ESCWA and the Center for Research and Social Studies (CRES) of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) in Tunisia held a series of meetings between 6 and 17 March, to implement the Social Protection Rapid Assessment Framework (SPP-RAF), developed by ESCWA to assess the quality of national social protection databases. Participants identified ways in which the administrative records produced in the context of the AMEN social programme can be used to improve its coverage of beneficiary needs.
The sessions reviewed the data collected through the social protection system, and assessed their potential on three fronts: (1) identification of beneficiary coverage and potential inclusion and exclusion errors; (2) robustness and efficiency of the targeting methodology used by the country to identify programme beneficiaries; and (3) statistical profiling of current and potential beneficiaries to better identify their needs and how they can be covered. ESCWA also held a policy-level discussion and capacity-building workshop with relevant experts from MoSA and CRES about options for improving the national social protection system.
From 8 to 10 March, ESCWA and CRES held meetings with members of the steering committee for the development of a comprehensive national social protection country profile for Tunisia. They discussed data sharing and collaboration among various national institutions involved in social protection decision-making and implementation. Participants addressed related challenges and agreed on the way forward for the production of the country’s social protection profile.
ESCWA launched the development of comprehensive national social protection country profiles for Arab countries in 2022. Through collaboration with Governments and local partners, the profiles would establish a coherent overview of social protection systems in Arab countries, and help policymakers identify proper reform options. They would also establish a baseline of key social protection features to measure progress made.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
