His Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Mukhtar Al-Yafei, met today with representatives of the Al-Awn Foundation for Development, as part of efforts to strengthen partnerships with civil society organizations and to coordinate humanitarian and development initiatives in a way that promotes integration and directs interventions toward national priorities.

During the meeting, the Foundation’s areas of work were reviewed, along with its key programs and development projects. Discussions also addressed mechanisms for coordinating humanitarian efforts, avoiding duplication, and enhancing alignment with the Ministry’s plans. In addition, the meeting explored institutional capacity-building programs, support for education and vocational training, and the promotion of governance and transparency principles in project implementation.

His Excellency Minister Al-Yafei emphasized that the Ministry is adopting a shift in its operational philosophy, based on active partnerships with civil society organizations. He stressed that humanitarian work must remain neutral and focused solely on serving people, free from any external considerations, while prioritizing support for credible institutions and ensuring high-impact outcomes.

The Minister also highlighted challenges related to the labor market, particularly the skills gap and the mismatch between educational outputs and actual market needs.

 He underscored the importance of linking training outcomes to labor market demands in order to better prepare youth for employment both locally and internationally.

For his part, the Executive Director of the Al-Awn Foundation for Development, Dr. Abdulilah bin Othman, affirmed the Foundation’s commitment to the principles of transparency and neutrality, as well as to strengthening partnership and cooperation with the Ministry in implementing high-quality programs—especially in the field of vocational training to meet labor market needs.