Research

The SP&PFM programme produces research and evidence to improve the economic case for social protection

Most programme countries developed and promoted reforms in specific social protection policies, from unemployment insurance to cash transfers.

	Report on a high-level Consultation Workshop: Findings Sharing on “Towards Improved Unemployment Protection in Bangladesh” with Tripartite Plus Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection, unemployment insurance, policies, social security strategy
	Options for Improving Unemployment Protection in Bangladesh Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection, unemployment insurance, policies
	Employment services and institutional capacities in Bangladesh Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection, unemployment insurance, policies
	Social partners’ views on a possible unemployment insurance scheme Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection, unemployment insurance scheme, social partners
	Towards an unemployment insurance scheme in Bangladesh: A preliminary feasibility assessment Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection, unemployment insurance scheme, social security standards, institutional capacity, feasbility study
	Bangladesh: Labour market dynamics and protection measures against unemployment in the formal sector Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: labour market, unemployment, formal sector
	Adoção de um plano de contas da segurança social Country: Cabo Verde Year: 2022 Tags: social security account framework
	Analyse des cadres institutionnels et opérationnels des programmes et mécanismes existants (CMU et RSTI) de protection sociale pour une meilleure couverture des travailleurs et entrepreneurs de l’économie informelle Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2022 Tags: institutional framework, operational framework, social protection programmes, workers in the informal economy, entrepreneurs in the informal economy, extension of coverage
	Atelier de validation: Analyse des cadres institutionnels et opérationnels des programmes et mécanismes existants de protection sociale (CMU & RSTI) pour une meilleure couverture des travailleurs et entrepreneurs de l’économie informelle Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2022 Tags: institutional framework, operational framework, social protection programmes, workers in the informal economy, entrepreneurs in the informal economy, extension of coverage
	Mecanismos de protección frente al desempleo Country: Ecuador Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection mechanisms
	Fortalecimiento del sistema de protección social frente al desempleo en Ecuador Country: Ecuador Year: 2022 Tags: social protection system, unemployment protection
	La economía política de la protección social em Paraguay Country: Paraguay Year: 2022 Tags: social protection system, implementantion, financing, sustainability
	Propuesta de desarrollo e implementación del Esquema Integral de Protección ante el Desempleo Country: Peru Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment protection, unemployment scheme
	Détermination du cadre de mise en œuvre des mesures incitatives à la formalisation et à l’affiliation de l’économie informelle au Régime simplifié de sécurité sociale (RSPC) – RAPPORT FINAL Country: Senegal Year: 2022 Tags: formalisation, workers in the informal economy, social security scheme
	Providing adequate social protection for women in the informal sector in Senegal: Key recommendations for a gender-sensitive RSPC Country: Senegal Year: 2022 Tags: social protection, gender, women, women in the informal sector
	Le projet d’appui à l’extension de la sécurité sociale au Togo (ci-après Projet BIT-SP&PFM/Togo), un an après son lancement Country: Togo Year: 2022 Tags: extension of social protection, SP&PFM project
	ILO Social Security Standards. Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Country: Bangladesh Year: 2021 Tags: social security standards, employment promotion, unemployment protection
	Report on Consultation Event: Fostering Unemployment Protection Measures in Bangladesh Country: Bangladesh Year: 2021 Tags: unemployment protection, social dialogue
	Mecanismos de protección frente al desempleo: Aportes de la academia y proceso de diálogo social – Principales elementos de la discusión Country: Ecuador Year: 2021 Tags: unemployment protection, social dialogue
	Employment Termination in Myanmar: Rules and Payments on Separation Country: Myanmar Year: 2021 Tags: employment termination, employees’ rights, employers’ liabilities
	Policy Design for Unemployment Benefits in Myanmar: The Social Security Law, 2012, and Social Security Rules, 2014 Country: Myanmar Year: 2021 Tags: unemployment insurance, unemployment benefits, legal framework
	Baseline Study on Social Protection Country: Nepal Year: 2021 Tags: social protection policies, social protection strategies
	Social protection responses to COVID-19 in Nepal Country: Nepal Year: 2021 Tags: social protection system, COVID-19, social stabilizer, economic stabilizer
	Propuesta integral de protección social frente al desempleo para el Perú Country: Peru Year: 2021 Tags: unemployment protection, social protection mechanisms
	Proyecto de fortalecimiento del sistema de protección social frente al desempleo en el Perú Country: Peru Year: 2021 Tags: social protection system, unemployment insurance
	Un seguro social por desempleo para el Perú: Valuación actuarial Country: Peru Year: 2021 Tags: unemployment insurance, unemployment benefits, actuarial valuation, legal framework
	Fiche synoptique sur la protection sociale au Sénégal Country: Senegal Year: 2021 Tags: country profile, social protection status
	Étude sur la Carte d’Égalité des Chances Sénégal Country: Senegal Year: 2021 Tags: disability, social protection programme, social protection benefits
	Revue globale et analyse du système national de protection sociale du Sénégal Country: Senegal Year: 2021 Tags: social protection system, social protection programmes, social protection schemes
	Commentaires du BIT au sujet du régime de pensions proposé par la CNSS à l’intention des travailleurs non-salariés du Togo Country: Togo Year: 2021 Tags: self-employed workers, pensions scheme
	Challenges Faced by Adolescent Girls in Urban Areas of Uganda and the Case for Targeted Social Protection Programmes Country: Uganda Year: 2021 Tags: social protection programmes, adolescent girls, urban areas, referral services, cash transfers
	The importance of a system strengthening approach to social protection: A case study of Uganda’s urban social protection programme for adolescent girls Country: Uganda Year: 2021 Tags: social protection programme, systems approach
	Analyse de l’impact des transferts sociaux monetaires au Burkina Faso Country: Burkina Faso Year: 2020 Tags: social cash transfers
	Étude de faisabilité pour la mise en place d’une assurance chômage au Burkina Faso Country: Burkina Faso Year: 2020 Tags: unemployment insurance, financing of the unemployment scheme, management of the unemployment insurance
	Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management for Ethiopia – A Fact-Finding Report based on ILO-Social Security Inquiry (SSI) Assessment for Ethiopia Country: Ethiopia Year: 2020 Tags: social protection, public finance management, social security inquiry assessment
	Mitigating the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 in Ethiopia, with a focus on vulnerable groups Country: Ethiopia Year: 2020 Tags: COVID-19, pro-poor policies, socio-economic vulnerability assessment Read also Annex I – Vulnerability Impact Fiches
	COVID-19 socio-economic Vulnerability Assessment of Ethiopia Country: Ethiopia Year: 2020 Tags: vulnerability assessment, health welfare, social cohesion, economy
	Socio-economic Impact Analysis of COVID-19 in Ethiopia Country: Ethiopia Year: 2020 Tags: COVID-19, macroeconomic scenarios
	EU/ILO/UNICEF Project: Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management for Ethiopia – A Fact-Finding Report based on ILO-Social Security Inquiry (SSI) For Ethiopia (Final narrative) Country: Ethiopia Year: 2020 Tags: social security inquiry, social protection policy, social protection strategy, social protection programmes
	Social protection and the COVID- 19 crisis: Responses to support workers and their families in Sri Lanka Country: Sri Lanka Year: 2020 Tags: COVID-19, social protection, workers’ protection

