http://www.gsdrc.org Academic and policy-relevant publications on governance and international development. en-uk Copyright © 2012 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:12 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:12 GMT http://www.gsdrc.org/rss/open george@gsdrc.org george@gsdrc.org http://www.gsdrc.org/images/logos/logo_gsdrc.gif http://www.gsdrc.org 205 90 GSDRC logo Samuel Hickey There have been growing calls to reframe social protection in terms of extending the 'social contract' to the poorest groups. This is often understood as relocating social protection within a broader project politics of rights and justice as opposed to patronage. However, it is important to consider the significant differences within social contract theory and between their related forms of social protection. 'Contracts' are not unproblematically progressive, and it seems unlikely that international development agencies could promote progressive social contracts around social protection without significant shifts in practice. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4190&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4190&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Carl Jackson et al. In what ways can social protection programming with its investments in human capital (through education, health and nutrition) stop the intergenerational transfer of poverty? This study examines social protection programmes in Kenya, Zambia and Mongolia to understand the factors (design and implementation) that account for success. It also assesses how research can be used to improve good practice within a multilateral organisation such as UNICEF. It argues that agencies need to ensure that ground-level good practice is effectively brought into policy and programming. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4189&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4189&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Rachel Marcus and Paola Pereznieto et al This study maps child-sensitive social protection initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where children are typically overrepresented among the poor. It also considers the main actors involved in social protection provision, their strategies and programme limitations, and provides recommendations for improved child social protection. Challenges to more effective and child-sensitive social protection in the region include financial barriers, the fragmentation of provision, local-level difficulties in obtaining the correct documentation to obtain benefits, and citizens’ lack of knowledge of their entitlements. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4188&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4188&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Diana Mitlin, David Satterthwaite, Sheridan Bartlett Recent experiences demonstrate the significance of collective savings among low-income urban citizens in developing countries. Such practices have helped to raise incomes, consolidate and protect individual and collective assets, and reduce political exclusion. Some savings groups have evolved into substantive institutions. Not only can community savings initiatives trigger multiple reinforcing effects that help to move households out of poverty, they can also achieve changed relations with government agencies that support a more effective pro-poor and accountable state. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4187&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4187&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Social Protection Floor Advisory Group This report outlines recommendations on how to extend social protection coverage through the social protection floor approach. A social protection floor involves an integrated set of nationally-driven and tailored policies designed to guarantee a) income security (through social transfers in cash or in kind); and b) universal access to essential, affordable social services. The successful phasing-in of a social protection floor will require political will, fiscal space and effective institutions. Where low-income countries require some initial assistance for social protection floor initiatives, donors need to improve aid coordination and provide multi-year, direct budgetary support and capacity building. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4184&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4184&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Catherine Arnold What impact do cash transfers have on reducing poverty and increasing the resilience of poor households? This paper assesses the evidence and looks at the extent to which it can be generalised. It shows how design and financing features help to maximise transfers' effectiveness in a range of circumstances. Ultimately, cash transfers work as part of a broader strategy to achieve economic and social development. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4104&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4104&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Paul Harvey et al. This report offers guidance on assessing the different options for cash delivery. It also explores the potential for stronger partnerships with private sector providers and looks at developments in the payments industry. It argues that context-specific analysis is vital, as well as the integration of cash approaches into contingency planning. Clearly defined programme objectives help to guide the choice of payment systems. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4092&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4092&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Concern Worldwide and Oxfam GB Do cash transfers (CTs) in emergency contexts currently benefit women and contribute to women's empowerment? How can NGOs and donors develop more gender-sensitive CT programmes that help to redress inequality and work towards empowerment? This report examines the impacts of cash transfers on gender dynamics within households and communities. It finds mixed impacts and insufficient consideration of gender inequality and gender analysis in programme processes. To realise the potential value of CTs for women, NGOs and donors need to ensure, for example, that all emergency responses include a gender and social analysis; that clear and attainable gender aims are specified for each stage of the intervention; and that more investment is made in staff training. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4089&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4089&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Maxine Molyneux Are Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) really empowering women? If not, might they even be making things worse? This review of CCTs, particularly of PROGRESA in Mexico, argues that although these programmes are widely replicated due to their perceived positive impact in reducing poverty, they reinforce asymmetric gender roles. Women involved in the programmes report that, in general, they experience greater self-esteem, well being and autonomy. However, the programmes' gender bias reinforces the position of women as mothers, tying them more closely to the home. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4069&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4069&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Nicola Jones How can measures to address the vulnerabilities and risks faced by children be more effectively integrated into social protection policy frameworks in West and Central Africa? This report focuses on children's vulnerabilities and risks related to violence, abuse and neglect. Existing child protection systems in the region face numerous challenges in addressing these vulnerabilities. Building links between child protection and protection more generally requires integrated strategy development and the use of innovative, low-cost approaches. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4034&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4034&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Stephen Devereux and Katharine Vincent What are the opportunities and risks of using information and communications technology (ICT) to deliver social protection? This article considers experiences from southern Africa, focusing on pilot projects in Malawi. It finds that using ICT to deliver social protection increases project efficiency and cost-effectiveness (particularly at large scale), increases flexibility and broader access to banking facilities for beneficiaries, and can especially empower women. It can also bring wider benefits to the national economy. With effective strategies in place to address risks such as information regulations and data security, the opportunities of ICT use can significantly outweigh the risks. