1.Development of Social Protection Strategies

Development of Social Protection Strategies

Project Snapshot

Client: UNICEF
Location: Somalia
Implementation Period: 2024–2025
Status: Completed
Sector: Social Protection & Cash Assistance
Project Type: Strategy Development & Policy Support
Target Groups:
Vulnerable households, children, women, government institutions

Evaluation Objectives

1. Support the development of a national social protection strategic framework
2. Strengthen coordination and coherence of social protection interventions
3. Promote child-sensitive, gender-responsive, and inclusive approaches
4. Enhance shock-responsiveness and system sustainability

Background & Rationale

Somalia faces persistent vulnerability driven by poverty, climate shocks, and conflict. Fragmented social assistance interventions have limited effectiveness and sustainability. This project supported the development of a comprehensive social protection strategy to strengthen system coherence, expand coverage, and enhance resilience, with a focus on child-sensitive and shock-responsive approaches aligned with national priorities.

Scope of Work

1. Conducted desk review of social protection policies and programs
2. Undertook situational and institutional analysis
3. Facilitated stakeholder consultations and technical working sessions
4. Drafted social protection strategy and implementation roadmap
5. Supported validation and policy dialogue processes

Methodology & Approach

A systems-based and participatory approach was applied, combining policy analysis, stakeholder consultations, and strategic planning. The methodology emphasized alignment with government systems, integration of humanitarian and development programming, and incorporation of child-sensitive and gender-responsive principles.

Key Outputs & Deliverables

1. National Social Protection Strategy document
2. Situational analysis and policy gap assessment
3. Strategic framework and implementation roadmap
4. Stakeholder consultation and validation reports

Key Findings & Results

7. Key Results & Insights
1. Improved strategic coherence of social protection programming
2. Clear framework for expanding coverage and coordination
3. Strengthened focus on children and vulnerable populations
4. Enhanced readiness for shock-responsive scale-up

Beneficiaries & Stakeholders

1. Vulnerable households and communities
2. Children and women
3. Government social protection institutions
4. UNICEF and development partners

Geographic Coverage
The strategy development process covered national-level systems and selected sub-national contexts across Somalia.