The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its Social Protection Directorate, with support from UNICEF Ghana, has organised a one-day National Stakeholder Validation Workshop to review and validate the Final Draft of the Shock-Responsive Social Protection Strategy (SRSPS).
Dr. Naa Momo Larteyconvenes event on Strategy to strengthen Ghana’s social protection systemThe Strategy aims to strengthen Ghana’s social protection system to be gender- and shock-responsive, and to guide the delivery of timely and well-coordinated support services to vulnerable communities, households, and individuals before, during, and after shocks.
It also seeks to leverage existing social protection interventions to build the resilience of vulnerable Ghanaians to both covariate and idiosyncratic shocks.
In her opening remarks, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of shocks affecting households and communities across the country. She stressed the need for a responsive and adaptive social protection system capable of cushioning vulnerable groups in times of crisis.
“The effects of these shocks impact livelihoods, food security, health outcomes, and national stability,” she stated.
The Minister further emphasised that a resilient social protection system is not only a safety net but also a foundation for national stability, human capital development, and sustainable economic recovery. She charged stakeholders to approach the day’s deliberations with focus, commitment, and a shared determination to deliver a strategy that supports Ghana’s development agenda and protects every vulnerable Ghanaian.
In a brief statement, the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, urged participants to share field experiences, lessons learned from past emergencies, and innovative approaches to strengthening resilience within Ghana’s social protection architecture.
The Director of the Social Protection Directorate, Madam Francisca Atuluk, commended development partners, the technical working group, and the consultant for their technical guidance, financial support, and dedication throughout the process.
The national validation workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to review and refine the Strategy, strengthen coordination, clarify roles and responsibilities, and firm up actions toward its operationalization.
Participants were taken through the Strategy, its accompanying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the Implementation Plan.
The validation workshop marks an important step toward strengthening Ghana’s social protection system’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to shocks, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
