women's economic participation, and implement a joint project with the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management on crisis-responsive social protection. Other efforts include expanding partnerships with civil society organizations, developing regulations for accrediting training programs in social work, improving services provided by development and Makani centers, tendering the Unified Social Registry, and strengthening the Takaful Plus program managed by the National Aid Fund.
Bani Mustafa added that the strategy's committees and working groups will hold follow-up meetings and engage with donors and partners to support its implementation. Coordination meetings will also be held on the monitoring and evaluation framework, along with training sessions to activate the electronic tracking system and advance the awareness campaign.
She confirmed ongoing coordination with institutions through the general budget cycle to ensure budget allocations for 2025–2028 activities, with quarterly progress reports to be issued by the Strategy Monitoring Unit.
For his part, ESC President Musa Shteiwi, in the presence of MP Mutaz Abu Rumman, Chair of the Lower House Labour and Social Development Committee; Senator Haidar Murad, Chair of the Senate Labour and Social Development Committee; and several ESC members, said the session builds on previous dialogues held with public and private partners involved in implementing the Economic Modernization Vision.
Shteiwi underscored the importance of social protection in providing a safety net for citizens as a cornerstone of sustainable social development, reflecting the state's and society's commitment to ensuring a dignified life for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
He said social protection plays a key role in reducing poverty, supporting citizens against risks such as illness and old age, and contributing to economic stability and growth.

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