FAQs

1. What is Social Protection?

“Social Protection” means public initiatives which provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks and volatility and enhance the human capital and rights of the marginalized with the overall objective of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalized individuals and communities.

2. What is SSPA?

SSPA is a statuary independent body established on July 27, 2022 through a provincial legislation.

3. What does SSPA stands for?

SSPA stands for Sindh Social Protection Authority.

4. What is the objective of SSPA?

The main objective of the SSPA was to create an institutional body with a holistic understanding of vulnerabilities of different population cohorts and their social protection needs, and coordinate its interventions aligned with clear social protection policy objectives. Through the SSPA, the GoS aims to effectively mitigate risks and foster opportunities by developing a social protection system that works as a harmonized portfolio of complementary and coherent schemes while also coordinating and sharing common administrative sub-systems to respond to risks.

5. What are the functions of SSPA?

The Authority may perform such functions and exercise such powers as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of the SSPA Act. Without prejudice to the generality of functions and powers mentioned in sub-section (1), the Authority shall have the following powers and functions: –

• to cause formulation of social protection policies and Programmes aimed vulnerable individuals and groups for alleviating poverty and affording social protection:
• to coordinate and consolidate all public social protection and poverty alleviation initiatives in the province and ensure synergies with federal and donor funded interventions in the sector;
• to approve the policy and mechanism for identifying the poor and the vulnerable, at regular intervals of no more than five (5) years, and approve the criteria for identification and inclusion of eligible persons and households for assistance under any program or plan or scheme developed pursuant to this Act;
• formulate criteria and mechanisms for allocation of resources in public sector development and non-development budgets to ensure adequate resources for social protection and poverty alleviation;
• to institute mechanisms for collecting data and the procurement of relevant data from the Federal Government, any provincial government or any other authority or body that gathers such data to create a registry of the poor and vulnerable and devise a mechanism for regular updating of such registry;
• to approve mechanisms and frameworks to prepare, store and disseminate data regarding eligible individuals, families and households under various categories of poverty and vulnerability, and to ensure the confidentiality of such data in the manner prescribed;
• to approve mechanisms and procedures for social protection programme implementation and the day-to-day management of the Authority functions;
• to approve short and medium-term work-plans of the Authority for the effective implementation of policies and programmes approved;
• to approve initiatives outside of approved work-plans in response to specific vulnerabilities and contingencies as it may consider necessary:
• to establish a mechanism to measure and evaluate the efficacy of Social Protection plans in reducing poverty and mitigating vulnerability;
• to advise Government on social protection and matters incidental thereto;
• to review on regular basis the existing social protection programs and advise Government on their reorganization, consolidation or amalgamation in the interest of efficiency, synergy and impact;
• to cause establishment of an efficient and effective Grievance Redressal Mechanism for complaints, questions or disputes; and
• to perform such other functions as may be incidental to the functions mentioned above or as Government may assign or as may be prescribed.

6. What is the nature of relationship between Social Protection Department (SPD) and SSPA?

The SPD is the administrative department of SSPA, whereas; SSPA is a body corporate which functions as per the provisions of the SSPA Act, 2022.

7. How SSPA is governed?

The SSPA is governed under the SSPA Act-2022. The SSPA is headed by a Board led by the Honorable Chief Minister Sindh and the prime function is to provide strategic direction for carrying out social protection interventions.

8. Who is the head of the SSPA Board?

Honorable Chief Minister Sindh is the Head of the SSPA Board.

9. Who are the private members notified under the SSPA Board?

SSPA Board consist of 15 members. Among these 4 are included from the Private sector having strong knowledge and expertise in the domain of Social Protection. The names of the private members are:

• Haris Gazdar (Vice Chairman)
• Sonu Khangharani, Member
• Asma Hyder Baloch, Member
• Professor Salma Leghari (Amar Sindhu), Member
• Shabnam Baloch, Member

10. What projects being executed by the SSPA?

SSPA is executing a World Bank supported USD 230 Million Project with the name “Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System in Sindh (SSPDSS)”.

11. How many components does the SSPDSS have?

The project comprises of the following two major components:

Component 1: Strengthen Sindh Social Protection Service Delivery Systems

To establish an appropriate institutional framework to improve formulation, functional consolidation and coordination, policy planning, delivery and monitoring of social protection interventions (especially those aimed at bolstering access and demand for human capital development interventions, and transforming social norms), while also strengthening administrative capacities.

