00:00:00 Introduction and agenda

Thank you Faye for the introductions and welcome everyone. Today we are delving into the connections between CVA and social protection, with a focus on Mercy Corps' case study exploring the impact of combining cash interventions with vocational training for violence reduction. We will discuss the maturity of social protection systems, their role in humanitarian response, opportunities, barriers, and factors influencing coordination between CVA and social protection.

We will also talk about future priority actions, recommendations, and insights that we got from reports by the CALP Network. Additionally, we would explore how technology and information management, exemplified by ActivityInfo, can support efficient implementation, along with key considerations for information management systems design.

00:01:10 Understanding social protection and CVA

To begin, let's take our minds through a short refresher on social protection and CVA. Social protection is defined as the set of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people's exposure to risk, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruptions or loss of income. These programs can be categorized based on how they are funded. We have two major categories: non-contributory programs and contributory programs.

The non-contributory programs are financed through government taxation or external aid without individuals making financial contributions. Examples include social assistance programs that transfer resources to individuals and households, particularly those considered to be poor or vulnerable. Contributory programs, on the other hand, include things like social insurance programs. They are managed or supervised by the government and funded through contributions paid for by either participants or on their behalf. These programs protect against economic risk caused by shocks. Examples could be state pensions for old people, national health insurance schemes, and maternity programs.

Non-contributory programs are further categorized into social care services and social assistance. Social care services provide social support rather than economic support or resource transfer. Examples include family support services, child protection services, alternative care for children, and social work support for people with disabilities. We then have a further categorization into distinct types of programs or policies like social transfers, fee waivers, subsidies, and public works. On the other hand, for the contributory programs, we have subdivisions of active labor policies and social insurance. Active labor market policies aim to protect existing jobs and to stimulate employment. They include measures that prevent workplace exploitation, discrimination, job search services, and training programs.

00:05:20 Maturity of social protection systems

We also want to consider the status of social protection systems, knowing that context is very important. Social protection systems could be mature or immature. These terms refer to the level of development, the effectiveness, and the comprehensiveness of the social safety nets within a particular country or a region. These terms describe the extent to which a social protection system is established, adequately funded, and efficiently functioning to provide comprehensive support to the defined population.

The maturity of social protection systems affects the ability of humanitarian actors to effectively link and integrate with existing systems. Integration with mature social protection systems enables more efficient and sustainable support to affected populations. Leveraging the strengths and resources of social protection systems helps address immediate needs and vulnerabilities during a crisis because effective integration enhances the overall effectiveness of humanitarian response efforts.

The Social Protection Inter-Agency Cooperation Board outlines three main situations regarding who should act. First, when there is no help from the government because of conflict or war, then humanitarian and other actors should act. Second, when the protection system is good at adapting and helping people quickly after a crisis, then you have to determine who should act and how they should act. Third, when the protection system is broken because of a crisis and the government cannot help much, other groups, like international aid organizations, step in to help.

Ideally, in normal times, the government system should be the one helping the people. However, where it is very weak, the recommendation is for humanitarian organizations to strengthen that system by using the system. In situations where the government is unable to act because there is no social protection system in existence, humanitarian organizations are advised to go on with the cash disbursement or whatever interventions they have in store.

00:10:40 Linking CVA and social protection

There are various strategies to better link social protection and humanitarian Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). The most suitable pathway depends on the specific context of each situation. When disasters occur, aligning or connecting humanitarian CVA with existing government-run social protection programs can significantly enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. This alignment involves various design tweaks aimed at optimizing the delivery of the assistance. For instance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some interventions adjusted or removed conditionalities to facilitate greater access to social assistance.

Another approach is through "piggybacking," where humanitarian operations leverage elements of existing social protection interventions. This could include utilizing the cash delivery mechanisms already familiar to the population, as well as tapping into existing databases to identify vulnerable individuals even before the emergency occurs. The next strategy is "vertical expansion," which involves temporarily increasing the value or the duration of benefits for individuals that are already receiving social support but who require additional assistance due to new circumstances. Finally, "horizontal expansion" entails extending the program coverage to include new recipients who are not regularly part of the social protection program but are now in need due to specific circumstances or shocks.

