Bangladesh’s Old Age Allowance (OAA) program, one of the country’s oldest cash-based social safety nets, has undergone a major transformation through digitalization. Beginning in 2018 and fully implemented by 2021, the shift has enhanced efficiency, transparency, and the overall management of beneficiary data. Service delivery processes are now faster and more reliable, with improved information flow between government agencies. However, this digital transition has also created new challenges for many elderly recipients who lack digital literacy or familiarity with modern technology. As a result, many depend on others for assistance, underscoring the need for greater digital inclusion and training initiatives. 

Based on this context, DataSense (iSocial) and the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science will host a policy roundtable titled “Digitalisation of Social Safety Net Programmes: Revisiting Design of Public Services” on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The event will present findings from their joint assessment of Bangladesh’s Old Age Allowance (OAA), examining how digitalisation affects data management, inequality, and user experience. It will bring together government officials, international organisations, INGOs, think tanks, civil society, academics, and the private sector to discuss ways to improve accessibility, strengthen digital literacy, and ensure human-centered service delivery within social safety net programmes.