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UNDG-AP Issues Brief on Social Protection

Presentation to UNDG-AP meeting,13 October 2011

Valerie Schmitt (ILO), Qimti Paienjton (UNICEF)

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• Development of the Issues Brief on SP

• Chapter 1- Joint UN Position on Social Protection in AP

• Chapter 2 - Supporting the Development of National SP Strategies

• Chapter 3 - Supporting Progressive and Coordinated Implementation of SP

• Annexes

• Feedback from UNCTs and Next steps

Outline

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Development of the Issues Brief

•UNDG A-P meeting (8-9 Feb) : agreement that AP countries could benefit from having coherent strategic support and guidance from the UNDG A-P in the thematic areas of social protection

•OHCHR took the initial lead and prepared a first draft guidance note with inputs from UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO, UNESCAP…

Feb 2010 Aug-Nov 2010

•It was decided that ILO and UNDP should take the lead of the working group

•A structure of the issues brief was developed jointly

May 2010

•First draft guidance note presented to UNDG-AP in May

•UNDG-AP meeting indicated that the work of the group should continue with the aim of producing a note providing information on the social protection status and gaps of countries in the region, analyzing and addressing priority countries and cross cutting issues in order to guide UNCTs’ action

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Development of the Issues Brief

•ILO organized an online questionnaire to gather good examples of interventions in the AP region inputs received from UNICEF, OHCHR, UNESCO, UNDP, ILO…

•ILO & UNDP shared the writing of the different chapters of the document that was shared for comments

Dec 2010-June 2011 Sept-Oct 2011

•A coherent and more practical version was prepared and shared in Sept 2011 with the working group & a selected number of UNCTs (to check relevance)

•Latest version shared today at UNDG-AP meeting

End of July 2011

•The consolidated document lacked consistency and seemed to miss the initial purpose (provide concrete guidance to UNCTs)

•ILO & UNICEF offered to improve and finalize the document in August

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Chapter 1 – A Joint UN Position on Social Protection

in AP– Rationale for Social Protection

– Social Protection on the Development Agenda

– The Social Protection Floor

– Shared Principles (Global)

– Shared Principles (Asia-Pacific)

– Social Protection in Asia-Pacific

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1.1- Rationale for Social Protection

– Realization of human rights (decent standard of living and access to essential social services)

– Pro-poor economic growth (through investment in human capital and better risk management)

– Social and political stability (by addressing socio-economic inequalities)

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1.2 – Social Protection on the Development Agenda

– Social Protection Floor Initiative (2009)

– Resolution at 67th session of UNESCAP (2011)

– A priority of the G20 (2011)

– Recommendation on SPF will be adopted at ILC 2012

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1.3 – The Social Protection Floor

– UN Organizations share the Social Protection Floor comprising of essential social services and social transfers

– Once a SPF has been established, countries may then choose to progressively extend to their populations higher levels of social protection

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1.3 – The Social Protection Floor

• Progressive realization of social protection based on a guaranteed social protection floor

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1.4- Shared Principles (Global)

– Take into account existing social protection and national development strategies

– Avoid creating long-term dependencies and moral hazards

– Encourage and facilitate market and social inclusion (be demand-driven and user-oriented)

– Be based on a clear definition of rights and duties that govern the relationship between the citizens and the state

– Be based on continued and predictable (preferably domestic) funding

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1.5- Shared Principles (Asia-Pacific)

– Progressive realization of social protection which leads to universal coverage over time, taking into consideration government capacities and resources

– Inclusive social protection, that takes into account the different needs and vulnerabilities of various population sub-groups, is child- and gender-sensitive, and addresses social exclusion and discrimination (including due to HIV and AIDS)

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1.6 – Social Protection in AP

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Chapter 2 - Supporting the Development of National SP

Strategies– Developing social protection teams

– Promoting the SPF Framework

– Providing technical inputs to social protection development plans

– Building technical capacities

– Sharing and disseminating knowledge

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2.1 - Developing social protection teams