Benefits of linking CVA and social protection include reach, speed, and cost-effectiveness. Because social protection programs are often managed by administrative processes and institutions established by governments, they have the advantage of reach. Instead of creating new systems from scratch, humanitarian organizations can tap into the existing infrastructure, which improves speed and cost-effectiveness. In the long term, this facilitates system strengthening, capacity building, community resilience, and preparedness for future crises.

00:15:00 Enablers and barriers to coordination

Achieving effective social protection requires a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, with the government playing a central role as the duty bearer. Adequate inclusion, ownership, and leadership by the government are crucial. Political will among development and humanitarian actors, governments, and NGOs is essential for success. There must be an ability to reach a compromise between stakeholders across mandates and disciplines, especially concerning targeting, coverage, and adequacy of interventions. Dedicating resources for coordination—financial, human capital, and organizational support—is also crucial.

However, there are barriers. A 2023 report identified a notable lack of coordination among various actors, resulting in fragmented efforts. There is also limited technical capacity of humanitarian staff to effectively engage with social protection institutions, and conversely, limited capacity of social protection staff to engage with humanitarian response efforts.

For example, Ukraine has a mature social protection system bolstered by robust financial infrastructure and digital technologies. Despite the government's willingness and funding following the 2022 invasion, international humanitarian actors faced challenges in linking with existing systems. Barriers included the preparedness and capacity of humanitarian actors, data sharing challenges due to protection concerns, and difficulties in coordination. To address this, a high-level coordination forum was convened with senior decision-makers to take control of the transition.

It is important to note that while humanitarian assistance and social protection share common goals, they often operate within distinct contexts. A careful assessment of the similarities, differences, and challenges is necessary before pursuing a link to ensure integration remains contextually relevant without compromising humanitarian principles like neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

00:21:50 Case study: Can economic interventions reduce violence?

We will now look at a case study titled "Can economic interventions reduce violence?" The rationale for exploring this in fragile states stems from the acknowledgment that violence hinders development goals. The hypothesis was that offering economic benefits—through direct cash transfers or indirect pathways like training programs leading to employment—would diminish the appeal of armed opposition groups that often exploit unemployed youth.

Mercy Corps conducted this study in collaboration with Yale and Princeton Universities in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, involving 1,590 participants. The research aimed to understand whether improvements in economic conditions led to reduced support for political violence among youth. The objective was to assist vulnerable Afghan youth in acquiring skills aligned with local job markets and facilitating economic opportunities.

The study found that vocational training alone didn't affect the youth's support for political violence, despite improving economic outcomes later on. Cash transfers initially decreased support for violent groups, but this effect faded quickly. However, when vocational training and cash transfers were combined, there was a significant decrease in the willingness to engage in actions supporting armed opposition groups six to nine months after the intervention.

Recommendations emphasize considering the broader context and multi-sectoral approaches when linking CVA with social protection. It underscores the need to address multiple motivations behind violence, including economic circumstances and governance grievances. Future priority actions include conducting context-specific assessments, discussing financial strategy, creating incentives for linking CVA and social protection, investing in capacity strengthening, and enhancing coordination.

00:26:00 Information management and research design

Now we will focus on how we can use ICT4D technology, specifically ActivityInfo, in this context. Let's step back to discuss the research design of the specific study. They wanted to find evidence on whether improving young people's economic conditions could lead to a reduction in their willingness to support political violence. The intervention, called the INVEST program, was designed to improve economic outcomes.

They tested three different interventions: vocational training (TVET), unconditional cash transfers (a one-off transfer of $75), and a combination of both. The evaluation was based on a factorial design, which allows for a comparison of more than one intervention at the same time without losing statistical power. They implemented three different surveys: a baseline before the intervention, an endline upon completion of the TVET courses, and a post-program survey six to nine months after course completion.

Because political violence is a sensitive topic, they used endorsement experiments and random response experiments (using a spinner device) to ask questions indirectly. This allowed them to measure support for the government versus other groups without direct disclosure.

Regarding data sources, we have information known in advance, such as vocational systems information and district data in Afghanistan. ActivityInfo has inbuilt databases with administrative boundaries which can be deployed. We also have market assessment data (employer mapping, surveys, focus group discussions) and monitoring information (participant lists, attendance, cash transfer tracking).

