Policy responses Based on the latest stocktaking of best practices led by the World Bank, as of 12 June 2020, a total of 195 countries/territories have planned or introduced a total of 1024 social protection measures in response to COVID-19. Responses are present in all regions, the majority from middle income countries. The review also points to the wide range of SP instruments being used, social assistance (non-contributory transfers) is the most widely used (including a total of 621 programmes), followed by actions in social insurance (263) and supply-side labor market interventions (140). Within social assistance, cash transfer programmes are clearly the most widely used intervention by governments. These measures have been put in place, building on existing entitlements or programmes or by creating new ones (a total of 179 cash transfer programs are new, as per the WB review). However, few of these measures are focused on rural areas, informal, seasonal workers or migrants. To target informal workers, some countries use existing platforms that are already comprehensive of information on informal workers (ex. the national system for beneficiaries’ selection for social programmes (SISBEN) and tax collection databases in Colombia), or introduce new mechanisms for registration, such as dedicated websites. Other countries use more localized ways (ex. self-declaration at local committees and administrative units in Rwanda) or utility usage data to identify target beneficiaries (ex. electricity consumption in El Salvador).
The review also states that among the types of adaptations that are prioritized, we find 'increased coverage or “horizontal expansion”; higher benefit levels; advance payments; simplifying administrative requirements; plugging COVID-response schemes into existing delivery platforms and providing innovative design solutions, such as school feeding programmes delivering food directly to children’s homes or nearby distribution points’.
Important to note the countries that have been able to respond quickly and effectively are those that have existing and well established social protection systems (well functioning information systems, existing cash transfer schemes with adequate administration and coverage). This further highlights the importance of social protection systems, and go beyond short term "safety nets" approach, to include expanded access to social insurance and more adequate benefits.
Examples of recommendations/good practices below:
1.a Vertical expansion or Top-Up: Expand transfer amount to existing social assistance participants, through either one-off payment (prior to full blown impact of the crisis as early action to mitigate impact) or multiple payments to meet basic needs and avoid negative coping mechanisms, and after the crisis to support time for recovery.
1.b. Horizontal expansion of the social assistance programmes (cash or in-kind) to non- beneficiaries/participants of the existing programmes vulnerable to the impacts of the crises - considering the impacts on the countries directly affected by the COVID-19 and their economic spillovers effects in other countries (case of the seasonal migrant workers)
2. Provide a complementary entitlement (using contingency funding) to offset loss of income (focused on small scale producers, for example Peru provides specific transfer for vulnerable families in addition to national cash transfer)
3. If food insecurity becomes extremely severe due to massive layoffs, fall in remittances etc., explore the use of food banks – through not only direct provision of food by government, but also donations from individuals, solidarity networks, non-governmental organizations, etc.
4. Delivery: Enable mobile payment systems to prevent disruptions in delivery of cash entitlements due to restrictions on movement
5. Encourage the delivery of secured and protected in-kind food assistance and protection kits, when cash is not an option, to the most vulnerable to COVID-19, combined with, whenever feasible and safe regulations for handling and delivery
6. Conditionalities: Remove or put on hold conditionalities, particularly those that are linked to education and health (given limitations in movement and closing of schools)
7. Targeting: Similarly, around targeting- moving to geographical or categorical type targeting (which work better in times of crises)
8. Suspension or moratorium for specific payments, including utilities bills, credits and others.
Collect sex- and age -disaggregated data to design gender-sensitive social protection mechanisms and monitor the impact of interventions on men and women of different age, making corrective actions if needed.
Links and references Recommendations based on measures applied in previous crises (Ebola, food crises, and specific natural risk disaster), as well as from the current responses a compiled by different sources. The main source of information is the weekly World Bank Stocktaking report - where different partners provide information; as well as from information gathered by the Social Protection Team, regional and country focal points, and other key partners such as WFP, UNICEF, and other.
