UNDGAP Issues Brief on Social Protection Presentation to

UNDG-AP Issues Brief on Social Protection Presentation to UNDG-AP meeting, 13 October 2011 Valerie Schmitt (ILO), Qimti Paienjton (UNICEF) 1

Outline • 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 2

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guidance from the UNDG A-P in thematic areas of social protection • OHCHR took the initial lead and prepared a first draft guidance note with inputs from UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO, UNESCAP… Feb 2010 • First draft guidance note presented to UNDG-AP in May • UNDG-AP meeting indicated that the work of the group should continue with the aim of producing a note providing information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 May 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 Aug-Nov 2010 3

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 • The consolidated document lacked consistency and seemed to miss the initial purpose (provide concrete guidance to UNCTs) • 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) • ILO & UNICEF offered to improve and finalize the document in August • Latest version shared today at UNDG-AP meeting End of July 2011 Sept-Oct 2011 4

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 5

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) 6

1. 2 – Social Protection on the Development Agenda – Social Protection Floor Initiative (2009) – Resolution at 67 th session of UNESCAP (2011) – A priority of the G 20 (2011) – Recommendation on SPF will be adopted at ILC 2012 7

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 8

1. 3 – The Social Protection Floor • Progressive realization of social protection based on a guaranteed social protection floor 9

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 10

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 subgroups, is child- and gender-sensitive, and addresses social exclusion and discrimination (including due to HIV and AIDS) 11

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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 13

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/Show. Spf. do? id=1 14

2. 2 - Promoting the SPF Framework Visit of Mrs Bachelet in Viet Nam (chair person of SPF Advisroy group) Video clip “Social protection: a lifelong necessity” http: //www. dailymotion. com/ video/xld 91 i_socialprotection-a-lifelongnecessity_news 15

2. 3 – Inputs to SP development plans The National Social Protection Strategy for the Poor and the Vulnerable in Cambodia makes a reference to the SPF and Staircase 16

2. 3 – Inputs to SP development plans Assessment based national dialogue What exist? ARE THE SCHEMES? WHAT • Health care Gaps Recommen Issues dations health • Income security for children • Income security for working age • Income security for the elderly children working elderly WHAT SHOULD BE DONE: RECOMMENDATIONS NATIONAL DIALOGUE HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? COSTING TOOL CAN WE AFFORD IT? FISCAL SPACE ANALYSIS Access the workspaces of the Assessment Based National Dialogue Exercises In Indonesia: http: //www. ilo. org/gimi/gess/Show. Project. Page. do? pid=1245 In Thailand: http: //www. ilo. org/gimi/gess/Show. Project. Page. do? pid=1285 17

2. 4 & 2. 5 - Sharing knowledge and building capacities Workshop on SPF Assessments in Bangkok (Nov 2010) SPF Success stories (UNDP & ILO) The GESS platform www. social-protection. org 18

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 19

Chapter 3 - Supporting Progressive and Coordinated Implementation of SP – 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 20

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… 21

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 & Regulations Example: ILO Conventions Ensure that the development of laws is informed by evidence & experience Example: RSBY guidelines in India 22

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) 23

3. 4 A– Ensuring effective SP coverage: Reaching the vulnerable The 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 24

3. 4 B– Ensuring effective SP coverage: Providing adequate benefits 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 O: ESSENTIAL SERVICES or : OPTIONAL SERVICES Item of services Community resources Outreach services Health centers District hospitals Central & provincial hospitals Non pregnancy health care Health info Contraceptives… O or O or Pregnancy care – at least four routine AN care visits Monitoring progress of pregnancy, Iron & foliate supplementation STI/HIV risk Asst … O or O or … …

3. 4 C– Ensuring effective SP coverage: Ensuring supply Side improvements 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 26

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 Indonesia Single Window Service in Cambodia to (1) increase outreach, (2) support coordination role of CARD, (3) develop linkages between schemes for an increased impact 27

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 28

3. 7 - Strengthening information systems, monitoring and evaluation The 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 variables Continued political support, replication – scaling up Examples: ID poor in Cambodia, TNP 2 K in Indonesia 29

Annex 1: A Sampling of Social Protection in Asia-Pacific Country Some Major Social Protection Schemes Social Protection Expenditure (as % of GDP) Social Protection Index (ADB, 2008) Bangladesh Cambodia China … 30

Annex 2: Social Protection Resources Available to UNCTs 1. 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… 31

Feedback from UNCTs India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Philippines, UNCT China, WHO Lao PDR, IWG-SP Cambodia and SPF Team Thailand 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 … 32

Feedback from UNCTs 3/ 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 33

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) • … 34

THANK YOU! 35