Improving Synergies Between Social Protection and Public Finance Management (SP&PFM)

A joint EU, ILO, UNICEF and GCSPF programme

The thematic programme Improving Synergies Between Social Protection and Public Finance Management (SP&PFM), launched in 2020, supports multiple countries to strengthen their social protection systems at a national level and ensure sustainable financing. 


Funded by the European Union (EU), the initiative is jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Unicef, and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), in collaboration with national actors and EU Delegations.



The objective of the programme is to increase social protection coverage in partner countries and move towards achieving universal social protection, in line with the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (USP2030). Universal social protection plays a key role in reducing poverty and inequalities and promoting prosperity and human development.

Through an innovative approach, the partnership supports national ministries and public agencies in enhancing the design, implementation and financing of their social protection systems, including improved public finance management.

The programme strives to put at the center of the countries’ funding efforts the groups that are least covered by social protection systems, notably women, children, persons with disabilities, informal economy and migrant workers.

The initiative focuses on building resilient and adaptable systems that can effectively respond to shocks, a need that has been reinforced by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Partner countries are working to scale up their social protection systems in response to the health emergency.

Partner countries

The programme is carried out under two approaches, both with the same purpose to expand social protection coverage and ensure sustainable financing.

Through Approach 1, eight countries were pre-selected for three-year support: Angola, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Paraguay, Senegal and Uganda.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was extended to ten additional countries as part of Approach 2: Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Malawi, Myanmar, Nigeria, Peru, Sri Lanka and Togo. These countries receive shorter-term technical assistance from the ILO with a focus on the pandemic response.

For more information, contact sp-pfm@ilo.org.