UN SPF Team in Thailand since March 2010 ; preparation of the UNPAF Action plan on social protection; towards a joint program 2012-2016

More information on the SPF Joint Team in Thailand:http://www.social-protection.org/gimi/gess/ShowSpf.do?id=1

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Visit of Mrs Bachelet in Viet Nam (chair person of SPF Advisroy group)

2.2 - Promoting the SPF Framework

Video clip “Social protection: a lifelong necessity”

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xld91i_social-protection-a-lifelong-necessity_news

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The National Social Protection Strategy for the Poor and the Vulnerable in Cambodia makes a reference to the SPF and Staircase

2.3 – Inputs to SP development plans

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2.3 – Inputs to SP development plans - Assessment based

national dialogue

WHAT ARE THE SCHEMES? •Health care•Income security for children•Income security for working age•Income security for the elderly

NATIONAL DIALOGUE

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE: RECOMMENDATIONS

health

children

working

elderly

What exist?GapsIssues

Recommendations

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? COSTING TOOLCAN WE AFFORD IT? FISCAL SPACE ANALYSIS

Access the workspaces of the Assessment Based National Dialogue Exercises In Indonesia: http://www.ilo.org/gimi/gess/ShowProjectPage.do?pid=1245In Thailand: http://www.ilo.org/gimi/gess/ShowProjectPage.do?pid=1285

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2.4 & 2.5- Sharing knowledge and building capacities

Workshop on SPF Assessments in Bangkok (Nov 2010) SPF Success stories (UNDP & ILO)

The GESS platformwww.social-protection.org

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Chapter 3 - Supporting Progressive and Coordinated

Implementation of SP Once countries have their SP vision in place (ex: National SP strategy)

Support the implementation of these plans

UN Agencies working through collective or

coordinated way (e.g. joint programs under the UNDAFs) comparative

advantages, good for resource mobilization

Ex: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand

UN Agencies working on their own with

government counterparts, but towards a shared

vision of inclusive, progressive and

sustainable social protection

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– Ensuring policy coherence and harmonization

– Promoting a legal framework based on evidence

– Supporting affordability and sustainability assessments

– Ensuring effective coverage, adequacy of benefits, availability and quality of social services

– Strengthening developmental linkages

– Improving governance and institutional capacity

– Strengthening information systems, monitoring and evaluation

Chapter 3 - Supporting Progressive and Coordinated

Implementation of SP

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3.1 - Ensuring policy coherence and harmonization

The situation: often scattered SP interventions

Ensure that recommendations from UN agencies do not increase incoherence and that a framework for a harmonized response can be developed

Examples: Harmonized Technical Assistance for Social Protection in the Philippines, IWG in Cambodia, UNPAF on social protection in Thailand…

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3.2 - Promoting a legal framework based on evidence

The situation: many SP provisions without legal basis (ex: 500 Bath scheme until recently), many legal frameworks are not applicable (ex: Law # 40, 2004 on social security in Indonesia)

Conventions for the development of Laws & RegulationsExample: ILO Conventions

Ensure that the development of laws is informed by evidence & experienceExample: RSBY guidelines in India

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3.3 - Supporting affordability and feasibility assessments

The situation: Limited fiscal space fear of not being able to finance social protection

Work with government counterparts on costing and returns on investment models

Example: ILO-UNICEF SPF Costing Tool (which is also known as the Rapid Assessment Protocol)

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3.4A– Ensuring effective SP coverage: Reaching the

vulnerableThe situation: Exclusion of the vulnerable because of inadequate targeting

Support governments in understanding the pros and cons of targeting decisions, ensuring that the most vulnerable are prioritized, widening progressively the targeting criteria

Example: Viet Nam - Assessment exercise study the possibility to lower the age of the social pension to 65+ and to increase the level of benefits to poverty line

Non pregnancy health care

Pregnancy care – at least four routine AN care visits

Health infoContraceptives…

Monitoring progress of pregnancy, Iron & foliate supplementationSTI/HIV risk Asst …

Item of services

…

Community resources

Outreach services

Health centers

District hospitals

Central & provincial hospitals

O or O or

O or O or

O or

O or

O or

O or

O or

O or

… … …

O: ESSENTIAL SERVICES or : OPTIONAL SERVICES

The situation: Benefits are often too low

Provide benchmarks: poverty line, minimum standards set in ILO conventions, achievements of MDGs, etc.

