Highlights

The World Bank launched the Community of Practice (COP) and Social Safety Nets (SSN) program by organizing a launching forum in the Turkish capital Istanbul aiming to expose countries from the Middle East and North Africa region to experiences of other countries in the same field. 

Objectives

During the forum, participants were exposed to experiences of COPs from other developing regions. This will help them learn about the relevant operational aspects of implementing COPs, the lessons learned and best practices accumulated through few years of operations, as well as learn about the value added of such initiatives. 

Scope of the Activity

In order to ensure the responsiveness of the COP to local needs and ensure local ownership of its tools and activities, directors of social assistance and employment in the 6 respective countries will be invited to: (i) develop and agree on the Terms of Reference of the COP; (ii) define the role of member countries (and the World Bank); (iii) decide on the topics that was to be discussed and addressed in the planned activities throughout the year; (iv) nominate practitioners from their respective countries; and most importantly (v) decide on the tools that were to be employed to facilitate knowledge exchange. 

Links to Resources

Full Agenda (French and English)

List and contacts of participants

Participants’ Presentations

• Tunisia
  • Mr. Mohamed Zribi, General Director of Social Advancement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Case Study: Tunisia (French, English and Arabic)
  • Ms. Fatma Moussa, The Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment:  Case Study: Tunisia (French, English and Arabic)
  • Mr. Mohamed Charfeddine, Director General of National Agency for Employment and Independent Work (ANETI):  Case Study: Tunisia (French, English and Arabic)
• Yemen
  • Dr. Nabeel Alsohybe, Deputy Minister of Labour Force, Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour Case Study: Republic of Yemen (French, English and Arabic)
  • Mr. Mansour Hussein Al Faidhi, Director, Social Welfare Fund (SWF): Republic of Yemen (French, English and Arabic)
• Lebanon
  • Jean Abi Fadel, General Manager, National Employment Office:  Case Study: Lebanon (English and Arabic)
• Palestinian Authority
  • Mr. Daoud AL Deek, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Social Affairs: Case Study Palestine, Cash Transfers Program (French and Arabic)
  • Mr. Samer Salameh, Director General of Employment Ministry of Labor:  State of Palestine (French and Arabic)
  • Mr. Daoud AL Deek, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Social Affairs: Case Study: Palestine (French, English and Arabic)
• Morocco
  • Nadine Poupart, Ministry of Employment and Professional Training:  Case Study: Morocco (French)
  • Mr. Abdeljalil Cherkaoui, National Assistance: Case study: Morocco (French and Arabic)
• Iraq
  • Dr. Salim Jumaa Abdul Sahib, Director-General, Social Safety Net Department (SSN) Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs: Case Study: Republic of Iraq (French and Arabic)
  • Dr. Salim Jumaa Abdul Sahib, Director-General, Social Safety Net Department (SSN), Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs: Success Story: Republic of Iraq (French and Arabic)
• Turkey
  • General Directorate of Social Assistance (English and Arabic)
  • ISKUR: Active Employment Measures (Arabic)
• Word Bank
  • Diego F. Angel-Urdinola, Arvo Kuddo, Amina Semlali, Rene Leon-Solano, Anne Hilger: A Reform Agenda for Improving Publicly Provided ALMPs in the MENA Region (French, English and Arabic)
  • The World Bank Department for Human Development: Inclusion and Resilience (French, English and Arabic)
  • The World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor Strategy Department: Resilience Equity and Opportunity (French, English and Arabic)
  • Community of Practice, Middle East and North Africa: Survey Results (Arabic)