By Benard Mujuni
Uganda’s development agenda is anchored on Social development, which underpins context of poverty, equity, social inclusion and social protection floor that require effective targeting of the vulnerable persons in the delivery of social services.
The emergence of the second wave of COVID-19 has provided yet another challenge. As a country, we seem to have learnt and quickly forgotten much. The absence of a clear system for targeting the vulnerable groups for the delivery of livelihood interventions has resulted into the need to develop an equitable Social registry sooner than later. The possibility of mistargeting and excluding the most in need, during these social protection interventions provide an opportunity for Uganda to address this challenge comprehensively and urgently.
There is therefore need to support the development of the Social Registry to address among others the following; providing evidence-based framework for targeting and delivery of social protection interventions, providing the nature and magnitude of vulnerabilities among the vulnerable groups, availing unemployment and underemployment levels at household level, capturing the birth and death information system at community level, capturing the levels of immunization, vaccinations including COVID-19 at household level, identifying and targeting the most vulnerable and other groups at household and community level (PWDs, Albinos, racial and geographical, Islanders), providing a framework for local governments effective targeting of the vulnerable groups for inclusive service delivery, inventorying the inclusivity of government programs at household level
In terms of their core social policy function, Social Registries are inclusion systems.They provide a “gateway” for people (individuals, families) to register and be considered for potential inclusion in one or more social programs based on an assessment of their needs and conditions. That assessment usually takes into account measures of socio-economic status, categorical factors or a combination of both, which are often factors used by programs in prioritizing eligibility for benefits and services.
More specifically, from a functional perspective, Social Registries are information systems that support registration and determination of potential eligibility for social programs.Along the “Delivery Chain,” they support the phases of outreach, intake & registration, and assessment of needs and conditions to determine potential eligibility for inclusion in selected social program(s).
Social Registries can serve one or multiple programs. These functions require structures and processes for citizen interface, for example via mobile teams, at local offices, or via digital service windows. They also require clear legal and institutional arrangements, including designation and capacity of the” host agency” for developing and operating the Social Registry, as well as for agencies managing the user Programs.
As information systems, Social Registries intermediate as a bridge between citizens on the one hand, and delivering institutions on the other hand. With this pandemic, it would simply require the pressing of the computer button to know who should benefit and from where in this Country. Local councils are a political and so may not effectively help in identifying and targeting the beneficiaries of programs such as cash transfers without unconscious or conscious bias.
Companies Rise or Fall on How Well They Renew Their LeadersIn terms of population covered, social registries contain information on all registrants, whether or not they are deemed eligible for, or enrolled in, select social programs, allowing transparency and social accountability in the determination of eligibility and record-keeping. Such information is needed to allow people to file appeals or grievances and support eventual reviews of their potential eligibility for social programs.
The unique feature of Social Registries is that they have the function of registering individuals, families or households (called “registrants” or “applicants”) and determining potential eligibility for social program(s).
Social Registries gather and retain information on all registrants (applicants), whether or not they are eventually enrolled in social program(s) since there is no guarantee that application or registration in the Social Registry would provide any entitlement to a program.
The Ministry of Gender labour and social development should be supported to embark on this nascent activity that will arraign government interventions. Once developed it will provide leverage in addressing disaster beneficiaries or war claimants, grants beneficiaries, vaccination targets; cash transfer targets, employment/unemployment levels, child/antenatal mortalities or interventions to address poverty or a social economic need/challenges.
Benard Mujuni is a Social Capital, Policy and Legal specialist
benardmujuni@gmail.com
