The Role of Social Protection in Promoting Social

The Role of Social Protection in Promoting Social Development in Botswana By Prof Rodreck Mupedziswa, Ph. D Head, Department of Social Work, University of Botswana and Dr Dolly Ntseane, Ph. D Senior Lecturer, Dept of Social Work, University of Botswana Paper Presented at International Symposium on Social Protection in Southern Africa: New Opportunities; Held at Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, 24 -26 May 2011.

Organization of Paper � 1 Introduction/Background �Overview of Incomes and Social Protection �Traditional (Informal) Social Protection Arrangements �Modern (Formal) Social Protection Arrangements �Implementation Challenges and Constraints �Conclusion and Way Forward �References 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 2

Introduction/Background �The definition of the term social development is contested. �Khinduka (1987: 22) has observed that social development is “variously conceptualized as a perspective, a paradigm, a set of values, and a model of organizing human affairs……. (adding that). . it is an incorrigibly elusive concept”. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 3

Definition of Social Development �For UNDP (2005. 5) the term social development refers to “the continuous promotion of more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, assets, services and power in order to achieve greater equality and equity in society”. �The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD: 1) conceptualizes social development as “the building of social, economic and political capabilities of individuals, families, communities, nation states and international organizations”. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 4

Definition of Social Protection �. The definition of the term social protection is equally contested. �Holzmann and Jorgensen (1990), define social protection as a public intervention to assist individuals, households, and communities to better manage risk, as well as better provide support to the critically poor. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 5

Social Protection Package �Various African Union documents describe social protection as a "package" of policies and programmes whose aim is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of large segments of the population, through a "mix" of policies/programmes that promote efficient labour markets, reduce people's exposure to risks, and contribute to enhancing their capacity to protect and cover themselves against lack of or loss of adequate income, and basic social services 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 6

Purpose of Paper �This paper examines both the formal and informal the social protection regime in Botswana with a view to determining the extent to which this set of initiatives have promoted social development. �What have been the impacts? �What have been the constraints/challenges? �What is the way forward? 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 7

Overview of Incomes Poverty and Social Protection in Botswana � At Independence in 1966, Botswana relied mostly on subsistence agriculture, cattle farming and remittances from migrant labourers to South Africa. � In recent times the country has been reclassified as a middle income country, one of only a few in Africa. � However, according to UNDP (2006) , currently the poorest 20% of the population got a measly 4% of the national income, while Konopo (2006) notes that the richest 20% of Batswana earn almost 60% of the total income. � Those largely affected by poverty include older people, children, youth and female headed households, particularly those based in rural and remote areas. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 8

Overview of Incomes Poverty (continued) �In response to vulnerability, the Go. B provides a dual regime of social protection: relatively good formal social protection for the categories of the employed and low protection for the categories of the unemployed, poor and the rural citizens. . �The evolution of these schemes has been guided by the political process and influenced heavily by the socio-economic and cultural environment obtaining in the country. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 9

Traditional (Informal) Social Protection Measures �These traditional (informal) measures were principally predicated on the notion of what in local parlance is referred to as botho. �The concept of botho is linked to cooperation and working together; it compels individuals and families to care for the needy out of a moral obligation. �The principle of botho appears to be consistent with what is termed ubuntu in South Africa and is variously referred to elsewhere on the African continent as vumunhu, vhuthu or humanism (Khoza, 1994). 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 10

Informal Social Protection Measures (Continued) �Concept of motlhoki (destitute) exists in Setswana vocabulary; family provided needed support and care. �At community level, solidarity and reciprocity were reinforced through mafisa, majako and go tshwara teu. �Traditional leaders/chiefs redistributed surplus food and cattle, to the poor during drought periods. �Volunteerism - at community level helped too in enhancing solidarity and social protection in Tswana society. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 11

Formal Social Protection Measures �An analytical framework (for vulnerabilities) Ellis, Devereux & White (2009) in their book Social Protection in Africa, is adapted for use in the paper. - Food and basic needs deprivation for the extremely poor, the destitute and older persons; - Income and asset depletion, resulting from retirement, sickness, and death; - Low yields and other natural disasters; - Impacts of HIV and AIDS on households. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 12

