Participatory Social Protection Mobile

1. This solution aims to include informal workers at all levels and geographical location in the national social protection system of Nigeria and keep them updated on their participation and contribution and benefits.

2. This solution involves the use of an interactive participatory messaging platform that works with the telecommunication system of the country but does not depend on internet services or connections. The messaging system offers informal workers with options of what services or benefits they are entitled to and how they can access this. It is participatory because it allows them to freely communicate with the system and its administrators.

3. The solution will change the lives of people as it provides them with an interactive participatory system that is less complicated, easy to understand and use. It would enable inclusion and participation as well as develop confidence and trust in the provision of social protection services.  

1. The problem is the inability to provide a platform that enables inclusion of informal workers in the national social protection system of the country as well as provide them with the opportunity to participate in the inclusion process. This problem is wide spread and runs in deep resulting in the exclusion of a large number of informal workers and absence of trust in government policies and programmes. Including the lack of incentives to be included and participate in a social insurance system.

2. The numbers of people affected by this problem is not easy to mention because of the lack of reliable official national data. However, an estimated 60% of a population of close to 190 million are affected by this problem nationally.

3. The factors that contribute to this problem are the absence of platforms to include include informal workers; the criteria required for inclusion; absence of trust, accountability, transparency and good governance; lack of political will to include people and absence of awareness on the benefits of a social insurance programmes.

1. The target population are informal workers who earn incomes below the minimum wage either on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. They are also located in urban, peri-urban and rural areas with limited or no literacy. Mostly the target population are those within the age limit of 20-45.  

2. I have and am still undertaking qualitative research studies particularly focusing on interviews both formal and informal, observations, focus group discussions and discussions with experts on the informal economy. I have also been engaged in informal conversations with informal employees to really understand the problem and the target group.

3. The solution will address the needs of this target group by providing them with a simple and less complicated platform that includes them in social protection programmes. It also helps to make them aware of programmes by providing them with information in ways that is easy to understand and comprehend as well as easy to follow instructions on how the platform functions and how it can help them be included and participate in programmes. Furthermore, it would give them the opportunity to make contributions on how the platform is administered. 

The solution that is being proposed and developed is meant to enable the inclusion of the target population in social protection programmes in spite of their literacy and numeracy levels and the geographical location where they are located. It is also designed to work without internet or very limited internet. However the latter is the main focus of the solution. The solution should would address these issues and give people the power, opportunity and space to influence the decisions behind the administration and management of the solution. Thereby giving them the opportunity to deal with their socio-economic situation.

The solution being developed is not a new technology but a new way of applying an existing technology with some modifications and enhancements that enables the technology to solve the challenges it hopes to confront. However, it is unique in some ways especially, for a country like Nigeria, where no such solution currently exist for informal workers. It uses the common sms messaging technology already being used by telecommunications service providers but with the modifications and enhancements that will be done to this technology allows the technology to use little or no internet. This important because much of the target group for this solution do not have access to internet services. The modifications and enhancement of this technology is also to allow people use the technology with very little assistance in a very different way and for a different service. Though the technology can be developed by telecommunications service providers, it would not be done because such service will mean some cost to the users and this is what this technology hopes to prevent. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology. Though the technology can be developed by telecommunications service providers, it would not be done because such service will mean some cost to the users and this is what this technology hopes to prevent. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology. Though the technology can be developed by telecommunications service providers, it would not be done because such service will mean some cost to the users and this is what this technology hopes to prevent. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology. It aims to give people a simple platform by which the can be included in social insurance programs but at no cost to them as an incentive. The messaging system is unique because though it is a messaging very little typing of messages is actually needed for those with very poor literacy because certain default options will be provided on the messaging platform represented by numbers and voice commands that allows people to use the technology.   

The solution l am developing is not a new technology since it uses other technologies already in existence but applies them differently. The solution being developed works in a similiar fashion as the common sms messaging platforms / technology on mobile phones but with some additional features and enhancements that enables it to solve the challenge of including informal workers in the social insurance system of the country. These additional features and enhancement make the solution feasible, easy to work with and understand as well easy to deploy on a large scale. This solution uses a the sms messaging technology because of the lack of access to internet in most of the country and banking services especially in rural and peri-urban centers. It is an interactive messaging platform where people have access to certain defaults services options that enable them to be included in social protection programs. The default services options provided makes it easy to use this technology particularly for those with poor numeracy and literacy as they can use numbers which are linked to the option services to access whatever service the need. For example some banks already employ a similiar technology which involves sending money to mobile numbers on their mobile platforms which can be cashed from any automated teller machine without a debit card. However, the solution being developed here does not use an app, it works like the regular sms technology and cashing the money can be done via non-internet pay points using codes that are sent with the money.

