Technical Note: Better integration of social protection and humanitarian information systems for shock response

Introduction

This document provides guidance on integrating data and information systems between social protection and humanitarian sectors to improve emergency response. It highlights key considerations for effective coordination and draws from UNICEF’s experiences in Iraq, Nepal, and Somalia. This note is valuable for practitioners and policymakers interested in strengthening shock-responsive social protection systems by leveraging existing data and information infrastructure.

Key Insights

Government Social Protection Information Systems

Running social transfers and services requires managing beneficiaries’ information effectively. These systems often include data on potential future recipients and are increasingly integrated with broader government data ecosystems. Table 1 in the document summarizes four main types of registries: beneficiary registries, social registries, integrated beneficiary registries, and integrated social registries.

Humanitarian Information Systems

These systems underpin humanitarian programs, particularly Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCT). They register populations displaced by crises and collect data for program-specific targeting. These systems often operate independently, collecting different data depending on the programs run. According to the document “they collect and manage limited data to support the operations of specific emergency interventions” (p.7)

Integration Approaches

Integration varies from parallel systems to coordination/alignment, leveraging/piggybacking, or cohesive planning. The appropriate approach depends on the context, including political economy, staff capacity, infrastructure, and stakeholder preferences.

How Social Protection Data Supports Preparedness

Routine social protection data can inform risk analysis, vulnerability assessments, and planning measures, including risk-informed program design. It allows for improved risk profiling, forecasting, and routine targeting. For example, the document states that you can “[c]ombine social transfer/services data with disaster risk management (DRM) and humanitarian tools and data to identify individuals and households that are potentially vulnerable to shocks” (p. 9).

Early Warning Systems and Timely Responses

Early warning systems can leverage existing data and systems to enable timely responses by triggering funds and initiating early actions. This can be done through top-up payments to existing beneficiaries or payments to new beneficiaries who have been pre-enrolled.

Leveraging Humanitarian Systems

Humanitarian information systems can enhance social protection shock responsiveness by developing systems around government processes and building for interoperability.

Country-Specific Assessments

Each country must assess existing data and systems, considering benefits, risks, and trade-offs, before integrating social protection and humanitarian systems. There is also “[a] significant amount of system strengthening and preparedness work that can be supported by UNICEF and other partners in-country” (p.14).

Key Statistics & Data

• In 2015/2016, approximately 2.7 million individuals in Nepal received a Social Security Allowance (SSA), representing 9% of the population.

Methodology

The document leverages existing publications and insights from recent UNICEF experiences in Iraq, Nepal, and Somalia. It uses case studies to illustrate the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating social protection and humanitarian information systems in different contexts.

Implications and Conclusions

The document concludes that a careful assessment of existing data and systems is essential before integrating social protection and humanitarian data. This assessment should consider the benefits, risks, and trade-offs of using existing data versus starting from scratch. The document also highlights the significant amount of system strengthening and preparedness work that can be supported by UNICEF and other partners in-country. Overall, an effective government information system serving the social protection sector is expected to better serve the needs of people, by focusing on inclusion; efficiency and effectiveness; accuracy and integrity; accountability and stakeholder coordination.