About
Many countries are accelerating efforts to digitalize their social protection systems to improve user-friendliness, efficiency, transparency, and inclusion. However, governments often face significant challenges in this journey—from fragmented IT infrastructure and lack of interoperability within social protection information systems, to limited in-house technical expertise and unclear pathways for transformation. These obstacles can slow progress, create inefficiencies, and risk leaving vulnerable populations behind.
To respond to these challenges, the DCI Helpdesk has been launched as a technical support facility to provide countries with targeted, time bound, advisory services to guide decision-making and ensure strategic, well-informed actions.
The Helpdesk provides a range of remote, time-bound technical advisory services to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency of digital social protection systems.
Support includes:
- Interoperability: Technical support on the application and implementation of digital standards to enable interoperability within and beyond the social protection sector
- Technical Advice: Expert input on digital tools and services across the delivery chain, including modules like grievance redressal mechanisms
- Strategic Guidance: Advisory support to policymakers and practitioners for the development of digital transformation strategies
Special Focus: Artificial Intelligence
The AI Hub of DCI supports the DCI Helpdesk by focusing on responsible, innovative and sovereign AI adoption in social protection systems. It offers countries technical advisory services for AI innovation and use case scoping. Additionally, the AI hub seeks to provide policy guidance on responsible AI and data usage and help countries develop governance and regulatory frameworks that ensure rights-based, non-discriminatory AI adoption, adhering to principles such as transparency and equity.
The AI Hub has its own set of funding and implementing partners.
The AI Hub is implemented by:
Accessing Helpdesk support
Governments at the national or provincial level can submit requests to Helpdesk for support. Priority will be given to requests from countries where DCI partners are present and have implementation capacity on the ground. To request support, download, complete and sign the request form and send it to contact@spdci.org, Â or contact us directly for any questions.
Scope of support
Support is offered in the form of advisory time (10–50 days), facilitated by a pool of experts in digital social protection systems and AI. The Helpdesk does not provide direct financial support or fund IT/digital infrastructure.
DisclaimerÂ
Overall, DCI Helpdesk operations are managed and administered by GIZ. The DCI partner coordinating the Helpdesk request is fully and solely responsible for the technical oversight, quality assurance, and local coordination of the work carried out by the contracted experts.