Social Protection and Jobs Discussion Papers

208 items available

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/10986/13084

Social Protection & Jobs Discussion Papers (formerly Social Protection & Labor Discussion Papers) are published to communicate the results of the World Bank’s work to the development community with the least possible delay. The typescript manuscript of this paper therefore has not been prepared in accordance with the procedures appropriate to formally edited texts.

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Investing in Skills to Accelerate Job Transitions
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-08-28) Honorati, Maddalena; Santos, Indhira; Santos, Indhira
The paper reviews the dynamics of human capital – mostly skills – accumulation and utilization during successful and static episodes of structural transformation in a sample of more than 90 countries over the last thirty years to identify cases when improvements in human capital are not met by skills demand - signaling an unbalance between investment in skills and other factors of production. A framework is proposed to differentiate inefficient skills investments by cases of over- and under-investment relative to skills demand, cases of skills underutilization, even at the right level of investment, and cases of skills mismatches due human capital’s misallocation across geographical areas and field of study. Based on country case studies, the paper examines the different forms of inefficient human capital accumulation and utilization and the potential market and policy failures that lead to such inefficiencies across individuals, firms, and governments. The framework is used to differentiate policy priorities depending on the constraints to efficient human capital accumulation and utilization and the stage of the structural transformation.
Minimum Income and Social Inclusion Pathways – A review of selected European Union programs
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-08-26) Marzi, Marta; Marini, Alessandra; Cherchi, Ludovica; Cenedese, Francesco
Across European Union (EU) countries, the institutional design of Minimum Income (MI) programs varies widely in terms of the benefits and services provided to recipients, despite significant convergence toward a similar MI model and shared common approaches. This discussion paper investigates the delivery of social inclusion pathways, i.e., non-monetary support components to foster MI recipients’ social inclusion and highlights common challenges and good practices across eight EU case study countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden). The paper shows that while some countries prioritize labor activation for workforce reintegration of MI recipients, others aim for broader social inclusion, recognizing the challenges in integrating such recipients into the labor market due to their complex needs. Moreover, the paper examines how the social inclusion pathway and case management interventions in MI programs affect recipient’s welfare within poverty-targeted programs. It notes the lack of evidence on the effectiveness and impact of social inclusion pathways within MIs and mentions ongoing evaluations in Spain, Italy, and France to address this gap.
Safety Nets in Contexts of Violence, Fragility and Forced Displacement: The Case of Burkina Faso and Cameroon
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-08-21) Della Guardia, Anne; Lake, Milli; Saidi, Mira
The rapid expansion of social safety nets in contexts affected by violence, fragility and forced displacement raises questions about whether such programs can relieve the worst forms of insecurity and vulnerability in affected communities. To answer this question, the authors analyze 394 qualitative interviews from Burkina Faso and Cameroon (West and Central Africa). As the first study of its kind conducting cross-country comparative research in varied security contexts, the authors posit three channels – material, social, and political – through which social protection can shape experiences of violence, fragility and forced displacement. The authors found that social assistance, or social safety nets, built resilience by smoothing consumption and relieving the pressure of unanticipated shocks while programs were ongoing. However, because many of the most vulnerable inhabitants directed transfer spending towards immediate subsistence needs, safety nets rarely resulted in additional income-generating opportunities or enduring material effects beyond the program’s conclusion. Although trends diverged across regions and security contexts, the authors identified tentative evidence of social and political effects, in the form of expanded social networks, cohesion and interdependence among some beneficiary groups, and greater confidence in existing institutions when beneficiaries attributed the safety net to the government. The authors examined these impacts across regions facing distinct levels and types of insecurity.
Advancing Crisis-Resilient Social Protection Through a Hybrid Social Protection Scheme in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-08-21) Adil, Fareeha; Guven, Melis
The objective of this paper is to summarize analysis conducted to provide inputs to the Hybrid Social Protection Scheme (HSPS) pilot. Following the analysis conducted, the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) launched the HSPS in December 2023. Eligible households for the scheme include existing beneficiary households (with a BISP unconditional cash transfer program cut-off score of 32) and those with a PMT score of up to 40. It is expected that a significant portion of households participating in the HSPS pilot consist of households with one or more members engaged in informal sector employment. The focus of the analysis was on gaining insights into saving behaviors, perceptions, and aspirations among potential participants in the HSPS through a survey. The research employed both quantitative and qualitative analysis to gather insights from a representative sample of BISP beneficiaries who exited the program due to improvements in their welfare status, making them ineligible for continued support. This study covered 12 districts across four provinces in Pakistan. The empirical findings suggest that financial literacy, digital inclusion, and family support are key drivers of saving demand. Conversely, taking loans, money transfer methods, and a lack of self-control in spending are observed to have adverse effects on the saving behavior. The multinomial logit analysis indicates a preference for monthly saving frequency and a rationality toward saving with the expectation of lucrative profits and matching contributions from the government. Moreover, the qualitative results underscore the feasibility of implementing HSPS tailored to the savings behavior of BISP beneficiaries contingent upon their willingness to open bank accounts. The study emphasizes the need to enhance literacy skills, promote digital access, and provide customized training and awareness initiatives to successfully implement the HSPS.
Supporting Sustainability in Kenya’s Fisheries through Social Protection and Labor Market Interventions
