Staff Reporter
A delegation of senior officials from Nigeria was briefed on Ehsaas at the meeting hosted by Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division.
The delegation comprised of over 30 civilian and military officers enrolled in Senior Executive Course of the ‘National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies’ in Nigeria.
Dr. Sania Nishtar welcomed the delegation and briefed them on the multi component social protection strategy and widespread operations of Ehsaas.
Briefing the Nigerian officials, Dr. Sania highlighted Pakistan’s social protection programmes particularly Ehsaas Emergency Cash, Ehsaas Kafaalat, Ehsaas Nashonuma and Ehsaas education stipends and how the government of Pakistan showed commitment to recast social protection amid Covid-19.
“Social protection centered on transparency is the top priority of the present government”, stated Dr. Sania.
Mentioning the success of high-level side event on social protection led by Pakistan in New York at UN’s high-level political forum on sustainable development last week, Dr. Sania reflected on the importance of social protection knowledge sharing at global level.
She also invited Nigerian government to join a high-level global community of practice on social protection being led by Permanent Mission of Pakistan to United Nations in New York in collaboration with the governments of Costa Rica and Finland, and the World Bank. “The COVID-19 crises has induced the need for interconnected solutions”, said Dr. Sania.
The delegation showed full willingness and interest to contribute to the global knowledge base to promote experience‐sharing and learning around social protection.
They also lauded coherent social protection and poverty graduation approaches being followed under Ehsaas.
The presentation was followed by a detailed question-and-answer session.
The Nigerian officials deeply acknowledged the multisectoral and multistakeholder character and transparency reforms premised in myriad Ehsaas programmes and initiatives.
Later, they visited the first One Window Ehsaas Center in Sitara Market Islamabad to see all Ehsaas services and benefits being provided to beneficiaries under one roof.
The Nigerian delegation comprised of policymakers, government officials, military personnel, and academicians.
The delegation was led by a senior official of the Nigerian National Institute, Mr. Emmanuel S. Mamman. Nigerian officials are presently touring prominent policy institutes and government offices in Islamabad. This meeting was the part of their official study tour.
