Development and Implementation of Social Protection Systems

2010 to 2012

£ 2 million

Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) (European Commission funding)

Project management, capacity building, social protection reform and policy, business strategy, IT, communications

Social assistance, in Palestine, is provided through a complex web of PA organisations, NGOs and other external agencies implementing a series of uncoordinated social protection initiatives. This has inevitably led to wastage of resources and poor targeting of assistance. Without a coherent reform of the social safety net, its efficiency and effectiveness will continue to decline, and Palestinian and international resources could be wasted. Demand for social assistance has increased substantially but financial resources are insufficient and there are relatively few instruments to help poor households.

The MoSA is the regulatory body and implementing agency responsible for the Social Protection System in oPt, with branches in the 17 Governorates in West Bank and Gaza Strip. MoSA is the only institutional organisation effectively vested with the mandate and responsibility to define and implement the social protection strategy. The current organisational structure in MoSA needs to be improved and suited to the overall strategy for the social protection sector and MoSA’s current mandate.

There is a general consensus that ongoing social and cash assistance services are fragmented, and that systems and procedures are disharmonised. Targeting is poor and the determination of eligibility is almost subjective. There are inequitable levels of benefit, which do not match the household welfare. Both coverage and beneficiary satisfaction are low. The overall objective, under MoSA's responsibility is twofold: i) to develop, populate and manage a centralised database of "poor households in Palestine" and ii) to develop, manage and implement a single, poverty-based cash transfer programme that caters to the "poorest of the poor"

The two main project objectives are:

1. To improve the Ministry of Social Affairs’ (MoSA) capacity to carry out its mandate regarding social protection. This will include modernisation of its administration and putting in place means by which capacity can be continuously updated and maintained beyond the lifetime of the Project, in full cooperation with key stakeholders (i.e. General Personnel Council);
2. To support the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) in implementing its responsibilities, particularly regarding reform of social safety nets and development and implementation of an integrated and comprehensive strategy and policy for a more effective social protection system covering all poor and vulnerable segments of the Palestinian population.
   

• A new high-level business strategy will be designed, adopted and implemented by MoSA
• Business plans, priorities, targets for all departments at HQ and directorates will be developed, implemented, monitored and reported
• Support will be provided to MoSA in defining job descriptions and responsibilities in line with the new business strategy, and the skills needed to carry out their responsibilities
• A communication strategy for both internal and external stakeholders, aligned with the new business strategy and social protection strategy, will be designed, adopted and implemented
• An IT strategy, aligned with the new business strategy and social protection strategy, will be designed, adopted and implemented.
• Assistance will be provided to MoSA in developing an overall strategy for social protection for the future that guides all policy reform and potential legislative changes.
• Capacity building of MoSA to further develop the social protection system