Two daylong workshops on the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) and Child-Sensitive Social Protection for official of field administration were organized by the Cabinet Division and UNICEF, with support from the district administrations of Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi. The workshops were held on 24 May 2025 in Chapai Nawabganj and 25 May 2025 in Rajshahi.

The primary objective was to build awareness and enhance the capacity of district and upazila-level relevant officials to effectively implement the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS), with a special focus on Child Sensitive Social Protection, ensuring inclusive, efficient, and rights-based service delivery for vulnerable groups, particularly children. In addition, exchange ideas to identify problems in the implementation of social protection programmes and to determine possible solutions. Participants in the workshops included the Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADC), Deputy Director, Social Welfare & Deputy Director, Women Affairs, all Upazila Nirbahi Officers, Upazila Social Welfare Officers, and Upazila Women Affairs Officers. From the Cabinet Division, Ms Murshida Sharmin, Joint Secretary & Project Director SSPS Programme and Mr. Sarowar Kamal, Deputy Secretary (social security branch) attended in person. Additionally, Mr. Khaled Hasan, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division, Mr. Aminul Arifeen, Programme Manager SSPS Programme, UNDP Bangladesh and Mr. Ashik Iqbal, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Bangladesh, joined the sessions virtually. The Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi was also present during the workshop held in Rajshahi.

Key Recommendation from the workshop:

1. Increase budget allocations for old age allowances, widow & destitute women allowances, Extend old age, widow, and destitute allowances to urban areas.
2. Strengthen digital literacy among beneficiaries and enforce stronger monitoring and grievance mechanisms to prevent fraud in platforms like Bkash, Nagad, and agent banking systems;
3. Beneficiaries will get their own choice where they want to take their allowance like bank or MFS (Mobile Financial Services)
4. Increase the number of beneficiaries every union based on population needs &
5. Ensure timely disbursement of allowances through a digitized and automated payment schedule aligned with health milestones;
6. Recruit additional manpower (community workers) at Upazilla Women Affairs offices to enhance their implementation capacity.
7. Regularly update beneficiary databases to reflect local needs and ensure inclusivity across all vulnerable categories.
8. Establish more inclusive education and vocational training institutions in both rural and urban areas. Increase investment in accessible healthcare services and assistive devices.
9. Create a trained social worker (Care giver) to support vulnerable individuals, including children, elderly, and persons with disabilities.
10. Introduce community-based care programs with proper training and incentives.
11. District and Upazilla management Committee on Social Security should more active and   effective in program planning and monitoring.
12. Developed a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) dashboard at upazila & district level