Achieving social protection for all through partnerships

Context

Social protection means protecting people against specific risks, such as unemployment, as well as from collective crises such as natural disasters or war. It is a human right and is effective against poverty and inequality. The United Nations 2030 Agenda therefore stipulates that everyone should be socially protected. However, this is currently true for around only half of the world’s population.

Germany therefore supports flexible, state systems which provide social protection for people and make them more resilient.

Objective

Global initiatives, alliances and partnerships supporting flexible social protection systems which reduce poverty and social disadvantage.

Approach

Focus of the programme:

1. It further develops the publicly accessible openIMIS software and promulgates its use. This software serves to optimise the management of health and social protection programmes.
2. In addition to this, the programme supports the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI). The DCI, together with international organisations and Expertise France, supports the digitalisation and alignment of social protection systems in partner countries across the globe. Public funds are therefore used more efficiently and access to social services is simplified.
3. At the same time, the programme improves financing for social protection. To this end, it supports cross-institutional dialogue to develop strategies. Apart from this, it supports specific countries in linking financing arrangements for climate risks with social protection.
4. The project develops new approaches to linking bilateral and multilateral development cooperation. To achieve this, it is collaborating with the World Bank and the United Nations to improve the digital backbones of the social protection systems in Rwanda and Uzbekistan.
5. It is strengthening transformational skills and the ability to collaborate across institutions and sectors in complex settings through a leadership program. This Lead the Change for Social Protection programme empowers decision makers in selected countries to collaboratively shape and advance national social protection reforms.

Last update: January 2025