Ministry of Social Affairs & Public Housing

Republic of Suriname

‘Workshop Puente in the Caribbean: Program launching’St. Lucia, 27 – 29 May 2009

Representatives MSAPH: Marsiane Partowidjojo & Saskia Donk

Country ProfileCountry Profile

Suriname:1.Location: north-east coast of South

America, bordered by Guyana in the west, French Guyana in the east and Brazil in the south.

Coastal area

Interior

Surface: 163.820 km2

Language: Dutch

Population: ± 500.000 (mixture of diverse ethnic, cultural and religious groups)

Demographics: geographical characteristics: urban, rural & interior (10 districts, 62 subdistricts)

National ContextGovernment: Parliamentary democracy

Political context:Executive power: President of the Republic of

Suriname, together with the Vice President & Council of Ministers (Government of Suriname). The Government is advised by the Council of State.

Legislative power: National Assembly & Government.

Judicial power: President & Vice President of the Court of Justice, its members & deputy members, the Procurator General, other members of the prosecution office & other judicial officers.

Regional governments

Urban, rural & interior:Each district: District Commissioner (head of district)

Interior:Population: Maroons & Indigenous communities, headed by its own community leaders acknowledged by the Government (Granmans)

Economic Context

National budget: taxes, non-taxes revenues & donor financing (grants)

Main export products: export of gold, bauxite, crude oil, rice & bananas, shrimp & fish, lumber

Social Context

Poverty rate in main districts (70% of total population):

Paramaribo: 27%Wanica: 27%Nickerie: 36%

Institutional mappingInstitutional mapping

Social Ministries

Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing

Ministry of HealthMinistry of Education

Ministry of Labor

Distribution National Budget 2005-2006

39.85%

60.15%

Social Sector

Other Sectors

Social Protection PolicyLargest Social Protection Programs

executed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing (MSAPH)

Target groups: indigent people, people with disabilities, senior citizens, children & youth

Social assistancecash-transfersGoodsServices

Material services TargetingFinancial Assistance Poor householdsMedical assistance card Poor & near-poor households (free medical provision)Child allowance Households not receiving child

allowance from their employers

Old age pension Citizens ≥ 60 yrs of ageSubsidies to social institutions Social institutionsSchool supplies Poor households with children

(uniforms, educational tools) visiting primary schools

Directorate of Social Affairs

Immaterial services TargetingDaycare centers Working mothers w/children

betw. 0-6yrs of age Food for kids Children in daycareCenter for the elderly Poor & near-poor senior

citizens (≥60yrs)

Center for boys w/behavioral problems Boys (8-16yrs) with behavioral

problemsCare for persons with a disability People with disabilities & care

takers of people w/disabilitiesYouth care Youth (0-24yrs) with social

problemsElderly care Indigent senior citizens

(≥60yrs)Community Development Communities in needGeneral Social Work People & families in needFamily coaching Indigent single mothersChild Help Line Children, youth, adolescent up

to 25yrs

Directorate of Housing

Policy within the Multi Annual Housing Program:Primarily establishes facilities to stimulate public-private

partnerships to improve the nations’ quantity and quality of houses and provides through various house

building programs that all income categories, especially its indigent communities can have stabile housing.

Service/programs Targeting

Surface development company All households

Social Housing Low income households

Low Income Shelter Program Low/moderate income

households

Low Middle Income Shelter Program Low middle income

households

Project Tout Lui Faut (Chinese Gov’t) Low income households

Urban Development Project Richelieu All income categories

Project Tout Lui Faut Social Housing Low income households

Project District Coronie Social Housing Low income households

Pilot Urban Development Project Richelieu

1. in public-private partnership, individuals will be able to build, rent and buy houses within this project

2. project will include public facilities like schools, health facilities, administrative offices, small industries etc.

Low Income Shelter ProgramProgram in execution since April 2003Includes a public-private partnership:

financial institutionsNgo’s + Cbo’s have a role in project preparation and

execution

Main objective: improve housing conditions of low -and moderate- income households in all districtsSubsidies largely for housing rehabilitation, expansion

and construction of new houses

Also includes public-private partnership. Launch in April 2009. Targets income groups in need of proper housing, that cannot benefit from services for low and middle income groups, such as the Low Income Shelter Program and the 7% Housing Facility. Program enables construction, renovation or expansion of houses through a 6% credit facility.

Low Middle Income Shelter Program

Ministry of Education

School bursaries: Cash grant for indigent high school and college students to finish high school and complete a university education.

Students from indigent households

Project for Teenage Mothers: Counselling and training project to finish school education.

Teenage mothers between the age of 11 – 22.

SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING

School feeding project for primary schools: distribution of lunch meals to schoolchildren.

Schoolchildren of indigent Household visiting primary schools

Subsidy school transportation: transportation for schoolchildren from remote areas to visit schools.

Schoolchildren from indigent households & remote areas

Ministry of Labor

Foundation for Labor Mobilization & Development: Central training center concentrated on vocational training in order to create employment

School drop outs (≥ 16yrs)

Stichting Productieve Werkeenheden: Training center concentrated on specific skills for managing small businesses.

Small business

SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING

Ministry of Health

Regional Health Center: Primary and secundary medical care

Medical Card beneficiaries of MSAPHImmunization program:

vaccination of infants and schoolchildren

All infants and schoolchildren

SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING

HIV/Aids testing & medication: free of charge testing for HIV/Aids

Every citizen

Ministry of Regional Development

Foundation Fund for the Development of the Interior (Dutch finances): 1. Stimulation of productive activities and activities aiming to improve the living conditions of the community 2. Organizational, technical and institutional strengthening of the government and Ngo’s who have a direct or indirect supporting role

Communities of indigenous people

SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING

Other measuresAdditional measures taken to support vulnerable

groups in society:NCCR: national disaster team: e.g.

coordinative aid in floods occurred in the interior

ant-plagues which destroy crops of indigenous communities

Subsidies for small farmersSubsidies for the rice industrySubsidies for public transportation

Strengths & weaknesses

Strengths:1. Large portfolio of social

services targeting a diverse group of indigent individuals and families.

2. Accessible social services.

3. Public-private partnerships.

Weaknesses:1. Poor targeting

mechanisms2. Fragmentation of social

programs3. Weak infrastructure &

capacity4. Lack of legislation on

most of the social programs

5. Poor exit strategies

Thank you!Thank you!