Damascus, Feb. 7 (SANA) – Syria’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor signed Saturday a memorandum of understanding with the Saïd Foundation for Development to launch a leadership training program aimed at improving the inclusion of people with disabilities and strengthening institutional performance.
The agreement was signed in Damascus by Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat and Saïd Foundation Chairman Wafic Rida Saïd. It targets senior ministry officials and focuses on developing advanced leadership skills within the public sector.
Kabawat said the initiative seeks to expand cooperation between government institutions, the private sector, and business leaders to build workforce capacity and improve public services, adding that such partnerships are essential to fostering a culture of learning and long-term development.
Under the program, 50% of training slots will be allocated to people with disabilities. Facilities will be adapted to ensure accessibility, including sign-language interpretation, and participants will be drawn from multiple governorates to maximize outreach.
The Saïd Foundation Chairman said the training curriculum would be designed in line with international standards and tailored to the ministry’s needs, emphasizing the importance of supporting social-sector staff who work with vulnerable communities.
Founded in 1984, the Saïd Foundation is a non-profit educational charity that offers fully funded postgraduate scholarships to students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine at leading UK universities, including Oxford.
The agreement is part of broader efforts by the ministry to modernize social protection systems, support livelihoods, and improve services for vulnerable and at-risk populations.
