His Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Mukhtar Al-Yafai, today reviewed the activities, programmes, and areas of work of the SILA for Development Foundation, including its interventions in the sectors of health, education, food security, empowerment and protection, water, agriculture, and community development, as well as the geographical areas covered by its programmes.

During his meeting with the Foundation’s Executive Director, Ali Bashammakh, Minister Al-Yafai was briefed on the nature of projects implemented in the areas of water, energy, and essential service infrastructure; efforts to improve livelihoods and support local communities; agricultural and environmental programmes; and training, capacity-building, and economic empowerment projects. He also reviewed the Foundation’s efforts to transition from relief-oriented interventions towards programmes more closely aligned with development and sustainability.

Minister Al-Yafai affirmed that the Ministry regards national civil society institutions and organizations as partners in development and social protection efforts. He stressed the importance of designing programmes and projects in line with actual needs and national priorities, while strengthening coordination with the Ministry and its offices in the governorates to ensure complementarity, minimize duplication, and maximize the impact of interventions on beneficiaries’ lives.

The Minister also underscored the importance of ensuring that the Foundation’s training, capacity-building, and entrepreneurship programmes respond to labour-market needs and the requirements of employers, contributing to the development of skills that can translate into genuine economic opportunities. He further highlighted the importance of expanding interventions that support production and livelihoods, promote the use of renewable energy, and encourage sustainable agricultural practices, thereby strengthening communities’ capacity to rely on and make effective use of their own resources.

For his part, the Executive Director of the SILA for Development Foundation outlined the Foundation’s strategic directions and plans in the humanitarian and development sectors. He emphasized the importance of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour fulfilling its role as the institutional umbrella regulating the work of local organizations, in a manner that strengthens coordination with government entities and partners and directs efforts towards the actual priorities and needs of the community.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Foundation honored Minister Al-Yafai in recognition of his efforts to support and strengthen partnership with civil society institutions and organizations.