Sana'a: The Board of Directors of the Social Welfare Fund convened on Sunday under the leadership of Samir Bajjalah, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor. The meeting focused on reviewing the Fund's objectives, structure, and past activities, particularly in light of the challenges posed by aggression and blockades that have impacted its support capabilities for impoverished families, previously reaching around 1.5 million cases.
According to Yemen News Agency, discussions at the meeting included the current status of the Fund, the volume of external funding disbursed from 2017 to 2024, and the aspects of the 2025 Social Support Program. These included details on disbursement criteria and the preparation of beneficiary lists and data. Minister Bajjalah highlighted the Fund's pivotal role in supporting vulnerable groups and announced that the new cycle of cash assistance will include 500,000 cases, contingent upon secured funding and agreed-upon criteria.
Minister Bajjalah also mentioned efforts to establish an Empowerment and Response Bank, as directed by the revolutionary leadership and the Supreme Political Council. This bank aims to address urgent societal needs and eligible beneficiaries. He emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among relevant entities and the Ministry of Social Affairs in overseeing economic empowerment, social protection, and securing necessary funding.
The Minister noted that the Ministry now possesses essential components for success, including qualified sectors, expertise, and personnel. The Fund is equipped with infrastructure, personnel, and expertise to manage cash assistance and economic empowerment projects efficiently. It also maintains a comprehensive database of beneficiaries.
Interventions during the meeting highlighted the need to revitalize the Social Welfare Fund's role, improve coordination with relevant entities, and mobilize funding for economic empowerment projects aimed at supporting needy and impoverished families.
The meeting concluded with a series of recommendations, stressing the allocation of operational expenses to enable the Fund to fulfill its duties and implement the objectives of the Social Welfare Law and government program. It also underscored the importance of involving the Fund in economic empowerment projects and securing necessary funding.
Furthermore, the recommendations called for the approval of a field verification mechanism for current beneficiary data and securing funding to update the poverty database in the Fund's records. The session also emphasized the approval of the proposal for the 2025 Social Support Program and granting the Fund's leadership the authority to implement the project in collaboration with the Social Fund for Development.