Maastricht University appoints professor in Social Protection
On 1 July, Dr. Franziska Gassmann has been appointed professor in Social Protection and Development at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG), a division of UNU-MERIT at Maastricht University.
UNU-MERIT is a joint institute of Maastricht University and United Nations University. Professor Gassmann’s research focuses on finding effective ways to fight poverty, vulnerability, inequality and exclusion and to improve human development. Poverty, vulnerability, inequality and exclusion continue to be pressing global social challenges which require inclusive human development initiatives, among others established in the Sustainable Development Goals. Social protection systems are very important in achieving these objectives, because these types of initiatives allow people to develop themselves achieve equity and well-being in multiple – income and non-income – dimensions. Social protection is broadly defined as the set of formal and informal strategies aimed at increasing households’ resilience to risks. Policies for social protection become increasingly important in the global fight against poverty.
Added value
Recent research of professor Gassmann shows that investing in social protection systems has a clear added value and that the cost-benefit analysis is positive in the long term. Reliable and regular income support not only contributes to the improvement of the position of poor and vulnerable groups in society, but also strengthens the economy. In her current research she studies the question why some people do and other do not invest in social security. Having or not having budget financial room in the federal budget explains only part of it. Political will and well-functioning government institutions are just as important.
Career
Since 2015, Prof. Dr. Franziska Gassmann has been professor at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Science and Professorial Fellow at UNU-MERIT. Since 2005, she has been working as a senior researcher at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance of UNU-MERIT. Her projects are financed by the NWO and international organisations (UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, WFP). She has more than 20 years of experience as consultant and adviser to international organisations, such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, OECD, ILO, UNDP and national governments.
Click here for more information about professor Gassmann’s research.
Click here for more information about her career.
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