Using ICT4D technology streamlines data collection, reduces duplication of efforts, and increases data consistency through validation conditions. It facilitates the implementation of surveys and easier monitoring. On the implementation side, it allows for easy information sharing across stakeholders with different access rights, which is crucial for data protection.

00:35:40 ActivityInfo demonstration

I will now share my screen to show ActivityInfo. We have information stored in a specific table that is not subject to data collection itself but is connected to other forms. For example, inside the market assessment, we have the employers. We conducted surveys for those employers to examine the type of demand and skills they are seeking. This table is connected to the previous table, so we do not need to collect information we already have, such as the contact person.

We have focus group discussions where we can see notes and participants. ActivityInfo enables us to embed calculations; for instance, the number of participants is a calculation of the participants in the specific focus group discussion. We then have our participants list with demographic information. This is connected to the information we monitor regarding vocational trainings, unconditional cash transfers, and subsequent surveys.

In the vocational training course section, we can see the different types of trainings associated with participant IDs. We have a calculation that estimates whether a participant has fully attended based on the course duration (three or six months) and their attendance record. The unconditional cash transfer list follows similar reasoning.

For the surveys, such as the baseline, we link to the participant ID. We can also define roles and permissions within the database. An administrator would have full permissions, while a data entry person might only have access to specific forms or specific districts. For example, a data entry person in District X could be restricted to seeing only data for that district.

Regarding reports, it is crucial to use information timely. I have created two reports. The first covers program implementation, showing the number of registrations per intervention, geographical variation, and the split between treatment and control groups. It also visualizes vocational training attendance and cash transfer status. The second report covers survey monitoring, showing the number of surveys conducted per type and group. We can also do an inspection of results, such as cross-tabulations to check if the data trends match our hypotheses regarding economic outcomes and violence indicators.

00:46:20 Key considerations for implementation

There are key considerations to keep in mind. At the project start, during the MEAL plan design, you need to identify your data sources and how data will be used for each indicator. You need to develop the tools and the data model, which outlines how different data sources are associated. This helps outline roles, access to data, and processes.

During implementation, testing the information management system across all stakeholders is important. Manuals for administrators and field staff, as well as training, are crucial. You need a dedicated focal point for communication regarding the system. You must be open to collecting feedback, as the context is dynamic; if the context changes, the system may need to change. Finally, monitor usage and conduct frequent refreshers, especially when there is high staff turnover.

00:48:50 Questions and Answers

What if there is no government social protection in the country?

If there is no existing social protection system, humanitarian actors can act based on the interventions they have already planned. However, where the social protection system exists but is weak, it is recommended that humanitarian organizations act through that system to strengthen it and boost resilience.

I am working at Medical Teams International running CVA activities. Which modality of cash transfer is better to minimize risks?

The modalities for cash transfers are better determined based on the socio-political context. However, we would suggest mobile money transfers as a secure and efficient modality. This minimizes risks for beneficiaries and the organization by providing traceable transactions while avoiding physical cash handling, provided it is a viable option in that context.

What can cause a lack of coordination between actors?

Lack of coordination can stem from various factors including communication barriers, competing priorities (branding, targeting), resource constraints, information gaps, power dynamics, organizational cultures, geographical challenges, and political or security issues. There is rarely just one issue causing the lack of coordination.

How could we explicitly identify beneficiaries benefiting from multiple interventions using digital technology?

The data model plays a crucial role here. By knowing which data sources are associated with beneficiaries, you can build a database that tracks this. The use of a unique identifier is essential. In some contexts, you can use government-issued IDs. If that is not possible, you can generate a unique identifier from existing information, such as combining a serial number, a district code, and a program code to create a unique ID for each beneficiary.

What are the first entry points for linking social protection with humanitarian CVA in conflict-sensitive areas?

In conflict-sensitive areas, the first entry point is to conduct joint assessments to understand the socioeconomic context and vulnerabilities. You should establish coordination mechanisms between humanitarian and social protection actors and identify existing payment systems. Harmonizing targeting criteria and providing capacity-building support is also important. You must ensure that interventions are conflict-sensitive, meaning they react to the context and effectively address the needs of the vulnerable population.