The project aims to increase the capacity of selected African countries to monitor investments in social protection policies and programmes and contribute to achieving the SDG targets on social protection, thereby increasing the accountability of member States to monitor and report on the targets. The project extends the concept of social protection to more than social assistance, safety nets or food aid, to also include provision of basic social security guarantees such as universal access to health care, nutrition, education, income security for those unable to earn sufficient income, and basic income security for older persons. As a result, it directly and indirectly contributes to nine SDGs and 13 associated targets. In line with ECA’s support to African member States through analytical and empirical research for improved policies for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development, the project will work with five countries in the continent: Chad, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique and Nigeria for sufficient geographical and linguistic representation. Even though social protection is now a prominent component of national long-term development plans in many countries, and there is continent-wide political support for investment in social protection, limited financing for social protection is a serious challenge that can stymie the prospects of achieving the SDGs. The project aims to strengthen country capabilities to monitor investments in social protection to enable countries to formulate suitable policies to reduce poverty and vulnerability of marginalized population groups, and meet their global SDG commitments. To be implemented in 2016-2019 in partnership with ECLAC, ILO and UNDP, and CSOs in respective countries, the project will: (i) develop informed understanding among key senior-level government officials of the contribution of social protection to economic growth and reduction of poverty and vulnerability, and conceptualization of social protection as provision of basic social guarantees; and (ii) enhance capacities of member States to monitor and report on progress of social protection investments for the achievement of SDGs. To achieve these objectives, the project will: i) organize a series of national/regional meetings and training workshops to generate/share knowledge and identify gaps and challenges in sustaining and enhancing the effectiveness of social protection policies and programmes, ii) develop a set of guidelines and toolkits to assist countries in better monitoring and reporting on social investments, iii) produce five (5) national reports and one (1) regional report on “Social Protection Policies and Programmes: Improving Investments Through Better Monitoring”, and iv) organize a high-level regional conference to foster policy dialogue, share experiences and disseminate key results so as to increase investment in social protection.