The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor discusses with UNICEF strengthening social protection and child protection programs
His Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Mukhtar Al-Yafei, held talks today in the capital, Aden, with the Resident Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Yemen, Mr. Peter Hawkins, on ways to enhance joint cooperation and expand areas of partnership in social protection and child protection programs, in line with the Ministry’s plans and strategic directions.
During the meeting, which was attended by the Deputy Minister, Dr. Sadiq Al-Jamie, the two sides reviewed areas of joint work, particularly in social protection and child protection, as well as technical guidelines related to case management. They also discussed the development of organizational strategies and operational frameworks that are aligned with the field reality, and that contribute to improving the efficiency of interventions and directing them toward the most vulnerable groups. This includes the National Child Protection Plan and several programs implemented by the Social Protection Fund.
Minister Al-Yafei emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to building an effective and sustainable social protection system based on accurate data and statistics, ensuring improved targeting and tangible results on the ground that serve people who have suffered from the hardships of war and conflict, and linking interventions to humanitarian and development priorities.
He further noted that the Ministry is working on preparing a realistic, implementable plan that reflects the needs of society and is based on strengthening partnerships with international organizations. He also pointed to preparations for convening an expanded consultative meeting bringing together civil society organizations, international partners, ministry offices, and relevant government entities to discuss challenges, unify efforts, and develop a comprehensive social protection strategy.
For his part, Mr. Hawkins reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to continuing support for the development of social protection and child protection programs and strengthening institutional coordination, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable response and achieving a positive impact for beneficiary groups.
The meeting was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for the Social Welfare Sector, Saleh Mahmoud, and the Executive Director of the Social Welfare Fund, Najla Al-Sayyad.
