Policy Conference on Social Protection in Jordan

FromOct 02, 2022 To Oct 02, 2022

Hybrid Event

Social protection can be broadly defined as the policies and programs concerned with “preventing, managing, and overcoming situations which adversely affect people’s wellbeing” (UN Research Institute for Social Development). It includes such policies as social assistance and social insurance, health care access, and labor market interventions, among others. These policies and programs are essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goal #1: “No Poverty”, and as such have become a central point of focus in both international and national policy agendas. In Jordan specifically, there has been an increased focus on establishing a social protection floor through the expansion and improvement of social protection programs, as outlined within the National Social Protection Strategy of 2019. However, in order to achieve the goal of breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty as outlined within the strategy, considerable challenges must be addressed, and adjustments must be made to existing systems.
This conference will serve as a platform to present the findings of seven papers produced in the context of the Economic Research Forum’s project on “Reimagining Social Protection in Jordan and Tunisia”, funded by the Ford Foundation. These papers cover a variety of social protection topics, including transformative social protection approaches, national social dialogue and social protection, protection for vulnerable groups such as youth, refugees, and people with disabilities, and minimum and living wages.  Findings will be discussed with a variety of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, governmental representatives, and intergovernmental organizations such as UNICEF and UNHCR. 
OBJECTIVES 
The conference will encourage discussion of the current state of social protection in Jordan, as well as the key challenges that remain in implementing the social protection floor. Most notably, the conference will provide space for multiple stakeholders to promote civic engagement, and discuss policy solutions. 
ORGANIZATION
This dialogue will be centered on providing space for various stakeholders to discuss policy implications of research findings. Three thematic sessions will take place in which the policy implications of each paper within this series will be presented and discussed by a panel of experts. Panel discussion will be followed by open discussion:
  • Presentation of Policy Findings – 10 minutes per paper (2-3 papers per session).
  • Discussants – 20 minutes. 
  • Open discussion – 20 minutes.

 

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Download the Agenda

Agenda

Welcome Remarks and Keynote Speech

Date

02/10/2022

Location

Hybrid Event

Time

From 10:30 am To 11:45 am

Speakers

Ahmad Awad

Speakers

Ahmad Awad

General Director, Phenix Center for Economic and...

Ragui Assaad

Research Fellows

Ragui Assaad

Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...

Ibrahim Elbadawi

Research Fellows

Ibrahim Elbadawi

Managing Director, Economic Research Forum

Date

02/10/2022

Location

Hybrid Event

Time

From 1:00 pm To 6:00 pm

This session will discuss the current state of Jordanian social protection, the importance of the transformative angle for advancing social protection, and the role of national social dialogue in guiding transformative processes.

Speakers

Areej Al Qasem

Speakers

Areej Al Qasem

Broadcaster at Al Mamlaka TV, Jordan

Mary Kawar

Policy Affiliates

Mary Kawar

Former Minister for Planning, Jordan

Zina S. Nimeh

Research Fellows

Zina S. Nimeh

Associate Professor of Public Policy, United Nations...

Tamara A. Kool

Speakers

Tamara A. Kool

Researcher, Verwey-Jonker Instituut

Courtney Geary

Speakers

Courtney Geary

Researcher, Phenix Center

Asma Ben Hassen

Speakers

Asma Ben Hassen

Founder and President, Tunisia Inclusive Labor Institute...

Arbia Saleh

Speakers

Arbia Saleh

Head, Research Department, Tunisia Inclusive Labor Institute

Ahmad Awad

Speakers

Ahmad Awad

General Director, Phenix Center for Economic and...

Baptiste Hanquart

Speakers

Baptiste Hanquart

Senior Coordinator, Jordan INGO Forum

Rula Alhroob

Speakers

Rula Alhroob

Secretary-General, Jordan Labor Party

Papers

Working Papers
From Protection to Transformation: Understanding the Landscape of Formal Social Protection in Jordan

This paper provides a broad overview of the formal contributory and non-contributory programs provided formally... Read More

Policy Briefs
The Importance of the Transformative Angle for Advancing the Social Protection Agenda in Jordan

In a nutshell The publication of the National Social Protection Strategy (JNSPS) 2019-2025 (JNSPS, 2019),... Read More

Working Papers
The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Social Protection Reforms: A Comparative Study of Jordan and Tunisia

In the Arab region, social protection systems have historically suffered from several shortcomings, including high... Read More

Policy Briefs
National Social Dialogue on Social Protection Reform in Jordan and Tunisia

In a nutshell Historically, civil society organizations in both Jordan and Tunisia have experienced periods... Read More

Videos

Date

02/10/2022

Location

Hybrid Event

Time

From 1:00 pm To 2:00 pm

This session will explore minimum and living wages in Jordan, and their implications for the establishment of a social protection floor. It will also examine if Jordan is achieving its goals of providing social insurance to its population.

