Training course on Strategic Planning for National Social Protection Floors

Training Course on Strategic Planning for National Social Protection Floors

Introduction: 

National Social Protection Floors (SPF) represent a fundamental guarantee of income security and access to essential social services for all, forming the bedrock of a country's social protection system. Endorsed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation No. 202, the concept of SPFs signifies a country's commitment to ensuring that no one falls below a nationally defined minimum standard of living, encompassing basic income security for children, people in active age unable to earn, older persons, and access to essential healthcare. Training Course on Strategic Planning for National Social Protection Floors is designed to equip with the expert knowledge and practical methodologies. The program focuses on conceptualizing the SPF, conducting comprehensive needs and gaps analyses, robust costing and financing strategies, institutional arrangements, effective targeting and delivery mechanisms, and navigating the political economy of SPF implementation, blending rigorous analytical frameworks with practical, hands-on application, case studies from diverse global contexts (including a deep dive into Kenya's experiences), and interactive planning exercises, all to foster the strategic foresight and technical expertise necessary to build comprehensive, equitable, and resilient social protection systems that deliver on the promise of social justice for all.

This comprehensive 5-day program delves into nuanced methodologies for conducting comprehensive needs assessments to define national social protection floor components, mastering advanced techniques for costing different SPF scenarios and identifying sustainable financing sources within national budgets, and exploring cutting-edge approaches to designing integrated delivery mechanisms that can efficiently reach all beneficiaries, building effective partnerships with ministries and civil society, and leveraging data for evidence-based decision-making. A significant focus will be placed on understanding the interplay of social assistance and basic social insurance schemes in forming the floor, the specific challenges and opportunities in the African context (e.g., addressing the informal economy, coordinating fragmented programs, and strengthening administrative capacity), and the practical application of SPF principles to address local needs like poverty reduction, ensuring access to essential services, and enhancing resilience to economic and climate shocks.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze core concepts and strategic responsibilities of National Social Protection Floors (SPFs) within national development and international frameworks.
2. Master sophisticated techniques for conducting comprehensive needs and gaps analyses to define the scope and components of a national SPF.
3. Develop robust methodologies for costing different SPF scenarios and identifying sustainable financing strategies within national fiscal realities.
4. Implement effective strategies for designing and strengthening basic social assistance and social insurance schemes as foundational elements of the SPF.
5. Manage complex considerations for establishing effective institutional arrangements and governance structures for SPF coordination and implementation.
6. Apply robust strategies for designing inclusive targeting and efficient delivery mechanisms to ensure the SPF reaches all eligible populations.
7. Understand the deep integration of political economy analysis in navigating stakeholder interests and building consensus for SPF adoption.
8. Leverage knowledge of international standards and experiences in SPF implementation from diverse global contexts.
9. Optimize strategies for monitoring and evaluating SPF progress towards achieving national coverage and adequacy targets.
10. Formulate specialized policy recommendations for addressing specific vulnerabilities (e.g., informal workers, rural populations) within the SPF framework.
11. Conduct comprehensive assessments of existing social protection programs to identify opportunities for integration, rationalization, and alignment with the SPF.
12. Navigate challenging situations such as fiscal constraints, administrative bottlenecks, data limitations, and achieving equitable coverage in diverse populations.
13. Develop a holistic, evidence-based, and politically astute strategic plan for National Social Protection Floors, with a focus on practical implementation in Kenya and globally.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for professionals interested in Strategic Planning for National Social Protection Floors: 

1. Senior Policymakers & Government Officials: From social protection, planning, finance, and labor ministries.
2. Social Protection Program Managers: Responsible for national-level social welfare and insurance schemes.
3. Policy Analysts & Planners: Working in government agencies, think tanks, or research institutions.
4. Development Practitioners: From UN agencies (ILO, UNICEF, UNDP), World Bank, and bilateral development organizations.
5. Economists & Public Finance Experts: Focused on social sector costing, fiscal sustainability, and resource mobilization.
6. Representatives from Civil Society Organizations: Advocating for social rights and involved in social service delivery.
7. Researchers & Academics: Specializing in social policy, public administration, and development economics.
8. International Development Consultants: Advising governments on social protection reforms and strategic planning.

