Plan to upgrade social protection system over next four years

AMMAN — The Ministry of Social Development on Monday launched the “Support to Social Protection in Jordan” project, which aims at improving the performance of the social protection system by enhancing the quality of social services provided by the ministry over the next four years. 

Implemented with a 20 million euro contribution from the EU, the project will modernise the ministry’s care centres in line with international standards and human rights principles by improving monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the provision of quality social services to vulnerable groups, officials said at the launch event. 

In addition, the ministry will cooperate with universities and education and training centres to carry out activities aimed at upgrading the status, qualifications and competencies of social workers, organising the profession and improving the quality of the services provided. 

The plan was launched on Monday during a ceremony hosted by Social Development Minister Hala Lattouf, which saw the attendance of several officials, including the director of the European Commission for the Southern Neighbourhood Region Michael Köhler, the EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Fontana, and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar. 

“This is an opportunity for partnership based on human rights and principles that will enable a decent life and social welfare to come out with high quality social services for all family categories,” Lattouf said during the ceremony, stressing that “this project aims at supporting and developing the social protection sector in Jordan while enhancing our cooperation with the EU”.

For his part, Köhler highlighted: “This programme is launched at the right time to address the existing social protection challenges and support the sector’s reform, as well as to strengthen the quality of services delivered to the most disadvantaged citizens.”

“The project will also strengthen and develop the participation of civil society organisations as effective actors in the design and development of the social protection sector,” the official continued, adding “the plan will support the Social Development Ministry in the gradual replacement of institutional care with alternative care in line with international standards and policies”.

Financial assistance and capacity-building will be provided to several civil society organisations and charities with a focus on the empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities, according to a press release by the Social Development Ministry. 

In addition, project activities will be undertaken in partnership with stakeholders in the social protection sector, including the National Aid Fund, the Higher Council for Persons with Disabilities and other related ministries and private institutions.