Key sources:
World Bank Weekly Stocktaking report. Compiled by Ugo Gentilini, Global Leader, Social Protection and Jobs Practice and Mohamed Almenfy, Research Analyst, The World Bank: http://www.ugogentilini.net/,
Specific guidance issued on vertical (top up ) and horizontal expansion (expanding coverage to non-programme participations): http://www.fao.org/policy-support/resources/resources-details/en/c/1056444/; https://www.unicef.org/media/63846/file;
ILO Report on impacts on employment: https://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_359364/lang--en/index.htm (among other).
SPACE initiative supported by DFID/FCO and GIZ: https://socialprotection.org/connect/stakeholders/social-protection-approaches-covid-19-expert-advice-helpline-space
Below are selected examples extracted from sources above:
-Philippines: The Department of Social welfare and Development (DSWD) has released their regular cash transfers (including 4Ps) earlier than scheduled to help affected families. Modified CCT (MCCT) transfers were received by the beneficiaries on March 24. Likewise, Regular CCT (RCCT) beneficiaries in NCR, CAR, Regions I, II and III have received their cash grants on March 24, while Remaining CCT beneficiaries are receiving theirs between today and Saturday (communication from DSWD available here). - DSWD, together with local Government Units (LGUs) is also implementing a distribution of food packs and non-food items for poor HHs affected by economic impacts of COVID19 enhanced community quarantine nationwide rules (Source: FAO country office).
-Panama: Government of Panama is planning to issue a decree around the Plan Panamá Solidario to address the emergency. Focus will be on the distribution of vouchers and food to the poorest population, with emphasis to non-formal workers, unemployed population and other. The initial allocation for the programme is US$50 million (Source: FAO SLM office).
-India: The Central Government of India announced a comprehensive CovidPackage for the poor under the already existing Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKAY) programme (FAO SOCPRO team).
-Argentina: The Ministry of Social Development ruled that families who have not yet received the food support can card (Tarjeta Alimentar) receive the value of this amount through the Universal Child Allowance (AUH), during the period of mandatory isolation (Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
-Armenia: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MLSA) is planning a 3-months emergency benefit (54,000 AMD = $108) to households registered in the Family Benefit Program, but not yet receiving it (about 20,000 households) (Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
-Bolivia: New cash transfer scheme (Bono Familia) specifically targeted to compensate low-income families who will not have school feeding meals during this time of quarantine. An amount of 500 Bolivianos (US$ 72.6) will be paid for each child in elementary school (Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
-China: The latest government policy directive instructed local governments to increase the coverage and benefits of Dibao, in particular, extending social assistance programs to cover families affected by the COVID-19 and falling into poverty. Targeted measures for rural areas.
(Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
-Colombia:
Three existing programs will pay additional benefits:
.One additional cash payment to 2.6M households that are beneficiaries of Familias en Acción. Transfer is of COP 145,000 ($98 in 2011 PPP).
.One additional cash payment to 204,000 beneficiaries of Jóvenes en Acción (COP 356,000, or $240).
.One additional cash payment to 1.7M beneficiaries of Colombia Adulto Mayor program to support consumption
(Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
-Egypt: Ministry of Social Solidarity is planning to add 60,000 families to Takaful and Karama programs; also, increased payments are envisioned to women leaders in rural areas (EGP 900 per month instead of EGP 350) (Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
-Tunisia: One-off cash transfer of TND200 (USD68) to 623,000 households working in the informal sector, who are not covered by any social assistance program and who are vulnerable to shocks (households registered in the social security system with low-cost healthcare card) (Source: World Bank/UGentilini).
Examples below consolidated by WFP:
-Peru: The senior citizens' 65+ social assistance program (PENSION 65) has advanced its bimonthly payments and is transferring now four months' worth of benefits together. The Ministry of Social Inclusion is pulling out 30 million soles to ensure the preferential assistance to the most vulnerable populations and the Central Bank is planning to provide pensioners part of the social insurance and contributory scheme to have their payments received at home (Source: WFP and https://rpp.pe/peru/actualidad/coronavirus-en-peru-covid-19-estado-de-emergencia-preguntas-y-respuestas-del-gobierno-sobre-la-medida-vicente-zeballos-noticia-1251843).
