Length Length

4 modules, accessible at any time

Effort Effort

2-3 hours per week

Price Price

FREE

Languages Languages

English, Français (via EN3S)

Video Transcripts Video Transcripts

English, Français

Prerequisites Prerequisites

None

Requirements Requirements

An internet connection to access course materials

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
are a

SOCIO-ECONOMIC NECESSITY

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
COMMUNITIES ARE AT THE CENTER
of

DEVELOPING BETTER SOCIAL PROTECTION COVERAGE

COMMUNITIES ARE AT THE CENTER
COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
are a

RIGHT FOR ALL

COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
SOCIAL PROTECTION
is closely linked to

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL PROTECTION

Overview

This course is self-paced. You can enroll and complete the course materials at any time.

This MOOC provides an introduction to social protection, its main concepts, needs for social protection and coverage over the life cycle, the basics of the design and implementation of social protection systems, including floors, and the central role of social protection in confronting the major challenges that the world is facing.

The MOOC enables learners to understand the key social protection concepts and the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to social protection. It also provides participants with critical insights into policy options and social protection strategies in the context of decent work and general socio-economic development.

This course provides a useful resource for policy makers, social partners, civil society organizations, development actors, university students and others who may or may not be directly involved in social protection issues but who work or are likely to work in a related field such as development cooperation, public finances, economic and social development, rural development, environmental issues, etc.

This course is available in English (via the SDG Academy on edX) and French (via EN3S).

structure

  • Lectures
  • Activities
  • Quizzes 
  • Worksheets
  • Suggested Readings 

Lead Faculty

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    Jeffrey Sachs

    Columbia University

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    Gilbert F. Houngbo

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Shahra Razavi

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Catalina Devandas Aguilar

    Disability Rights Fund

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    Céline Peyron Bista

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Christina Behrendt

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Clara Van Panhuys

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    David Stewart

    UNICEF

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    Dominique Libault

    French High Council for the Financing of Social Protection

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    Guy Ryder

    International Labour Organization

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    Helmut Schwarzer

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Ian Orton

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Kroum Markov

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Loveleen De

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Lou Tessier

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Maribel Ortiz

    International Social Security Association

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    Marie-Christina Dankmeyer

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Moussa Oumarou

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Patience Matandiko

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Raúl Ruggia Frick

    International Social Security Association

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    Simeon Bond

    International Labour Organization

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    Samia Kazi Aoul

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

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    Valérie Schmitt

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

This course is for

Anyone new to the idea of social protection who wants to understand what is the concept of universal social protection and how countries ensure that everyone have access to health care and income guarantee over the life cycle;

Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students interested in the key concepts and practices of sustainability and how countries design, implement and manage their social protection systems;

Key actors engaged in the field of sustainable development at a local, regional or international level , including those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility and who want to understand the role of social protection to face the current challenges of a world in transformation;

Practitioners and professionals engaged in human rights and social protection advocacy, who want to refresh their knowledge on the key concepts on social protection and what  human right and social protection entails and the state of social protection coverage around the world;.

Questions?

Course logistics and requirements

This course is self-paced, so learners can join anytime and learn whenever and wherever is best for them.

Please note that this course is not facilitated by a course team. We encourage students to engage with one another via the discussion forum. Any specific questions can be sent to the SDG Academy team at courses@sdgacademy.org.

Certificates

Please note that this course is being offered audit-only, and therefore no certificate will be granted. The course is not credit-bearing on its own. However, some students have been able to negotiate for academic credit with their universities. Speak with your institution to see if this is an option for you.

syllabus

Module 1: Social protection: A human right, but not a reality yet all over the world

Chapter 1. Social protection: A human right, socio-economic necessity and cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Chapter 2. Social protection around the world: Who is covered against what, how and where?

Module 2: Universal social protection over the life cycle

Chapter 1. Building comprehensive social protection systems with a solid social protection floor

Chapter 2. Social health protection and access to health care without hardship for all

Chapter 3. Social protection for families

Chapter 4. Social protection and risks during the working life

Chapter 5. Social protection during old age

Chapter 6. Long-term care

Module 3: From social protection policies to solid and inclusive social protection systems

Chapter 1. A shared vision to build social protection systems

Chapter 2. Ensuring gender-responsiveness and disability-inclusiveness

Chapter 3. Financing social protection

Chapter 4. Coordination within and beyond social protection systems

Chapter 5. Good governance of social protection systems

Module 4: Social protection in a changing world

Chapter 1. Making work decent

Chapter 2. Social protection across countries

Chapter 3. Social protection and climate change

Chapter 4. Social protection at the crossroads: Shaping the future of social protection