(Socialprotection.org Webinar) The role of local and national actors in linking humanitarian cash and social protection in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

It is recognised in the current response to COVID-19 that both social protection and humanitarian actors must work together in different ways across the ‘nexus’ depending on country context, and that one actor alone cannot and should not do it all.

In order to address the plethora of needs emanating from the pandemic, and particularly those of a socio-economic nature, the use of cash has been the response of choice for governments expanding their systems (for social assistance, public works, unemployment, pension schemes, etc.). The same is true for humanitarian actors (unconditional cash, cash for work, cash+, enhanced minimum expenditure baskets).

This webinar will provide the opportunity to hear from humanitarian and social protection actors as they share their experiences in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The speakers will provide insights from responses in Albania, Swaziland and Madagascar, shedding light on a number of issues including:

• The point at which engagement between humanitarian and social protection actors/systems was made (or should have been made)

• Decision-making processes in relation to collaborative action, and how timely these processes were

• Stages and levels of collaboration – policy; programme design; implementation

• Key successes, challenges and learning for the future.

Speakers:

Danger Nhlabatsi - Secretary General, Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society (BERCS)

Siphelele ‘KB’ Mkhonta - National Disaster Management Coordinator, Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society

Patricia Miarisoa Rakotonirina – Secretary General, Madagascar Ministère de la Population, de la Protection Sociale et de la Promotion de la Femme

Ilir Zguri - Director of Social Welfare of Korca Municipality, Albania.

Moderator:

Lois Austin – GB Sub-Group KML Consultant

This webinar is part of the Linking Social Protection with humanitarian cash webinar series, of the Grand Bargain Cash Sub Group on linking social protection and humanitarian cash transfers co-led by UNICEF, IFRC, and DFID. 

Register here