Soc. Protect.: Theory/Practice

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Social protection (SP) is the field of study that examines policies and programs to prepare societies and individuals to manage socio-economic risks. SP aims to protect people from a range of shocks, including those caused by economic crises, pandemics, chronic poverty and climate change. SP also seeks to provide people with opportunities to build a better life for themselves and their families. This course will provide students with an overview of the major concepts and policy instruments in the area of SP, covering social insurance, social assistance, safety nets and labor. This includes cash transfers (conditional and unconditional), in-kind transfers (seeds, fertilizer, school feeding, etc.), fee waivers and scholarships, public works, old age pensions, and programs for specific vulnerable populations. Second, the course will examine social protection systems and delivery mechanisms, including targeting, payments, monitoring and evaluation. Country case studies will be used to illustrate how these concepts and instruments are applied in practice by policymakers. This course has two main learning objectives. First, to equip students with the key theoretical, analytical and practical skills and frameworks used in the field of social protection. Second, to enable students to approach the assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation of SP programs and schemes both at the country and specific program level in a systematic, evidence-based manner. The course is organized as an interactive seminar, with a premium on student participation.