Speakers

Hala Ahed

Speakers

Hala Ahed

Lawyer, Jordan Women’s Union

Irène Selwaness

Research Fellows

Irène Selwaness

Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Political...

Caroline Krafft

Authors

Caroline Krafft

Associate Professor, Humphrey School of Public Affairs,...

Cyrine Hannafi

Research Associates

Cyrine Hannafi

Post-Doctoral Researcher, University Paris-Est Créteil

Jamil Nimri

Speakers

Jamil Nimri

Member of Senate House, Jordan

Mitri Mdanat

Speakers

Mitri Mdanat

Secretary-General of the Economic and Social Council,...

Papers

Policy Briefs
Is Jordan Achieving the Social Insurance Goals of its New Social Contract?

In a nutshell: There is a regulatory gap in social insurance schemes for private sector... Read More

Working Papers
Minimum and Living Wages in Jordan and Tunisia

Countries around the world are working to develop social protection floors to help reduce poverty.... Read More

Policy Briefs
Minimum and Living Wages in Jordan and Tunisia: Implications for Social Protection Floors

In a nutshell While the majority of workers in Jordan and Tunisia earn at least... Read More

Videos

Date

02/10/2022

Location

Hybrid Event

Time

From 3:00 pm To 4:30 pm

This session will explore mechanisms for providing social protections for Jordan’s most vulnerable, with particular attention paid to the role of cash transfers in ensuring protections. Policy topics will include protections for youth, refugees, and people with disabilities.

Speakers

Ammar Abu-Zayyad

Speakers

Ammar Abu-Zayyad

Country Director, CARE International Jordan

Maia Sieverding

Authors

Maia Sieverding

Assistant Professor of Public Health Practice at...

Zeina Jamaluddine

Authors

Zeina Jamaluddine

Center for Research on Population and Health,...

Ragui Assaad

Research Fellows

Ragui Assaad

Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...

Vishal Jamkar

Speakers

Vishal Jamkar

PhD Candidate, Public Affairs, Humphrey School of...

Lara Yassin

Speakers

Lara Yassin

Director, Legal Affairs Department at the Higher...

Deena Dajani

Speakers

Deena Dajani

International Institute for Environment and Development

Papers

Policy Briefs
Achieving Health Insurance Coverage for Persons with Disabilities in Jordan: A Focus on Youth

In a nutshell 11.8% of Jordanian men and 10.6% of Jordanian women had some form... Read More

Working Papers
Cash Transfers, Household Food Insecurity and the Subjective Wellbeing of Youth in Jordan

Cash transfers have become an increasingly common feature of social protection systems in the Middle... Read More

Policy Briefs
Social Protection for Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Do Transfers Reach the Multi-dimensionally Poor?

In a nutshell A substantial proportion of the Syrian refugee in Jordan (77 percent) receives... Read More

Videos

Date

02/10/2022

Location

Hybrid Event

Time

From 4:45 pm To 6:00 pm

This policy dialogue panel will bring together experts and high-level stakeholders from various areas, including civil society, government, and international organizations. Dialogue will center on future policy actions needed to achieve broad-reaching social protection in Jordan, considering the findings of the papers within the series. The second half of the panel discussion will be open to questions from the audience. The dialogue will conclude with a discussion of actionable next steps for all actors within the social protection arena.

Speakers

Hadeel Abdelaziz

Speakers

Hadeel Abdelaziz

Executive Director, Justice Center for Legal Aid,...

Markku Malkamaki

Speakers

Markku Malkamaki

Social Protection Specialist, ILO Jordan

Diala Khamra

Speakers

Diala Khamra

Executive Director, Save the Children, Jordan

Shaman Majali

Speakers

Shaman Majali

Social Security Corporation, Jordan

Ahmad Awad

Speakers

Ahmad Awad

General Director, Phenix Center for Economic and...

Ibrahim Elbadawi

Research Fellows

Ibrahim Elbadawi

Managing Director, Economic Research Forum

Ragui Assaad

Research Fellows

Ragui Assaad

Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...

Videos