SDDirect's expertise

SDDirect has in-house expertise in the design, implementation and evaluation of direct social assistance programmes in Africa and Asia. This expertise includes cash transfer programmes, addressing chronic poverty or short-term emergency relief. We carry out assessments of the skills, resources and tools needed to make successful transitions from emergency to longer-term social protection programmes. We have also developed tools that support efforts to identify the poorest, most vulnerable and excluded people in specific populations.

SDDirect also engages at the policy level in various ways. We are part of a research consortium, which provides up to the minute advice on topics including social protection. We map social assistance provision to provide information for organisations making policy choices in social protection. We also carry out assessments of the effect of different aid instruments and poverty reduction measures on the most vulnerable members of society, as well as evaluations of specific initiatives, such as poverty focused funding schemes.

More broadly, we support reform of social welfare sector institutions, through carrying out assessments and providing technical assistance to governments. We have also worked to promote access to basic services for all parts of the population.

We are recruiting a growing number of experienced consultants into our network, bringing with them experience in all aspects of social protection: direct social assistance; social insurance; relief and recovery programmes; policy development; social welfare and referral services; institutional capacity assessment; and evaluation of the impact of social protection measures.

Recent Case Studies

ESSPIN- Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria

It is estimated that there are between 7 to 9 million children in Nigeria who are out of school. Social Development Direct, as a core partner in the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), is helping to change this through technical assistance provided directly to state and federal governments. ESSPIN is one of the UK government's largest international development programmes and will support quality basic education reform over a six-year period.

Review of ADB-supported programme to protect female garment workers in Cambodia

The garment industry in Cambodia has been a vital source of income for Cambodia since 1997, accounting for almost 95% of the country’s exports. In 2004 the garment industry provided jobs to an estimated 280,000 workers, of which 85-90% were women.