Social Protection in South Asia

1. Social Protection in South Asia Overview C. Upendranadh Regional Co-ordinator www.socialprotectionasia.org

2. Social Protection “…a set of public initiatives that • provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, • protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks, • enhance the social status and • promote the rightsof the marginalized, with the overall objective of reducing their economic and social vulnerability.” ILO & Deveroux (2004)

3. SP - 3-Tier Approach • Promotive measures (macroeconomic, sectoral and institutional measures) – to improve real incomes and capabilities • Preventive measures (direct measures of poverty alleviation) - to avert deprivation in specific ways • Protective measures (provide relief from poverty through narrowly targeted safety nets) - to guarantee relief (Kannan, Kabeer)

4. SPA Perspective “Properly designed SP interventions have the potential to reduce poverty, contribute to greater security of livelihoods for poor and marginalised groups, promote human development and strengthen the voice and citizenship rights of the poor”

5. Transformative Potential Transformative potential of SP policies would mean: • Create entitlements • Potential to alter power imbalances • Create sustainable livelihoods • Create conditions to enhance social status • Address intra-household division of resource ownership, access and use and • Respect to social and cultural values

6. Some Instruments of Social Protection • Social security • contributory payments • pooled resources to provide support in case of shock • formal sector employees • Social assistance (transfers) • non-contributory payments • protection of minimum standards of living • employment status not essential • use some forms of means testing and targeting • cash transfers (conditional and un-conditional) • pensions (old age, disability, widow) • child benefits (food, nutrition, education) • health and maternity benefits

7. Contd., • Social transfers complementary to investments in health, education, etc. • Social insurance schemes (increasingly being expanded) • Employment schemes (public works)

8. Typologies of Social Protection programmes Available • Food Based programmes • Food for work, mid-day meal, dry-ration, nutrition supplement, feeding • Work based programmes • Food for Work, Employment guarantee • Transfers (cash grants) • Cash transfers (conditional - linked to maternity benefits, girl child support, health and education) and un-conditional • Assistance programmes • Pensions (old age, disability) • Freeships (stipends, books etc) • Micro credit & Micro insurance • Livelihood security & Promotional schemes • Self employment, skill development

9. Emerging Trends • The idea of social protection as a universal right – not yet completely emerged in the region – social security is confined only to formal sector • Poverty reduction focus in several SP programmes • There is less emphasis on unconditional transfers and much greater emphasis on employment, assets and entrepreneurship • Social insurance catching up (through micro credit route) • Sri Lanka had the strongest commitment to a rights perspective on social protection – state role prominent. Set back in SP due to unrest. • India - commitment towards flagship programmes - concerted mission mode functioning – national health mission, food security, livelihood mission, education, employment • Programmes show uneven impact and under strain due to weak implementation apparatus, institutions and governance • In India - civil society organisations bringing the language of rights into public discourse – right to information, right to food, right to employment, Unorganised workers social security bill etc

10. Bangladesh - still grappling with ‘safety net’ approach • Role of NGOs prominent; challenge to transform safety nets into opportunity ladders (BRAC). • Weak institutional capacities a major challenge. • Similar situation in Pakistan • Limited coverage of income transfer programmes However language of ‘guarantees’ emerging in both Bangladesh and Pakistan – 100 days employment

11. Overall Challenges and Barriers to the Extension of Social Protection • Low coverage and leakages • Limited design and implementation capacities • Limited capacity of the fiscal institutions in generating required resources and administering Social Protection programmes. • Negative elite perception about Universal Minimum Social Protection

12. Policy Challenges • Institutional and governance capacities • Targeted Vs Universalisation • Demand generation and awareness on entitlements • Financing social protection – to treat this as investment • Political commitment

13. Social Protection in Asia(SPA) Network • 10 Research Partners in the Region • Engage in Policy relevant research (Research  Policy) • Perspective - Developmental and poverty reduction potential of SP & identifying pathways, barriers for extension • Policy dialogue, Networking, publications and sharing platforms

14. Broad themes of work • Mobility, migration, health and social protection • Informal employment and social protection • Community based mechanisms for social protection • Citizenship and voice; Organizing and advocacy for social protection (cross cutting) • Financing social protection (cross cutting)

15. SPA Research Projects in South Asia • Work and Employment based Social Protection – 2 research projects 1. Public employment (NREG) programme and women’s empowerment (ISST) 2. Institutions and governance challenges in public employment programme (IHD)

16. SPA Research Projects in South Asia • Residential Security (land and house tenure) and transformative social protection in urban & rural locations 1. Examining government housing programme as transformative social protection in Pakistan (CSSR) 2. Examining implications of land tenure in urban slums in India (Ahmedabad) (CEPT) • Understanding graduation of ultra poor (BRAC)

17. SPA Activities • Dissemination of Research findings • Publications • Newsletter • Website • Working papers • Journal Articles • Edited volume (s) • Policy forums / advocacy • Annual Policy and Research Conference • Regional (national) conferences • Participation in various other fora