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Contribution short abstract:

Investing in frontline capacities for social protection in deepening crises: Roundtable R03 on the opportunities for smarter investment in frontline capacities for social protection in deepening crises.

Contribution long abstract:

A recent BASIC study on the role of frontline providers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) highlights the challenges and opportunities for strengthening social assistance in the region. The research suggests that local organisations could play a key role in bridging the gap between informal, locally led aid efforts and formal social assistance programmes. Their involvement is crucial in ensuring that assistance is not only effective but also accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the community. The study is found here: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/articles/report/_A_bridge_to_those_in_need_Frontline_Provider_Perspectives_on_the_Accountability_of_Social_Assistance_in_the_Kurdistan_Region_of_Iraq/27993797?file=51062975

Many local organisations have unique advantages when it comes to social assistance delivery. They have firsthand knowledge of the community and can provide more personalised, context-specific support. We will highlight several areas where local actors say they can play a crucial role: trust and transparency, coordination, participation and the inclusion of affected people in decision making, and strengthening accountability through local networks. We will also outline recommendations to improve social assistance delivery in the KRI that also offer valuable insights for other contexts where social protection systems cannot function or are under development, notably: understanding contextual power dynamics, integrating local networks into formal social assistance programmes, how to prioritise community engagement and frontline decision making, making social assistance more accessible, and using storytelling as an accountability tool.