2011年-世界发展银行全球_Burkina_Faso_Social_Safety_Nets_216页_3mb

Summary of "Burkina Faso Social Safety Nets" Discussion Paper No. 1403

Core Content

This discussion paper provides an analysis of the social safety net (SSN) system in Burkina Faso, focusing on its scope, coverage, efficiency, and sustainability. It is part of the World Bank's Africa Social Safety Net and Social Protection Assessment Series, aimed at supporting governments in improving their safety net systems to protect vulnerable populations.

Main Findings

• Limited Coverage and Scale: The existing SSN system in Burkina Faso has limited scope and coverage. Most interventions are small-scale and temporary, with annual spending on SSNs averaging 0.6% of GDP between 2005 and 2009.
• High Poverty and Vulnerability: About 20% of the population is food-insecure and lives in chronic poverty. The country has one of the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) rankings in the world (177 out of 182 in 2009).
• Dominance of Food Transfers: Food transfers are the primary SSN program, accounting for 69% of total SSN spending and over 80% of beneficiaries in 2009. These are often funded by external donors.
• External Funding Dependence: Most SSN financing comes from external and ad hoc sources, highlighting the lack of financial sustainability.
• Institutional Fragmentation: SSN programs are managed by multiple ministries, leading to limited coordination and inefficiency in implementation.

Main Program Types

• Cash and Near-cash Transfers: These include direct cash transfers and in-kind transfers like food vouchers.
• Food Transfers: The most significant SSN program, often used to address food insecurity.
• Universal Fuel and Food Subsidies: These are costly and have limited impact on the poorest segments of the population.
• Labor-intensive Public Works and Cash-/Food-for-Work: These programs aim to provide employment and income support during crises.
• Health Fee Waivers: Designed to improve access to health services for the poor and vulnerable.

Key Challenges

• High Vulnerability: The country is highly vulnerable to climatic, economic, and social shocks, which exacerbate poverty and inequality.
• Low Access to Services: Despite some progress in public health spending, access to quality education and health services remains limited.
• Demographic Pressures: Rapid population growth (3.1% annually) hampers efforts to reduce poverty and achieve development goals.
• Institutional Weaknesses: There is a lack of a consolidated national social protection policy and poor inter-ministerial coordination.

Government Response and Policy Recommendations

• Policy Development: The government has initiated steps to develop a more comprehensive SSN system, including the establishment of a Joint Ministerial Committee on Social Protection in February 2010.
• National Technical Forum: In April 2010, a national technical forum on social protection was held, with the goal of outlining a national vision and informing the drafting of the Strategy of Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (SCADD).
• Recommendations:
  • Develop a safety net system that adequately responds to the needs of the poor.
  • Improve targeting mechanisms to ensure that the most vulnerable are reached.
  • Increase the financial sustainability of SSN programs by reducing reliance on external funding.
  • Enhance coordination across ministries and with development partners.
  • Strengthen administrative capacity to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SSN programs.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes the need for a more integrated and sustainable approach to social protection in Burkina Faso. It highlights the importance of SSNs in reducing poverty, addressing inequality, and supporting vulnerable households in managing risks. The findings are expected to contribute to the government's efforts to implement the SCADD and improve the overall effectiveness of its social protection policies.

Key Information

• GDP Contribution: SSN spending averaged 0.6% of GDP between 2005 and 2009.
• Poverty Incidence: Fell from 46.4% in 2003 to 43.2% in 2009, but chronic poverty remained high.
• Fuel Subsidies: Accounted for 0.7% of GDP in 2007 and had minimal impact on the poorest.
• Beneficiaries: Food transfers reached over 80% of all SSN beneficiaries in 2009.
• External Funding: Most SSN programs are funded by external donors.
• Regional Poverty: The Center Region is among the poorest, with over 50% of its population living in poverty.
• Household Characteristics: Poor households are often large, headed by males with low education levels, and located in rural areas of the Northeast Region.
• Gender Gap: Female-headed households tend to be poorer than male-headed ones, with a significant gender gap in access to services.

Main Viewpoints

• SSNs as Core Instruments: Safety nets are increasingly viewed as essential tools for poverty reduction and social protection.
• Need for Consolidation: A consolidated national policy is needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SSN programs.
• Targeting and Sustainability: Effective targeting and financial sustainability are critical for the success of SSN programs.
• Role of Donors: Donors play a significant role in funding SSN programs, but this dependence needs to be reduced.
• Inter-ministerial Coordination: Poor coordination among ministries is a major obstacle to the effectiveness of SSN programs.

Policy Implications

• The report underscores the importance of integrating SSNs into broader development strategies.
• It recommends a more strategic and coordinated approach to designing and implementing SSN programs.
• Strengthening administrative capacity and ensuring transparency in budget management are key to improving SSN effectiveness.
• Social protection policies should be gender-sensitive and child-sensitive to address the specific needs of vulnerable groups.