October 2024 – March 2025 (finished)

STAAR was commissioned, in collaboration with Key Aid Consulting by FCDO to conduct a cross-country comparative analysis on shock-responsive social protection (SRSP) systems, focusing on Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Mauritania.

The assignment set out to understand the policy, programme and implementation barriers that face effective SRSP. The STAAR team compared the respective challenges and solutions of recent climate, health and economic shocks and will examine whether these systems are effectively responding to the needs of those affected.

The findings of this study will be used to inform FCDO’s future work on SRSP systems in these contexts, as well as inform programmes on social protection at the global level.

July 2023 – July 2023 (finished) 

STAAR supported FCDO in broadening and supporting a shared understanding within FCDO, f the lessons from the social protection response to COVID-19 as well as what this means for FCDO’s policy priorities, programming and influencing.

STAAR provided support to FCDO to increase understanding of the commitment to social protection as an early, effective and sustainable approach to crisis prevention through a learning event as well as guidance note.

A structured approach was provided to ensure a wider joint understanding and to facilitate a broader discussion on what the learning means for current and future crisis response, as we move from pandemic to tackling the polycrisis.

June 2019 – July 2019 (finished)

The Government of Mozambique has requested STAAR’s support in strengthening the shock-responsive nature of its social protection programmes.

The assignment assessed the national social protection system to identify opportunities and operational gaps, which will enable Mozambique’s Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Action (MGCAS) to respond more effectively to shocks, including climate-related ones such as droughts and floods.

This assessment was used to inform recommendations for effectively embedding the Adaptive Social Protection Working Group’s shock-responsive workplan into the existing national system, including a detailed pathway to address these gaps with further technical support. “

August 2022 – September 2022 (finished)

STAAR was requested by GIZ to formulate two viable implementation options of a project in Kismayo, to support the evolution social protection approaches in Somalia.
The STAAR Facility provided a briefing note, which describes a number of pertinent issues relating to the design and implementation of two options, including (1) Productive Safety Net and (2) Graduation reimaged.
The options have contributed to policy dialogue and formulation within Somalia and with development partners, and with Somalis and development partners.