Minister of Social Development Participates in High-Level Virtual Meeting of the Global Council for Social Innovation
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, participated via Zoom in the high-level virtual meeting of the Global Council for Social Innovation (GCSI), held under the title: “Social Innovation: A Transformative Key in Times of Global Crises,” with the participation of ministers, government representatives, and international partners from around the world.
During her remarks, Dr. Hamad emphasized that social innovation in Palestine is no longer a traditional policy option or an intellectual luxury, but rather a sovereign tool for strengthening national resilience in the face of ongoing and compounded humanitarian crises. She noted that the Ministry of Social Development has adopted a transformative vision based on shifting from dependency to productivity, from emergency response to building a resilient society capable of withstanding shocks, and from charity-based assistance to rights-based social protection.
The Minister reviewed the exceptional challenges facing Palestine under the current circumstances, including the worsening humanitarian and economic repercussions in the Gaza Strip, alongside the severe financial crisis confronting the Palestinian government due to the withholding of clearance revenues, which threatens the sustainability of essential public services. She also highlighted the escalating settler attacks, military incursions, and closures across the West Bank and Jerusalem, and their impact in forcibly displacing Palestinian families.
Dr. Hamad affirmed that, despite the difficult conditions, the Ministry has continued developing Palestine’s social digital infrastructure through the launch of the National Social Registry, a unified electronic system aimed at identifying the most vulnerable households based on a multidimensional poverty methodology and linking them to integrated and tailored intervention plans according to their needs.
She also pointed to the launch of a unified digital platform offering 18 electronic social services, in addition to the development of the “Social Digital Wallet” in cooperation with the Palestine Monetary Authority and the banking sector. The wallet enables the direct and secure delivery of cash assistance and interest-free loans to families in Gaza and marginalized areas affected by checkpoints and closures, while preserving citizens’ dignity and enhancing the speed and efficiency of response efforts.
Dr. Hamad added that this model demonstrates how social innovation provides governments with practical tools to address challenges more effectively, rapidly, and in a more coordinated manner. She welcomed the launch of the report on legal and policy frameworks for social innovation, as well as the “Social Innovation Engine” platform, stressing the importance of advancing toward the adoption of a joint international resolution on social innovation to empower local innovators, strengthen the independence of national solutions, and localize development beyond the constraints of traditional funding.
She stressed that social innovation and sustainable development cannot flourish without genuine international partnership and shared responsibility, expressing appreciation for the support of partner countries and institutions that continue to stand with the Palestinian people, support the most vulnerable families, and reinforce the Palestinian right to dignity, stability, and development on their land.
Dr. Hamad further affirmed that the State of Palestine places its experience in social innovation and digital transformation at the service of the global knowledge system and renews its commitment to cooperation, exchange of expertise, and mutual learning with international partners.
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Department of Refugee Affairs Presents Its Annual Report to the MoSD and Reaffirms the Importance of Partnership in Strengthening the Resilience of Palestinian Refugees
Ramallah – The Department of Refugee Affairs of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) presented its Annual Report to the Ministry of Social Development during a meeting held at the Ministry’s headquarters. The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two institutions and to enhance mechanisms for responding to the humanitarian and social needs of Palestinian refugee camps. Representing the Ministry of Social Development were Mr. Akram Al-Hafi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Family Care and Protection, and Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning. Representing the Department of Refugee Affairs were Mr. Ahmad Khallah, Advisor to the Department, Ms. Azhar Al-Khalili, and Ms. Serena Arrar from the General Directorate of Projects. The delegation conveyed the greetings of Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, and the Department’s Deputy Head, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and enhancing cooperation among Palestinian national institutions in support of Palestinian refugees and their resilience under the exceptional circumstances facing the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Department’s delegation presented the key findings of its Annual Report, which documents the situation in Palestinian refugee camps, the challenges they face, and the Department’s principal achievements over the past year. The report also highlights the humanitarian and development interventions implemented in refugee camps and Palestinian communities, as well as the partnerships established with national institutions and international donors to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian refugees and improve the quality of services provided to them. The meeting also explored opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in responding to the needs of displaced families in the northern West Bank and improving coordination in the areas of social protection, social care, and humanitarian relief, with the aim of ensuring a more coordinated and effective national response for affected households. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close coordination, exchanging expertise and information, and building on the existing partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Refugee Affairs. They stressed that strengthening cooperation among national institutions is essential for addressing humanitarian and social challenges and enhancing the resilience of Palestinian refugees while improving the services provided to them.
MoSD Holds Consultative Workshop to Develop the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development today held a consultative workshop to present and discuss the draft Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Manual under the Social Development Enhancement Project, implemented in partnership with the World Bank. The workshop brought together representatives of the General Union of Persons with Disabilities, the Advisory Board for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations, and civil society organizations working in the field of human rights. The workshop forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen a more efficient and inclusive grievance redress system that enhances service quality and promotes the principles of transparency and accountability. The workshop was opened by Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning, who welcomed the participants and emphasized that strengthening the grievance redress system requires effective coordination and collaboration among all relevant stakeholders. He described the system as one of the key instruments for improving service quality and enhancing responsiveness to citizens' needs. He explained that the workshop aims to discuss the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual and its procedures through a participatory approach to develop practical, confidential, transparent, and effective processes, with particular attention to sensitive complaints, including those related to gender-based violence (GBV), thereby strengthening public confidence in the grievance mechanism and improving its effectiveness. Mr. Mohammad Rashid Khaled, Head of the Complaints Unit at the Ministry of Social Development, presented an overview of the Ministry’s existing grievance redress system, including the procedures for receiving, processing, and resolving complaints. He emphasized the importance of continuously improving these procedures and expanding access channels for all population groups to ensure timely responses, high-quality complaint resolution, strengthened good governance, and improved public service delivery. For her part, Ms. Kifah Rajoub, Environmental and Social Specialist at the World Bank, presented the draft Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual, explaining that the workshop is part of a broader consultative process aimed at gathering feedback from partners and relevant stakeholders before the Manual is finalized. She noted that this process seeks to strengthen complaint intake channels and grievance handling procedures in line with international good practices. Ms. Rajoub also presented the key components of the Social Development Enhancement Project, which aims to build a more resilient social protection system capable of responding to shocks and crises by strengthening social services for poor and marginalized households, enhancing the Social Registry and Case Management System, building the capacities of Ministry staff in the directorates, and developing a flexible emergency response mechanism in collaboration with partners. The workshop further reviewed the core principles of the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual, with particular emphasis on ensuring that complaint channels are accessible to all groups, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons, while establishing clear, fair, and transparent grievance handling procedures that reinforce integrity, accountability, and transparency in project implementation. The workshop concluded with an extensive technical discussion among participants representing various institutions and professional backgrounds. Participants reviewed the draft Manual, shared technical observations and recommendations for its improvement, and emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination and consultation among all partners to finalize a comprehensive Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual that strengthens the effectiveness and credibility of the Ministry’s grievance redress system.
