Zambia hosts data-driven push to reinvent social protection systems
- Nhlanhla Muthe
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
By Nhlanhla Muthe
Governments from six countries have converged in Zambia to explore how digital innovation can transform social protection systems into resilient, crisis-ready platforms for the 21st century.
Co-hosted by the Government of Zambia, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and ESCAP, the three-day workshop brings together representatives from six countries — Zambia, Senegal, Tanzania, Namibia, Cambodia, and the Maldives. The initiative is part of a project spanning 2024–2027, aimed at advancing universal, data-informed social protection systems.
Angela Kawandami, Permanent Secretary at Zambia’s Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, stated that with nearly 2 billion people worldwide lacking any form of social protection, and Africa’s coverage standing at just 19%, the stakes are high. Zambia, where half the population lives in multidimensional poverty, is using this moment to push for digitally-enabled transformation.
“The world is not only dealing with the ongoing effects of the food, fuel, and finance crises but also facing an increasingly complex web of challenges. This meeting is an opportunity to reflect, to learn from each other, and to forge new partnerships,” she said.
The workshop’s tech focus includes tools like OpenIMIS digital registries, adaptive financing simulation models, and ECA’s newly introduced Multidimensional Poverty Dashboard. Dr. Christian Oldiges, Chief of the Social Policy Section at ECA, underlined that this prototype platform integrates real-time crisis data, such as migration flows and climate shocks, with local social spending patterns to improve service targeting.
“What we’re building is a tool that goes beyond poverty averages. It connects multidimensional poverty data with real-time information on crises and links that with what’s actually happening on the ground,” said Oldiges.
UNDESA’s Amson Sibanda also underscored the importance of scalable, data-grounded systems.
“Universal social protection includes policies that bridge human capital formation, financial, and information gaps. But for these systems to be effective, they need to be grounded in solid data and delivered at scale,” he said.
Sibanda emphasised that as countries move beyond temporary safety nets, the workshop is laying the groundwork for long-term, tech-powered solutions that can adapt to future shocks and ensure no one is left behind.
