Government launches integrated social protection system

THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare on Friday launched the Zimbabwe Integrated Social Protection Management Information System (ISPMI), which seeks to improve the administration of all social protection schemes.

The new information communication technology (ICT)-based system lays the foundation for efficient service delivery in the identification, enrolment, and management of social protection beneficiaries.

It enables harmonisation of implementation and monitoring of programmes while ensuring transparency and good governance of social protection systems.

The new system will register all the vulnerable households in the country and the type of assistance that each household receives from the Government.

Bulawayo hosted the provincial launch while a national launch is expected to be held on a date to be advised.

In his address permanent secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Simon Masanga, said the ministry has embarked on a computerisation drive where all social protection programmes must undergo digitisation so as to deliver a fully-integrated and automated social protection service.

He said multiple strides have been made in information laying out a supportive ICT infrastructure and software development with the support of technical and development partners such as the World Bank, Unicef, and the World Food Programme with Synergy leading the way in developing the system.

Mr Masanga said the National Social Protection Policy Framework (NSPPF), which was launched in December 2016 and is being reviewed, recommended the creation of ISPMIS for better management of social protection programmes.

“The ISPMIS is also one of the goals to be achieved under the NDS1. This will be achieved through the social protection thematic working group consisting of the technical committee chaired by the ministry comprising Government line ministries, agencies and co-operating partners,” he said.

Mr Masanga said the ministry secured funding from the World Bank amounting to USS1 million to develop the ISPMIS.

He said the system was piloted in nine cyclone Idai-affected districts which are Chikomba, Mutare, Chipinge, Buhera, Chimanimani, Masvingo, Zaka, Gutu and Chiredzi using the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy.

He said the exercise was a tremendous success as district officers witnessed how the system accommodates components of shock responsiveness in social protection.

“It was observed that the system is flexible enough to add new programmes and their parameters. Development partners can also access information relevant to their programmes.

“Beneficiaries were registered in the social registry using both offline and online applications. Households were validated, approved for payments and pay sheets were produced at the district level,” said Mr Masanga.

He added that a development site at Compensation House has been fully equipped and installed with the necessary security systems and infrastructure procured by the World Bank, which supports the ministry with computers, electronic tablets, power backup batteries and printers.

Mr Masanga pleaded for the extension of the contract for the developer so that the team will fully embrace the system to promote its sustainability.

“Synergy contract expired last year in December 2022 and their warrant period is coming to an end in October 2023. There is still some pending work to be completed for example integration with mobile service providers and civil registry,” he said.

“It is my sincere hope that our partners will once again support us through financial and technical support in order to fund the extension contract for Synergy.

“Taking into consideration the amount of work that still needs the technical expertise, it will be of paramount importance for the Government to engage Synergy to extend their contract by at least two years.

“This collaboration will ensure that when Synergy weans us, we will be in a better position to fully embrace the system, which will result in sustainability.”

-@SikhulekelaniM1