The following thematic briefs summarize lessons learnt, good practices and innovations drawn from implementation of the programme in 24 countries

Extending social protection to workers in the informal economy

Financing disability-inclusive social protection systems

Financing gender-responsive social protection systems

The research on ‘Multiplier effects of social protection benefits’ was undertaken in collaboration with the Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (FIPE).

The research focuses on measuring the impact of changes in the composition and magnitude of different types of social protection expenditure and revenue collection on domestic demand and growth, using a Structural Vector Autoregression (VAR) simulation.

	The multiplier effects of government expenditures on social protection : A multi-country study (research article) Countries: 42 Year: 2023 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development
	Investing in social protection for economic growth: Multipliers of social protection – Nepal country case study Country: Nepal Year: 2023 Tags: multiplier effects, case study, country brief, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development
	Economic expansion through social investment in Viet Nam: An empirical estimation of fiscal multipliers (report) Country: Viet Nam Year: 2023 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development, report
	Economic expansion through social investment in Viet Nam: An empirical estimation of fiscal multipliers (policy brief) Country: Viet Nam Year: 2023 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development, brief
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Cabo Verde Country: Cabo Verde Year: 2021 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development Read also the Presentation (in Spanish)
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Ecuador Country: Ecuador Year: 2021 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Malawi Country: Malawi Year: 2023 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social protection expenditure, aggregate economic activity
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Mexico Country: Mexico Year: 2021 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social protection expenditure, aggregate economic activity
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Nepal Country: Nepal Year: 2023 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social protection expenditure, aggregate economic activity
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Pakistan Country: Pakistan Year: 2021 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Paraguay Country: Paraguay Year: 2021 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social protection expenditure, aggregate economic activity
	Multipliers of Social Protection: Vietnam Country: Vietnam Year: 2021 Tags: multiplier effects, social protection, social expenditure, inclusive growth, development

The programme developed country case studies on how additional fiscal space can be created for a universal social protection system. The analyses should help governments on how they can increase spending on priority sectors for women, children and vulnerable groups. The analyses were carried out using the ILO Handbook on Fiscal Space for Social Protection.

