# Introduction

Interoperability between social protection and employment support systems ensures that individuals receive support in times of need, and also provide them with the support necessary to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

This interface outlines standardized processes, data models, and APIs to link employment support systems with social protection systems. Its main goal is to ensure that workers receiving social protection support can be systematically guided and supported toward employment programs, while employment programs beneficiaries can access social protection when eligible. The standards do not dictate the operational details of either system; instead, they ensure that the required data is securely exchanged in the correct format and that both systems understand the shared information.

The Employment–Social Protection Interface provides a guideline for governments to move from siloed service delivery to an integrated, data-driven approach that supports:

* Social protection program beneficiaries to be referred to employment support programs
* Employment support beneficiaries to be referred to social protection services
* Systems operate efficiently and faster with less gaps, errors and duplication
* Services are delivered in a coordinated, person-centered way

This interface is a practical guide towards realizing the vision of integrated case management, where social protection and employment support programs work together as a seamless continuum of support.