Amman, Nov. 30 (Petra) – Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa on Sunday discussed with UNICEF Representative in Amman Marc Rubin ways to advance cooperation and partnership across a set of shared social fields.

Bani Mustafa commended UNICEF's role in supporting social protection programs and empowering the most vulnerable groups, particularly children and women, stressing the need to strengthen and broaden the partnership’s scope.

She reviewed joint programs, especially efforts to support the update of the National Social Protection Strategy (2025–2033) through assistance across all stages of the update process, including national consultations, technical events and contributing to the strategy’s launch.

She also discussed cooperation in implementing several priority initiatives under the national social protection strategy and in building media capacities in partnership with the Ministry of Government Communication and the Jordan Media Institute. This includes the crisis- and shock-responsive social protection project, carried out in partnership with the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management and supported by UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

Bani Mustafa highlighted UNICEF’s role in strengthening civil society engagement by classifying associations and activating their roles, supporting development centers and the "Makani" program, and raising awareness and education related to the social work profession.

She spoke about expanding future cooperation in strengthening shock- and crisis-responsive social protection systems, supporting integrated services for children and women, building the ministry’s institutional and digital capacities, and continuing to implement and develop the Makani programs in full partnership with the ministry.

For his part, UNICEF’s representative in Amman lauded the cooperation with the ministry over recent years, which he said had supported several programs implemented by the ministry and served its goals in helping targeted groups. He expressed hope for deeper joint cooperation in social fields.

//Petra// AF

30/11/2025 20:30:54