The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its Social Protection Directorate and 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).
The Strategy seeks to strengthen Ghana’s social protection system to become more gender- and shock-responsive, ensuring the timely and well-coordinated delivery of support services to vulnerable communities, households and individuals before, during and after shocks.
It further aims to leverage existing social protection interventions to build the resilience of vulnerable Ghanaians against both covariate shocks, such as floods and economic downturns, and idiosyncratic shocks that affect individual households.
In her opening remarks, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, underscored the increasing frequency and intensity of shocks affecting households and communities across the country. She emphasised the urgent need for a responsive and adaptive social protection system capable of cushioning vulnerable groups during times of crisis.
“The effects of these shocks impact livelihoods, food security, health outcomes and national stability,” she stated.
The Minister further stressed that a resilient social protection system must serve not only as a safety net but also as a foundation for national stability, human capital development and sustainable economic recovery. She charged stakeholders to approach the deliberations with focus and commitment to deliver a strategy that aligns with Ghana’s development agenda and safeguards the welfare of every vulnerable citizen.
In a brief statement, the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, encouraged participants to share practical field experiences, lessons from previous emergencies and innovative approaches to strengthening resilience within Ghana’s social protection framework.
The Director of the Social Protection Directorate, Madam Francisca Atuluk, commended development partners, the technical working group and the consultant for their dedication, technical expertise and financial support throughout the development process.
The national validation workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to review and refine the Strategy, enhance coordination, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities and consolidate actions towards its operationalisation. Participants were also taken through the Strategy’s accompanying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the Implementation Plan.
The validation workshop marks a significant milestone in strengthening Ghana’s social protection system to respond swiftly and effectively to shocks, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