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4027&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4027&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Radhika Lal, Steve Miller and Maikel Lieuw-Kie-Song How can public works programmes deliver longer-lasting development impact? This paper notes that few Public Employment Programmes (PEPs) have been implemented on a scale large enough to address structural poverty. However, large-scale PEPs were able to respond quickly to and mitigate the effects of the economic crisis, suggesting their relevance for inclusive growth strategies. Reconceiving PEPs as Employment Guarantee (EG) schemes could provide a more permanent complement to market-driven employment creation and to other types of social protection. In addition, the jobs created by governments through EGs could provide critical public goods and services, further enhancing the livelihood strategies of the poor. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4026&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4026&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Armando Barrientos What is the potential for social protection programmes to address poverty and vulnerability in developing countries? This comprehensive report provides an overview of social protection and an assessment of its impact in Latin America, South and East Asia, and Sub Saharan Africa. Countries with stronger social protection show lower levels of poverty and vulnerability and are more resilient in the face of social and economic change or shock. However, financial sustainability and capacity limitations are challenges that must be addressed. It is helpful to view social protection finance as a remix of public expenditure rather than a 'new' expense. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4020&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4020&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Rebecca Holmes and Nicola Jones To what extent is social protection programming reinforcing women's traditional roles and responsibilities, or helping to transform gender relations in economic and social spheres? How can policy and programme design and evaluations better address gender-specific risks and vulnerability? This paper synthesises multi-country research, finding that the integration of gender into social protection approaches has so far been uneven at best. However, all the programmes studied had both intended and unintended effects on women and gender relations. Attention to dynamics within the household can help to maximise positive programme impacts and reduce potentially negative ones. Relatively simple design changes and investment in more strategic implementation practices are needed. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4015&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4015&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Nicola Jones and Rebecca Holmes This report synthesises learning from child-sensitive social protection programmes in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Congo, and Senegal. A child-sensitive approach to social protection needs to be informed by the specific vulnerabilities and risks that children and their carers face. Challenges to such an approach in West and Central Africa are political instability, lack of fiscal space, hostile socio-cultural attitudes, and lack of an evidence-based political culture. Social protection design and implementation must be gender- and child-sensitive, and linked to broader reforms to create fiscal space. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4014&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=4014&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Rachel Sabates-Wheeler and Stephen Devereux This paper suggests that social protection programming should be expanded to address structural as well as other types of vulnerability. It proposes an approach involving four (potentially overlapping) categories of instruments: provision measures, which provide relief from deprivation; preventive measures, which attempt to prevent deprivation; promotive measures, which aim to enhance incomes and capabilities; and transformative measures, which seek to address concerns of social justice and exclusion. This approach would enable the identification of powerful synergies between the ‘economic’ (provision, prevention, promotion) and 'social' (transformation) functions performed by several social protection measures. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3988&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3988&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT Degol Hilou and Fábio Veras Soares (eds.) What are the challenges facing conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes in Latin America and social cash transfer (SCT) programmes in Africa? How can CCT and SCT advocates address the issue of expanding social assistance programmes in the face of government fiscal restraints? This issue of 'Poverty in Focus' notes that there is evidence of CCTs having had positive impacts on education, health and nutrition and no major negative impacts on labour supply. Large-scale programmes have had impressive results in reducing inequality. The future of CCTs and SCTs will depend on their institutionalisation and on convincing the public and governments that cash transfers are not handouts, but necessary social investments. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3985&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3985&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT G. Betcherman, K. Olivas and A. Dar How much reliance should countries place on active labour market programmes (ALMPs)? This paper provides an overview of recent international experience. Some programmes demonstrate positive labour market effects for participants, while others show no impact or even negative effects. Ingredients for success seem to apply to all countries. These ingredients are: comprehensive packages of services, orientation to labour demand, and careful targeting. Programme impacts are more positive when the economy is growing. Informal labour markets and weaker capacity may limit what programmes can achieve in developing countries. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3984&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3984&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT Wouter van Ginneken Globalisation triggers the need for frequent adjustment to national production processes, jobs and life strategies, and there are vast gaps in income and security between countries. The International Labour Organisation suggests that establishing a global socio-economic floor would improve international development and security. This article investigates the impact of taking a rights-based approach to a core element of that floor, social security, concluding that it could make a significant impact on achieving the Millennium Development Goals of poverty eradication and development, and provide a framework for the future. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3956&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3956&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT OHCHR Of the Millennium Development Goals, Goal 5 on improving maternal health is the furthest from being achieved. This report discusses the human rights dimensions of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, reviewing the international and regional initiatives and programmes in place, and the current legal framework. It concludes that a collective commitment from the international community towards developing a systematic human rights based approach is crucial to advancing progress. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3955&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3955&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsdrc&utm_source=newsfeed Social protection Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT