Building National System of Social Protection Statistics in Eswatini

 The International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) alongside the ILO Social Protection Department (ILO HQ/SOCPRO-Geneva), ILO Regional Office for Africa (ILO/ROAF), ILO Decent Work Team and Country Office in Pretoria (DWT/CO–Pretoria) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Eswatini conducted a training course dedicated to fortifying national system of social protection statistics in Eswatini.

Taking place from December 4-7, 2023, the highly interactive capacity-building activity aimed at advancing knowledge and skills among participants, enabling informed and evidence-based decision-making by those responsible for designing and implementing social protection policies and programmes.

Aligning with Global Goals: The training workshop aligned seamlessly with international social protection standards and the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, with a specific focus on Sustainable Development Goal 1.3. This goal emphasizes the critical role of monitoring and evaluation systems in shaping and advancing national social protection strategies.

Empowering Participants: Representatives of a wide range of institutions took part in the training, including the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Federation of Swaziland Trade Unions, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), Federation of Swazi Business Community, Business Eswatini, Ministry of Finance, Financial Services Regulatory Authority, National Employment Statistics, Central Statistical Office, Private and Cabinet Office, Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Eswatini National Provident Fund, Public Service Pension Fund, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Vocational Training Rehabilitation Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy as well as other institutions and partners.

Throughout the course, participants were immersed in a comprehensive learning experience, deepening their understanding of social protection concepts and principles. The curriculum included practical knowledge acquisition of methods and definitions of social protection statistics, leveraging the ILO methodology for effective data collection and monitoring.

The training aimed at enhancing participants' capacity to systematically collect, process, and analyze social protection data. It provided participants with a thorough understanding of the social protection data cycle and equipped them with a step-by-step implementation plan for building robust national systems.

Practical Application and Inter-Institutional Collaboration: Conducted in the face-to-face format, the workshop featured practical exercises and assignments led by ILO and ITCILO trainers. This interactive approach allowed participants to apply their knowledge by simulating the production of the set of key social protection indicators on effective coverage.

The training also facilitated valuable opportunities for inter-institutional collaboration. Participants engaged in discussions addressing challenges and constraints related to establishing national systems of social protection statistics. The exchange with fellow practitioners deepened their understanding of systemic processes and fostered a collaborative spirit towards building and implementing a plan for a national system of social protection statistics.

Recognizing Achievement: The culmination of the training was marked by participants gaining insights into key social protection definitions and functions aligned with ILO principles. Successful completion of the training journey resulted in participants being awarded the ITCILO Certificate of Participation.
Looking Forward: As Eswatini continues to strengthen its national system of social protection statistics, the successful completion of this training underscores the commitment to evidence-based decision-making and the effective implementation of social protection policies.

The experience of Eswatini will be featured as an invaluable contribution to the ILO Guide on Building National Systems of Social Protection Statistics, which is to be released in 2024.