	Financement de la Protection Sociale au Sénégal: Analyse de l’espace budgétaire, des options de financement et des impacts des investissements en Protection sociale Country: Senegal Year: 2021 Tags: fiscal space, social protection, return on investments, poverty reduction
	Expanding fiscal space for social protection: The case for adolescent-oriented services Country: Uganda Year: 2021 Tags: fiscal space, social protection, adolescents, health, education
	Étude sur la définition d’une Stratégie de financement de la protection sociale au Burkina Faso: Mise en place du Fonds National de Protection Sociale (FNPS) Country: Burkina Faso Year: 2020 Tags: social protection, financing strategy
	Tool for fiscal space analysis when financing social protection Country: Global Year: 2023 Tags: social protection, financing strategy, fiscal space

A public expenditure review (PER) analyses the quantity and quality of public spending over time against policy goals and performance indicators. Under the programme, several countries carried out Social Protection Expenditure Reviews, to assess the level of investment, as well as how it was allocated across different agencies and levels of government.

Social Protection Budget Brief

Country: Nepal
Year: 2020
Tags: budget allocation, budget assessment, social assistance programmes

The National Budget Framework FY 2021/22: Investing in Human Capital Development

Country: Uganda
Year: 2021
Tags: budget allocation, budget assessment, social assistance programmes

A number of programme countries have assessed their technical delivery capacities, as well as processes and institutions. The programme has supported the development or the refinement of social protection technical tools and their application and adaptation, in particular with a view to mainstreaming shock-responsiveness and social protection across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus (SPaN), as well as ensuring they include a gender and disability perspective.

	A Review of Labour Market Policies and Employment Services in Bangladesh Country: Bangladesh Year: 2022 Tags: employment services, active labour market policies
	Inventaire des mutuelles sociales du Burkina Faso – 2020 Country: Burkina Faso Year: 2022 Tags: mutual organisations, universal health insurance
	SP&PFM: Objetivos do projeto, metodologia adotada, resultados, desafios e recomendações Country: Cabo Verde Year: 2022 Tags: project presentation, project methodology, project results
	Atualização e expansão do Cadastro Social Único Country: Cabo Verde Year: 2022 Tags: social registry, update of social registry, expansion of social registry
	Définition des mécanismes et modalités de recouvrement des cotisations dues au titre de la CMU et du RSTI par certaines catégories professionnelles Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2022 Tags: social security contributions, mandatory schemes, digital collection of contributions, collection mechanisms and modalities
	Civil society training manual on public finance management for social protection in Uganda Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2022 Tags: public financing management, training manual, civil society
	Mecanismos alternativos de pagamentos das prestações sociais. Relatório final com as recomendações sobre a solução alternativa para o pagamento de prestações sociais Country: Cabo Verde Year: 2021 Tags: social benefits, alternative payment mechanisms Read also the summary (in Portuguese)
	Servicios de Promoción del empleo Country: Ecuador Year: 2022 Tags: employment promotion services
	Requisitos para acceder al seguro de desempleo Country: Ecuador Year: 2022 Tags: unemployment insurance, requirements for accessing unemployment insurance
	Mercado laboral y situación del desempleo en Ecuador Country: Ecuador Year: 2022 Tags: labour market, unemployment, employment services
	Mecanismos alternativos de pagamentos das prestações sociais. Relatório final com as recomendações sobre a solução alternativa para o pagamento de prestações sociais Country: Cabo Verde Year: 2021 Tags: social benefits, alternative payment mechanisms Read also the summary (in Portuguese)
	Étude sur la capitalisation des plans de soutien nationaux aux entrepreneurs et travailleurs de l’économie informelle en Côte d’Ivoire – Rapport final Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2021 Tags: national support plan, entrepreneurs in the informal economy, workers in the informal economy
	Atelier de restitution : Étude sur la capitalisation des plans de soutien nationaux aux entrepreneurs et travailleurs de l’économie informelle en Côte d’Ivoire – Rapport de l’atelier Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2021 Tags: national support plan, entrepreneurs in the informal economy, workers in the informal economy
	Atelier de sensibilisation sur l’extension des régimes obligatoires de sécurité sociale (CMU, RSTI) aux travailleurs de l’économie informelle – rapport de l’atelier Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2021 Tags: social security extension, mandatory shcemes, workers in the informal economy
	Atelier de renforcement des capacités des acteurs nationaux sur le suivi de la situation de la protection sociale en République de Côte d’Ivoire – rapport de l’atelier Country: Côte d’Ivoire Year: 2021 Tags: social protection monitoring, capacity building, national stakeholders
	Technical brief on Strengthening Social Protection Management Information Systems (MIS): Findings from a Systems Review of the Social Security Fund, Nepal Country: Nepal Year: 2021 Tags: management information systems, ICT governance, ICT structure, human resources, business processes
	Étude pour la définition d’indicateurs clés de suivi de la mise en œuvre de la Politique nationale de protection sociale (PNPS) au Burkina Faso Country: Burkina Faso Year: 2020 Tags: monitoring indicators, national social protection policy, social insurance, extension of social coverage, governance
	Capacity assessment report for Good Practices, Learning Demands and Challenges for Civil Society Organizations and Trade Unions to Actively and Effectively Participate in Social Protection and Public Finance Management Processes in Uganda Country: Uganda Year: 2020 Tags: civil society organisations, trade unions, participation, social protection, public finance management

