Social protection: How FHI 360 is addressing a range of human development needs

Social protection: How FHI 360 is addressing a range of human development needs

There are many definitions of social protection, but the guiding principle of social protection is that all citizens of the world deserve the opportunity to live without poverty, hunger, abuse or exploitation and to have access to basic services. FHI 360 is applying social protection strategies in programs that tackle the multiple dimensions of poverty, deprivation and social exclusion. These are powerful measures that reduce risk and break cycles of poverty and vulnerability, which often are passed from generation to generation. Through cash transfers, vouchers and programs designed to increase access to services — such as health, education, nutrition and economic opportunities — social protection programs help reduce inequality and benefit not only individuals and families but also communities and nations as a whole. At FHI 360, we draw on expertise in areas such as health, economic development, gender and youth development to advance social protection. Examples of such work include: LIFT II  LIFT II strengthens the continuum of care for people living with HIV, and other vulnerable households, by systematically linking health-sector clients with context-appropriate, market-led economic strengthening, livelihoods and food security opportunities. LIFT II is designed to provide technical assistance to U.S. government agencies and their implementing partners to improve the economic resilience and food security of vulnerable households, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS. With programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia, LIFT II works with U.S. government agencies to develop tailored programs to meet local needs and objectives. ASPIRES  The Accelerating Strategies for Practical Innovation and Research in Economic Strengthening (ASPIRES) project supports evidence-based, gender-sensitive programming and learning to improve the economic capacities and related health outcomes of vulnerable individuals, families and orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as key populations at risk of acquiring HIV. To achieve this, ASPIRES provides technical assistance and research to support high-quality economic strengthening interventions, such as improved access to savings and other financial services, training in money management, acquisition and use of income-generating workforce and entrepreneurship skills, and cash transfers. Currently, ASPIRES is conducting an assessment and training on national social protection policy for the U.S. Agency for International Development and government ministries in Mozambique. Pamoja Tuwalee  Let’s bring up children together, which translates to Pamoja Tuwalee in Kiswahili, is an innovative project in Tanzania that aims to improve the quality of life and well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable children and their households. Together with their partners, Pamoja Tuwalee is empowering communities to provide comprehensive and sustainable care, support and protection to meet basic needs. The project serves 25 districts in the regions of Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Pwani, as well as Zanzibar. Pamoja Tuwalee supports the Government of Tanzania in implementing the country’s National Costed Plan of Action for Most Vulnerable Children. The key objectives of this work are to increase the capacity of communities to meet the needs of orphans and vulnerable children, give households the tools to improve their caretaking and livelihood skills, increase access to comprehensive care, and empower vulnerable children, particularly girls, to contribute to their own well-being.