The Cube

Recommendations

Info

SOCIASPF class of 2001. Standing L to R, Denis, Michiel, Roberto and seated L to R: David, Josephine, Ben, Leroy, Qingping, Millicent, FlorianOne of the first students in the early days of the MPP program (previously Msc. Social ProtectionFInancing (SPF)) was David Lambert Tumwesigye. Since attending UNU-MERIT, he has led a fulfillingcareer promoting and building social protection systems in Africa. Originally from Uganda, he hassince returned to his home country where he currently works as the Global Advocacy Manager forChild Poverty/Social Protection at Save the Children International. However, his CV is littered withmany other achievements in the two decades between this position and his time at UNU-MERIT.He owes his education at Maastricht to his job at the time. Then Head of Research at the NationalSocial Security Fund of Uganda, his organisation sent him to study at the Masters program at UNU-MERIT on a partial scholarship funded by the University and the International Labour Organisation(ILO). “The program was heavy on policy analysis,” he recounts of the skills he gained while atUNU. “When you study, sometimes things look very abstract; you don’t really appreciate themuntil you start working. We got hands-on training on better policy design and influencing: It’sone thing to write a good report and it’s another to get it implemented by the right people. Ourhomework included drafting technical memoranda with assignments like, “you’re going to meet theminister of finance tomorrow . ‘Can you prepare a brief on why it matters and how much it coststo introduce a national health insurance scheme in your country?’ And this is exactly what I havedone for a living since then. It’s been exciting, challenging, and very rewarding at the same time.”David remembers fondly the tight-knit community of the SPF: the bike rides and nights out withclassmates, drinks with the ILO teachers at the Irish Pub at the Vrijthof, dinners at faculty member’shomes and international cookouts among his best memories. After graduation, David moved toGhana and began working as a Chief Technical Advisor to the ILO’s Ghana Social Trust pilot. Acouple years later, he returned to Uganda and worked as Research and Planning Officer and lateras a Performance Intelligence Manager at his former employer- the National Social Security Fund.Eventually David embarked on his proudest endeavor: working to scale up Uganda’s nationalcash transfer program as Economist and later as a Policy and Advocacy Advisor at the ExpandingSocial Protection Program. Funded by the UK and Irish Governments, this program began witha pilot project in fourteen districts and eventually scaled up to forty by the time he left, and now itruns in all 136 districts in the country. “I am proud of being able to influence the governmentof Uganda, and it sets the stage for a more inclusive social protection system,” he remarks.The Cube | 10
HOW David BUILTL PROTECTION SCHEMESIN AFRICADavid conducting a media interview on impact of cash transfers on poverty
Page 1 and 2: Issue 1 Winter 2022TheCUBEUNU MERIT
Page 3 and 4: INTRODUCING THE CUBEWelcome to “T
Page 5 and 6: Editor’s NoteMaastricht, or Mestr
Page 7 and 8: No poverty! What an objective to ha
Page 9: I am proud of beingable to influenc
Page 13 and 14: The MPPScholarshipWhat would your l
Page 15 and 16: I’m quite thankful to theMPP whic
Page 17 and 18: The opportunity to be in such a mul
Page 19 and 20: The Alumni Committee offers a chanc
Page 21 and 22: Antje StuvensMPP Student at UNU-MER
Page 23 and 24: rEUAndreas ReinstallerSr. Principal
Page 25 and 26: One must do things withdevotion. Be
Page 27 and 28: Since graduating, Amjad has achieve
Page 29 and 30: A few months ago, I turned 60 and s
Page 31 and 32: Kathleen Hopewell is the 2022-2023
Page 33 and 34: Because we benefit from the union o
Page 35 and 36: Carnival is back!Wait, did it ever
Page 37 and 38: l innovation Labnovation Lab on Cri

The Cube

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?