2013年-世界发展银行全球_The_Middle_East_and_North_Africa_Community_of_Practice_on_Employment_and_Social_Safety_Nets_3页_728kb

MENA Knowledge and Learning: Summary of the Employment and Social Safety Nets Community of Practice

Core Content

The document outlines the establishment of the first Community of Practice (CoP) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, specifically focused on employment and social safety nets (SSNs). This initiative, supported by the World Bank, aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among practitioners in the region to improve the design and implementation of social policies.

Main Objectives

• To create a platform for practitioners to exchange operational knowledge and best practices.
• To enhance the effectiveness of social programs in addressing unemployment and protecting vulnerable households.
• To promote a coherent and complementary approach to social protection and employment programs, reducing poverty and dependency.

Key Information

Background

• Following the Arab Spring, many MENA countries have redefined, reformed, and expanded their social programs.
• Despite significant investments, there is a gap in effectively assisting the unemployed and protecting vulnerable populations from economic shocks.
• The World Bank recognizes the need for regional knowledge sharing to address these challenges.

Communities of Practice as Agents of Change

• South-south knowledge exchanges have proven effective in other developing regions.
• These exchanges can occur through various formats, including study tours, audio-conferences, workshops, and e-platforms.
• Examples of successful knowledge sharing include the Red Solidaria program in El Salvador, which was influenced by experiences from Chile, Brazil, and Colombia.
• Practitioners from Africa and Europe and Central Asia also highlighted the value of CoPs in developing technical tools like poverty maps.

The MENA Community of Practice

• The CoP was launched with a forum in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 16–17, 2013.
• 20 directors from social assistance and employment agencies in seven MENA countries participated: Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, and Yemen.
• The forum aimed to:
  • Identify key topics for discussion.
  • Define tools for knowledge exchange.
  • Establish a monthly knowledge sharing schedule.
• A consensus was reached on the importance of using Arabic as the official language of the CoP.
• The CoP aims to build a coherent and integrated social protection system that supports individuals and families to become self-reliant through employment.

Role of Technology

• Technology is essential for maintaining continuous communication and knowledge dissemination.
• The World Bank's Collaboration for Development Platform was used to create a virtual network for the CoP.
• This platform enables:
  • Staying in contact with peers.
  • Initiating discussions and asking questions.
  • Sharing regional best practices.
  • Accessing world-class experts.

Roadmap and Next Steps

• The Istanbul workshop was the first step in a series of activities planned for the year.
• Future activities include:
  • Bi-monthly virtual workshops.
  • Study tours.
  • Audio conferences.
  • Development of short operational policy notes on selected topics.
• The CoP will work closely with the Human Development Network and the Jobs Knowledge Platform.
• The initiative is led by the MENA Social Protection Department and funded by the MENA Multi-donor Trust Fund (MDTF).

Conclusion

The MENA Community of Practice on Employment and Social Safety Nets represents a significant step toward improving the effectiveness of social policies in the region. By fostering knowledge exchange and leveraging technology, the CoP aims to support the development of more inclusive and sustainable employment and social protection systems.