.The first consultative meeting for civil society organizations was held this morning at the headquarters of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in the capital, Aden. The meeting was organized by the Social Development and Social Welfare Sectors of the Ministry, under the gracious patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Zouari, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor.

During the meeting, the Undersecretary of the Ministry for the Social Welfare Sector, Mr. Saleh Mahmoud, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the participants and conveyed to them the greetings of His Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Zouari. He pointed out that everyone stands today at a pivotal milestone in the path toward developing institutional partnership between the Ministry and civil society organizations, in order to confront growing challenges and maximize opportunities for joint action in the social and labor sectors.

Mr. Abu Suhail emphasized the necessity of strengthening organized participatory work based on planning, evaluation, and the unification of efforts, stressing that civil society should be an active partner in formulating solutions, not merely an implementer of activities.

He also affirmed that women, workers, and the most vulnerable groups represent a top priority in the policies of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, noting that any joint strategy must be based on protecting their rights, enhancing their empowerment opportunities, and improving the level of services provided to them, in a manner that ensures social justice and community stability.

In concluding his speech, he expressed hope that the meeting would result in clear consensus, defined priorities, and a practical roadmap, and that it would mark a serious beginning for an effective and responsible partnership that serves society, promotes development, and preserves human dignity.

For her part, Ms. Faiza Abdulmajid, Acting Undersecretary for the Social Development Sector at the Ministry, emphasized the importance of this meeting, which aligns with the sector’s plan to strengthen participatory work with civil society organizations. She noted that the meeting represents an opportunity to discuss ideas and visions and exchange experiences on how to enhance the relationship between the Ministry and civil society organizations and their social developmental role.

During the meeting, participants reviewed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges facing their work. The meeting concluded with a number of recommendations, most notably emphasizing the continuity of holding such quarterly consultative meetings throughout the year.

The first consultative meeting aimed to establish a practical institutional framework for regular quarterly meetings focused on monitoring and evaluation, identifying realistic priorities, transforming recommendations into implementable action plans, and strengthening channels of coordination and mutual support between the Ministry and associations, institutions, and unions.

The meeting, which was attended by approximately forty civil society organizations, aimed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current situation, including strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and available opportunities in the social sector, and to determine priorities. It resulted in several recommendations, most notably the preparation of a preliminary action plan for the first quarter based on the agreed priorities, and inviting other institutions and organizations to participate in the next meeting after the holy month of Ramadan.

The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Ahmed Ali, representative of CARE Organization. Attendees included Mr. Hassan Mohammed Saeed, Director of the Office of His Excellency the Minister; Mr. Ihab Mohammed Babreesh, Director General of Social Protection; and Ms. Munia Mahmoud Azzani, Director General of Social Assistance and Head of the Technical Office.