2015年-世界发展银行全球_Building_Resilience_Equity_and_Opportunity_in_Myanmar___The_Role_of_Social_Protection_--_Overview_40页_8mb

Myanmar Social Protection Notes Series Summary

Core Content

Myanmar is undergoing significant economic and political transition, aiming to reduce poverty, improve human development outcomes, and address income insecurity. Social protection is identified as a crucial tool to support these objectives by enhancing resilience, equity, and opportunity for the poor and vulnerable.

Main Challenges

• Poverty and Vulnerability: A substantial portion of the population suffers from food insecurity and poverty, with disparities across regions.
• Income Insecurity: Many households, especially the poor, face exposure to risks such as ill-health, natural disasters, and conflict, which can lead to severe financial strain.
• Informal Economy: Over 50% of the working population is employed in the informal sector, often in low-skill, casual jobs, contributing to underemployment and poverty.
• Aging Population: Older people in Myanmar often rely on family support and continue working past the age of 60, with many facing health challenges.
• Fragmented System: Current social protection policies are fragmented across ministries, with limited government spending and reliance on development partners (DPs) for social assistance.

Key Points on Social Protection

• Government Spending: Government spending on social assistance is only 0.02% of GDP, significantly below the global average. Social security spending for formal sector workers is about 0.6% of GDP.
• Role of DPs: Development partners have played a key role in social assistance provision, but the trend is shifting towards government-led programs.
• Social Protection Benefits: These programs can help reduce poverty, improve human capital, and promote social cohesion by ensuring that vulnerable groups benefit from economic growth.

Opportunities for Social Protection

• Resilience: Social protection can help households and communities better manage risks and shocks, such as natural disasters and economic downturns.
• Equity: By targeting the poor and vulnerable, social protection can reduce inequality and promote equal access to health, education, and nutrition.
• Opportunity: Programs like cash transfers and public works can create employment and improve living standards, especially for the poorest segments of the population.

Current Social Protection Framework

• National Policy Objectives: The National Comprehensive Development Plan (NCDP) and the Framework for Economic and Social Reform (FESR) emphasize the importance of social protection for inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
• International Experience: Countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand have successfully used social protection programs to reduce poverty and improve social stability.
• Community Impact: Social protection programs contribute to building community assets and infrastructure, supporting local economies and social cohesion.

Recommendations for Myanmar

• Policy Coordination: Establish a high-level mechanism for policy coherence and sustainable financing to avoid parallel systems and ensure effective resource pooling.
• Social Assistance Expansion: Develop a substantial 'social assistance block' with the progressive transition from DP-led to government-led programs. Scale up existing pilot programs and introduce new ones, such as public works programs (PwPs), to address unmet needs.
• Social Security Development: Implement a modest 'social security block' in the short to medium term, with a focus on gradual expansion and sustainable integration.
• Targeted Interventions: Use targeted programs to support vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, and those affected by conflict or natural disasters.
• Coping Mechanisms: Promote more sustainable and less harmful coping strategies, such as cash transfers and public works, to reduce reliance on debt and asset selling.

Conclusion

An effective, responsive, and sustainable social protection system is essential for Myanmar's development. It can help reduce poverty, enhance resilience, and promote equity and opportunity for all, particularly for the poor and vulnerable. The integration of social protection into broader development strategies is a key step towards achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.