The Social Work and Development Committee in the Senate, chaired by Senator Issa Murad, met on Sunday with the Minister of Social Development, Wafa Bani Mustafa, to discuss the ministry’s plans and strategy for the years 2026–2033.
Senator Issa Murad confirmed that the purpose of this meeting was to link the implementation of the Ministry of Social Development’s programs and policies with the key directives from the Royal Decree and the government's response to the decree. Additionally, the committee reviewed the programs and projects executed by the ministry in the field of social development, with a focus on the impact of these programs on the target groups, including care, education, and vocational rehabilitation to integrate them into the productive society.
Senator Murad highlighted the importance of efforts made to serve the elderly by ensuring them a dignified life, enhancing home care, and ensuring respect for their rights and promoting their well-being.
For her part, Minister of Social Development, Wafa Bani Mustafa, gave a comprehensive presentation on the ministry's strategic plan for the upcoming years, noting that the ministry is working to improve the social services provided to citizens and expand the scope of social protection programs.
She explained that the ministry is in the process of implementing new projects aimed at alleviating the effects of poverty and strengthening the capacities of poor families, in partnership with the Aid Fund and the Zakat Fund, through an integrated approach between ministries. She also highlighted efforts to support the elderly, orphans, and people with disabilities. Bani Mustafa mentioned that the ministry is updating its strategy, which is a first phase that can be adjusted, with key goals including integration with the three main modernization tracks—economic, political, and administrative—along with the introduction of technology and artificial intelligence tools. Additionally, the strategy aims to enhance financial and institutional sustainability through systematic and coordinated involvement of the private sector and civil society institutions.
She added that the ministry is focusing on four main pillars: Dignity, Empowerment, Opportunity, and Resilience. The "Dignity" pillar focuses on social assistance, including cash and in-kind aid, and general targeted support. The "Empowerment" pillar is concerned with social services, including primary healthcare, health insurance, education services, and social protection services. The "Opportunity" pillar focuses on social security, the labor market, employment, and social insurance. Lastly, the "Resilience" pillar deals with responding to shocks and crises, including challenges posed by climate change.
Minister Bani Mustafa also discussed several initiatives the ministry is working to develop, such as the "Unified National Support Program," which aims to unite national efforts to assist needy families, and the "Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Program" for people with disabilities. She also mentioned new projects aimed at enhancing voluntary work in the community, such as the Donation Platform (the unified platform for in-kind services), which centralizes all donations, ensuring transparent governance and organization of these efforts.
She also pointed out the ministry’s work on social health insurance, exemptions for the most vulnerable groups, and the program for recipients of national aid and health insurance for poor families, aiming to distribute benefits more equitably and to reach a larger number of citizens. Furthermore, the ministry is working on a lending and financing program and a unified financing window for productive families, small and medium-sized projects, and associations.
During the meeting, there was a discussion on how to enhance cooperation between the Ministry of Social Development and the members of the Social Work and Development Committee in the Senate to follow up on the progress of these plans and projects. Additionally, the need for a mechanism to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and their impact on society was emphasized.