THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES: A CASE OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

FOR EMPOWERMENT (SAGE) IN UGANDA

John-Bosco Mubiru

Coordinator

Uganda Social Protection Platform (USPP)

OUTLINE Background on Uganda Poverty and Vulnerability context Social Protection in Uganda – focus on SAGE Local Government system in Uganda Role of local governments in the

management and implementation of SAGE Factors enabling the participation of the local

governments in SAGE programme Impact of SAGE on local governments Policy and Programme implications Conclusion

ABOUT UGANDA Located in the East African

Community. 34.9 million people and

annual growth rate stands at 3.03%.

16.9 million males and 17.9 million males.

Uganda's economy has been growing strongly over the last 2 decades.

The economy grew by 5.9 % during the first half of FY 2013/14, driven mostly by the services - telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade sub-sectors and industry sectors

POVERTY AND VULNERABILITY CONTEXT

Over the past 2 decades Uganda has made great progress in reducing poverty

In 1992/13 56%, 2005/06 31.1%, 2009/10 24.5%, 2012/13 19.7% (6.7 million Ugandans)

Significant poverty reductions have occurred across all the regions in the country. However, the Northern region (43.7%) remains the poorest but the gap has narrowed significantly since the restoration of peace in 2006

Poverty reductions over the years been attributed to general economic development, significant public investment in physical infrastructures and several targeted government interventions

However, 21.4 million Ugandans (63% of the popn) are either poor (19.7%) or vulnerable (43.3%) to poverty despite the economic growth.

SOCIAL PROTECTION IN UGANDA In the recent years, social protection has

gained prominence as a critical element of national development strategies to achieve inclusive, pro-poor and equitable development.

Anchored in the national legal frameworks – 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; policies – National Policy for Older Persons (2009) and strategies (National Development Plan (2010-2015) and The Vision 2040 that recognize social protection.

Uganda is a signatory to international and regional conventions with social protection provisions. These include – Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), The Livingstone Call for Action (2006), and the African Union Social Policy Framework (2008).

SOCIAL PROTECTION IN UGANDA

Institutional Framework The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social

Development (MGLSD) through the Directorate of Social Protection, is the lead institution responsible for - policy development, implementation and oversight of social protection programmes and interventions in Uganda.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR EMPOWERMENT (SAGE)

• SAGE is a five year (2010-2015) pilot programme.

• Officially launched and approved by Cabinet in 2010

• Targets 2 mechanism - Senior Citizen Grant – paid to

older persons aged 65 years and above (but 60 years in the case of Karamoja region)

- Vulnerable Family Grant – households with low labour capacity owing to age, physical disability and high dependency

• SAGE covers 15 districts across the four country sub-regions

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR EMPOWERMENT (SAGE)

• The programme is led by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD).

• Supported financially by Department for International Development (DFID), Irish Aid and UNICEF.

• The Government of Uganda is also supporting the programme in-kind in terms of personnel, office space among others all amounting to UGX.6 billion to the running of the programme over the 5 years.

• Payments delivered through MTN Mobile Money.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR EMPOWERMENT (SAGE)

A total of 108, 135 direct beneficiaries have been enrolled to-date with over 80% benefiting the Senior Citizen Grants (SCG).

Both SCG and VFG beneficiaries receive UGX 50,000 (USD 20) bi-monthly.

To date the programme has disbursed in total over UGX 50 billion in monthly payments through the MTN Mobile Money Service.

A social protection secretariat was established within the directorate of social protection to run SAGE under the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SAGE PROGRAMME IN UGANDA

Since late 1980s, Uganda has been pursuing decentralization programme – characterized with transfer of powers, functions and services from central government to local councils.

The local government system is based on the district as a unit under which are lower local governments and administrative units which are collectively known as local councils

These are further characterized as either rural – District, County, Sub-county, Parish & Village or Urban – City, Division, Municpal, Municpal division, Town Council, Parish/Ward and Village

STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN UGANDA

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SAGE PROGRAMME IN UGANDA

In 2011, MGLSD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Local Government to prepare for the implementation of the SAGE programme.

The MOU specifies the roles and expectations of the various local government stakeholders in SAGE implementation.

MOU also streamlines SAGE operations within the local government structures.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Identification, targeting and beneficiary selection Awareness raising – (accessibility, criteria,

amount of cash transfer, re-targeting, pay points & next pay) and mobilization – enrollment & monthly meetings.

Support to channel and manage grievances – handling of complaints reported by beneficiaries or forwarding them to next structure.

Coordination of the SAGE programme. Direct oversight at district level done by District

CDO who reports to Chief Administrative Officer Sub-county CDO coordinates day to day work

programme operations at sub-county level

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Monitoring - District monitoring team led by

CAO to track progress & challenges in the implementation of the programme. Also the Sub-county CDOs undertake regular field monitoring as well as during the pay points.

SAGE operation office space is provided by local governments both at the district and sub-county levels

Management of the SAGE fund- Until 2012, local governments were managing the SAGE funds. Currently controlled by Maxwell Stamp

ENABLING FACTORS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF SAGE

Trainings at various lower local government levels. The trainings start from district, sub-county, parish and village level.

Facilitation - Monthly allowance, motor cycle maintenance, fuel & airtime for technocrats and politicians.

Logistical support and equipments – motor cycles, vehicles, furniture, generators & stationery.

The political capital of the programme especially for politicians – district chairpersons, councilors, etc

The clear mandate of roles and responsibilities in the MOUs.

HOW SAGE HAS IMPACTED ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Revitalized the visibility of the community based service department which directly implements the programme

Revived the hitherto dominant structures within the local government system

Opened-up channels of communication within the local government structures

Improved community development work – community mobilization, monitoring of government programmes and general awareness of the various activities.

Revived Birth and Death Registration in the pilot districts especially where VFGs are implemented which use automated selection of beneficiaries

Increased participation of the district leadership in supervision and involvement in government programme implementation

Impacted on local economy of the pilot district- investment of the cash transfers and in turn local governments been able to levy local tax revenues.

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Staffing gaps in some lower local government levels.

Reporting challenges for example, sub-counties lack generators, delayed data processing as CDOs write reports manually then later forwarded to MIS officers at district level.

Role conflict for example, between the SAGE technocrats and senior CDOs.

Lack of financial capacity to finance social protection activities.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME IMPLICATIONS

Review the local government staffing levels and building of their capacities.

Exploring opportunities to create linkages – SAGE beneficiaries to other programme and social services

Social accountability to improve transparency and accountability mechanisms

Mainstreaming of SAGE programme in local government plans and budgets

Strengthen inter-stakeholder coordination

CONCLUSIONS The participation of local governments is vital

in the implementation of social protection programmes as case for SAGE in Uganda.

Local governments have advantages over other arms of government such as proximity which to some extent explains the sustainability of programmes in some instances.

The already existing local government structures add value to the implementation of social protection programmes.

Working with local governments also creates ownership and trust of the programmes by the beneficiaries

Thank you!