His Excellency Mukhtar Al-Yafei, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, met today in the interim capital, Aden, with Dr. Khaldoon Salem Saleh, Programme Advisor at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), to discuss avenues for cooperation and coordination in implementing projects with social and service dimensions aimed at improving services for the most vulnerable groups.

The meeting explored potential areas of collaboration between the Ministry and UNOPS, particularly in project management and implementation, the development of infrastructure for social facilities, and the provision of logistical and operational support to serve care and rehabilitation centers, as well as projects targeting vulnerable populations.

Minister Al-Yafei reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening its partnership with United Nations organizations through clear institutional coordination mechanisms and complementary roles. He emphasized the importance of aligning interventions with the Ministry's priorities and community needs to ensure that projects are effectively directed toward eligible beneficiaries and achieve tangible, sustainable improvements in social services.

The Minister also noted that the Ministry is working to enhance the social protection system, improve the efficiency of beneficiary targeting, and build partnerships that facilitate the transition from limited interventions to more sustainable and implementable projects. He highlighted the importance of leveraging UNOPS' expertise in project management, infrastructure development, and support for social service facilities.

For his part, the UNOPS Programme Advisor reaffirmed the Office's readiness to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in areas of mutual interest. He expressed UNOPS' commitment to supporting efforts aimed at implementing practical and sustainable projects that contribute to improving social services and addressing the needs of targeted groups in line with clearly defined and coordinated priorities.