The IPC-IG launches an online dashboard of a mapping on social protection responses to COVID-19 in the global South

By IPC-IG
Macau streets

 

The ‘Social protection responses to COVID-19 in the Global South’ online dashboard aims to contribute to the evidence base on COVID-19 and social protection, using a shock-responsive social protection lens. It has been developed by the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) with the support from the Social Protection Approaches to COVID-19: Expert Advice (SPACE) and is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit—GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is hosted by the socialprotection.org platform.

The dashboard is based on a mapping (tracking matrix) featuring detailed information on several implementation features of the responses, and it is structured in two tabs: one with 13 indicators illustrating some of the main statistics, and the other with a table containing selected variables from the mapping. The indicators are divided into five thematic sections:

 

1. Overview of responses, including geographical coverage, social protection components and instruments, and linkages with existing programmes

2. Identification of beneficiaries and application tools

3. Delivery mechanisms

4. Coverage

5. Adequacy of benefits

 

The main goal of the project is to support evidence-based approaches that could inform governments, development partners and civil society on innovations, gaps, and challenges that need to be considered to (i) ensure countries’ recovery and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and (ii) foster preparedness for large covariate shocks in the future.

The IPC-IG ‘mapping’ or ‘tracking matrix’ is mainly based on information available online, including official government resources, legislation, news articles, as well as other mappings/databases, such as the ones compiled by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNDP and UN Women, the International Social Security Association, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It also drew on projects developed in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO); UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO); UNICEF South Asia Regional Office (ROSA); and UNICEF Country Offices in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In addition, the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa provided valuable support.

The dashboard is currently in beta testing. The IPC-IG seeks to collect feedback from users regarding their experience navigating the dashboard, which will be considered for preparation of the final version to be published on the socialprotection.org platform soon. Feedback, comments or questions can be sent to [email protected] by 31 May.

 
Photo: Macau Photo Agency / Unsplash