The final event of the European Union-funded program “Support to social protection in Jordan” was held under the patronage of Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa and with the participation of EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hajteodosiou. I did. , to celebrate the program’s many results and achievements.
The €23.65 million program, which ran from 2019 to 2023, was funded by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Northern Ireland Overseas Cooperation Office (NI-CO) and Expert France, in close collaboration with the Department of Social Development. This was jointly carried out. The main objective of the program was to support social sector reform and the development of a fair and inclusive society in Jordan through improving and modernizing the quality and performance of social protection systems.
Implementing partners worked together to advance Jordan’s 2025 National Vision, the 2016-2025 Human Resources Strategy, and the 2019-2025 National Social Protection Strategy. Major milestones achieved include: Supporting the implementation of Jordan’s deinstitutionalization agenda. This includes transitioning people with disabilities from residential care centers to home-based or community-based alternatives. Support the professionalization of social work in Jordan by developing career paths for social workers through the development of draft legislation, training and certification curricula at university level.
Accomplishments include renovating the department’s social services centers and making them accessible, welcoming and inclusive spaces. Development of a management information system for the Ministry of Social Development to help automate processes and facilitate daily operations. Support to civil society organizations in the field of social protection. This will enable them to actively participate in the deinstitutionalization agenda and strengthen their participation in the overall provision of quality, inclusive and innovative social services.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Hadji Theodosiou said: “We believe that this is one of the most important EU programs in terms of engagement with Jordan, as it will support the development of Jordan’s fair and inclusive society through quality improvement and modernization. It works directly with the people and communities who support the performance of social protection systems. Jordan is a pioneer in addressing the deinstitutionalization agenda in the region. We therefore encourage you to continue with your migration plans, prepare your ecosystem around DI, and not stop until Jordan becomes a model not only for the region but for the world. We are very much looking forward to seeing this alternative approach to caring for people with disabilities showcased at the 2025 World Summit on Disability, which Jordan will co-host with Germany. ”
The direct beneficiaries of this program were not only people with disabilities, but also women, youth, children, and other people in need of special services. The work achieved under this project and with the support of the European Union will establish a strong foundation for strengthening Jordan’s social protection sector for years to come and will It will continue through the project ‘EU support for social inclusion and empowerment’. This will continue until December 2025.
Although the numbers do not do justice to all of the program’s achievements, they do help explain some of the impacts on the ground. Rehabilitation of 105 people Centers and Field Directorate Offices of the Ministry of Social Development. Improving access to social protection services for 7,600 people. It also provided nearly 700 computers, printers and other IT equipment to the National Aid Fund and the Department to support the deployment of digital solutions such as MIS systems. It also included the training of 1,200 social care workers across a number of key areas including family protection, youth care, disability and women’s protection, and 700 people were involved in developing the deinstitutionalization agenda through training and awareness-raising. , care planning. The grant scheme also provided support and training to civil society organizations and funded 78 different projects involving more than 18,000 beneficiaries. More than 150 young people took part in the Social Innovation Challenge and learned innovative methods and ideas to address social issues.
For more information on the program, results and closing ceremony event highlights, please visit: Facebook page.