This working paper examines the evolution of social protection systems in response to economic changes, highlighting their growing responsiveness and inclusiveness during crises, facilitated by modern data technologies. Analysis of data from 106 countries since the 1980s shows an increased adaptability of social protection spending, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, through counter-cyclical policy measures that expanded support beyond traditional beneficiaries. The study underscores recent innovations that enabled governments to promptly identify and aid those typically excluded from social protection, such as informal workers.

The paper advocates for the development of agile social protection frameworks that can swiftly respond to various shocks, supporting both formal and informal workers. It suggests the use of national socio-economic indicators for real-time monitoring of social protection needs, enabling automatic policy responses. Emphasizing the necessity of accessible public resources for effective crisis management, it proposes establishing dedicated funds for emergency interventions. The conclusion points to the potential of new data and technologies to enhance social protection adaptability, especially in developing economies with high informality, thereby improving the targeting and efficiency of social protection and taxation systems.

Extending social protection during times of crisis: The Data Revolution

Author: Clemente Pignatti, Carlos Galian, Céline Peyron Bista
Year: 2024
Tags: shock responsive social protection; digital transformation;

SP&PFM proposes a quantitative tool that could help Governments identify weaknesses and bottlenecks in the use of social protection resources and budget. The tool is inspired on two related instruments:

Good Governance Guidelines for Social Security Agencies of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), that apply the principles embedded in the ILO Social Security (minimum standards) Convention, 1952 (No.102) and ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202).
Public expenditure and financial accountability (PEFA).
The ISSA Guidelines are focused exclusively on social security agencies, and the specific features that characterise this type of institutions. The scope is broader than just resource management and financial accountability. The PEFA is not designed yet as a sectoral tool but is a methodology for assessing and reporting on the strengths and weaknesses of public financial management (PFM) performance. It identifies 94 characteristics (dimensions) across 31 key components of PFM (indicators) in 7 broad areas of activity (pillars).

Social protection and public finance management: an assessment tool

Author: Pablo Souto
Year: 2023
Tags: Public finance management, social protection budget

These briefs draw on the experiences of SP&PFM and are a contribution to the European Commission Guidance Package on Social Protection across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus (SPaN), complementing Operational Note 3 on Stakeholders.

The findings should be useful for development and humanitarian partners and governments working in the fields of social protection, disaster risk management and humanitarian response.

	Beyond Cash Transfers: Strengthening Unemployment Protection as Response to Crises Year: 2023
	Strengthening the Shock Responsiveness of Social Protection at the three levels: Governance, Financing, and Operations Year: 2023
	Expanding Social Protection Coverage across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus Year: 2023
	Strengthening Social Protection in Humanitarian Settings: Lessons Learnt from a Cross-Country Analysis Year: 2023
	Engaging Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Social Partners in Social Protection: Lessons Learnt from a Cross-Country Analysis Year: 2023

This report is intended for all social protection practitioners, policy makers, institutional development actors and advocates interested in the promotion and implementation of a human rights-based approach to universal social protection through strengthened cooperation of all civil society actors, including trade unions and various types of CSOs.

This report highlights the valuable lessons and insights garnered with regards to the network building strategies used by the GCSPF toeffectively influence decision makers. With a focus on inclusiveness, effectiveness, and sustainability, these network-building strategies hold significance in the pursuit of lasting impact on the path to social
protection floors and universal social protection. The GCSPF seeks to empower these networks to exert influence and maintain their strength beyond the programme’s conclusion.

Bridging the divides – Strengthening civil society Advocacy networks for Universal Social Protection: Experiences from Cambodia, Nepal, Senegal, and Uganda.

Year: 2023

Countries: Global

Tags: civil society, advocacy, trade unions, workers, policy development, accountability