SOCIAL PROTECTION AND LABOR

Serene Philip

Sr. Social Protection specialist

Objective of this presentation

1. Share about the bank technical assistance

on the Social Safety Nets project Social Safety Nets- Cash transfer

component of the Ministry of Welfare and

Social Security.

2. Role of the newly formed Cash Working Group in

Sudan

Project Development Objective-

- to strengthen the capacity of the MoWSS to transparently

and effectively implement the national CT Program, and to

pilot a PSN approach for poor households.

- Two components of the project: - Component 1: Strengthening the implementation of the MoWSS’s

CT Program by putting in place key building blocks of a national

safety net

- Component 2: Piloting a PSN Approach

Woman tea seller in Sudan. Typical beneficiary

Higher Level Objectives to which the Project Contributes

• The Banks strategic engagement with Sudan aligns itself to the Interim

Strategic Note (ISN 2014-15)

• The two main pillars of the ISN are to:

• (i) manage the economic transition; and

• (ii) Address socio economic roots of conflict, with a cross- cutting focus on

governance and gender, contributing directly to the objectives of reducing

extreme poverty and increasing shared prosperity in Sudan.

• The other key document that informed Bank intervention is the PRSP (Poverty

Reduction Strategy Paper) (MoFEP 2012)

• PRSP initiative as one of the instruments to begin to elaborate a vision and

new direction for its governance, socio-economic development and poverty

reduction efforts. The IPRSP will support compliment existing planning and

budgeting instruments, including the 3-Year Salvation Economic Program

(2012-2014) and the 5-Year Development Plan (2012-2016)

Sudan- Introduction

Sudan has suffered from years of conflict and instability.

High poverty rates of 46.5% (CBoSTAT) 2010.

Impact of secession on Sudan:

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Nigeria Kenya Ethiopia Ghana Sudan

GDP comparison between select countries and Sudan

2011 2012 2013 2014e 2015f

Note: Real GDP growth at market prices in percentage, unless indicated otherwise); Data selected for Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and

Sudan from the Sub- Saharan Africa country forecasts. Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects (June 2015).

Background: Initiating Cash transfer program in Sudan

Reduction in fuel subsidies could lead to 1.2 million Sudanese falling into poverty (World Bank

Paper on Distributional and Fiscal Impact of the Fuel Subsidy Reform).

Social Safety Nets was highlighted as an important intervention for reducing poverty in the

Government’s Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (MoFNE 2012).

To cushion the negative effects of the fuel subsidy reform the Government has initiated the

Cash Transfer Program to provide targeted support to the poor (started in 2011).

The Ministry of Welfare and Social Services (MoWSS) is responsible for Social Protection, with an

institutional mandate to provide protection, prevention and promotion for the poor and

vulnerable.

There is an array of programs and initiatives geared towards protecting the poor under several

ministries and agencies.

Social Initiative Program Architecture Designed to

Respond to Diverse Needs of the Poor

The proposed SSN Project supports the GoS in improving the

effectiveness of the core elements of the SIP.

1. improving the institutional and implementation capacity of

MoWSS;

• Institute a National Steering Committee

• Institute a State Steering Committee (North Kordofan)

• Institute a PCU within the MoWSS

• Government to second staff to work with PCU staff

2. introducing a robust MIS platform for program

management;

• Undertook assessment of IT capacity of MoWSS

• Setting up the initial building blocks for the MIS

• Training and capacity building of MoWSS staff

The proposed SSN Project supports

1. supporting the recertification process of the SIP beneficiary; • update of the PMT formula and questionnaire; recertification of the

70,000 households, and provide the GoS a scientifically tested model for

the remaining 430,000+ additional 200,000 in 2017);

• the project will finance a model for information gathering (data processing

approach) through computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI), a

computer assisted data collection method using tablets;

• design and implementation of a communication and awareness strategy

to support the operational process, mainly targeting, grievances, and

payments; and

• capacity-building through the hiring of a targeting operations and logistics

specialist to accompany and provide support throughout the

implementation process. Importantly government staff is involved.

