Page 25 - Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme - Newsletter

SOCIAL PROTECTION MONTH 2024

Ms. Joyce Atimango (L), Executive Director, Trailblazers Mentoring Foundation with partners and some of the adolescent girls that have
benefited from the Girls Empowering Girls (GEG) Programme. The GEG initiative is implemented with support from UNICEF

with the Uganda Parliamentary The webinar also featured The last webinar was held under
Forum on Social Protection. The insights from country- the topic “Gender Responsive
webinar on shock-responsive specific experiences. Zambia’s Social Protection: Experiences from
social protection highlighted the representative, Bernadette ongoing programmes in Uganda”.
importance of evolving social Malungo, discussed the country’s This webinar’s key note speaker
protection systems to mitigate approach to expanding social was Lauren Whitehead who is the
the increasing impacts of global protection to combat poverty Social Protection and Gender Lead
shocks. Dr. Michael Samson exacerbated by economic, for UNICEF in New York. It also had
presented a historical overview environmental, and health- local government representation
of social protection’s three waves, related shocks. She explained on the Panel including Simon
noting the progression from cash how Zambia has developed a Engabua who is the Acting DCDO
transfers to integrated, resilience- multi-sectoral approach involving Koboko District and Solomon
building programmes, and now various government departments, Stalin Mawadri who is the Senior
toward complex, climate-resilient NGOs, and international donors to Community Development
systems. He emphasized that coordinate and deliver effective Officer, Adjumani Microprojects
such systems not only provide social protection. Additionally, under CSSP. Joyce Atimango, ED
immediate support but also foster Uganda’s representatives outlined Trailblazers Mentoring Foundation
human capital and economic the government’s efforts to was the other panelist.
resilience, particularly in the face enhance social protection through The third webinar on gender-
of demographic shifts, climate community-based programmes, responsive social protection
challenges, and technological emphasizing the need for emphasized the necessity
changes. comprehensive coordination of tailoring social protection
The discussion underscored the and data-driven frameworks for programmes to address gender-
critical role of social protection in timely responses. The discussions specific vulnerabilities. Lauren
supporting economic stability and concluded with calls for strategic, Whitehead from UNICEF
human development, as shown by inclusive policies that reflect the highlighted the unique challenges
Uganda’s experiences and forward- multifaceted needs of vulnerable faced by women and girls globally
looking strategies in alignment populations in a rapidly changing and in Uganda, including high rates
with regional and global trends. world. of violence, poverty, and unpaid

MARCH - JUNE 2025 / ESP PROGRAMME NEWSLETTER 25