Course Details

Social Protection and Social Cohesion Training Course

INTRODUCTION

This specialized training course explores the vital connection between robust social protection systems and the strengthening of social cohesion within communities and nations. Recognizing that social protection can play a powerful role in bridging divides, fostering trust, and enhancing collective well-being, this program equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that explicitly contribute to greater social cohesion. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how social protection can mitigate grievances, promote inclusion, and build a sense of shared citizenship. This course is ideal for policymakers, program managers, community development practitioners, civil society representatives, researchers, and development experts committed to building more unified and resilient societies.

DURATION

5 DAY

TARGET AUDIENCE

This course is specifically designed for professionals working in social protection, peacebuilding, community development, governance, and related policy areas, including:

• Government officials and policymakers from ministries of social welfare, national unity, and local government.
• Program managers and technical staff from international development organizations, NGOs, and peacebuilding initiatives.
• Community leaders and social workers involved in local cohesion efforts.
• Civil society representatives and advocates working on social inclusion and justice.
• Researchers and academics interested in the sociology of social protection and conflict dynamics.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the conceptual links between social protection, social cohesion, and societal resilience.
• Identify how social protection programs can inadvertently create or exacerbate social tensions.
• Design and adapt social protection interventions to explicitly promote social cohesion and inclusion.
• Develop strategies for fostering trust, participation, and shared identity through social protection.
• Advocate for policies and programs that leverage social protection as a tool for peace and unity.

MODULES

Module 1: Understanding Social Cohesion and its Drivers

• Define social cohesion and its multi-dimensional components (e.g., trust, belonging, equity, participation).
• Explore the key drivers and determinants of social cohesion and fragmentation.
• Discuss how inequality, exclusion, and vulnerability can erode social cohesion.
• Understand the role of shared values, norms, and institutions in fostering collective identity.
• Examine different theoretical perspectives on social cohesion and its measurement.

Module 2: The Social Protection-Social Cohesion Nexus

• Analyze how social protection can directly contribute to poverty reduction and reduce grievances.
• Discuss how inclusive social protection can enhance a sense of fairness and shared citizenship.
• Explore the potential for social protection programs to build trust between citizens and the state.
• Understand how universal social protection can foster solidarity and mutual support.
• Examine the potential negative impacts of poorly designed social protection on social cohesion (e.g., stigmatization, exclusion).

Module 3: Designing Inclusive Social Protection for Cohesion

• Develop targeting mechanisms that minimize perceived unfairness and potential for social division.
• Design eligibility criteria and benefit structures that promote broad-based inclusion.
• Discuss the importance of transparency and fairness in program administration and communication.
• Explore how to adapt social protection programs to specific local contexts and diverse social groups.
• Understand the role of conditionalities in fostering positive social behaviors and community participation.

Module 4: Fostering Trust and Participation through Social Protection

• Identify strategies for building trust between program implementers and beneficiaries.
• Develop mechanisms for meaningful citizen engagement and participatory decision-making in social protection.
• Discuss the role of grievance redress mechanisms in building trust and managing conflicts.
• Explore how community-based social protection initiatives can strengthen local solidarity.
• Understand the importance of respectful and empathetic interactions in service delivery.

Module 5: Addressing Conflict-Affected and Fragile Contexts

• Analyze the specific challenges of delivering social protection in conflict-prone or fragile settings.
• Discuss how social protection can act as a tool for peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
• Explore interventions that support social cohesion in post-conflict recovery and displacement contexts.
• Understand the importance of context-sensitive design to avoid exacerbating existing tensions.
• Examine the role of humanitarian social protection in building foundations for long-term stability.

Module 6: Building Shared Identity and Belonging

• Discuss how social protection can create common experiences and shared interests among diverse groups.
• Explore the role of universal benefits in fostering a sense of national belonging and shared citizenship.
• Understand how social protection can contribute to the integration of marginalized groups, including migrants and refugees.
• Analyze the narratives and communication strategies that promote unity through social protection.
• Examine the impact of dignity and respect in program delivery on individual and collective identity.

Module 7: Monitoring and Evaluating Cohesion Outcomes

• Develop indicators for measuring social cohesion as an outcome of social protection programs.
• Discuss methodologies for assessing changes in trust, social capital, and perceptions of fairness.
• Explore qualitative approaches to understanding lived experiences of social cohesion.
• Utilize disaggregated data to identify differential impacts on various social groups.
• Establish learning processes to adapt programs to better foster social cohesion.

Module 8: Policy Coherence and Advocacy for Cohesive Societies

• Identify opportunities for policy alignment between social protection, peacebuilding, and governance sectors.
• Develop strategies for advocating for social protection policies that explicitly prioritize social cohesion.
• Discuss the role of cross-sectoral partnerships in designing and implementing integrated interventions.
• Explore how to communicate the value proposition of social protection for national unity and stability.
• Advocate for the systemic integration of social cohesion considerations into national social protection strategies.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com