During 2023, ANND worked on an initiative to establish the Social Protection Monitor (SPM) for Arab countries. The aim is to monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of social protection systems in the concerned countries from a developmental/human rights perspective. The monitor covers key aspects of the formation and performance of social protection systems and their expenditure.

Social protection systems have gained prominence on global and regional agendas, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The observatory adopts an approach tailored to the characteristics and social policies of Arab countries, as well as the realistic conditions that define the overall features of life in the societies and populations of the region. This includes the realities of occupation, ongoing wars, and the weaknesses or absence of democracy, leading to institutional weaknesses, bias, or failure in the functioning of state institutions and compliance with global prescriptions.

The project allocates a significant space to design a standardized index developed from a developmental/human rights perspective that aligns with the region's conditions and the individual characteristics and systems of its countries. This index serves as a suitable tool for assessing various dimensions of social protection systems using standardized indicators and measurements, enabling regional and temporal comparisons within a single country. This index is referred to as the "Social Protection Index."

This monitor is dedicated to civil society organizations and aims to:
1. Assist civil society organizations in evaluating national policies, especially those related to social protection, and monitor gaps in national social protection systems, as well as the policies, procedures, and outcomes associated with them.
2. Empower civil society organizations with tools that enable them to actively participate in relevant national dialogues and influence policies related to social protection.
3. Develop assessment and measurement tools that allow for comparisons at both the national and regional levels, enhancing knowledge production in this field.