Significant strides have been made in Jordan’s social protection and welfare sectors as part of the 2023-2025 Executive Program for the Economic Modernization Vision, according to a mid-year report released by the government.
One of the key achievements in the first half of the year was the review and reform of social protection legislation, with the enactment of the Social Development Law being a cornerstone. This law aims to enhance and organize social work, promote social responsibility, and encourage private sector participation in sustainable social development.
It also seeks to spread a culture of social and volunteer work, elevate the quality of social services, and improve the lives of vulnerable citizens by providing both care and protection services. Additionally, a new regulation for unions was established, enabling associations and sub-unions to coordinate their services and activities better, streamline their formation and registration processes, manage their financial resources, and unify the
schedule for union elections.
As part of the National Digital Transformation Strategy, 30 new electronic services were launched within the social protection sector. These include services such as first-time daycare licensing, annual license renewals, local and foreign branch association registration, and the issuance of replacement association certificates. Additionally, a central camera monitoring room was established to protect the rights of beneficiaries, and five electronic rooms were created in juvenile courts and the Al Hussein Social Foundation, linked with the juvenile courts in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.
The report also highlighted the development of a crisis response component within the National Social Protection Strategy. This component is designed to build a comprehensive social protection system that is resilient to disasters and crises, effectively addressing the needs of vulnerable groups and taking into account gender-specific concerns. The initial framework for this componen
t was created by a technical committee that gathered data from relevant entities involved in crisis and disaster response, with integration into the 2025-2030 National Social Protection Strategy currently underway.
In a related effort, the psychological support team has been trained to handle crises and disasters through the National Center for Security and Crisis Management, in collaboration with the German Cooperation Program. This training has equipped the national team with the skills necessary to manage crises and their impact on social protection.
The National Aid Fund has also been actively surveying beneficiary families and applicants to assess their economic and social conditions. During the first half of the year, targeted families for various programs were identified, specialized training programs for social researchers were conducted, and field visits commenced, achieving a 42% completion rate in surveying beneficiary families and applicants.
A new unit dedicated to women’s empowerment has been
established within the Ministry of Social Development. This unit has outlined a roadmap and set clear objectives, focusing on developing gender integration policies, evaluation, and research within the realm of social protection and welfare, using a comprehensive gender-sensitive approach.
Moreover, the “Empower Your Opportunity” initiative was launched in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, and the National Aid Fund. This initiative provides 5,000 free learning opportunities for young Jordanians in fields relevant to the local job market. The Coursera online platform, a key partner in this initiative, offers access to thousands of courses and lectures from leading global universities and networks in disciplines such as medicine, engineering, humanities, and business administration.
The report also emphasized ongoing efforts to integrate vulnerable individuals, including those in need of protection an
d care, into biological or alternative foster families and the wider community. These services are provided through 96 government, private, and volunteer-run centers, institutions, and shelters, following a rights-based approach aligned with international human rights standards. Significant progress was noted in the completion of the Jerash Center and the construction of the Hasa Center as inclusive day centers during the first quarter of the year.
Source: Jordan News Agency