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Key Text Targeting Safety Net Interventions in Developing Countries: Some Insights from a Qualitative Simulation Study from Malawi

Author: B Chinsinga
Date: 2005
Size: 29 pages (185 KB)

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Summary

What are the possible consequences of implementing targeted safety nets in Malawi? Is community-based targeting a feasible option? This paper published by the European Journal of Development Research presents the results of a study that simulated the implementation of targeted safety nets in Malawi. It finds that there is resistance to the concept of targeting in rural Malawi, but if required, communities can implement targeted safety nets.

Severe droughts and the adverse effects of liberalisation have led to widespread poverty, vulnerability and food insecurity in Malawi, prompting calls for a national safety net. Safety nets are a form of income insurance to help people through short term stress and calamities. The proposed safety net programme would operate using community targeting. Targeting is preferred to universal schemes as it is more cost-effective and efficient. Communities are assumed to be better at identifying beneficiaries based on local criteria of deprivation, reducing leakage or under-coverage. This study uses participatory techniques including social mapping and focus group discussions to simulate the impact of community-based targeting.

There is great resistance to the concept of targeting among almost all rural communities in Malawi. But if this resistance is overcome, communities are able to target. They have clear ideas on whom to target and how to make the selection and distribution processes fair, transparent and accountable.

Resistance to targeting is based on the perception that everybody is poor and deserves assistance.
Resistance is less in the north but quite high in some central regions and in all areas in the south.
There is fear that targeting would disrupt social harmony and increase social tensions within the community.
There are regional differences in the fairness of the selection process. Self-selection or selection of relatives is prevalent in the south and the centre, but not in the north.
Outside assistance or democratically elected committees are the preferred options for managing transfers. This reflects the increasing distrust of traditional authorities like the village head.

The simulation exercise suggests that community targeting is possible in Malawi. However, communities would need to be adequately sensitised about targeting especially in terms of its rationale and benefits. Targeting safety net interventions would need to account for the following:

Sensitisation would need to be as comprehensive as possible and would require a considerable injection of resources.
Guidelines for targeting given to communities may be adapted to suit their own interpretations of need, equity and entitlement. Equally poor people in different areas may receive different levels of benefits based on their place of residence. This violates the principle of horizontal equity which means that poor people should be given the same treatment everywhere irrespective of the incidence of poverty in their area.
External agents will be necessary to manage transfers to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability.
Input for work should be included as a safety net intervention to increase the food security of farmers. This involves giving farm inputs to farmers in exchange for working on various public infrastructures. This would address the main constraint on households attempting to achieve sustainable food security.

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Source: Chinsinga, B., 2005 'Targeting Safety Net Interventions in Developing Countries: Some Insights from a Qualitative Simulation Study from Malawi', European Journal of Development Research, vol. 17, issue 4, pp. 706 - 734
Author: Taylor & Francis, http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/