Acknowledgements

This report has benefited from the work and input of many individuals. Special thanks go to Frederico Neto, Chief of the Social Development Division, for his guidance and support throughout the drafting process; and to Gisela Nauk, Chief of the Social Policy Section, who provided mentorship, technical advice and patient encouragement, thereby playing an essential part in the drafting and writing of this paper.

The paper, which was designed and authored by Diane Zovighian, Associate Social Affairs Officer, builds on the results of the field research conducted in Jordan by Mahara Professional Consultancies in Development and on an initial draft provided by its team. Throughout the drafting and editing phases, it has benefited from the careful review and feedback of Aida Aburas, Regional Advisor on the Empowerment and Advancement of Women; Dima Jamali, First Social Affairs Officer; Lina Nassar, Research Assistant; and, at an earlier stage, Maissa Youssef, Associate Social Affairs Officer.

Additionally, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Beirut, in particular Renaud Detalle, provided the Social Policy Section with valuable guidance on the human rights-based approach to social development.

The author wishes to express her most sincere gratitude to each of these individuals.