JERUSALEM, October 18, 2016 (WAFA) - Marking the United Nations-designated International Day of Eradication of Poverty, the European Union (EU) and the Ministry of Social Development launched a new €1.5 million capacity building program for the improvement of social protection systems in Palestine, an EU statement said on Monday.

The new EU funded program has been designed in support of the upcoming Palestinian Social Protection Sector Strategy and the National Policy Agenda 2017-2022.

The new program focuses, in particular, on the effectiveness and coherence of Palestine‘s social protection system through focusing on improving the social services that in turn will contribute to the goal of ending poverty in all its forms in Palestine, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

‘‘The EU supports the Ministry of Social Development to operate in the highest capacity to better serve vulnerable families through an inclusive and equitable social protection system,” said EU Representative Ralph Tarraf on the occasion.

“Ending poverty means: better education, better health, higher employment rates, and a growing economy. All these components are the building stones of a future Palestinian State,‘‘ he said, adding, ‘‘Today, we observe the International Day of Eradication of Poverty while acknowledging the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty. It is a collective obligation for all of us to fulfill the needs and aspirations of everyone for this and future generations.‘

The EU-funded program aims to support the Social Ministry to improve and develop the strategic and management capacity of the institution to better serve vulnerable families and groups in Palestine.

It is intended to support the ministry’s regional directorates in delivering services to vulnerable groups. It also aims to enhance the multi-stakeholder partnerships coordination for local social protection planning and service delivery.

M.A.