Code of Ethics: Social Work
A Code of Ethics for Social Work Practice has been developed within the framework of the Social Protection Enhancement Project.
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National Social Registry and Case Management
One Nation... One Goal The National Social Registry A Strong Family is the Foundation of Sustainable Social Development
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Citizen Guide
This guide explains the tasks associated with social interventions and the various services we provide, as well as how to access them.
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Latest News
Activities and Events of the Ministry, Directorates, and Centers
Dr. Hamad Opens the Second International Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorder in Dura
Hebron – Minister of Social Development, Dr. Samah Hamad, inaugurated the second edition of the International Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorder in Dura today. The conference was organized by the Dura Al-Amal Charitable Association, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, with the participation of researchers, specialists, representatives of governmental and civil society institutions, and organizations working in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. The event builds on the first edition of the conference, held last year. The conference was inaugurated during Dr. Hamad's visit to the Association, in the presence of Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin; Mayor of Dura, Engineer Muhannad Saeed Amr; Archbishop Atallah Hanna; and Dr. Mohammad Taha, Chairman of the Dura Al-Amal Charitable Association, alongside representatives of governmental and civil society institutions, security agencies, and local community organizations. The Minister was accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry, including Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Development and Planning; Nidal Al-Tamizi, Director of the Social Development Directorate in Hebron; Amin Abu Sheikha, Director of the Social Development Directorate in Yatta; and several Ministry staff members. During her address, Dr. Hamad outlined the main services provided by the Ministry of Social Development within its social protection and care system. These include services for children, persons with disabilities, women, and older persons, as well as case management, psychosocial support, social assistance, economic empowerment, referrals, and follow-up services. She emphasized that the Ministry is working to improve these services and expand access to them according to the needs of families and different population groups. Dr. Hamad highlighted the steps taken by the Ministry to strengthen the inclusion of children with disabilities, including children with autism spectrum disorder, through cooperation with the Nursery Owners Syndicate in Palestine to develop more inclusive nursery environments, strengthen staff capacities, and improve the quality of services provided to children. She also addressed the partnership with the General Union of Persons with Disabilities to develop the regulatory framework for customs exemptions on vehicles for persons with disabilities and expand eligibility to include persons with severe autism spectrum disorder. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burdens on families and facilitate access to education, rehabilitation, and care services. Dr. Hamad discussed the situation of children with autism spectrum disorder in the Gaza Strip, highlighting how the war and displacement have disrupted educational and rehabilitation services and affected children's environments and daily routines. She stressed the importance of integrated case management and connecting children and their families with protection, psychosocial support, healthcare, education, and rehabilitation services. Regarding the West Bank, she emphasized that priorities include expanding access to services, improving their quality, ensuring equitable distribution across governorates, and strengthening coordination between the health, education, and social protection sectors. Dr. Hamad stressed that improving the response to the needs of persons with autism spectrum disorder requires a comprehensive and integrated system that begins with awareness-raising and early detection, continues through diagnosis, intervention, rehabilitation, and inclusive education, and extends to protection, family support, and empowerment throughout all stages of life. She also highlighted the importance of developing professional capacities, improving data systems, and strengthening cooperation with universities, scientific centres, and specialized institutions. She praised the “Our Place Among Them” (Makanuna Baynahum) initiative, which conference organizers are preparing to launch, describing it as an initiative aimed at strengthening the inclusion and visibility of persons with autism spectrum disorder in society, correcting misconceptions, and supporting their rights to education, participation, and access to services. Dr. Hamad emphasized that holding the conference for the second consecutive year reflects the importance of building on the achievements of its previous edition, continuing scientific and professional dialogue on autism spectrum disorder, and translating recommendations into practical measures that improve policies and services for persons with autism spectrum disorder and their families. In concluding her remarks, Dr. Hamad stressed the importance of ensuring that the conference's outcomes contribute to strengthening the rights of persons with autism spectrum disorder, expanding opportunities for their inclusion and full participation in society, and developing a service system that is more responsive to their needs and those of their families.
