By KT Reporter
The heads of departments from the three districts in the Karamoja sub-region have completed a five-day training on social protection transformation projects aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable communities. The training, which concluded on Friday in Kaabong district, targeted technical heads of departments from Abim, Moroto, and Napak districts.
It was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, implement, and monitor effective social protection programs in the region. Samuel Lokong, Principal Assistant Secretary of Moroto district, said the training has been instrumental in providing them with the expertise needed to design and implement social protection programs in their respective districts. Lokong explained that participants covered a wide range of topics, including social protection concepts, definitions, types, and program design and implementation. He noted that they have deepened their understanding of program targeting, payment management, and management information systems.
He added that they are now skilled in localizing social protection programs in their respective local governments, taking into account the unique needs, contexts, and cultures of the communities while adhering to legal frameworks and guidelines to protect the rights of beneficiaries. Dr. Salome Tino, Abim District Health Officer, said that training in social protection is critical in the medical field.
Tino noted that many vulnerable people, especially those with chronic illnesses such as cancer and disabilities, need access to social protection. She explained that such patients often face shocks and incur high medical expenses with limited institutional support. Primary health care alone cannot adequately manage these cases, as they require advanced care. She advocated for including such patients in social protection programs to improve access to services. Tino also emphasized enrolling children, unborn babies, and pregnant mothers in nutritional development programs to enhance their health and future development.
Paulina Peter Lokong, Napak District Natural Resource Officer, said the training helped them realize that social protection is an investment, not merely an expenditure, particularly when coordinated from beneficiary selection to program implementation. Lokong highlighted the importance of coordinating with the Management Information System and administration to ensure social protection covers both vulnerable populations and the working class. She stressed that the working class should be prepared for shocks such as job loss or retirement, citing challenges faced when USAID projects were suspended. She added that social protection knowledge enables everyone to prepare for life’s uncertainties and emphasized that such programs are needed throughout the life cycle, from childhood to adulthood. Lokong vowed to share the knowledge with colleagues, emphasizing that social protection should be multi-sectoral rather than only community-based.
Stephen Kasaija, head of the Expanding Social Protection Programme at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, acknowledged the importance of training local government officials to advance social protection. Kasaija said the initiative builds capacity and awareness among officials, enabling them to understand social protection’s role in addressing community risks and vulnerabilities. He noted that existing policies, such as the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) for the elderly, are complemented by a national social protection strategy launched last year. He revealed plans to introduce an integrated social protection program in partnership with the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and FAO, which will be implemented in Abim, Moroto, and Napak districts. The training aims to prepare officers for effective program rollout next month.
Emily Awili, social protection officer at the World Food Programme, said significant efforts have been made to strengthen social protection programs in the region. Awili noted that technical staff have been trained to design and implement interventions and that the nutrition-sensitive social protection program has been scaled up to target pregnant women and children under two. She explained that interventions within the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can have long-term cognitive benefits and make children productive members of society.
In 2018/19, the Government of Uganda, with development partners, conducted a Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) of all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and District Local Governments responsible for implementing social protection. The assessment identified knowledge gaps among social protection practitioners as a major challenge, leading to the development of a Capacity and Institutional Development Plan outlining training needs, strategies, and institutions. Since 2023, the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, in partnership with the World Food Programme, has been piloting and institutionalizing the African Union TRANSFORM training approach on social protection in Uganda, aiming to deepen understanding among policymakers and technical personnel.
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