Social Protection Sector Working Group (SPSWG)

The main purpose of the SPSWG is to act as a coordination forum between the PA and donors. It serves as a platform for discussing policy priorities, progress in implementation of the programs of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP) related to social protection.

The key functions of the HSWG are as follows:

The SPSWG has identified three issues as key elements for a comprehensive social protection system: income transfer schemes (including food aid, cash assistance and job creation programmes); a poverty reduction strategy and its monitoring; and a social welfare programme (including social services, aid to disabled persons, payment of health insurance premiums, youth services and crime prevention).

The SPSWG has set up a social protection web portal for the purpose of compiling relevant documents for the social protection sector. The web portal aims to be the library for literature available in Palestine on subjects related to social protection.

The SPSWG reports regularly to the Social Development Strategy Group (SDSG) on a regular basis.

Membership in the group is limited to relevant donors and other institutions (e.g. relevant non-governmental organizations) who can add substantial financial or analytical value, as well as relevant PA institutions.

Composition

Co-Chairs: Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and Office of the European Union Representative (EUREP) 

Technical Advisor: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Members:
PA institutions: Ministry of Planning and Administrative Development (MoPAD)
Donors: Canada, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), France, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Italy, Spain, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),  United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Food Program (WFP), World Bank
NGO representatives: Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA)
Observers: Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS), Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO)
Secretariat: Local Aid Coordination Secretariat (LACS)