Fabio Veras presented on the global debate on South-South learning on Social Protection at the Scoping Conference “The Links between Social Inclusion and Sustainable Growth”, which happened in The Hague. The objective of the conference was to identify research gaps and needs regarding the linkages between social protection policies and growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. The outcomes will be further elaborated by the Knowledge Platform Development Policies, a platform established by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1. The Global debate:
South-South
cooperation
Fábio Veras Soares
www.ipc-undp.org
The Hague, 23/01/2013

2. Some milestones in the recent debate on
the expansion of SP (ST programmes)
Internationally:
MDG’s Number 1 (poverty reduction)
MDG’s Development assistance
Social Protection Floors initiative
Role of multilaterals and bilaterals
Triple crises – social protection boost (G20) –
social protection and resilience.
Regional:
Spread of CCTs in Latin America
Employment Guarantee Schemes
Nationally:
Flagship programmes
Social Protection Systems
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3. CCTs in Latin America: an overview
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4. CCTs in Latin America: an overview
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5. Social Protection Programmes in Africa
Southern Africa: SP programmes from colonial times,
expanded, strong social assistance programmes –
South Africa emerges with a strong model: OAG, CSG…
3.5% GDP
… but also… EPWP… the challenge of unemployment.
Scattered ST pilots…. 10% model…protecting those
unable to work… CBT with targeting guidelines (Zambia)
Non-contributory old age pension… (HAI)
… OVC (Kenya – Colombia model – conditionalities)
… child grants
Ethiopian model: public works – employment guarantee
schemes and direct assistance.
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6. Social Protection Programmes in Africa
Livingstone I (2006) - Zambia
Call for action (13 countries) – Dfid and international
NGO’s – Brazilian government invited.
Livingstone II (2008) - Namibia
Regional consultations (3 regional conferences)
Continental ministerial meeting
African Union “leadership” – mismatch between
social development and social protection frameworks.
Strong participation of Brazil’s delegation.
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7. Background on IPC work
IPC started as the International Poverty Centre with a
strong focus on research about social protection policies.
IPC has facilitated south-south learning and supported
the Ministry of Social Development and the Brazilian
Government in its dialogue with partner countries.
IPC has supported the debate and the dissemination of
knowledge among a variety of social protection
approaches.
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8. Income Security System in Brazil – Social
Insurance and Social Assistance
Contributory Social Insurance:
Retirement pensions, survivors pensions,
sickness, maternity leave/benefits, injury
compensation.
Formal employees: private sector &
public sector;
Contributory, Pay as you go system;
Unemployment Insurance (private sector
employees – employer’s contribution)
Semi-contributory pension system for rural
workers.
Non-contributory Means-tested Social
Assistance:
old age and disability benefits;
Bolsa Familia benefits
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9. Income Security System in Brazil – Social
Insurance and Social Assistance
Contributory Social Insurance and social assistance:
The system evolved from previous pension system for
specific categories of workers during the late 1920`s and
1930`s) – e.g. railway workers.
Contribution to the system as guarantee of access to health
services.
Social Assistance: RMV and FUNRURAL/PRORURAL –
disability and old age and rural old age in the 1970’s
All this system was broadened after 1988 Democratic
Constitution:
Social Security was recognized as a right of citizens to be
protected by the state
Social insurance: two regimes – private sector (with a
ceiling) and public sector (no ceiling) – recent reforms.
Social Security Budget: Health (SUS); social insurance;
and social assistance.
Social Assistance:
Mid 1990’s– Old Age And Disability Benefit
Mid 1990’s – Experiences with CCTs
2003 – Bolsa Familia
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10. Zero Hunger Strategy
The Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) Strategy was initiated in 2003
to integrate social programmes that aim to tackle food
insecurity and extreme poverty. It was one of the key themes
in the Lula’s presidential manifesto as summarised in his
promise “that all Brazilians should have at least three meals
per day”.
For this reason much of the emphasis of the social protection
policy during Lula’s term, at least at the discourse level, fell
under the Fome Zero strategy.
