Social Protection And Financial Inclusion For The Poor Training Course

Introduction

In the pursuit of holistic poverty reduction and economic empowerment, the strategic integration of Social Protection and Financial Inclusion offers a powerful synergy, enabling vulnerable populations to move beyond mere subsistence towards sustainable livelihoods. This essential training course is meticulously designed to equip policymakers, financial service providers, social protection practitioners, microfinance institutions, and development specialists with the specialized knowledge and practical skills required for linking social transfers with access to financial services. Participants will gain a robust understanding of digital payments, savings, credit, insurance, and financial literacy, enabling them to design programs that not only provide safety nets but also foster financial resilience and economic opportunities for the poor. Our comprehensive curriculum emphasizes hands-on application, best practices, and real-world case studies pertinent to the dynamic financial sector and social development landscape in Nairobi, Kenya, and across the African continent, empowering you to build inclusive economies.

This digital payments for social programs course is crucial for individuals and organizations in Kenya striving to maximize the impact of social protection investments by leveraging the transformative potential of financial services. Mastering mobile money for cash transfers, implementing financial literacy for beneficiaries, and understanding strategies for integrating social safety nets with banking solutions are indispensable for reducing vulnerability, promoting savings, fostering entrepreneurship, and ultimately achieving greater financial autonomy for the poor. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your expertise in innovative financial inclusion and cash transfer programming, positioning your organization at the forefront of integrated poverty reduction strategies and driving significant human and economic development across the region.

Target Audience

• Social Protection Policy Makers
• Financial Service Providers (Banks, Mobile Money Operators)
• Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)
• Government Officials (Treasury, Social Affairs)
• Digital Payments Specialists
• Development Program Managers (NGOs & UN Agencies)
• Researchers in Financial Inclusion & Poverty

Course Objectives

• Understand the core concepts of financial inclusion and its relevance to social protection goals.
• Learn about the various financial services relevant to social protection beneficiaries (payments, savings, credit, insurance).
• Master principles for integrating social transfers with digital financial services.
• Develop proficiency in designing programs that promote financial literacy and capability among the poor.
• Explore strategies for overcoming barriers to financial inclusion for vulnerable populations.
• Understand the role of mobile money and other digital platforms in enhancing payment efficiency.
• Learn about ethical considerations and consumer protection in linking social protection to financial services.
• Identify innovative models for providing micro-credit and micro-insurance to beneficiaries.
• Develop effective multi-stakeholder partnerships between public and private sectors.
• Understand data requirements and monitoring strategies for financial inclusion outcomes.
• Explore policy and regulatory frameworks that enable financial inclusion for social protection.
• Drive the implementation of integrated programs that enhance both social protection and financial inclusion.
• Position yourself as an expert in leveraging financial services for poverty reduction and economic empowerment.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1. Introduction to Financial Inclusion and Social Protection

• Defining financial inclusion: access, usage, quality of financial services
• The benefits of financial inclusion for the poor: savings, managing shocks, investments
• The nexus between social protection and financial inclusion: a pathway to sustainable poverty reduction
• How digital payments bridge the gap between social transfers and financial services
• Overview of financial inclusion landscape in Kenya and Africa

Module 2. Digital Payments for Social Transfers module

• Evolution of payment methods for social protection: cash to digital
• Advantages of digital payments: efficiency, transparency, security, financial inclusion
• Mobile money and its transformative role in cash transfer delivery
• Challenges and risks of digital payments for beneficiaries (e.g., digital literacy, infrastructure)
• Best practices for designing and implementing digital payment systems

3. Module Financial Literacy and Capability for Beneficiaries

• The importance of financial literacy for effective use of financial services
• Designing context-specific financial education programs for social protection beneficiaries
• Integrating financial literacy into social protection delivery channels
• Tools and methodologies for enhancing financial capability
• Addressing gender and age-specific financial literacy needs

Module 4. Access to Savings and Credit through Social Protection module

• Promoting savings among social protection beneficiaries
• Linking social transfers to formal and informal savings groups
• Innovative models for micro-credit provision to the poor
• Leveraging social protection data for credit scoring (ethical considerations)
• Supporting entrepreneurship and productive investments through linked finance

Module 5. Insurance and Risk Management for the Poor module

• Understanding common risks faced by vulnerable households (health, climate, livelihood shocks)
• The role of micro-insurance in social protection strategies
• Designing affordable and accessible insurance products for the poor
• Linking social protection beneficiaries to health insurance or agricultural insurance
• Leveraging social protection data for risk assessment and product development

Module 6. Policy, Regulation, and Partnership Models module

• Policy and regulatory frameworks enabling financial inclusion for social protection (e.g., agent networks, e-money regulation)
• Consumer protection in digital financial services for vulnerable groups
• Building effective Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) with financial service providers
• The role of financial sector regulators and central banks
• Cross-sectoral collaboration for integrated programming

Module 7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Future Trends module

• Indicators for measuring financial inclusion outcomes of social protection programs
• Data collection and analysis methods for understanding usage patterns and impact
• Ethical considerations in tracking financial data of beneficiaries
• Emerging trends: FinTech innovations, blockchain for financial inclusion
• The future of social protection as a platform for holistic financial empowerment

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre.

We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.