This session was held in English with simultaneous interpretation to Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Talking interoperability is a dialogue series being convened by the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI) to facilitate in-depth technical conversations around designing for interoperability in the social protection sector. By bringing together digital social protection and technology experts from government agencies, software vendors, system integrators and international organizations, it aims to promote peer-based learning and problem solving through:

• sharing the technical nitty-gritty of how agencies have designed their social protection information systems for interoperability.
• understanding how agencies have tackled the major challenges to interoperability.
• brainstorming potential solutions to remaining bottlenecks

North Macedonia is in the final phase of launching the new integrated Social Welfare Information System (SWIS), which will streamline workflows for cash benefits, social services, and case management. The system is scheduled to go live in January 2025. In 2011, they developed the Cash Benefits Management Information System (CBMIS), which has been instrumental in managing all cash benefit programs. The development of SWIS builds on the lessons learned during the implementation and operation of CBMIS.

In this session, they walked you through the entire process—from the planning phase and the activities that shaped the technical specifications to the software development process—highlighting the challenges encountered along the way.

Opening: Ms. Wanza Mwathani, Advisor for Digital Social Protection, GIZ

Speakers:

Ms. Elizabeta Kunovska, Project Manager, Social Services Improvement Project, Second Social Services Improvement Project and Social Insurance Administration Project, Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth of the Republic of North Macedonia

Ms. Sanja Andovska, Procurement Manager and Assistant Project Manager, Social Services Improvement Project, Second Social Services Improvement Project and Social Insurance Administration Project, Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth of the Republic of North Macedonia

Ms. Anica Gjurovska, IT Manager, Social Services Improvement Project, Second Social Services Improvement Project and Social Insurance Administration Project, Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth of the Republic of North Macedonia

Ms. Natasa Tasevska Stojanovska, Social Protection Delivery System Coordinator, Social Services Improvement Project and Second Social Services Improvement Project, Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth of the Republic of North Macedonia

Discussants: Mr. Ambrish Shahi, Senior Social Protection Specialist, The World Bank

Mr. Joe Zaarour, Digital Social Protection Advisor, World Food Programme

Moderator: Mr. Sarang Chaudhary, Advisor for Digital Social Protection, GIZ

This was the seventeenth webinar of the "Talking interoperability" dialogue series organised by the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI). These meetings aim to facilitate in-depth technical conversations around designing for interoperability in the social protection sector. By bringing together digital social protection and technology experts from government agencies, software vendors, system integrators, and international organisations, they aim to promote peer-based learning and problem solving.