Challenges

Member Countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), like many in the Global South, face complexly interlinked and evolving social challenges. Arising from themes such as rapid urbanisation, technological shifts, ageing populations, and economic transformation, these challenges place increasing strain on national systems responsible for social protection, health, education, and economic inclusion. Vulnerable groups, especially, often face persistent barriers in accessing essential services and opportunities, resulting in heightened social inequality.

Social Development is a strategic objective shared across the OIC Member Countries. Several OIC Member Countries do not have adequate safety measures for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. In 2020, only 25.1% of the population in Member Countries received at least one social protection benefit, compared to the global average of 46.9%. This gap is often exacerbated by limited investments in capacity-building, which is an obstacle to designing and sustaining effective social development programmes.

Toward a Solution

Considering the importance of social development and in alignment with the OIC’s strategic agenda for social devlopment, the Statistical, Economic, and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) launched the Social Development Capacity Building Programme (SD-CaB) in 2021 as a dedicated framework to strengthen the capacities of national institutions working in the domain. The programme is designed to facilitate the exchange of expertise and good practices among the OIC Member Countries, promoting institutional resilience.

SESRIC delivers its capacity-building efforts through various virtual and on-site modalities, including training courses, workshops, webinars, and study visits. Activities have been organised in areas such as health, social protection, youth empowerment, economic inclusion, and legal rights. To ensure relevance, SESRIC regularly disseminates questionnaires to the relevant institutions in the Member Countries. These responses are analysed to inform the design and content of SD-CaB activities, ensuring alignment with pertinent institutional needs.

SD-CaB activities are coordinated by SESRIC in close cooperation with various stakeholders, enhancing both their relevance and ownership as well as the sustainability of the programme. Participating institutions are invited to contribute to and benefit from the sessions, reinforcing technical reciprocity among Member Countries. The programme’s approach is grounded in mutual support and cross-country collaboration. It enables institutions to benefit from shared experiences and develop context-relevant solutions to local and regional social development challenges.

This collaborative model stands out among similar initiatives with its demand-driven multi-sectoral approach and its recourse to existing know-how within the Global South. The scope of the activities reflects efforts to improve the Member Countries’ competitive advantage. For example, while some countries focus on strengthening formal social protection systems, others prioritise digital transformation. The programme accommodates different levels of development by facilitating targeted trainings, addressing both foundational needs and advanced goals.

To date, 18 capacity-building activities have been organised under SD-CaB, benefitting over 1,600 participants. With topics ranging from inclusive education in science and technology for women and girls to developing effective and reliable social protection systems for vulnerable groups, the programme supports both policy making and broader socioeconomic planning.

In alignment with SDG targets 4.4, 10.2, and 16.6, SD-CaB has contributed to enhancing skills for decent employment, promoting social and economic inclusion, building effective and accountable institutions, and strengthening national capacities through global cooperation. The programme also supports targets such as 1.3, 1.4, 3.4, 3.8, and 10.4 by advancing inclusive policies and strengthening social protection systems that improve access to quality services, particularly for vulnerable populations.

SD-CaB is highly adaptable and replicable due to its needs-oriented design and focus on South-South cooperation under the guidance of SESRIC, acting as a facilitator. By offering diverse capacity-building activities, the programme can be tailored to meet the specific needs and development stages of different countries. Its success can be extended by leveraging digital platforms to reach a wider audience and secure a continuous supply of experts. Session recordings are also shared with participants via SESRIC’s YouTube channel, enabling wider access for distant Member Countries despite time zone challenges. Institutions that have undergone training under SD-CaB are able to develop their capacities and go on to assist other member countries, continuing the cycle of sustainable knowledge transfer. Maintaining stakeholder engagement and flexibility is key to ensuring its replicability.

One key takeaway is the clear demand for continued capacity-building. This is indicated by the variety of topics requested by participants for future trainings. Additionally, the programme has shown the value of cross-country knowledge transfer, not only in the content of the training but also in the linguistic aspect. Where possible, SESRIC provides interpretation services, especially for on-site activities. Where translation is unavailable, common language ties among Member Countries have facilitated continued collaboration.

SD-CaB complements SESRIC’s broader engagement in the domain, including its role as secretariat of the OIC Social Security Institutions Network (OIC-SSINET), and its contribution to strategic frameworks such as the OIC Youth Strategy, the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women, the OIC Strategy on the Elderly, and its flagship reports on youth, women, and children. These initiatives reflect SESRIC’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacities and advancing social development. The SD-CaB is a valuable tool for strengthening social development across OIC Member Countries- bridging knowledge gaps and connecting experts across the region.