MoSD: Families Surviving on One Meal a Day in Gaza Signals a Serious Deterioration in Food Security
Declining Assistance, Rising Prices, and Loss of Income Force Families to Reduce Meals Amid Growing Concerns Over Hunger and DeprivationRamallah – The Ministry of Social Development warned of the worsening food security crisis in the Gaza Strip amid declining humanitarian assistance, continued restrictions on border crossings and the entry of goods, rising prices, and the loss of income sources. The Ministry stressed that families being forced to survive on just one meal a day reflects a serious deterioration in their ability to meet basic needs and threatens their health and living conditions, particularly those of children and the most vulnerable groups. The Ministry emphasized that reducing the number of daily meals is no longer a choice for many families, but rather a coping mechanism forced upon them by limited resources and irregular assistance. It noted that the crisis is worsening as the World Food Programme (WFP) reduces the number of people receiving monthly food assistance from 1.6 million to 1.1 million due to funding shortages, leaving approximately 500,000 people without monthly assistance at a time of growing humanitarian needs. The Ministry explained that projections from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicate that more than 1.4 million people in the Gaza Strip, approximately 67% of the population, are expected to face Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity between July and December 2026, including around 212,000 people at Emergency level. These figures highlight the serious consequences of continued reductions in assistance and deteriorating living conditions. The Ministry added that rising prices and the absence of income sources severely limit families' ability to purchase food, even when it is available in markets. It pointed to United Nations data showing that inflation in the Gaza Strip remained approximately 204% above pre-October 2023 levels in September 2026. This places additional pressure on families that have lost their jobs and savings, forcing them to reduce food quantities and eliminate essential food items from their diets. The Ministry stressed that surviving on one meal a day does not simply mean consuming less food; it also means a decline in dietary quality, diversity, and nutritional value, increasing the risk of malnutrition, particularly among children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older persons, and persons with disabilities. It also warned that continued restrictions on border crossings and disruptions to economic activity, combined with the approaching winter season, are placing additional burdens on families already struggling to secure food, shelter, heating, and healthcare. The Ministry of Social Development reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the needs of the most vulnerable families, updating beneficiary information, and strengthening coordination with international organizations and humanitarian partners to expand food and cash assistance programmes. These efforts include supporting bread distribution, hot meal programmes, and food parcel assistance, while prioritizing families with children, female breadwinners, persons with disabilities, older persons, and those who have lost their sources of income. The Ministry called on the international community, donors, and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to ensure sustainable funding for assistance programmes, increase food supplies, and guarantee their regular delivery. It also called for opening border crossings, facilitating the entry of goods, and expanding cash assistance and nutrition interventions. The Ministry emphasized that addressing the crisis requires an integrated response combining emergency assistance, social protection, and the restoration of employment opportunities and sources of income. In conclusion, the Ministry of Social Development stressed that families in the Gaza Strip being forced to survive on one meal a day is not a situation that can be allowed to continue, but rather a serious humanitarian warning that demands an urgent and sustained response. It reaffirmed that ensuring food security goes beyond simply providing food. It requires enabling families to access sufficient, safe, and diverse food on a regular basis, safeguarding their health and dignity while strengthening their resilience.
Dr. Hamad Opens Training Workshop in Partnership with UNRWA to Strengthen Protection for Persons with Disabilities
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, and Ms. Hanan Al-Jayousi, Deputy Chief of the Relief and Social Services Programme at UNRWA in the West Bank, inaugurated a specialized training workshop on Tuesday entitled “Case Management and Referral Pathways for Persons with Disabilities in Protection and Gender-Based Violence Response Contexts.” The two-day workshop, held in Ramallah, is organized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development. It brings together UNRWA social workers and specialized staff from both institutions. The workshop aims to strengthen social workers' skills in risk assessment, case management, and identifying referral pathways, thereby improving responses to the needs of persons with disabilities, particularly women and children at risk of violence. It also seeks to standardize intervention procedures and strengthen coordination among organizations working within the social protection system. In her opening remarks, Dr. Hamad emphasized the importance of the partnership with UNRWA in developing social protection services and building the capacities of frontline workers. She commended the efforts of UNRWA and Ministry staff in delivering services to the most vulnerable groups and extended special appreciation to personnel working in the Gaza Strip amid the difficult humanitarian conditions caused by the war and blockade, which continue to place increasing pressure on humanitarian and social institutions. Dr. Hamad explained that the Ministry's approach is based on three interconnected pillars: protection from violence and social risks; care services, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and legal assistance; and economic empowerment. She stressed that integrating these three pillars is fundamental to protecting families and strengthening their resilience and independence. She highlighted the importance of investing in the professional development of social counsellors and social workers, describing them as the backbone of field operations. She noted that frontline personnel account for approximately 80% of the Ministry's workforce, and that strengthening their skills in risk assessment, case management, and early intervention contributes to improving service quality and ensuring that women, children, and persons with disabilities receive appropriate protection and care. Regarding the development of inclusive policies and services, Dr. Hamad outlined the Ministry's efforts to amend the customs exemption regulations for persons with disabilities to cover different types of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. She also highlighted ongoing work to develop nursery regulations and introduce standards that ensure childcare facilities are equipped to accommodate children with disabilities. These measures aim to promote children's inclusion in society while enabling their mothers to participate in the labour market. For her part, Ms. Hanan Al-Jayousi, Deputy Chief of UNRWA's Relief and Social Services Programme, praised the level of cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Social Development. She emphasized the importance of this partnership in strengthening the social protection system and improving responses to gender-based violence, particularly violence affecting women and persons with disabilities. Al-Jayousi highlighted the need to harmonize professional concepts, strengthen field coordination, and improve referral pathways between the two institutions to ensure an integrated response that addresses the needs of the most vulnerable groups. She also expressed appreciation for the cooperation within the framework of the National Committee and the joint efforts in capacity-building and knowledge exchange. Several specialized Ministry staff members are contributing to the delivery of the training programme, including Mohammad Al-Qarm, Director General of the General Directorate for Family Affairs; Hiba Jebat, Director of the Women and Gender Unit; Ghalia Abu Al-Rub, Director of the Child Protection Department; and Fadwa Maharmeh from the General Directorate for Persons with Disabilities. They are delivering specialized training sessions covering the institutional and legislative frameworks for protecting women and children, services provided to persons with disabilities, disability-inclusive communication approaches, risk assessment, case management, and referral pathways. The two-day training combines theoretical sessions with practical exercises, including case studies, the development of intervention plans, and the identification of referral pathways for women with disabilities who have survived violence and children with disabilities at risk of violence. The programme also provides opportunities to discuss professional challenges and exchange experiences among participants, with the aim of developing recommendations to improve protection procedures and response mechanisms. The workshop forms part of UNRWA's efforts to strengthen the capacities of personnel working in protection and gender-based violence response, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development. It aims to improve professional practices, strengthen referral pathways, and promote disability-inclusive responses. The initiative also reflects the importance of cooperation between UNRWA and the Ministry in supporting the delivery of more inclusive and responsive protection services for persons with disabilities and groups facing heightened protection risks.
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