Applying the Principles for Digital Development in Social Protection

This publication presents progress made by the Digital Convergence Initiative and the Digital Social Protection Working Group of the Social Protection Inter-Agency Cooperation Board (SPIAC-B) to consolidate existing guidance and produce consensus-based principles for building inclusive and robust digital social protection systems. After a review of the principles adopted by various initiatives, nine principles were selected as applicable to social protection systems. These principles are called the Principles for Digital Development (PDD).

This publication offers guidance on the application of the PDDs to social protection. After presenting the background and objectives, it sets out how each principle applies to digital social protection solutions. First, the original definition is presented for each principle, followed by the social protection perspective, and the key actions to apply it in practice. Barriers to implementation are highlighted and ways to overcome these barriers suggested. Country-level examples of good and bad practices, as well as additional resources, are provided throughout. Although the principles relate to the ‘design’ of digital solutions, this document concludes by looking at the ‘bigger picture’, outlining the overarching organisational factors to be considered while applying the PDDs. It is important to take these factors into account to ensure the ultimate success of digitalisation in the social protection sector.