Ministry of Social Development
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Social Protection

Poverty and deprivation are not limited to income alone; rather, they extend to include exclusion and marginalization, a sense of powerlessness, social fragmentation, and the violation of social and economic rights. Accordingly, social development is concerned with enhancing integration and social and economic participation of poor and marginalized groups, strengthening resilience and social cohesion in the face of shocks. Social cohesion goes beyond combating exclusion and poverty; it includes creating a state of solidarity within society, promoting local development, volunteer work, and social responsibility. In this context, the Ministry of Social Development has led efforts through the National Team for Combating Poverty to develop the concept of multidimensional poverty, believing that combating material poverty through the provision of cash and food assistance leaves a significant impact on reducing poverty. However, these effects are not sustainable, as families quickly return to poverty when faced with social or economic shocks. Combating poverty goes beyond addressing its effects to include its causes, which are mostly due to various forms of deprivation, exclusion, and social marginalization. This comprehensive perspective will ultimately lead to achieving a sustainable and dignified life for Palestine’s poor and marginalized. This requires reviewing and developing developmental social policies alongside economic policies for the poor and marginalized.

The Ministry of Social Development is leading national efforts to implement the National Social Registry and Case Management System, as mandated by the Palestinian Cabinet, which issued its decision No. (01/134/18/M.W/M.A) for the year 2021 concerning the adoption of the National Social Registry based on the concept of multidimensional poverty, in addition to Cabinet Decision No. (03/38/18/M.W/M.A) for the year 2020 regarding the approval of the recommendations of the ministerial committee to study and adopt the concept of multidimensional poverty.

 

Text of the Palestinian Cabinet Decision

 

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Working on the concept of combating multidimensional poverty will enable the Ministry to achieve better investment of available resources, restructure and direct social protection programs at the national level, accomplish social and economic development achievements, overcome the problem of inherited poverty, and enhance social justice among individuals and different geographical areas. Achieving social development requires a shared national responsibility among various actors in the social protection sector and supporting sectors, with a focus on local efforts, local resources, social accountability, and the participation of citizens.