-Indonesia: Cash top-up to poorest households given for six months, starting in March 2020 (Source WFP and https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/coronavirus-indonesia-rolls-out-measures-to-minimise-the-outbreaks-impact-on-economy).
-Hong Kong: providing a one-off "universal basic income" to 7 million adults (Source: WFP and https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/28/cash-handout-could-boost-hong-kong-economy-by-1percent-financial-secretary.html; https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-case-for-a-big-coronavirus-stimulus-11583448500).
-Japan: government is rolling-out a caregiver transfer of $80 a day to stay home from work and take care of their kids as part of the COVID-19 response (Source WPF and https://basicincometoday.com/in-response-to-covid-19-japan-is-going-to-start-paying-parents-80-a-day-to-stay-home-from-work-and-take-care-of-their-kids/).
-Thailand - The government approved 400 billion baht economic package which will cover all sectors and is designed to benefit 14.6 million low-income earners who account for 22% of the Thai population – a total of 50,000 village funds nationwide, 7.2 million farming households and 3 million small-to-medium-sized enterprises (99% of all business enterprises) (Source WFP and https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/400-billion-baht-stimulus-announced-to-boost-thai-economy).
-Singapore: Singapore has established a universal support scheme for all citizens aged 21 and older will receive a one-off cash payout of between $100 and $300. Parents with at least one Singaporean child aged 20 and younger this year will each receive an additional $100 in cash (Source: WFP and https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sporeans-aged-21-and-above-to-get-one-off-cash-payout-of-up-to-300).
Armenia: The Government of Armenia created a new temporary public work scheme for socially vulnerable groups in the agricultural sector while tackling environmental problems through a reforestation program to protect (Source: World Bank) Adaptations in social protection delivery systems have been observed in around 50 countries (Source: ILO). Several countries have modified the delivery mechanisms of their school feeding programmes. Some switched to take home meals, such as Costa Rica, Liberia, and Argentina, Dominican Republic, while others including Chile opted for food delivery systems. It is noted that smallholder farmers can also benefit from increased income if the foods from the school feeding programmes are procured from them. Countries are also increasing the number of cash-out points as well as adapting new cash-outs modalities such as digital payments.
Pros Social assistance response to COVID-19 has been the preferred option to offset the economic impact of the pandemic - as shown by the impressive number of measures adopted (621 by June 12, 2020). It provides an income buffer to avoid negative coping mechanism, supports compliance with movement restrictions and distancing measures, and can often be channeled through existing systems.
Cons In the absence of a pre-identification system and national capacity to reach every individual in need of support, applicants need to reach out and present their request to certain benefits. For the poor and vulnerable, this can represent a great burden, for lack of time, financial resources to submit the application, collect documentation, and potentially travel to the application window, even for electronic applications – there is a hidden cost and potentially a huge financial burden.
Many countries do not have fully functioning social registry or other databases, to pre-identify the target population. This puts a huge burden on the delivery chain to quickly outreach, identify, register and intake beneficiaries.
The digital divide affecting the poor, particularly women and girls, can also limit the ability of the most vulnerable to receive information related to COVID-19 benefits and potentially collect benefits, as far as mobile payments are concerned.
Some schemes' expansion has left out rural populations, as they are deemed less vulnerable to the spread and impact of the virus, leaving them less protected.
Women and most vulnerable groups are often not consulted during the planning of social protection schemes and their specific concerns are ignored.
