Al-Huwail: Expanding Strategic Partnerships to Develop the Social Services System
- The program embodies Kuwait’s firm commitment to enhancing and realizing developmental partnerships
- Al-Taher: A landmark in the ongoing partnership between Kuwait and the United Nations
Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailan, Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, affirmed that the Ministry of Social Affairs is continuing to expand strategic partnerships that elevate the quality of social services to achieve a sustainable impact on individuals, families, and society. She noted that the opening of the joint United Nations program headquarters to support and enhance employment and comprehensive rehabilitation represents a qualitative step toward consolidating partnerships between government entities, international organizations, and civil society institutions. This contributes to developing an integrated system for social and health support, enabling target groups to actively integrate into society and participate in the journey toward sustainable development.
Al-Huwailan, speaking during her patronage of the program’s inauguration ceremony at Abdullah Al-Salem University in Shuwaikh on Wednesday, stated that the project, organized by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kuwait in collaboration with the Human Building Association, reflects Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening joint developmental efforts and achieving the targets of Kuwait Vision 2035. She highlighted that the project embodies Kuwait’s steadfast commitment to enhancing developmental partnerships and coordinating joint humanitarian efforts, aligning with Kuwait’s developmental aspirations. Furthermore, it does not merely mark the inauguration of a site but establishes a new phase of cooperation and integration between national institutions and international partners, delivering a sustainable impact that positively reflects on individuals, families, and society.
She expressed appreciation for the role of international partners and the Human Building Association for Social Development, recognized as one of Kuwait’s public benefit associations. As an active national partner in implementing developmental programs and community initiatives aimed at enhancing social and health inclusion, empowering target groups, and consolidating the concept of partnership between the government sector, UN organizations, and civil society institutions, the association contributes to sustainable development and serves Kuwaiti society.
Al-Huwailan extended her thanks and appreciation to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development for its generous support of the project, which exemplifies the Fund’s pioneering developmental role, as well as to Abdullah Al-Salem University for hosting the headquarters and nurturing this initiative to serve society.
For her part, Ghada Al-Taher, UN Resident Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kuwait, emphasized in her speech that the program represents an advanced model of strategic partnership between Kuwait and the UN system, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting social and health inclusion.
Al-Taher stated that the inauguration of the headquarters marks the launch of a new phase of cooperation based on unifying efforts among government entities, academic institutions, and civil society to develop integrated social and health services and build evidence-based policies.
She commended the Human Building Association for Social Development for its efforts in preparing the project and equipping the headquarters as a key national partner collaborating with the Ministry of Social Affairs, in technical partnership with the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, UNESCO, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The program comprises two integrated components funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The first component focuses on empowering persons with disabilities and enhancing their integration into the labor market, implemented by the International Labour Organization, UNESCO, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities.
The second component is the transition from recovery to resilience, implemented by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in partnership with the Ministries of Health and Interior.
