These days, there is a lot of talk about the importance of maintaining national unity, how do you see the role of the Social Affairs Organization in this area?
In the conditions of regional crises and international pressures, the most important role of the country’s social affairs organization is to strengthen the bond between the government and society and prevent the erosion of social capital. In addition to the various roles that have been defined for it, it also has the role of “social regulator”; That is, it should simultaneously strengthen public trust, expand solidarity narratives, and reduce social gaps. In such a situation, clear communication policies, support for vulnerable groups and activation of local networks, especially non-governmental organizations, charities and jihadi groups, are the main means of cohesion.
What measures have been taken in this regard?
In practice, the usual actions of this field include the establishment of volunteer networks, facilitating and strengthening the participation of non-governmental organizations, neighborhood-based management of social services, and coordination between different institutions in crises. Experience has shown that wherever we have been able to play our role as a coordinator between support institutions and people properly, the level of social peace and public trust has increased.
According to the conditions of the country, what plans do you have to support vulnerable groups?
In many social governance systems, multi-layered support plans are implemented in crisis situations for groups such as women heads of households, the elderly and youth. These plans usually include “immediate support (food, medical), mid-term support (living and accommodation) and rehabilitation support”. The main priority in such designs is usually with low-income groups with little access to official services. Specifically, the elderly need a local care network, women heads of households need stable income support, and children and youth need educational and psychological support. The new approach is to move from mere government support to local and partnership-oriented networks to increase social resilience. Although the effort in these fields has not been as it should be and the government also considers itself indebted to the people in this area, but with the cooperation of institutions such as welfare, the Ministry of Health and the Red Crescent, good measures have been taken.
Considering that the shadow of war has not gone away from the country, how do you think social policies should be addressed?
Naturally, executive policies are not the same in times of war and peace. In the conditions of peace, social policies are mainly focused on development, empowerment and gradual reduction of harms; But in the conditions of war or security pressure, the priority changes towards crisis control, maintaining social stability and preventing the spread of immediate damage and protecting social capital. In fact, the weight of policies shifts from “developmental prevention” to “emergency management” or social management in times of crisis. In such a situation, the implementation plans and priorities and even the means of realizing the plans also change. For example, the speed of decision-making increases, the focus shifts from long-term plans to short-term and impactful actions, and the role of local networks and volunteering becomes more prominent. To adapt to these conditions, organizations usually use crisis scenario writing, social warning systems, and real-time damage monitoring. We also have evidence-based and targeted interventions in the Social Affairs Organization with the National Social Monitoring Center.
How do you evaluate people’s participation in recent wars?
In the experience of the 12-day war and Ramadan, one of our most important plans was to pay attention to and protect social capital. Social capital is the hidden power of society. In many cases, people have entered the field before their official institutions have fully entered; From voluntary help to the management of mental peace in the neighborhoods, which has been done by people and in the context of organizations. For example, in the Ramadan war in the border provinces, it was the non-governmental organizations that condemned patriotism and divisiveness in the first step and emphasized on the unity of Iran, or in the bitter crime of the Minab school, these same organizations followed the condemnation of America at the international level. Of course, it should also be said that there may always be flaws. Although the social capacity is high, the need for “systematization of popular participation” is still strongly felt so that this energy can be managed in a sustainable and appropriate manner.
The president believes that the implementation of the neighborhood-oriented plan will lead to targeted and effective distribution of social services. What stage has the implementation of this plan reached?
The neighborhood-oriented plan is a new plan and the president has emphasized it many times. The plan is considered successful when it can improve several measurable indicators. The most important indicators include increasing voluntary participation at the neighborhood level, reducing the rate of social harm, increasing access to support services, and improving the sense of social security in the neighborhood. From an analytical point of view, one of the other important indicators is the increase of local trust in public institutions and the formation of social self-help networks.
What other priorities do you follow next to the implementation of the neighborhood-oriented plan?
In the current situation, the main priorities are set around three axes: control and reduction of social harms, protection of social capital and strengthening the resilience of neighborhoods and development of public participation. In my opinion, these three axes which are predicted in the current year’s program of the organization, are actually the pillars of social governance in the current complex situation, and we hope that with careful planning, we will be able to achieve success in this direction. In addition to these, issues such as supporting vulnerable groups, developing an evidence-based social data system, and strengthening inter-institutional coordination are also our priorities. Finally, we try to change social policy from reactive to proactive and data-oriented.
What is your plan to support the citizens in case of another war started by the enemies?
In case of crisis escalation, the main approach is usually focused on quick activation of local networks, strengthening of immediate support systems and prevention of social shock. The goal is that the society does not suffer from psychological or social instability. At the executive level, such a program usually includes a livelihood emergency scenario, increasing the capacity of support institutions, managing crisis communications to prevent rumors, and extensive use of organized public participation. Global experience has shown that the most successful countries in a crisis are those that have a ready social network and clear scenarios before the crisis.
