Seminar on Strengthening Social Protection Systems in Namibia

Transcription

1 Seminar on Strengthening Social Protection Systems in Namibia

2 PRESENTATION OVERVIEW 1. Social Support Model in Malawi 2. Objectives of the Policy/Programme 3. Interventions 4. Challenges 5. Reforms to Address the Challenges (Moving towards an integrated system of social protection)

3 Social Support/Protection Model Malawi s Social Protection is anchored in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II) Social protection in Malawi is guided by the National Social Support Policy (NSSP) Operationalized by the Malawi National Social Support Programme (MNSSP) MNSSP and NSSP shares the same vision of enhanced quality of life for those suffering from poverty and hunger and improve resilience for those who are vulnerable from shocks and risks The MNSSP is set of social protection interventions implemented under a policy framework emphasizing coordination and harmonization.

4 Objectives of the Policy and Programme MNSSP builds on four strategic objectives outlined in the NSSP: Provide welfare support to those that are unable to construct a viable livelihood to meet the most pressing needs Protect the assets and improve the resilience of poor and vulnerable households Promote the productive capacity and asset base of poor and vulnerable households to move them above the poverty line Establish coherent and progressive social protection synergies by ensuring strong positive linkages to influence economic and social policies, and disaster management

5 Interventions under the MNSSP To achieve these objectives, five interventions were prioritized Social Cash Transfer Programme: Provides a monthly stipend to ultra poor labour constrained households for basic needs Labour constrained means one of the following: adults in the household are disabled; older than 64yrs of age; HH has a chronically ill member; Female headed HH with more than 3 dependants Child headed household Public Works Programmes: provided to poor HHs with labour School Meals Programme: Geographical targeting based on food insecurity and child malnutrition, low education performance Village Savings and Loans Programmes Self selection based on community cohesion Micro-Finance Programmes. Self selection

6 Malawi Poverty Profile and Interventions

7 CHALLENGES FROM IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MNSSP

8 Challenges Fragmented and Uncoordinated scattered in different institutions (State & Non State) Programmes do not share information increasing risk of duplication and wastage of resources Inadequate administrative capacity in some institutions (staff, infrastructure, logistics etc) Funding arrangements of the SSPs are fragmented Largely donor-funded programmes implemented with generally low but varying degrees of utilization of Government systems Inadequate utilization of MIS (VSL/ Microfinance and School Meals) and M&E systems

9 REFORMS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES

10 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination Piloting Social Support System Strengthening Implementation at District level Establishment of District and Community Social Support Committee - Integrated management and operations at district level

11 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION: Harmonized targeting tool has been developed to streamline the targeting process Community participation in the identification and registration of potential beneficiaries of social support and awareness raising, and providing social accountability Targeting Process SCTP PWP SMP VSL Microfinanc e Community Based plus Proxy Means Testing Community Based plus Self Targeting Geographical based on Food Insecurity; Malnutrition; Lower Educational Performance Self Targeting Self Targeting

12 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination Development of a Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) for social support - to harmonize and consolidate the current range of fragmented social protection schemes building synergy across programmes (on going)

13 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination Development of Common delivery mechanism: e- payment, for economy of scales Under design and development Currently Payments are made manually using a pull mechanism Made by local council accountants who are accompanied by security personnel Fiduciary Risk: Can easily be manipulated - millions of kwacha are withdrawn in cash and ferried to pay points A framework for thinking about benefits from e- payments Increasing financial inclusion: recipients can save; if achieved, this unlocks a series of other benefits that contribute to poverty reduction Lower fiduciary risk for government: e-payments offer an effective audit trail from service provider to recipient account, in line with international best practice Reduced government staff time. officials would not need to travel to communities to disburse cash, their time is freed up to conduct their other duties.

14 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination Integration with wider socioeconomic interventions to promote livelihoods Graduation Pathways: Social Support + Livelihoods + Capital/Asset transfer Under design and development 1. Regular consumption support 5. Coaching 2. Skills training 4. Access to seed capital 3. Support to save

15 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination Linking with livelihood initiatives Why? Catchment/Watershed Management: Majority of households are rural and are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood Degradation of the environment and productive land is one reason for poverty levels, safeguarding people and the environment on which their livelihood depends is important Focusing on assets protection, land rehabilitation and water resources; thus moving away from simple infrastructures creation (roads rehabilitation) Bottom up approach where communities plan and design the asset creation

16 Systems Building: from Fragmentation to Coordination Other Interventions under Development Communication Strategy It will be used to raise awareness, visibility and understanding, of the programmes and also to strengthen engagement with program stakeholder Development of common grievance mechanism Social Support Fund Will be basket fund Integration of Social Protection module into tertiary education system through curriculum development Shock Responsive SP vertical or horizontal integration Best Practices Guidelines (PWP; SMP; VSL) Development of the linkages and Referrals

17 Current Institution Architectural Structure Coordination MoFEPD (PRSP Division) is there to provide leadership, policy guidance, programming, resource mobilization and coordination at national level Its work is guided by two committees Steering committee (PSs of line ministries, representatives of heads of missions DPs and representatives of NGOs) Technical committee (Implementers; NGOs, DPs and academia) Thematic Working Groups (SCTP, PWP, SMP, VSL/COMSIP, Microfinance) Line Ministries - supervision District councils- implementers Development Partners Technical and Financial support

18 CONCLUSION Poverty targeting is a challenge to implement in Malawi due to widespread, deep, and dynamic poverty (50.7%) Communities resistance to double dipping limits the opportunities for complementarities and multi-dimensionality Need to strengthen PPP E-payment; infrastructure development (school kitchens, boreholes) Coordination is crucial in implementation

19 Zikomo Thank you