His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Zaouri, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, affirmed that investing in building institutional capacity and developing human resources represents the cornerstone of any genuine and sustainable reform.

In his speech delivered this morning at the closing ceremony of the training courses "Towards Enhancing and Building the Capacities of the Social Welfare Fund Staff in the Capital, Aden," in effective partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), he praised the organization's strategic decision to relocate its main headquarters to the capital, Aden, and extended his thanks to the international organization for its continuous support provided to the Social Welfare Fund.

Minister Al-Zaouri pointed out in his speech the latest developments regarding the Conditional Cash Transfer project, which he stated has formed one of the main pillars of social support in facing the economic and humanitarian deterioration imposed by the war waged by the terrorist Houthi militias.ظ

Minister Al-Zaouri added in his speech, "The suspension of cash transfer disbursements due to the depletion of donor funding has affected the continuity of support for beneficiaries," expressing his regret for this suspension, which results in additional pressures on needy families. He confirmed the continuation of work and coordination with donor entities and international organizations to find alternative and sustainable support mechanisms that provide social protection for citizens and meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups in society.

Minister Al-Zaouri called on the international community to intensify its support during this critical phase, contributing to achieving the sustainability of social protection programs, preserving citizen dignity, and alleviating their suffering in facing current challenges.

Minister Al-Zaouri also touched upon the Cash Plus program, three phases of which have been implemented in Aden Governorate, calling on UNICEF to expand this project to include the remaining districts and southern governorates to help alleviate burdens on vulnerable families. He highlighted the importance of specialized training courses, hoping their outcomes would contribute to a qualitative shift in the performance of the Social Welfare Fund by enhancing participants' understanding of the monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability system, enabling them to use its tools practically and effectively, and strengthening transparency principles towards beneficiaries and partners.

For his part, Mr. Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in our country, confirmed the depth of the partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, indicating that UNICEF's relocation of its headquarters to Aden reflects the organization's commitment to supporting state institutions and enhancing humanitarian and developmental work. He expressed UNICEF's readiness to exert efforts in coordinating with international partners and donor entities to find new and sustainable support mechanisms that meet citizens' needs and ensure their rights, considering this a core part of the organization's social and developmental policy.

At the beginning, Professor Najla Al-Sayyad, Executive Director of the Social Welfare Fund, welcomed His Excellency Minister Al-Zaouri, appreciating his efforts and continuous support for the Fund. She noted that these courses would create a shift for the Fund's cadres in the targeted governorates and develop their performance and how they carry out their tasks using proper scientific methods.

The six-day workshop was attended by directors of the Fund's branches and directors of monitoring and evaluation in the Fund's branches in Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Al-Dhale', and Taiz governorates. The course aimed to enhance the capacity of Fund staff in writing professional reports for social protection programs and projects.

At the end of the ceremony, certificates of appreciation were distributed to the participants