MoSD & MIFTAH Discuss Strengthening Partnership to Support Families and Economically Empower Women
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development, Dr. Samah Hamad, met on Wednesday with a delegation from the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) to discuss strengthening cooperation in social protection and economic empowerment, as well as coordinating programmes and initiatives targeting the most vulnerable families in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Hanadi Barahmeh and Mohammad Amarna, representing the Ministry's General Directorate for Poverty Reduction and Empowerment, and Dr. Amin Assi, representing the General Directorate for Planning and Projects. MIFTAH was represented by Dr. Tahreer Al-Araj, Director General; Maram, Director of the Good Governance Programme; and Moayad Basharat, Director of the Palestinian Communities Resilience Support Project.
Dr. Hamad emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships with MIFTAH and civil society organizations to integrate social protection and economic empowerment programmes. She stressed the need to support productive projects led by women's groups through funding that reflects their operational requirements and enhances their viability and sustainability, providing women with meaningful opportunities to generate income and improve their families' living conditions.
She also highlighted the importance of utilizing the National Social Registry and Unified Social Assistance Portal to direct support according to priorities, ensure assistance reaches the families most in need, and reduce duplication of aid, alongside continued efforts to improve protection services for women and girls.
The meeting explored opportunities for cooperation under the Palestinian Communities Resilience Support Project (2026–2029), including ways to align its interventions with the Ministry's programmes and strengthen joint efforts with civil society organizations and local authorities to address the needs of targeted communities.
Participants reviewed the growing humanitarian and social needs in the Gaza Strip, the impact of declining food assistance on families, particularly children and mothers, and the importance of maintaining field-level responses and coordinating with partners to meet essential needs. They also discussed the role of cash assistance in supporting families and alleviating financial pressures.
In the area of economic empowerment, both sides discussed productive initiatives and small-scale projects suited to the working conditions and available resources in Gaza and the West Bank, including sewing, clothing repair, and food production, as well as projects implemented in the northern West Bank and communities in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and the Jordan Valley.
The meeting also reviewed the Ministry's experience in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in supporting productive projects and livelihoods, emphasizing the importance of linking initiatives to production and marketing opportunities.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Social Development, MIFTAH, MA'AN Development Center, and the Palestinian Center for Economic and Social Development. The agreement will establish a framework for coordination and the exchange of information concerning beneficiary families, while safeguarding the privacy of their data and defining the roles of partners and mechanisms for joint implementation.
Discussions also addressed preparations for the Al-Sweitat Centre in Jenin, which will provide protection services for women and girls and include a designated space for supervised family visitation. Participants further discussed monitoring expenditure on social services and strengthening private-sector contributions to programmes targeting the most vulnerable groups.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination to finalize the cooperation framework and identify intervention priorities, ensuring that the meeting's outcomes are translated into practical programmes that respond to families' needs and strengthen their ability to improve their living conditions.