Publication: Urban Social Assistance: Emerging Insights from Three African Countries
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Date
2016-12-01
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Published
2016-12-01
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Moreira, Vanessa
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Abstract
As countries implement social assistance (or safety net) programs, a range of technicalhurdles can affect their implementation differently in rural and urban areas. In urban areas,the focus of this study, cost of living can be higher and more prone to economic slowdowns.Poverty can be more severe than in rural areas and accompanied by high malnutrition rates.Implementation challenges in most urban areas relate to the lack of proper identification,outreach, intake, and registration of potential beneficiaries. These are in part due to thelack of social cohesion and different channels of communication. Therefore, social workersare likely to play an even more fundamental role in program implementation and M&Eprocesses.
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“Moreira, Vanessa; Gentilini, Ugo. 2016. Urban Social Assistance: Emerging Insights from Three African Countries. Social Protection and Labor Discussion Paper;No. 1614. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/25856 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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Publication Urban Safety Nets – Experiences from Three Countries(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-12)As countries implement social safety nets programs, a range of technical hurdles affects their implementation differently in rural and urban areas. In urban areas, the focus of this study, living in is expensive and more vulnerable at economy slowdowns. Poverty can be more severe than in rural areas and accompanied by high malnutrition rates. Challenges faced by poor populations in most urban areas related to the lack of proper identification,outreach, intake and registration of potential beneficiaries in part due to the lack of social cohesion and the existence of multiple channels of communication, challenging the delivery of any messages quickly and efficiently. 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Some of the questions that this report seeks to answer include: what are the main risks facing the vulnerable groups in Timor-Leste?; what types of programs are in place to address those risks?; is the range of programs and their financial allocations appropriate for the country's needs?; is the institutional arrangement adequate?; are these programs effective and reaching the intended beneficiaries?; and are they implemented cost-effectively? The report is organized as follows: chapter one gives context, purpose and conceptual framework. Chapter two describes the attributes of the poorest 40 percent and the main vulnerabilities and risks that low-income families in Timor-Leste face. Chapter three provides a historical overview of the social assistance policy and programs that emerged after the 2006-2007 conflict. 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