Food & basic needs deprivation for extremely poor, destitute & older persons �Vulnerability to basic needs deprivation and extreme poverty mostly affects people with disabilities; orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), poor pregnant and lactating women, infant children of poor women and older people. �Social protection schemes adopted by the Government to respond to these and related needs have included the Destitute Persons Programme, Remote Area Development Programme (RADP), the Vulnerable Groups Feeding Programme, the School Feeding Programme and World War II (WW 11) Veterans Allowance. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 13

Income and asset depletion, resulting from retirement, sickness, and death � Workers and their families often experience a loss of income as a result of exposure to risks such as illness, injuries, unemployment and retirement. � A non-contributory pension scheme for public officers enacted in 1965 provided pension upon retirement at age 60 years, or on medical grounds. � In 1987, the Government launched a contributory pension scheme - the Botswana Public Officers Pensions Fund. � Workmen’s Compensation is available for workers for injuries suffered or occupational diseases contracted in the course of their employment or for death resulting from such injuries or diseases. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 14

Low yields and other natural disasters � Adverse climatic conditions contribute to the marked decline in Botswana’s agricultural sector. � Other challenges have included frequent droughts, the usual bottlenecks: e. g. limited access to credit, high input costs, low market prices, inadequate economic infrastructure and HIV and AIDS. � -Mitigating measures include drought relief projects under Ipelegeng, Although the history of this initiative dates back to the 1960 s, it gained currency in the 1990 s. � Ipelegeng involves carrying out essential development activities. The programme targets unskilled and semi- skilled labour, and it is envisaged as a source of supplementary income. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 15

Impacts of HIV and AIDS on Households � Since mid-1990 s this pandemic has eroded gains made in reducing morbidity and mortality as well as reduced life expectancy by more than 10 years. � Go. B provides access to treatment(ARVs, etc), voluntary testing and counseling, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) and related services. � The Orphan Care Programme responds to the growing number of orphans in the country particularly as a result of erosion of the extended family system. � The Community Home Based Care (CHBC) programme “provide(s) comprehensive care services at home and at community level in order to meet needs of terminally ill patients (in particular PLWA). 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 16

Implementation Challenges, Constraints, Shortcomings. �Lack of inclusiveness: Those affected by exclusion include: people with disabilities; remote area dwellers; informal sector operators. Migrants too are not included. �Lack of sustainability: The schemes tend to focus on poverty alleviation than on providing sustainable livelihoods. Constraints include lack of skilled personnel and lack of motivation and imagination. �Resource scarcity: There is a critical shortage of resources, both financial and human, to ensure that the vast majority of potential beneficiaries are reached. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 17

Implementation Challenges and Constraints (Continued) �Lack of a legal framework: There is essentially no proper legal framework exists to enforce the implementation of social protection schemes; they are provided through policy guidelines. - A legal framework would facilitate enforceability; rights based focus. �Lack of scope for graduation – Many in the schemes which are meant to be short term, e. g. Destitute programme have failed to graduate (i. e. Rehabilitation). Need to determine the challenges in this regard. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 18

Implementation Challenges and Constraints (Continued) �Lack of coordination: Social protection schemes in Botswana have tended to be rather fragmented. - Hence, lack of coordination, poor implementation, ineffective utilization of resources , lack of accountability. - Lack of proper coordination creates inefficiency as at times it has resulted in registered persons not receiving assistance or in ‘double dipping’. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 19

Implementation Challenges and Constraints (Continued) �Inadequacy – The amounts of cash transfers (for example) tend to be only a fraction of the family needs. Need to keep track of inflation. �Lack of integration – The schemes lack integration, they do not ‘speak’ to each other – hence such problems as ‘double dipping’. �Lack of mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of programmes. Hence impact of initiatives unclear. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 20

Conclusion �Social protection does play a critical role in promoting social development in Botswana. �However, some schemes are riddled with shortcomings (ranging from inadequate amounts to poor administration, and these need particular attention. �The important role of traditional (informal) social protection measures has not been sufficiently R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in appreciated. 25/05/2011 Botswana 21

Way Forward �Government should help promote some of the potentially viable traditional systems of social protection. �There is need for an integrated approach to enhance move towards self-reliance. E. g. micro finance could go together with the food basket. �There is need to increase awareness of entitlements; some potential beneficiaries are not fully informed. �The Government should decisively deal with institutional and administrative challenges, including issues around targeting, corruption, etc. �Need for the authorities to put in place Monitoring and Evaluation Measures. 25/05/2011 R Mupedziswa & D Ntseane: Social Protection in Botswana 22