A social information system is a concept fundamentally defined through its different elements, including registries of potential and current beneficiaries as well as other information sources and collection mechanisms.

Social information systems are decision-making instruments, contain detailed and consolidated information regarding participants, potential social programme beneficiaries, and other data useful for monitoring and evaluation.

Development of a social information system demands clarity as to the sort of information it should contain, how to generate or compile it, as well as the goal or use to which it will be applied and the persons or institutions that will employ it.

Advances in the development of social protection information systems have been heterogeneous in the region. In most instances, participant registries are available, and surveys are used to gather information, but there is no generalized move towards integrating other components.

Chile’s experience with its Social Household Registry is an example relevant to the process of evolving a social information system both in the way it compiles and links data gathered from surveys and administrative registries and in coverage that extends to most of the potential beneficiary population.

Building an efficient, effective and flexible information system entails taking into account political and operational aspects and adaptation to each country’s specific context and needs, while always putting the available technological, material and institutional resources to the best possible use.