2015年-世界发展银行全球_Background_Study_for_the_National_Strategy_on_Social_Inclusion_and_Poverty_Reduction_2015-2020_424页_58mb

Summary of the National Strategy on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction 2015-2020 Background Study

Core Content

This document serves as a background study for the National Strategy on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction 2015-2020, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of poverty and social exclusion in Romania and to support the formulation of targeted policy measures. It outlines the strategic actions and policy areas that the Romanian government should focus on to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion over the next seven years.

Main Policy Areas

1. Poor and Vulnerable Groups

• Status and Forecasts of Poverty or Social Exclusion: The study provides data on the current status of poverty and its dynamics, including relative poverty forecasts (AROP).
• Main Vulnerable Groups: Identifies key groups at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those in informal employment.

2. People-Based Policies

• Employment:

  • Activating people in poverty not in education, employment, or training.
  • Reducing informal employment and increasing productivity of small and medium-sized farms.
  • Lowering the high in-work poverty rate.
  • Enhancing the institutional capacity of the Public Employment Service.
  • Increasing employment rates of vulnerable groups.
  • Developing the social economy to create more employment opportunities.

• Social Transfers:

  • Improving the performance of the social assistance system.
  • Providing adequate financial support for the disabled.
  • Protecting elderly people at risk of poverty.
  • Safeguarding poor and vulnerable consumers against energy shocks.

• Social Services:

  • Encouraging beneficiaries to participate in planning and provision of social services.
  • Improving needs assessments and management information systems.
  • Enhancing the financing of social services.
  • Strengthening community-level social assistance.
  • Developing integrated intervention community teams.
  • Creating social services tailored for vulnerable groups.

• Education:

  • Improving early childhood education and care (ECEC).
  • Enhancing primary and secondary education outcomes.
  • Expanding tertiary education access for under-represented groups.
  • Promoting lifelong learning and training for disadvantaged youth and working-age populations.
  • Ensuring quality education for children from vulnerable groups.
  • Enhancing the effectiveness of welfare programs in education.

• Health:

  • Improving health equity and financial protection.
  • Enhancing healthcare provision for specific vulnerable groups.
  • Increasing access to quality healthcare for vulnerable groups.

• Housing:

  • Increasing housing affordability and quality, especially for vulnerable populations.
  • Developing social housing services.
  • Providing efficient emergency support for the homeless and promoting social reintegration.

• Social Participation:

  • Improving the social climate and increasing trust in institutions.
  • Reducing discrimination and increasing tolerance.
  • Empowering poor and marginalized communities through active participation.
  • Enhancing access to information and knowledge through social innovation.

3. Area-Based Policies

• Geographical Dimension of Poverty:

  • Reducing geographical inequalities.
  • Improving the quality of life in rural and small urban communities.

• Integrating Marginalized Communities:

  • Integrating rural, urban, and Roma communities.
  • Adopting an integrated, cross-sectoral, area-based approach to marginalized areas.

4. Strengthening Institutional Capacity

• Enhancing Policy Formulation and Management: Improving capacity at all levels to design and implement effective social policies.
• Integrated Social Policy Approach: Promoting a unified strategy across sectors.
• Improving Service Delivery: Utilizing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for better service delivery.
• Modernizing Payment Systems: Enhancing the efficiency and transparency of social benefit payments.

Key Information

• The report was coordinated by Emil Teșliuc, Vlad Grigoraș, and Manuela Stănculescu, with contributions from a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
• It was developed under the supervision of Andrew Mason, with guidance from Elisabetta Capannelli and Christian Bodewig.
• The background study was informed by extensive data collection from over 3,100 localities, including input from NGOs, trade unions, research organizations, and academia.
• The study was peer-reviewed by several experts, including Christian Bodewig, Roberta Gatti, Lucian Bucur Pop, Pedro L. Rodriguez, and Istvan Vanyolos.
• The National Strategy and Action Plan were posted for public feedback in December 2014 and refined through multiple consultations.
• The report includes annexes with statistical data, methodologies, and sector-specific analyses.

Strategic Actions at the National Level

• The document builds on Romania's previous efforts in poverty reduction and social inclusion, including:
  • The 1998 establishment of a Commission for Prevention and Fight Against Poverty.
  • The 2001 creation of the CASPIS (Anti-Poverty and Promotion of Social Inclusion Commission).
  • The 2005 signing of a Joint Social Inclusion Memorandum with the European Commission.
  • The 2006 Government Decision establishing a National Social Inclusion Committee.
  • The 2010 approval of the Europe 2020 Strategy with a poverty reduction target of 580,000 people.
  • The 2011 approval of the Social Assistance Reform Strategy.
  • The 2015 approval of the National Strategy on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction 2015-2020 and its Action Plan.

Conclusion

This background study is a critical input for Romania's national strategy to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion. It provides a structured framework for addressing the multifaceted challenges of poverty and social exclusion, with a focus on both people-based and area-based interventions. The report emphasizes the need for institutional capacity building, policy integration, and stakeholder engagement to achieve meaningful and sustainable social change.