The strategy includes a set of programmes and activities that
involves the three levels of governments (Federal,
State and Municipal) and almost all ministries.
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11. Bolsa Família main features
Experience accumulated by sub-national governments (staring in 1995)
National Programme (no piloting or rolling-out)
Targeting based on self-reported income
Role of the Single Registry and strong engagement with municipalities
Role of co-responsibilities/conditionalities
Mix of income guarantee (basic benefic) and child-focused transfer (variable benefit)
Focus on children vis-à-vis Extreme Poverty Eradication (Brazil Carinhoso and Brasil without
Extreme poverty)
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12. Brasil sem Miseria Plan (Brazil without
Brasil sem Miseria has the objective of eradicating extreme
Extreme Poverty Plan)
poverty. It has three axis:
I.Income guarantee: focus on fighting exclusion errors of
Bolsa Familia. Active search (Busca ativa) strategy and now
closing the extreme-povety gap for families living below R$
70.00 per capita per month.
II.Access to Services: health, education, social assistance,
civil registration (and other documents); electricity; food
security; housing; homeless and child labour.
III.Productive Inclusion:
rural: extension services and follow-up; access to improved
seeds; water and electricity, grants for investment; access to
markets (PAA)
Urban: training; job placement; solidarity economy,
microcredit and subsidized social insurance for the selfemployed.
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13. IPC experience in south-south learning
Strong international presence of President Lula – Hunger Zero Strategy and Bolsa Família.
Results of evaluations: persistent and consistent fall in inequality and poverty.
Praise from Multilateral Organizations, IFIs, international cooperation agencies and NGO’s.
Growing demand from countries to learn about Brazilian programmes: missions and
technical support. Officially. MDS received 3 international missions in 2004 and 80 in
2011!
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14. IPC experience in south-south learning
The demand is concentrated on understanding Bolsa Família components and,
more particularly, on the single registry.
Sensitization of ministries of finance was also a key demand mostly from African
countries.
Need to link social protection with growth and evidence on negative impacts on
labour market participation (dependency and hand-out arguments).
IPC helped on the policy dialogue between Brazil (MDS) and Africa in partnership
with Dfid: Ghana (pilot), Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia and Kenya.
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15. IPC experience in south-south learning
Some challenges in the learning/cooperation process:
Demand and supply mismatch - usually countries want Brazilian officials to stay longer in
their countries helping them in the design/implementation of the programmes;
Lack of “Brazilian consultants” with experience with the programmes and language barrier;
Too many requests for missions and limited capacity to receive them (international seminars
and sub national governments);
Lack of knowledge of the social protection/cash transfer ‘international market’ and how
international and cooperation agencies, and international NGO’s fight over “models”,
“resources” and “political visibility” worldwide.
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16. IPC experience in south-south learning
Other relevant countries:
Mexico - Progresa/Oportunidades – showcased by IFIs, but limited role in international
cooperation.
Familias en Accion (Colombia) – outcome of international cooperation and actively
cooperating with other countries (regional and internationally – Kenya, Indonesia and
The Phillippines.
Chile – Integrated programmes – regional role – Caribbean countries (social worker’s
model)
Multi-countries: community of practices: LAC and Africa
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17. IPC experience in south-south learning
Some recent developments in the area of Food Security:
Creation of the WPF Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brasilia.
PAA Africa: a project which draws on the expertise accumulated by Brazil in its own food
purchasing programme. Carried out by FAO and WFP, the project extends financing for
food purchases to five African countries aiming to benefit small farmers and vulnerable
populations. It brings together Brazil’s humanitarian and technical cooperation.
Website: http://paa-africa.org/
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18. Some IPC Publications for Reference:
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCOnePager190.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCPolicyResearchBrief41.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCOnePager177.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCPolicyResearchBrief27.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCWorkingPaper87.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCOnePager135.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCWorkingPaper89.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCOnePager137.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCOnePager133.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCWorkingPaper76.pdf
http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCWorkingPaper69.pdf
Thanks for your attention!
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