• Once the information is gathered at remote geographic locations, it will be

transmitted to a central location (data storing repositories) through a

wireless network. Initial building blocks of a data base.

PMT data collection using CAPI

Influence on the budget allocation as a result of Inclusion errors:

Possible scenarios

30,720,000 23,800,000

136,920,000

[VALUE]

[VALUE] 4,760,000

[VALUE]

18,750,000

0

20,000,000

40,000,000

60,000,000

80,000,000

100,000,000

120,000,000

140,000,000

160,000,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 (part)

Budget vs Inclusion errors

Budget $ 10% reallocation 20% reallocation 30% reallocation

Impact on Exclusion errors for future planning:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Povertyline compare to CT distribution by state in 2013 and 2015

CT 2015 % CT 2013 % Poverty estimate %

The proposed SSN Project supports

1. Improving payments mechanism: • Introduce coordination mechanisms and resolve issues at the local level.

• Update the format of the paper payroll

• Reduce the length of the payment window.

• Introduce a payment calendar.

• Set Standards for Payments Case management

• Define the rules for allocating a beneficiary to a particular payment service

provider

• Update the programme operations manual to reflect these changes.

• Visit the Hunger Safety Net Programme in Kenya

The proposed SSN Project supports

Improving communication strategy

Changes the communication strategy will support:

• A shared, cohesive communication strategy for public awareness, program coordination

and responsiveness

• Capacity building at national and state level on delivering the communication strategy and

redress mechanisms

• Capacity building at state level to establish stronger coordination, engagement and

communication within States

• Wider public understanding amongst beneficiaries and communities of how the CTP works

and its place in the GoS broader vision of Social Protection

The proposed SSN Project supports piloting a productive cash

for work approach

The PSN Pilot will provide short-term income and employment opportunities

for poor households.

Community Support Unit (CSU) will implement this component

It will create social and productive assets through the work of beneficiaries.

Possible activities may include

• soil and water conservation,

• small-scale irrigation, and

• social and economic infrastructure.

• Subprojects will be determined locally using a community-based participatory

planning process and the community development experience of the CSU.

GRADUATION MODEL

Selection of North Kordofan as pilot

• Strong technical and staff leadership capacity present at National and State level.

• Currently North Kordofan has a well-trained and experienced team: headed by the

State Coordinator, supported by a Civil Engineer, a Finance officer, Procurement officer,

Secretary and 40 trained Community Facilitators. All the staff are university graduates,

including the Community Facilitators. The CDF State office has experience of

implementing labour intensive public works.

• The office infrastructure is capable to immediately begin operations. The office is fully

computerized with internet connectivity through V-Sat capabilities.

• The CDF office in the state has shown commitment to the pilot project by proactively

undertaking preliminary preparatory assignments in an efficient and coordinated manner.

A preliminary communications assessment study was completed in the state, an

introductory PSN assessment workshop in the state also showed high level of

preparedness of the state actors.

• Dialogue to constitute the State Steering committee; Formed the Livelihoods and Public

working group ;Dialogue with local actors on criteria for selecting localities for pilot in N.

Kordufan; Wealth ranking conducted; Community action plans being developed.

Objective and role of the newly formed Cash Working Group

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the CWG is to create a platform for communication, learning,

partnership, and technical support for humanitarian assistance through cash and

voucher transfers in emergency response and development among the Government,

donors, NGOs and UN agencies.

Sub-Objectives

The sub-objectives are categorized in the following four areas under the overall objective.

• Communication: Share the information relevant to cash and voucher transfers.

Partnership: Facilitate coordination and collaboration for joint initiatives.

• Learning: Provide learning materials and training opportunities.

• Technical Support: Respond to technical and operational issues with guidance and

advice.

• Complimenting the Social Protection working group chaired by the WB and co-chair

on a rotational basis from Government, INGOs, donors etc. The SPSWG meets to

discuss broader thematic area of Social Protection where CT is a means to an end.

Questions and comments?