Toward More Dynamic Social Protection Programs in the Sahel : Lessons from a New Entry and Exit Strategy in Mauritania

Overview & Synopsis

Social protection programs aimed at the poorest and most vulnerable rely on up-to-date beneficiary lists that reflect changes in household welfare over time, ensuring they reach those most in need of support. This policy note examines practical approaches for program entry and exit mechanisms, offering four transferrable lessons for programs seeking to make beneficiary lists more dynamic - central to ensuring their effectiveness and legitimacy. It pairs global evidence with Mauritania's flagship national social safety net program, Tekavoul, to identify the challenges and trade-offs of designing and implementing entry and exit mechanisms in a Sahel context.