Regarding the definitions of Social protection and Social Protection Institutions used in the procurement documents, both are defined in accordance with USP 2030:
Social protection: Nationally defined systems of policies and programmes that provide equitable access to all people and protect them throughout their lives against poverty and risks to their livelihood and well-being. These mechanisms include cash or in-kind benefits, contributory or non-contributory schemes, and programs to enhance human capital, productive assets and access to jobs. Benefits cover children, people of working age (in case of maternity, disability, work injury, or unemployment) and pension for older persons.
Social Protection Institutions:
Social Protection Institutions are public bodies and related organizations that design, finance, manage and deliver social protection policies and programmes on behalf of the state - such as social insurance, social assistance and labour market programmes.
Concretely, this usually includes organizations like:
- Line ministries (Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Social Development, Social Protection, etc.)
- Social insurance / social security funds (pensions, unemployment insurance, disability, health insurance).
- Local social welfare offices / centres for social work that assess needs and deliver benefits and services.
- Sometimes semi-autonomous agencies or mutual schemes that implement specific schemes (e.g. health mutuals, public