After the success of the 1st SID Program and in order to meet the growing regional demand for technical & scientific training in social protection and pension-related issues, the Muhanna Foundation will hold 2 modules of the SID program from February 17th to February 28th, 2007 in Muscat, Oman.

First introduced by the Muhanna Foundation in Amman, Jordan in November 2006, The Social Insurance Diploma trains professionals to contribute to the development and sustainability of social protection tools in an evolving Arab World.

SID objectives
Social protection is all around us and touches the lives of all citizens and residents from children to elderly. Individuals, families and societies are affected by different kinds of social protection risks. The design of viable social protection strategies to reduce poverty and to offer the residents of developing countries an acceptable level of protection against shocks and risks is of utmost importance for economic growth and stability.

The SID program fills the gaps in standard academic teaching and goes beyond. This means that actual case studies and discussions are an essential part of teaching, while the participants are also given a solid theoretical background in social protection.

Diploma
After successful completion of all 4 Modules of the Social Insurance Diploma Program, participants will receive a Diploma in Social Insurance from the Muhanna Foundation.
Module 1: Pension benefits schemes and issues
Module 2: Administration and IT systems
Module 3: Actuarial perspective of retirement schemes
Module 4: Financing and investment

SID will be conducted in parts. This year, the first part will be held in Oman to cover Module 1 and Module 3, keeping in mind that Module 2 and Module 4 will be held few months later at a different location in order to serve region's needs.

Who should attend
The target participant is working in a social security institution or a pension fund, in the field of administration, IT, finance or management.

The Muhanna Foundation strongly recommend companies and institutions to nominate their employees for several SID modules in addition to those specifically related to their line of work, that is, in order to gain a wider perspective on social protection and pension benefits. Based on previous experience, and where possible, the participants should aim at taking all 4 modules for completion.

Participants come from different countries of the Arab World. Many are working in the field of social protection while others pursue a career in different but related fields. This diversity results in a stimulating mix of attendees who bring their work-related experiences into the classroom and young graduates who are often well-equipped with modern theoretical insights. This combination ensures that participants not only learn from lecturers or case studies but also from each other.

Module 1: Pension benefits schemes and issues
Aimed at introducing the attendee to Social Insurance benefits, schemes and designs. This course will go through the history and philosophy of Social Insurance schemes and will explain the workings behind the different Social Security designs. It will also provide a brief explanation on the organizational framework of Social Insurance administration including management, political, legal, actuarial, benefits administration, financing and investment considerations. Finally it will introduce and discuss the problems facing social security and pension schemes in the arab world in particular.