The problem faced by informal workers and rural residents is their exclusion from social protection programs which ultimately leads to their exclusion from the social protection system of the country. The solution l am working is mainly to include them into social protection programs and the social protection system of the country by providing them with a simple technology based solution which enables them to be registered (ie includes them in social protection programs and the social protection system ), provides various social protection services in a default mode (ie provides them with simple information of how the can access social protection services) such as pay point options and modes of making contributions to a social insurance scheme which the are registered in, as well as enable them interact with service providers.

This solution will include that a beneficiary possesses a mobile phone that is registered with one of the telecommunication service providers in the country. The phone number will be registered and used to generate a code which will be unique for each individual and serve as the identity of such individual in the social protection system. With this, a registered user can access all the services on the default service on the sms platform. The short-term outcomes is that it would make in easy for excluded people to be included, give them the opportunity to make contributions and access services at very minimal cost. Also this would encourage them to contribute when registered as they have an opportunity to access information. The medium-term outcome is that people will be willing to engage in productive activities in order to make contributions, they would be more inclined to save as it is safer for them, they would engage in less risky behavior as they develop some confidence in dealing with their contributions. The long-term outcomes are that beneficiaries become more productive as they become aware that their contributions can grow, adopt more predictable patterns of livelihood to sustain their contributions, and break inter-generational transfer of poverty. This solution will also indirectly impact governance, political office holders, the banks and elections etc. adopt more predictable patterns of livelihood to sustain their contributions, and break inter-generational transfer of poverty. This solution will also indirectly impact governance, political office holders, the banks and elections etc. adopt more predictable patterns of livelihood to sustain their contributions, and break inter-generational transfer of poverty. This solution will also indirectly impact governance, political office holders, the banks and elections etc.

The solution being developed is a tech-based solution and meets the objective of the Mission Billion Challenge WURI West Africa Prize in the following ways:

1. The solution providers informal worker with the opportunity to be included in any social insurance programs that is developed in the country. 

2. The solution provides an opportunity for informal workers to obtain a unique digital identity that can be used not only for inclusion into the social protection system but to also access social protection services.

3. The solution helps to make sure that the issue and challenges of the missing middle is tackled in a manner that governments and other stakeholders in the social protection sector can afford and sustain.

4. The solution is helpful as a means to transform the attitudes of informal workers and provide them with an incentive to save and engage in more predictable forms of productive activities.

5. The solution also encourages informal workers to be more productive as it gives them a sense of certainty as regards the future. For example, an informal worker knowing that he / she has some cover in times of adversity is more likely to be very productive and undertake productive activities to improve future incomes.

1. The solution being developed is very user friendly in the sense that it is easy to operate and use since it does not carry so much features that makes it complex to use. 

2. The solution is not entirely a new technology which would entail that users or operators have to be trained or engage in a period of learning, it can be deployed right away since it is mainly based on the sms technology.

3. The solution provides two options for use which can accommodate those with very low levels of literacy and numeracy. For example the easy typing and send options are available and a number application option is available which just requires punching the number allocated to certain default option services.

4. It does not require the use of a smart phone but a smart phones can be use. Minimally it requires a normal mobile phone with sms platform. It requires little or no internet net service.

The solution is an api which allows for integration with other systems, data portability and prevent vendor lock-in.

The solution takes into account the low connectivity environment and for users with with low literacy and numeracy levels, because it is not an app which requires a smart phone. It is an sms platform that uses the same technology used in sms but is enhanced with features that which requires little or no internet connectivity. 

Secondly, it has enhanced default options which enables people with low levels of literacy and numeracy to easily use the tech-solution since many of them are already used to this technology. Furthermore, there is the opportunity for translation into local languages which the understand better and so instructions can easily be followed. 

The solution is capable of serving a large number of people, currently, it is not serving any number of people but it is projected that when rolled out, within a year, this solution should serve over a million people and in five years, the number of people should meaningfully serve over fifteen million or more people in the informal sector. 

The impact goal of this solution is to get informal workers included in the social protection system of the country in the long term, provide them with efficient and effective social protection service delivery especially with regards to payment of benefits and provide incentives for people to be productive and confident in saving for the future. 

With over 60 million informal workers in the informal economy, this solution should include close to 50% of them.

In the next three years, over 30% of the workers in the informal economy showed report that they are included in one social insurance program in the country especially the micro-pension program of the national pension system of the country.

By the end of 2021, the Institute where the solution is being developed should have help three workshops with various stakeholders in the social protection system to introduce them and educate them on the solution include creating a framework for a two phase test of the solution across some selected locations across the geopolitical zones in the country.