Component 2: Mother and Child Support Programme (MCSP)

Strengthen and increase scale of the Mother and Child Support Program (MCSP) via conditional cash transfer to pregnant women and mothers of under 2 year old children encouraging them to utilize maternal, newborn and child healthcare (MNCH) services throughout the continuum of care for 1,000 days from conception.

12. What is the Mother & Child Support Program (MCSP)

The Mother & Child Support Program (MCSP), under SSPA, is designed to provide conditional cash transfer support and healthcare services to pregnant and lactating mothers in Sindh, ensuring the health and well-being of both mothers and children.

13. What is Mamta Program?

The Mamta Program is brand name for the Mother & Child Support Program (MCSP).

14. Who is eligible for the Mamta Program?

Eligible beneficiaries include pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children aged 0-23 months in 15 intervention districts of Sindh.

15. What are the intervention districts of Sindh under the Mamta Program?

The Mamta Program is currently being implemented across 15 districts of Sindh. The intervention districts include:

1. 1. Tharparkar
   2. Umerkot
   3. Badin
   4. Sujawal
   5. Thatta
   6. Tando Muhammad Khan
   7. Tando Allahyar
   8. Matiari
   9. Sanghar
   10. Mirpurkhas
   11. Khairpur
   12. Naushahro Feroze
   13. Larkana
   14. Jacobabad
   15. Kashmore-Kandhkot

16. How the intervention districts of Sindh under the Mamta Program were selected?

The selection of targeted 15 districts for the implementation of Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System in Sindh is based on Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2014-15. This is based on the Pakistan Standard of Living Measurement Survey of 2014-15. Selection of districts for the project is on the basis of the most recent officially endorsed MPI ranking. Fifteen districts with highest MPI (poorest condition) are selected for the project.

17. What kind of support does the Mamta Program offer?

The program offers conditional cash transfers to eligible mothers through its service partner PPHI Sindh where they get access to maternal and child healthcare services, and counseling on nutrition and health-related issues.

18. How an eligible beneficiary can register for the Mamta Program?

Eligible women can register at designated PPHI Sindh health facilities.

19. How an eligible beneficiary can register for the Mamta Program?

The Mamta Program eligibility criteria include:

• Pregnant Women: Must be a pregnant or lactating woman
• Resident of Intervention District: Must be residing in one of the program’s intervention districts in Sindh.
• Valid CNIC: The mother must possess a valid Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by NADRA

20. What is the role of PPHI Sindh in the Mamta Program?

PPHI Sindh serves as the service delivery partner, implementing the program across 15 intervention districts and providing healthcare services at 632 health facilities.

21. How is the Mamta Program different from other maternal healthcare programs?

The Mamta Program integrates financial support with healthcare services, focusing on both the health of the mother and child while promoting health-seeking behavior.

22. What is the duration of the support provided under the Mamta Program?

The program supports beneficiaries from pregnancy until the child reaches 23 months of age, ensuring continued care through the critical early childhood period.

23. What are the 16 touch-points under Mamta Program?

The program supports beneficiaries from pregnancy until the child reaches 23 Touch points for service uptake and compliance for CCT: Beneficiaries of the MCSP will avail of WHO-recommended MNCH services throughout the continuum of care for 1,000 days from conception and are considered essential for the wellbeing of the mother, newborn, and child. A total of 16 touch points has been identified throughout the 1,000-day period.  These include antenatal, safe deliveries, postnatal maternal and newborn checkups, and child growth and immunization monitoring, as described in detail in the list of services. Five of these touch points (4 antenatal visits and institutional delivery) are up the point of birth.  Another 11 touch points are in the remainder of the 1,000-day period.

24. How do beneficiaries receive their payments?

Payments are made through a network of biometric-enabled services, including branchless banking systems of Bank Alfalah, and beneficiaries can withdraw funds through ATMs or agents at the Union Council level.

25. What is the grievance redressal mechanism in the Mamta Program?

Beneficiaries can report any issues or complaints through the program’s dedicated helpline 1054, official social media platforms or at local health facilities to ensure prompt resolution.

26. What are the long-term goals of the Mamta Program?

The Mamta Program aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, improve child health outcomes, and empower women through financial and healthcare support.