Over the last several years, theGovernment of Togo has made important advances in the areaof social protection. Although Togo has had limited socialinsurance and social assistance programs, the economic shockand natural disasters starting in 2008 brought the need forbetter mechanisms of social protection to the fore. TheGovernment response has focused on measures to address theneeds of the affected populations, while building theanalytical base for developing a national social protectionpolicy and strategy. For example, several important socialprotection programs were launched in the last few years,including the National Institute for Health Insurance, alabor intensive public works program for rural areas, aschool lunch program, and a pilot for cash transfer programtargeting vulnerable children. The Government has alsopromoted access to basic services by the poor by eliminatingschool fees and fees for cesarean sections. As part ofdeveloping the analytical base for a national socialprotection policy and strategy, a series of studies andanalyses were carried out over the last two years.International development partners have supported thiseffort and have worked closely with the Government indeveloping this basis. This report forms part of the overallpacket of analytical work prepared to support the formationof a national social protection policy and strategy. Theobjectives of this report are to: a) synthesize thesituational analysis on poverty and vulnerability and thecurrent state of social protection policies and programsfrom the set of background documents; and b) assist thegovernment through providing general orientations andstrategic choices in developing a national social protectionpolicy and strategy that would integrate the various ongoingefforts and components of social protection with a view toachieving the Government's longer-term goal of socialprotection for all. This report is organized in thefollowing sections: section two provides a brief overview ofthe objectives, components and importance of socialprotection as part a country's economic growth andpoverty reduction objectives. Section three summarizes thebasic situation of poverty and vulnerability in Togo andidentifies vulnerable groups and main risks and shocks.Section four analyses the current policy and institutionalframework and reviews the main areas of social protection,in terms of approach, coverage, targeting and expenditures.Section five proposes basic elements for the Government totake into consideration in developing a national socialprotection policy and strategy. Section six identifies nextsteps in finalizing the preparation of a national socialprotection policy and strategy.
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