In the first quarter of 2021, there would be a survey of informal workers across the country to ensure that the enhanced features and settings are able to meet their needs and what further improvementas are needed to better serve them.

Also by mid-2021, there would be two meetings with potential telecommunications organizations on the interoperability of the solution and the terms of partnership in the provision of the service to people.

The barriers that this solution would face in the next year and in five-years include;

1. The solution is currently faced with the problem of raising funds for the project since much of the funding in the next one year is to be provided by team members.

2. The government may not be willing to allow a public service to be solely controlled by an independent body which it has no control over. This means that a business entity may have to take over the solution to run it purely as a business.

4. Another barrier is the technical staff needed to run and oprate the solution 

6. 

The barriers identified will be addressed in the following ways:

Theome philanthropic organisations are been approached to provide funding for subsequent years. However, there are no concrete responses yet. But there are some positive responses that should yeild some results.

2. 

The solution is part of a larger department, the social protection department at a research institute named Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies. It is an institute that provides workers education both for the formal and informal workers and the solution is one of the institute's attempts to solve the challenges of exclusion of informal workers  

There are only ten people on the team.

Most of the members of the team have been involved in designing and facilitating training programmes for workers in the formal and informal sectors of the economy. With regards to social protection and social insurance programmes, members of the team have been involved in training and facilitating programme on social protection in over a decade and since 2012, the team leader and some of the members have focused some attention to the challenge of including the informal sector in social protection system of the country. The team is skilled in research, complex systems thinking and networking with workers in the informal sector. The team leaders has extensive knowledge and experience with social protection on the continent and in the country. The team has worked extensively on the social insurance programme of the country and with different stakeholders like the Pension Commission (PENCOM), the federal ministry of labour and productivity (FMLP), the labour movement and workers cooperatives. 

Members of the team come from various disciplinary background ranging from sociology, accounting, financial management, industrial relations, information communication technology, philosophy, economics and development studies. Together they have a wide range of experience which has been very useful for the team.   

We are currently not partnering with any organisation but we hope to do that later on.

The solution provides a services that give informal sector workers the opportunity to be included in social protection programs, the service is not just for informal workers but also government institutions that are involved in the provision of social protection services.

The services that would be offered include:

1. registration and capture in social protection programmes

2. opportunity to make contributions to social insurance programmes

3. opportunity to access information on services provided by social protection programmes

4. opportunity to update personal information 

5. opportunity to receive payments

want this product because it offers them a very low cost service that would enable them access government services and resources that on their own would be unable to accesss. Without this service they are very unlikely to be included in social protection programmes for a long time as the government lacks enough management of information systems capacity that would be able to cover them in any programme.

The financial sustainability of the solution will be achieved through a combination of financial instruments such as donations, raising investments from a number of potential investors that have been identified in the telecommunications industry and capital market for the early phase. In addition to this, a very small service charge will be implemented as a cost to both the government and users so as to cover expenses in the long term.

But in the long run it is hoped that the solution will be sold to the government or other investor who would run the solution.

For now, no organisation has been identified from which to raise funds.

Information on the amount of fund needed is still being put together and the organisations that will be approached for funding. For now funding is still being provided by the team and we hope to get grants within the next six months.

In 2020 our budget is estimated to be about $35,000 for which we have been able to raise $15, 000.

Wining the competition will help the team overcome its financial barrier in that it would provide a considerable amount of fund that can be applied to the development of the solution especially in conducting research and pilot studies and the development of data that are need in the solution's development process.

Also, it would help the team recruit tech talents that it urgently needs in the further development of the solution as this is what it really lacks now. This would cover the payment of salaries and other expenses.

The partnership goals of the team are still evolving but we look forward to partnering with partner that further these goals:

1. Development of the solution to the business phase and designing of a business model that would be applied in the distribution and deployment of the solution.

2. Development of data on the excluded and marginalised groups in the country.

3. Enable the financial inclusion of excluded and marginalised groups and the reduction of poverty especially its inter-generational transmission in poor households.

4. The provision of of qualitative and quantitative service delivery that takes into cognizance the unique barriers affecting excluded and marginalised groups.

Potential partners include:

1. Airtel telecommunication company

2. The National telecommunication commission of Nigeria

3. The National Directorate of Employment

4. The federal ministry of labour and productivity

5. The federal ministry of science and technology

6. Non-governmental organisations such as ILO, World Bank, Oxfam and Save the Children etc.

7. MTN telecommunication Nigeria

8. The federal ministry of humanitarian and disaster emergency and social development

9. Pension Commission of Nigeria

10. United Bank for Africa

11. First Bank

12. Unity Bank