Ministry of Social Solidarity, UNDP launch new Programme tackling social protection issues

 The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the “Waai” Programme for Community Development in an official ceremony hosted by the Ministry and with the attendance of H.E. Minister of Social Solidarity Nivine El-Kabbag and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Randa Aboul-Hosn.  

Through the “Waai” Programme for Community Development, a comprehensive and unified advocacy curriculum, addressing all social protection issues tackled by MoSS, has been developed, targeting families registered within the Takaful and Karama social protection programme. Waai covers child marriage, FGM Abandonment, health and education issues, rights of the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and economic empowerment of the poorest marginalized families to transfer them from protection to production.   

A policy resource group will be established to issue policy and media briefs, to be sent to decision makers and the media based on comprehensive discussions and workshops with the most vulnerable groups in the society on the issues of social protection. Waai will also target members of the media, decision makers and influencers to raise awareness on the targeted issues.

H.E Minister of Social Solidarity Dr. Nivine El-Kabbag said: “The ministry adopts an integrated approach of social protection, which focuses on the integration between economic, social and cultural empowerment, through integrated economic, health and educational programmes targeting the poorest of the poor. The ministry also offers protection programmes to the most vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, women-headed households, homeless, elderly citizens...). In addition, the ministry integrates simplified messages in all of its social protection programmes to address the harmful practices, raises the awareness of families and targeted groups.” The Minister emphasized that the programme’s message is to build positive values and practices that advances human development and the country’s sustainable development efforts.

In her remarks, UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Randa Aboul- Hosn; “UNDP will continue supporting the Ministry of Social Solidarity to expand “Waai” Programme for Community Development to the 3 million families of the most vulnerable groups on harmful practices and misconceptions aiming to achieve the sustainable development goals 2030 at the local level.”

Information, education and communication materials will be disseminated to the Takaful and Karama beneficiaries through the ministries’ different outlets such as the post office units, social solidarity units at village and district levels, schools, health units, youth centers, MoSS shelters for protecting women subject to different forms of violence and  rehabilitation offices for PwDs.