Economic Policy Research Institute

Around the world developing countries are increasingly recognising the value of social transfer programmes in reducing extreme poverty and enabling countries to cope with economic shocks – with success stories in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The Economic Policy Research Institute together with Maastricht University and the University of Cape Town is offering a two-week course aimed at providing participants with an in-depth understanding of the conceptual and practical issues involved in the development of social transfer programmes. Participants will acquire tools required for the appropriate identification and successful design and implementation of these programmes. The course will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 8 - 21 August 2010.

The course aims to build the capacity of government policymakers and officials, representatives from bilateral and multilateral agencies, programme practitioners and staff members from non-governmental organisations in low and middle income countries. The course will serve those who want to more effectively design, implement and manage social transfer programmes with the goal of reducing poverty and better achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

EPRI is offering this course together with Maastricht University and the University of Cape Town, in partnership with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Sussex, with funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

The Economic Policy Research Institute is a South African-based non-governmental organisation with extensive experience in social protection research, policy advisory work and capacity-building. EPRI has designed and taught tailor-made courses and programmes to meet the specific needs of national parliaments, government departments and civil society organisations.

The University of Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest university, and is one of Africa’s leading teaching and research institutions. UCT is committed to academically credible and policy-relevant capacity-building initiatives that support the imperative of transformation.

The Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG) prepares students to pave the road for innovative policy developments in Europe and the world today. The School offers PhD- and Master-programmes as well as short training modules and works in close collaboration with highly respected overseas institutions.

The tuition fee for the two-week course is € 2,880. The tuition fee also includes travel on scheduled visits and optional hands-on computer-based skills workshops. An additional meals and accommodation package is available for €1,730, which includes three meals per day, four star accommodation at the conference venue and airport transfers in Cape Town. The fees do not include international travel to and from Cape Town airport.

Please fill in the application form and click on the 'send' button. Admission is on a rolling basis. Space is limited.


At the end of the course, the successful participant will better understand the comprehensive approach to social protection and how appropriate cash transfer instruments can reduce poverty and vulnerability and promote developmental outcomes. The course will reinforce the skills required to identify, design and implement effective social transfer programmes. A team of international experts, skilled professionals and leaders in the field will teach the course. The certificated course will be jointly accredited by Maastricht University and the University of Cape Town.


The course includes a co-ordinated series of theme-oriented sessions, practical skills–building workshops, field trips to visit social transfer sites and relevant technical skills training. The course will be taught using formal lectures, practical case studies and hands-on exercises.

The role of cash transfers in social protection strategies How social cash transfers enable counties to better address the impact of the global economic downturn, food and fuel price hikes, and other economic shocks The identification of appropriate social transfer instruments for specific country contexts The design of cash transfer programmes Implementation issues, including registration, targeting, payment and information systems Monitoring and evaluation approaches for social transfer programmes Case studies of successful programmes around the world Field trips to see South Africa’s social security system in action

Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes: A course for policy-makers, government officials and practitioners around the world 8-21 August 2010

First name: Family name/Surname: Title (prof. Dr. Mr. Mrs. Ms. ect): Tel. No: Fax No: Mobile No: Email: Current Position: Title of Post: Employer: Address: Brief Description of your main role and responsibilities:

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