The Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN) was created by mandate of the Ministries of Social Development and the Summit of the Americas as a cooperation mechanism to promote the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices in the field of social protection in the countries of the Americas. Since its creation in 2009, this network has played a key role in the exchange of good practices and innovative strategies to address common challenges such as poverty, inequality and emergency management. By bringing together technical, academic and professional leaders, it facilitates collaboration and training to design and implement effective social policies, adapted to the particular needs and contexts of each country.

The promotion of these peer-to-peer technical cooperation exchanges has been a distinctive feature of the IASPN as the main regional cooperation mechanism in this area.

The IASPN promotes greater dialogue, closer collaboration and effective results in various areas, including:

Practical training through virtual and in-person tools, such as diplomas, workshops, technical meetings and distance learning courses.

• Provides technical support to Member States by linking the needs of social protection and development institutions with appropriate expertise, facilitating regional technical cooperation.
• Collaborates with academic institutions to develop and disseminate knowledge products, such as research, policy reports, manuals, bulletins, and other practical resources to promote learning and informed action.
• Coordinates with other international agencies specialized in social protection to integrate cross-cutting approaches on issues such as decent work, gender equality, children, disabilities, migration, and human development.

Direct Benefits for Member States

• Strengthening technical capacities: IASPN promotes the development of competencies in the teams of social protection and development institutions in the region through various training opportunities, designed to respond to their specific needs.
  
• Exchange of knowledge and experiences: IASPN facilitates the transfer of knowledge and good practices in social protection among OAS Member States through the development of customized methodologies and tools, identifying needs, challenges, trends, and effective solutions to reduce poverty and inequities. Inspired by successful initiatives in other regions, the IASPN promotes peer-to-peer technical assistance exchanges, allowing Member States to learn from shared experiences in the design and implementation of structural reforms through the OAS Inter-American Cooperation Mechanism for Effective Public Management (MECIGEP), which fosters intergovernmental collaboration in policy innovation and management, promoting mutual learning and facilitating the implementation of promising initiatives in the region.
• Optimizing public resources: Participating in a community of practice allows Member States to design and expand social programs more efficiently, optimizing the use of public funds. In contexts of limited fiscal capacity, the IASPN plays a key role in coordinating the international support needed to make sustainable solutions viable.

IASPN Added Value

• Focus on implementation: While other international organizations address social protection issues, their approach is often based on research and training activities. The IASPN complements these efforts by placing social protection initiatives at the center of national agendas and achieving tangible results that take advantage of the technical expertise and political forum offered by the OAS.
  
• Political Influence of the OAS: The OAS facilitates high-level political dialogues and has at its disposal an extensive legal framework that offers precise tools for the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequalities. In this way, it becomes the ideal forum to place social development at the center of the political agenda, underlining its technical as well as critical and political importance.
• Regional Reach: With 34 Member States, the OAS has a broader reach compared to other regional organizations, which often have limited coverage in terms of countries involved.