About this course
The main objective of the course is to provide an introduction to non-contributory social protection and its relevance for fighting poverty and vulnerability. The course will highlight the role social protection measures can play in the development process and it will show the advantages and disadvantages of different policy interventions and design options. The course will offer online lectures, online discussion boards, assignments, weekly tutorial meetings to discuss readings and assignments, and an oral exam at the end of the course.
At the end of the course you will have a better understanding of the rationale for social protection interventions from a development policy perspective and will be informed about advantages and disadvantages of different issues related to the design and implementation of social assistance schemes in developing countries.
The current global crisis exemplifies the need for well-designed and implemented social protection systems. [...] It is expected that countries with comprehensive social insurance and social assistance provisions will more likely be able to cushion the impact on the people and (in the long run) on the economy.
Learning Goals
Having knowledge of:
- The rationale for governments to invest in non-contributory social protection programmes.
- The link between social protection and inclusive growth and development.
- Types of social protection instruments.
- Beneficiary identification.
- The relevance of fiscal space and how it can be created.
- Performance indicators for social protection interventions.
Prerequisites
A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Sciences.
Cost
500 EUR
Estimated Workload
The estimated workload is 60 hours including:
- 10-15 hours per week.
- 10-15 hours per assignments/ oral exams.
Duration: 10 weeks
- 1 week to access the platform and become familiar with the material
- 4 weeks of coursework
- 1 week to submit the final assignment and
- 2 weeks for potential resits.
ECTS equivalent
Participants will earn 2 ECTS credits and receive certification via an online educational badge.
Application Process
You can apply for each course by using the online application form.
During the application process, you will need to upload the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
- A copy of your (valid) passport (PDF or JPEG)
After completing the application, you will receive a confirmation email along with the payment information. Once we receive the payment, we will register you as a participant for the course, and the Online Courses Administration Team will contact you. The administrative process typically takes an average of 5-10 working days.
If you have any questions regarding the application documents or the application process or if there are any clarifications you need before applying, please feel free to reach out to the Capacity Development Office at the email address: onlinecourses@merit.unu.edu.