The Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity, representing the Arab Republic of Egypt, participated in the conference "Supporting Social Policies to Reduce Multidimensional Poverty in Arab Countries: Reality and Aspirations," organized by the League of Arab States in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development. The conference was held in Amman, Jordan, and was attended by representatives from Arab countries' ministries of development, social affairs, and social solidarity, as well as regional and international experts.
The conference was opened by Wa'faa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Tariq Al-Nabulsi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of Development and Social Policies and Secretary of the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Social Affairs Ministers' Council. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Rahman, Head of the Central Administration for Social Protection at the Ministry of Social Solidarity, represented Egypt at the conference. He presented Egypt's efforts in social protection and economic empowerment, as well as policies and programs aimed at reducing multidimensional poverty.
Dr. Ahmed Abdel Rahman highlighted the experience of the conditional cash transfer program "Takaful and Karama," which is a key component of Egypt's social protection system. He explained the program's mechanisms and conditional health and education systems, as well as its role in supporting families in need and enhancing access to social protection services for targeted groups. The program has been successful in providing support to vulnerable populations and promoting economic empowerment.
The conference discussed ways to develop social policies to address multidimensional poverty and exchanged experiences and best practices among Arab countries. Participants also reviewed the latest developments related to measuring poverty and improving mechanisms for targeting the most needy groups. The conference aimed to build on the efforts of the League of Arab States and ESCWA in exchanging Arab and international experiences in social protection and monitoring progress in measuring multidimensional poverty and mitigating its impacts.
The conference included discussion sessions that addressed trends in poverty and human development in the long term and their implications for social policies. Participants also examined the reality of multidimensional poverty in Arab countries and prominent policies and recommendations proposed to address it. The conference provided a platform for countries to share experiences and expertise in addressing poverty and social protection.
The conference also featured presentations on international experiences in reducing poverty and improving mechanisms for targeting the most needy groups. These experiences can inform and support Arab countries' efforts to develop social protection systems and enhance the efficiency of assistance and social support programs. By sharing knowledge and best practices, countries can work towards reducing poverty and promoting social protection.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to addressing multidimensional poverty and enhancing social protection in Arab countries. Egypt's participation in the conference demonstrated its commitment to sharing experiences and expertise in social protection and poverty reduction. The conference provided a valuable opportunity for countries to come together and discuss ways to address these critical issues.
Key points
- Egypt showcases its experience in combating poverty and enhancing social protection at the Arab conference in Amman.
- The conference aims to support social policies to reduce multidimensional poverty in Arab countries.
- Participants exchange experiences and best practices in addressing poverty and social protection.
