August 2018: How can technology improve social protection?
August 2018: How can technology improve social protection?
Welcome to the August socialprotection.org newsletter!
Technology is presenting new opportunities and challenges in the delivery and administration of social protection programmes. For example, electronic payments systems allow beneficiaries to receive transfers to their cellphone, eliminating the need to travel to payment locations and lowering overall programme costs. Determining eligibility and performing registration through mobile and online platforms is making programmes more responsive, particularly in the context of urban humanitarian shocks and crises.
Technology can therefore improve accessibility if the programme design does not replicate existing social and economic barriers. However, beneficiary households and officials still need to engage in person, often in remote or insecure areas. A further challenge is that technology can increase the risks beneficiaries face with respect to their personal data. This highlights the importance of adopting explicit programme regulations to prevent, protect and redress potential data breaches. Technology can also boost productivity and create new jobs while displacing other jobs.
The challenge for governments today is to ensure that technology is incorporated into programme design in a manner that is inclusive, by supporting skills development and protecting beneficiaries rights. This month’s newsletter explores the complexities related to technology and social protection. We hope you enjoy reading!
Publications
This month we share the following publications that address the opportunities and challenges of integrating technology into social protection:
by the International Labour Organization (ILO) This paper seeks to guide social protection practitioners on what data should be collected, and how to ensure it is lawfully processed, shared and retained. This is particularly relevant to the use of biometric technology.
This infographic illustrates the importance of policy, not just technology, in supporting the flow and management of information within the social protection sector to ensure a more equitable, responsive and inclusive distribution of resources.
Mexico’s Prospera programme provides insight into the process of transitioning to a paperless compliance verification system, involving electronic certification, and the associated challenges.
New technologies require a skilled workforce, which may put the less-skilled at a disadvantage. Governments must act to ensure that new technologies develop in ways that benefit people and protect their rights.
Long-term global trends in the concentration of people, economic activity, and technology are creating a landscape that is increasingly conductive for cash as an appropriate humanitarian response.
by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Population groups that are at highest risk of poverty face particular barriers to social protection coverage. Universal schemes are better to avoid excluding people in need and new technologies can be used to improve accessibility.
Webinars Register for this month's upcoming webinars:
Join 131 members and learn from each other’s experiences in designing and implementing social registries and other approaches to integrating data and information management for social protection that support the delivery of social protection programmes.
Jobs
Jobs and calls for papers are accessible on our Jobs page. Members can submit jobs and calls for papers by clicking on + Submit job offer.