Minimum conditions Clear and effective communication needs to be provided to ensure that participants know that this is a one-time, emergency provision and that it does not represent a long-term change in their entitlements and programme components. Moreover, clear information is also required on the eligibility criteria to receive the top-ups or complementary measures, delivery channels and/or additional requirements. Horizontal or vertical expansion of existing systems require functioning social protection systems (and functioning programmes- cash, school feeding or other). These top-ups will not be always possible in contexts where systems are not available or are currently jeopardized by conflict or other related issues. In these cases, a specific one-time transfer, via geographical targeting would be most useful. The expansion also requires either tapping into emergency/contingency funding mechanisms and/or the re-prioritization of national budget allocations. This requires a national level commitment from the Executive Branch, including Economy and Finance ministries (at national or decentralized levels). Opting for mobile or e-payments to replace paper distribution would only be possible if there is enough connectivity or capacity to implement mobile technology. When this is not feasible, using public structures such as banks or post offices would be sought, with very specific and clear guidance regarding social distancing, times of distribution, etc.
The needs and specificities of rural populations, in particular vulnerable subgroups such as women and girls, indigenous people, people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants and seasonal workers, need to be considered when designing and operationalizing new or expanded measures.
Gender-sensitive design and implementation of social protection interventions is crucial to ensure that rural women can participate in, and equally benefit from these interventions. For instance:
Gender-sensitive poverty and vulnerability assessment (GSPVA) is key to establishing a comprehensive understanding of gender dynamics and their links to rural poverty in a given context. While data collection in the context of COVID-19 may be difficult, leveraging existing data or consulting with experts and members of the community to help understand social dynamics, including gender norms, can help shape design features and programme objectives. Scrutinize needs assessments and targeting methods for proper identification of the needs of men and women and their potential gender impacts and adjust accordingly. Engage in careful planning and messaging to reduce the prevalence of intra-household conflict. Adjust needs assessment and targeting methods to account for gender-related impacts of shocks and gender-specific vulnerabilities such as changes in household composition, loss of employment opportunities, work burden, food insecurity, malnutrition and exposure to various forms of violence. Make enrolment simple or automatic for all household members to ensure that men and women can benefit from programming as their circumstances and priorities change.
New technologies used for transfers or information dissemination should be accessible to and understood by everyone. Leverage digital transfers to improve rural women’s access to financial services. Remove or adjust requirements that prevent women from applying for benefits, such as the need for income verification or dependence on men’s co-signatures.
Understand and address gendered preferences in transfer type. Where difficult to obtain, consider in-kind transfers of goods that reduce household work burden and support healthy behaviors in the context of COVID-19, such as soap and other hygiene products. Fortified complementary food or extra transfers may reduce the danger of intergenerational effects of malnutrition.
Ensure that both women and men have adequate and equal access to information regarding eligibility criteria, registration and the benefits they are entitled to receive. Ensure also that information is accessible to people with disabilities, the elderly, and in all relevant languages.
Suspending or reducing conditionalities may provide opportunities to introduce more gender-transformative programming elements whereby both women and men in the household are assumed to be responsible for compliance. This can be reflected in programme messaging.
Stipulations that prohibit transfers to households with reported incidence of domestic violence may serve to reduce reporting or access to resources for survivors rather than reduce incidence of domestic violence.
Introduce additional benefits through social protection ‘plus’ programming to reflect gender-specific needs and that do not exclusively focus on support for livelihood strategies favoured by men. Consider gender-sensitive digital extension services.
Emphasis must be placed on the prevention of corruption, extortion or violence, in
particular against women and children, who are particularly vulnerable during an
emergency.
Create pathways for claimants to report exploitation and abuse that avoid re-victimization. Include grievance mechanisms accessible to all.
Support women’s leadership, and strengthen the capacity of local community groups, such as women’s groups, burial societies, self-help groups, producer organizations, and cooperatives in building capacity in preparedness and in delivering timely, gender-sensitive support during crises.
Governance Effective implementation of these policies require commitment at the highest level - particularly to ensure that the top-ups or compensatory packages are put in place on time, and that the necessary resources are allocated.
It is crucial to raise aware
