Turkey’s Integrated Social Assistance System (ISAS) Programme commenced in 2010, focusing on transferring all social assistance related workflows to an electronic platform, to establish a common database. It also aimed to institute efficient control and monitoring mechanisms to ensure a fair distribution of resources. It managed all social assistance processes such as application/registration, investigation, payments, monitoring, accounting, auditing and others. The Programme came to a close at the end of 2015 with a total budget of 35 million Turkish Lira (approximately 10 million USD). The System was developed module by module using an incremental and flexible method over the 5 year period. Currently, a continuation contract is being maintained for 2 years between the Ministry of Family and Social Policies and the Turkish Scientific Research Council (TÜBİTAK).
The webinar addressed the following discussions:
What is Turkey’s Integrated Social Assistance System (ISAS)?
Why the system was developed (objectives)?
Background and timeline: how has this work taken shape?
How does ISAS work (e.g. how is data collected, updated and used)? What benefits has it brought about? What type of integration? What were the challenges and limitations faced and how were these tackled?
Considerations for the Future
Practical demonstration of the system
Key lessons for other countries