Course Duration: 5 Days

Course Modules:

• Module 1: Foundations of National Social Protection Floors (SPFs)
• Defining the SPF Concept: ILO Recommendation No. 202 and its core components (income security, access to essential services).
• Rationale and Benefits of SPFs: Poverty reduction, inequality reduction, economic stability, human capital development, and resilience.
• Global Context & International Commitments: SDGs, human rights frameworks, and the global push for social protection.
• SPFs vs. Universal Social Protection: Understanding the relationship and pathways for expansion beyond the floor.
• Key Challenges in SPF Implementation: Fiscal space, administrative capacity, political will, and informal economy.
• Module 2: Needs Assessment and Defining SPF Components
• Vulnerability Assessment: Identifying key population groups facing income insecurity and lack of access to services in a national context (e.g., Kenya).
• Mapping Existing Social Protection Programs: Identifying current coverage, gaps, overlaps, and fragmentation.
• Defining SPF Guarantees: Establishing nationally appropriate minimum levels for child benefits, disability support, old-age pensions, and unemployment support.
• Ensuring Access to Essential Services: Defining minimum guarantees for health, education, housing, water, and sanitation.
• Data Sources and Tools for Needs Assessment: Household surveys, administrative data, qualitative studies, and poverty mapping.
• Module 3: Costing and Financing the SPF
• Methodologies for SPF Costing: Bottom-up vs. top-down approaches, actuarial modeling, and simulation tools.
• Estimating Beneficiary Numbers: Projecting coverage expansion based on demographic data and policy choices.
• Identifying Fiscal Space: Analyzing national budget, tax revenues, debt capacity, and potential for re-prioritization of public spending.
• Financing Options: Exploring general taxation, social insurance contributions, international aid, and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Fiscal Sustainability and Affordability: Ensuring long-term financial viability and managing economic shocks for the SPF.
• Module 4: Institutional Arrangements and Governance for SPFs
• Coordination Mechanisms: Establishing inter-ministerial committees and working groups for SPF oversight.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Defining mandates for different government agencies, local authorities, and non-state actors.
• Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Developing appropriate laws, policies, and regulations to underpin the SPF.
• Administrative Capacity Building: Strengthening human resources, IT systems, and operational procedures for SPF delivery.
• Accountability and Grievance Mechanisms: Ensuring transparency, preventing corruption, and providing avenues for beneficiary redress.
• Module 5: Designing Inclusive Delivery Systems for SPFs
• Targeting Methodologies: Critically assessing universal, categorical, geographic, and proxy-means testing approaches for SPF components.
• Social Registries: Developing and utilizing integrated national social registries for efficient identification and enrolment of beneficiaries.
• Payment Mechanisms: Exploring cash, in-kind, and hybrid transfers; leveraging digital payment systems (e.g., M-Pesa) for efficient delivery.
• Outreach and Communication: Strategies to ensure vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations are aware of and access SPF benefits.
• Service Integration: Linking SPF cash transfers with access to health, education, and social care services.
• Module 6: Political Economy of SPF Planning and Implementation
• Stakeholder Analysis: Identifying key actors (political parties, unions, business, civil society) and their interests in SPF expansion.
• Building Political Will: Strategies for engaging leaders and securing high-level commitment for SPF reforms.
• Consensus Building and Negotiation: Facilitating dialogue and forging agreements among diverse stakeholders.
• Communication and Advocacy Strategies: Developing compelling narratives to build public support and counter opposition.
• Managing Trade-offs: Addressing dilemmas between coverage, adequacy, and fiscal sustainability in policy debates.
• Module 7: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptive Learning for SPFs
• Developing an SPF M&E Framework: Defining key indicators for coverage, adequacy, impact, and efficiency.
• Data Collection and Reporting: Establishing systems for routine monitoring of SPF programs and outcomes.
• Impact Evaluation of SPF Components: Using rigorous methods to assess the socio-economic effects of SPF interventions.
• Learning and Adaptation: Using M&E findings to inform policy adjustments and improve program design over time.
• Reporting and Dissemination: Communicating SPF progress to national and international audiences.
• Module 8: Strategic Planning Workshop and Future Outlook
• Case Study Analysis: Deep dive into a country's SPF strategic planning journey (e.g., Brazil, Ethiopia, South Africa, or Kenya's current efforts).
• SPF Strategic Planning Exercise: Participants work in groups to develop a preliminary strategic plan for an SPF component in a given national context, including objectives, costing, and implementation considerations.
• Addressing Emerging Challenges: Climate change, digitalization, future of work, and their implications for SPF design.
• Role of International Cooperation: How global partnerships can support national SPF development.
• Roadmap for Action: Participants leave with a clear understanding of the steps to initiate or advance SPF strategic planning in their own work.

 

Training Methodology

• Interactive Workshops: Facilitated discussions, group exercises, and problem-solving activities.
• Case Studies: Real-world examples to illustrate successful community-based surveillance practices.
• Role-Playing and Simulations: Practice engaging communities in surveillance activities.
• Expert Presentations: Insights from experienced public health professionals and community leaders.
• Group Projects: Collaborative development of community surveillance plans.
• Action Planning: Development of personalized action plans for implementing community-based surveillance.
• Digital Tools and Resources: Utilization of online platforms for collaboration and learning.
• Peer-to-Peer Learning: Sharing experiences and insights on community engagement.
• Post-Training Support: Access to online forums, mentorship, and continued learning resources.

 

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104

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