Example: Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) package in Lao PDR

3.4B– Ensuring effective SP coverage: Providing adequate benefits

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The situation: mismatch between supply and demand

Ensure that the supply of social services is developed in order to absorb the increased demand …

Example: Supply side assessments of health care services, education in the Philippines, Assessment of employment related services in Cambodia

3.4C– Ensuring effective SP coverage:

Ensuring supply Side improvements

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3.5 - Strengthening developmental linkages

The situation: How to maximize the developmental impact of social protection

Explore linkages between schemes (Cash Transfers & access to health & education; PWPs, training and access to health, etc.)

Examples: Reducing stunting through PKH in IndonesiaSingle Window Service in Cambodia to (1) increase outreach, (2) support coordination role of CARD, (3) develop linkages between schemes for an increased impact

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3.6 - Improving governance and institutional capacity

The situation: Poor governance inefficiencies in resource allocation and in operations (long delays to process claims, excessive administrative costs, poor responsiveness to clients’ complaints and in some cases leakages)

Sound management tools and procedures Well–trained managers and “governors”Complaints mechanisms

Examples: Legal empowerment activities conducted by UNDP in Thailand

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3.7 - Strengthening information systems,

monitoring and evaluationThe situation: Information systems, M&E often weak

Support the identification of beneficiaries Consolidated DB to monitor scheme’s operations, expansion of coverage, public expenditure on SP, evaluation of the impact of SP on various variablesContinued political support, replication – scaling up

Examples: ID poor in Cambodia, TNP2K in Indonesia

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Annex 1: A Sampling of Social Protection in Asia-

Pacific Country Some Major Social

Protection SchemesSocial Protection Expenditure (as % of GDP)

Social Protection Index (ADB, 2008)

Bangladesh

Cambodia

China

…

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Annex 2: Social Protection Resources Available to

UNCTs1. Social Protection Frameworks and Strategies(World Bank, ADB, UN SPFI…)

2. Manuals and Tools(Social Protection Floor Costing Tools & User Manuals…)

3. Useful Websites(GESS, Social Transfers Evidence Base, ODI, WB…)

4. Selected Literature by Topic• Social Protection in Asia-Pacific• Social Protection, Poverty and Growth• Social Transfers• Social Protection and Health• Social Security• Others…

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Feedback from UNCTs

1/ Usefulness: YES! >>comprehensive, well written…>>best practices / lessons learned / inspiring (on setting up SP schemes and supporting SP development plans) / window for joint action within UN & with govt, private sector …

2/ Relevance of Potential Entry Points: YES!>>linkages with other policies such as response to economic crisis, climate change adaptation, decentralization, urban policies …

India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Philippines, UNCT China, WHO Lao PDR, IWG-SP Cambodia and SPF Team Thailand

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Feedback from UNCTs3/ Further Support (Beyond Issues Brief):

>>Explore linkages with social welfare, economic growth, development processes and outcomes

>>Explore role of stakeholders in implementation of SP (community-based schemes, local municipalities)

>>Support creation of multi-sectoral dialogue including UN and govt agencies to increase coherence of SP strategies

>>Develop tools such as checklists for policy makers and planners to assist in ensuring that SP issues are addressed

>>Increase capacities of UN Staff

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Potential next steps

•Wide dissemination of Issues Brief

•Enable inclusion of additional examples over time (perhaps through GESS platform)

•Facilitate cross-regional exchange (perhaps approach UNDGs in other regions)

•…

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THANK YOU!