Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 9 October 2026 (ECA) – Government officials and experts concluded a three-day interregional workshop in Addis Ababa focused on translating multidimensional poverty evidence into more inclusive, sustainable and shock-responsive social protection systems. Discussions focused on translating evidence on multidimensional poverty and country experiences into practical reforms to expand coverage, improve coordination, and secure sustainable financing.
Held at the United Nations Conference Centre from 7 to 9 October, the workshop was co-organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), with technical support from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
Participants, including representatives of Member States, emphasized the importance of stronger coordination across institutions and programmes to reduce fragmentation and improve social protection responses, particularly during shocks and crises.
They highlighted Africa’s progress in data availability and statistical capacity, while recognizing remaining gaps. Participants called for better integration of existing data and stronger coordination among data-producing and data-using, so that available evidence can be used more effectively to inform social protection policies and improve their impact.
The programme brought together country experiences and technical perspectives on extending protection to underserved populations, strengthening data systems and securing sustainable financing. Discussions addressed barriers facing women, young people, migrants, persons with disabilities, older persons and informal workers, as well as ways to connect social protection with essential services and livelihood opportunities.
Technical sessions examined social registries, digitalization, data governance and the use of system diagnostics to inform policy reforms. Financing discussions addressed options for sustaining national social protection programmes and strengthening their capacity to respond to changing needs.
A key outcome of the meeting was the joint-review by Member States of the “Guidelines for Operationalizing the Multidimensional Poverty Index for Adaptive Social Protection: A Framework for Action”. The guidelines aim to help countries use evidence on multidimensional poverty to inform better eligibility assessment, prioritization, programme design, service delivery and monitoring.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of ECA’s Socio-Economic Development Division, thanked participants for their substantive contributions. She emphasized that closing coverage gaps requires deliberate attention to excluded groups, including the ‘missing middle’ - people who fall outside poverty-targeted assistance but lack access to social insurance through employment. Illness, unemployment or climate shock can quickly push these households into poverty. She also emphasized that linking income support with skills development, employment services, productive assets and opportunities to start and grow businesses can strengthen livelihoods and contribute to the sustainability of social protection systems.
All co-organizing institutions reiterated their commitment to jointly continue to support Member States through policy analysis, technical assistance, capacity development an regional and inter-regional exchange.
ENDS
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org