Amman, April 22 (Petra) – Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa said the Kingdom continues to implement its plans to develop the social protection system within the framework of the National Social Protection Strategy (2025-2033).

She said this strategy provides a "comprehensive" framework for improving service efficiency, expanding scope, and enhancing sustainability, in line with the Royal directives and the Economic Modernization Vision.

The minister's remarks came during a dialogue session, organized by the Amman Group for Future Dialogues on Tuesday.

Bani Mustafa noted the strategy is based on four main, interconnected pillars: Karama (Dignity) - focused on social assistance, Tamkeen (Empowerment) - focused on social services, Fursa (Opportunity) - focused on decent work and social security, and Sumood (Resilience), aimed at achieving a "balance between direct support and economic empowerment." She pointed to His Majesty King Abdullah II's directives to transition beneficiary families from dependency on aid to becoming productive and financially self-sufficient families.

To achieve this goal, she said a number of beneficiary families from the National Aid Fund (NAF) have have graduated from the program.

Regarding social assistance, she said current programs target the most vulnerable families through monthly cash transfers, based on a "clear formula, guaranteeing equitable distribution of support." She noted approximately 250,000 households, comprising about 1.127 million individuals, currently benefit from the NAF's programs.

Bani Mustafa added that the plans for the period (2025-2028) aim to increase the percentage of beneficiary families from additional services, while other axes seek to raise percentage of beneficiaries referred to employment programs, and increase trainees in vocational training programs.

This process, she noted, will provide 12 key services by 2028 and enhance "efficiency of response and integration among social protection programs." As for the second pillar, "Empowerment," she stated the strategy focuses on investing in human capital by improving access to education and social welfare services, and expanding vocational training and rehabilitation programs linked to the labor market.

The strategy aims to train at least 1,500 beneficiaries from families, who are receiving NAF's financial assistance and link support programs to job opportunities to promote economic independence, she pointed out.

//Petra// AG