2014年-世界发展银行全球_The_New_Ireland_Social_Pension___A_Review_of_the_New_Ireland_Social_Pension_and_Implications_for_the_Papua_New_Guinea_National_Social_Pension_61页_1mb

Summary of the New Ireland Social Pension Report

Core Content

This report provides an in-depth review of the New Ireland Social Pension program, which has been in operation for six years, and evaluates its potential as a model for the Papua New Guinea National Social Pension. It was authored by a team from the World Bank and the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and includes findings from field visits, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.

The report outlines the current status, challenges, and recommendations for enhancing the New Ireland program, as well as implications for the broader national social protection strategy.

Main Objectives

1. Review the New Ireland Old Age and Disability Pension – Assess its design, operation, and effectiveness.
2. Draw lessons for the national social pension – Provide insights that can guide the development of a national scheme.

Key Findings

1. Programme Coverage

• Approximately 84% of the population aged 60+ in New Ireland receives the old age pension.
• Around 17% of the disabled population in New Ireland receives the disability pension.
• Gender bias is evident in pension coverage: 92% of eligible men receive the old age pension, while only 75% of eligible women do.
• 62% of disability pension recipients are men, and 32% are women, which may reflect higher disability rates among women, as noted in the UNESCAP report.

2. Payment Receipt

• Nearly all beneficiaries receive their pension, but payment auditing is currently absent.
• Operational constraints have led to issues such as no payments in 2012 and double payments in 2012–2013.
• The current annual payment does not align with operational guidelines.

3. Suitability for National Social Pension

• The New Ireland social pension can serve as a basis for the old age component of the national scheme with modifications.
• However, it is not suitable as a model for the disability component due to its complexity and current limitations.
• It is recommended that the old age pension be implemented first, followed by the disability pension in a phased manner.

Key Recommendations

1. Programme Design

• Index the pension to CPI to ensure it keeps pace with inflation.
• Separate old age and disability pensions into two distinct programs.
• Allow disabled individuals over 60 to receive a higher pension.
• Implement continuous enrolment based on eligibility.

2. Old Age Pension

• Require documentary evidence of age instead of relying on Ward Councillors.
• Enhance linkage to Civil Registry and Church Records to improve age verification.
• Undertake a baseline survey to assess the economic and social impact of the old age pension.

3. Disability Pension

• Recruit a skilled disability officer and develop a disability assessment protocol.
• Strengthen the definition of disability to ensure clarity and fairness.
• Central review of new disability pension enrolments to monitor eligibility.
• Conduct a provincially representative disability survey in New Ireland.

4. Payment Modality

• Transition from cash to electronic payments for both pensions.
• Increase payment frequency to monthly or quarterly.

5. Data Management

• Recruit a data manager and ensure capacity development.
• Implement a unique beneficiary identifier.
• Develop a comprehensive application form.
• Correct database issues and align with a national pension architecture.
• Audit payment receipt as part of the provincial audit cycle.

Implications for the National Social Pension

Risks Identified

1. Programme Failure

   • Failure to achieve coverage: Poor implementation could lead to missing target groups.
   • Funding over-run: Inefficient operations and poor eligibility verification could increase costs, especially for the disability component.

2. Multiple and Incompatible Systems

   • Due to the geographic and socio-cultural diversity of PNG, the national scheme may require decentralized operations and careful system design to avoid fragmentation and incompatibility.

High-Level Road Map

The report suggests a sequential approach for implementing the national social pension, starting with the old age pension and progressing to the disability pension. Key activities include:

• Programme Design: Finalize the design of the old age pension before developing systems.
• Enhance the New Ireland Social Pension: Improve its structure and operations.
• Baseline Surveys: Conduct surveys to assess the impact of the old age pension and disability rates.
• Capacity Assessment: Evaluate the current capacity of the Department for Community Development (DfCD) to implement the national scheme.
• Resource Planning: Develop a resource plan and operational architecture for the initial provinces.
• Documentation: Establish clear policies, procedures, and standards.
• Database Development: Build a scalable and interoperable database system.

Conclusion

The New Ireland Social Pension is a successful pilot program that can inform the development of a national social pension in Papua New Guinea. However, modifications are necessary, particularly in age verification, disability assessment, and data management, to ensure its effectiveness and scalability. A phased rollout is recommended, starting with the old age pension, followed by the disability pension after capacity has been developed. The report underscores the need for decentralized operations, electronic payment systems, and robust data infrastructure to support the national scheme.