Articles

Publication: 03 March 2023 Thanks to SOPROEN’s experience in the area of social protection, we have been developing methodologies and proposals to face shocks caused by emergencies due to climate change that affect the poorest families to a greater extent. In this document we present solutions that can be offered in the face of different types emergencies and the role that SOPROEN plays in the different stages of an emergency. An analysis is made on: types of disasters, climate change emergencies, current challenges in implementing effective responses, measures to correct them, and the role of SOPROEN in the extreme and gradual disasters. Download Article ...

Publication: 06 Oct 2022 At SOPROEN, we have learned and developed different methodologies to implement social protection programs around the world. After having witnessed the implementation of more than 100 social protection projects in over 40 countries, we are in the position to also share key lessons which we have learned over the years as social development consultants. The objective of this document is to present SOPROEN’s solutions, innovations, and impact-based findings. This document briefly shows some products/services being offered by SOPROEN and delivered in the recent past while providing technical assistance within the social protection sector: (i) a proposed revised social protection delivery chain, (ii) delivery systems supported by dynamic information systems, (iii) target-oriented communication and promotion strategies, (iv) delivery systems adapted to support climate change response actions, (v) SOPROEN’s emergency response system (vi) characteristics of dynamic institutional arrangements, and (vii) an example of the SOPROEN’s comprehensive solution. Download Article ...

Publication:  2019 Linkages and Referrals System: A practical means to guide poor and vulnerable households to complementary services upon their needs Cash Transfer Programs (CTPs) have global success in alleviating short-term poverty by providing direct, regular, fixed monetary assistance to households in need. These transfers reduce economic distress, enabling beneficiaries to prioritize essential needs like food, clothing, healthcare, debt repayment, and community involvement, fostering attitudinal changes and self-improvement. While CTPs are vital for social protection, they alone cannot eliminate poverty or improve living conditions. Beneficiaries often require access to additional services and face limitations in information and service access. Ayala Consulting Group proposes a Linkages and Referrals (L&R) system to help CTP agencies systematically connect beneficiaries with complementary services in various sectors. The L&R system aims to bridge the gap between CTP beneficiaries and Service Providers (SPs) in sectors like trade, agriculture, housing, labor, and more. It targets poor and vulnerable households, assesses their specific needs, and refers them to available SPs. This paper outlines an L&R model based on international experiences and Malawi interventions by Ayala Consulting Group. Sections explore background experiences, previous Malawi initiatives, system design elements, implementation results, beneficiary and provider perceptions, lessons learned, and integration with other household registries. Click to access and download the article for further reading! Download Article ...

 Publication: April 2019 In the last decades, Social Safety Nets (SSNs) are increasingly being used as a key measure to alleviate poverty and vulnerability among people in developing countries, not only to face short-term calamities but also for long-term development, contributing to a more self-reliant, economically viable population. While in 2009 only 19 countries possessed a national Social Protection (SP) strategy in place that outlines systemic approaches, currently around 68 do so (Abdurazokzoda, 2014). When a country’s poor population remain poor after implementing a Social Safety Nets program, it indicates a failure of the program. In order for SSN program to be successful, it is required to meet a certain criteria. Failing to meet this criteria, is the reason to the failure of SSN programs.       Download Article ...