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-31) Pela, Kevwe; De Martino, Samantha; Ricaldi, Federica; Japp, David
Among key challenges confronting Kenya’s over-exploited fisheries sector, fishing and aquaculture workers are very vulnerable: they work longer hours, earn less money, and have less access to social protection than workers in other sectors. Furthermore, climate change threatens to make fisheries workers and their livelihoods even more vulnerable. To address these challenges, the report proposes four key policy channels: (i) strengthen social protection systems to mitigate short and medium-term harm resulting from necessary management and regulation improvements for fishing activities; (ii) encourage private-sector investment in fisheries; (iii) incentivize sustainable fishing practices, including certifications and registration initiatives; and (iv) diversify the economy, assess skill levels, and promote alternative livelihoods for fisheries workers.
Opportunities for Linking Fisheries Management and Social Protection in Solomon Islands
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-30) Kendrick, Anita; Vinci, Vincenzo; Vincent, Xavier F.P.; Howell, Fiona; Nguyen, Son Hoai
Social protection and jobs programs (SPJ) can improve livelihoods and reduce vulnerability in coastal fishing communities in Solomon Islands, but these programs must be designed in a way that responds to socio-economic vulnerabilities and climate risks, recognizes the reliance of communities on fishing for nutrition and income, and integrates with community-level fisheries management. The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has placed community-based resource management (CBRM) at the center of its strategy for coastal fisheries management. CBRM recognizes and builds on traditions of indigenous conservation and community rights to promote fisheries management and sustainable harvests. Supporting CBRM through expanded formal social protection (SP), linked with financial inclusion, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and other complementary initiatives, has the potential to reduce vulnerabilities.
Integrating Social Protection with Fisheries Management for Sustainability: Overview of Country Case Studies
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-23) Okamura, Yuko; Bladon, Annabelle; Tegelskär Greig, Gunilla; Nico, Gianluigi
Fishery stocks are declining all over the world, threatening not only the livelihoods of fisheries households and communities, but also food and nutrition security of a broader society. However, many countries face challenges in reforming fisheries policies and implement fisheries management measures which tend to incur socioeconomic costs to fisheries actors in the short to medium term. Given its mission in managing risks, protecting people from poverty and shocks as well as promoting better opportunities, Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) measures can play a greater role in facilitating these difficult reforms and regulations in the fisheries sector for a sustainable future for people, fish, and food and nutrition security. This note provides an overview of five inspiring countries, Costa Rica, Kenya, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam, where inter-sectoral efforts are underway to integrate SPJ with fisheries for a more integrated approach.
Exploring Alternatives for the Economic Inclusion of Low-Income, Artisanal Fisher Communities in Costa Rica: Case Study of Artisanal Fishing and Mollusk Gathering Communities in Puerto Cortés and Golfo Dulce
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-23) Sanchez Galvis, Martha; Rodriguez-Novoa, Luz
This note provides insights into socio-economic conditions and economic inclusion opportunities for two low-income, artisanal fishing and mollusk-gathering communities in Costa Rica, and explores the role of social protection (SP) programs in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It shows how, despite Costa Rica’s strong SP system, a portion of poor and vulnerable fisheries workers have challenges accessing SP programs. The note also explores the nature of the economic activities in the studied fisheries’ communities, their labor demands, and the challenges faced by the population to access the labor market and income-generating activities. Recognizing the institutional dynamics of the social and fisheries sectors, this Note provides recommendations for promoting synergies between fisheries management and SP. It highlights the need for a multidimensional, multi-stakeholder approach that enables long term social and economic inclusion of poor and vulnerable fisheries communities. Improving targeting and profiling mechanisms, identifying selected groups that may have a higher likelihood to engage in economic inclusion programs, and tailoring existing programs to poor and vulnerable and fishers, are critical paths to sustainable social and economic inclusion.
The Gig Economy and the Future of Work: Global Trends and Policy Directions for Non-Standard Forms of Employment
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-06-21) Zeid, Ramy; Alrayess, Dana; Ajwad, Mohamed Ihsan; Soytas, Mehmet Ali; Rivera, Nayib
The global rise of non-standard forms of employment (NSE) and gig work creates opportunities and challenges for the labor market and requires public policy responses to realize their benefits and mitigate their adverse effects. Evidence on the NSE impact on firms and workers reaffirms the need for a policy environment that balances the benefits and challenges of NSE to maximize its positive effects. Public policy should aim to harmonize rules for standard and non-standard employment, update social protection systems, and support lifelong learning to ensure workers are able to manage transitions and better navigate a constantly changing world of work.
Social Protection and Jobs for Climate Change Challenges: Current Practice and Future Opportunities
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-06-17) Costella, Cecilia; Shabahat, Elham; Sadiq, Nian; Okamura, Yuko
This paper reviews the current and potential roles of social protection and jobs (SPJ) policies and mechanisms in supporting address the challenges related to climate change. Given its central role in reducing poverty and vulnerability and in helping people cope with various shocks, SPJ can play a greater instrumental role in both adaptation and mitigation efforts, managing the impacts of climate change as well as the impacts of decarbonization. However, at present, its potential remains underrecognized and SPJ policies and programming seldom integrate climate consideration in a deliberate and strategic manner. To realize this untapped opportunity, this note aims to concisely present SPJ’s role in the climate agenda. It first presents an overview of the potential ways in which SPJ policies and programs can strategically support climate goals, while explaining key issues and concepts. It then reviews existing evidence for and examples of current practice on SPJ and climate change and highlights policy and operational considerations, including key takeaways that SPJ practitioners can use to drive the climate and SPJ agenda forward.