The Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) developed and delivered the six-week course "Designing and Implementing Adaptive Social Protection Systems" to ADB staff from 13 countries in November and December 2020. The course supported personalised and flexible learning with the help of technology and innovative pedagogy. EPRI finalised the course pedagogy based on a needs assessment undertaken prior to the training. The needs assessment aimed to ensure that the learning and capacity development programme delivered responded to the participants' needs. The course included two parts: 

1. Three webinars on the core topic of shock-responsive social protection: In the baseline survey, many participants identified the need for an enhanced understanding of shock-responsive social protection. The three webinars covered the basics of a shock-responsive social protection system (SRSP), the design and implementation of SRSP, and evaluating targeting mechanisms. Dr Michael Samson delivered the main sessions. Dr Stephen Devereux joined to jointly deliver the session "Shock Responsive Social Protection: Building Resilience for Vulnerable Groups". The session provided excellent insights into SRSP with Asia-specific examples on COVID-19 responses. All the participants were encouraged to attend all the three core sessions. 
2. Two webinars each on three thematic areas: The participants also identified thematic areas so specific interest for their learning, based on options provided: graduation and livelihood programmes, social pensions, health and food-security, gender-sensitive social protection and financing shock-responsive social protection. Most participants identified financing of shock-responsive social protection, gender-sensitive social protection and graduation and livelihood programs as the most relevant. EPRI prepared and delivered the 6 webinars in line with these three selected thematic areas. While initially planned as a single choice for each participant from the three options, many participants opted to enrol in all six webinars, demonstrating an engaged commitment by the participants to the learning process and providing a positive indication on the quality of the training. Overall, participation in the webinars involved interactive engagement and discussion among the facilitators and participants and provided a positive peer learning experience.

The course also offered one-on-one sessions, for which 12 participants enrolled. During these sessions, EPRI's research director Dr Michael Samson offered expert advice on various topics including financing of social protection, how to increase coverage of social assistance for informal workers and nutrition-sensitive social protection. The course structure encouraged the course's peer learning component to advance the participants' knowledge and skills and share the valuable expertise the participants possessed. The course also helped the partners develop their networks and gain knowledge of their colleagues' work in different countries.