Inclusion and Resilience : The Way Forward for Social Safety Nets in the Middle East and North Africa, OVERVIEW

Morgandi, Matteo ; Silva, Joana ; Levin, Victoria

Washington, DC

关键词: ABSOLUTE POVERTY;    ACCESS TO FOOD;    ACCESS TO SERVICES;    ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY;    ACCOUNTABILITY;   

RP-ID  :  72975

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The report aims to meet two broadobjectives: (a) enhance knowledge about the current state ofexisting social safety nets (SSNs) and assess theireffectiveness in responding to new and emerging challengesto the poor and vulnerable in the region by bringingtogether new evidence, data, and country-specific analysis;and (b) open up and inform a debate on feasible policyoptions to make SSNs in the Middle East and North Africamore effective and innovative. First chapter, 'aframework for SSN reform,' describes and illustratesthe reasons for the region's growing need for SSNreform and establishes the framework for renewed SSNs. Itidentifies key goals for SSNs (promoting social inclusion,livelihood, and resilience) and illustrates how these goalshave been achieved in some parts of the region andelsewhere. Second chapter, 'key challenges that callfor renewed SSNs,' analyzes the challenges facing theregion's poor and vulnerable households, which SSNscould focus on as a priority. Two large groups are athigher-than-average poverty risk: children and those wholive in rural or lagging areas. The chapter examines factorssuch as inequality of opportunities and lack of access toservices that can perpetuate the lower human developmentoutcomes among the poor in these groups. It also describesthe challenge of vulnerability. Finally, it identifiesparticular social groups that are at a higher risk ofexclusion from access to services and employment. Thirdchapter, 'the current state of SSNs in the Middle Eastand North Africa,' analyzes SSN spending and assessesdifferent aspects of the SSN systems' performance.Fourth chapter, 'the political economy of SSN reformsin the Middle East and North Africa: what do citizenswant?' presents new evidence on citizens'preferences concerning redistribution and SSN design, usingnewly collected data. It also discusses how politicaleconomy considerations could be taken into account indesigning renewed SSNs in the region. Fifth chapter,'the way forward: how to make safety nets in the MiddleEast and North Africa more effective and innovative,'proposes an agenda for reform and the path for movingforward, using global experience and the evidence presentedin the preceding chapters.