UNICEF Social Protection Work an overview Show and Tell on Social Protection Bonn, 2011 UNICEF and social protection – Rationale: Equity approach Social protection and children – Child-Sensitive Social Protection – Guiding Principles – On-going work – Agenda for action – Work with Partners: Social Protection Floor Presentation Outline UNICEF and Social Protection: An equity lens Gordon Alexander, Director, UNICEF Office of Research International Labor Conference June, 2011

 UNICEF strong supporter of the Social Floor – as core business  Social Protection crucial for achieving MDG’s with equity. Income alone, however, is not enough for children  We are not moving fast enough: Governments ( and partners!)could be asked to do more  Not systematically measuring impact on children and women Key Messages

UNICEFs work in social protection : 124+ programmes in 88 countries

child-sensitive social protection  unique role to ensure child-sensitive social protection  considers different dimensions of children’s vulnerabilities (age and gender-specific)  considers intra-household dynamics and impact on children  acknowledges economic and social impact (short and long-term) of investing in children  focuses on state accountability Social protection and children’s rights

 Social protection addresses some of the underlying social and economic barriers to children’s well-being  MDG targets with an equity focus:  ‘Narrowing the gap’ to achieve results for the poorest (viz: social transfers to increase demand and use of services)  Poorest and most marginalised should not be ‘forgotten’ in implementation of social protection measures Renewing the Focus on Equity

UNICEF and the Social Protection Floor For every child Health, Education, Equality, Protection ADVANCE HUMANITY Voluntary insurance Mandatory social insurance/social security benefits of guaranteed levels for contributors THE FLOOR : essential guarantees Access to essential healthcare and education for all income security (children) assistance (unemployed and poor) income security (elderly and disabled) 4 main areas of work Technical & policy support at country level Applied and policy research Partnerships at global and national level International advocacy 3 main objectives Increase gender- and child-sensitivity of SP in order to ensure maximum benefits for vulnerable women and children. Collaborate, convene and support participation of partners in national dialogue and international policy. Support to the SPF Promote and support govt’s in creation, expansion and consolidation of SP in order to ensure children's rights. 6

Child poverty: children more likely to be poor than any other age group Inability to claim rights: Due to their dependence on adults, children cannot directly claim entitlements or access rights and services. Agency: – Even if a benefit or cash-transfer is a child-allowance or a subsidy is targeted at children, adults in household receive it and determine its use – Children cannot choose their living arrangements. For orphans and other vulnerable children (espec. in areas highly affected by HIV), living arrangements may determine access to rights. – Children are born into a social system and position but lack the agency to change it Children’s underlying vulnerability

Social protection is not = to income supplements. Overlapping dimensions of child deprivation highlight aspects that go well beyond social protection Has to be bridge to active social services: health, education, housing, HIV prevention… safe water…. Specific contribution of policies such as maternity leave Even in a well designed system, some will be left out. Explicit strategies needed for the most excluded, most remote A coordinated and integrated approach and Integrated approach to Need to see Social Protection as part of a comprehensive policy portfolio

 ‘Social floor’ as stepping stone towards adequate, life-cycle coverage; ‘Progressive realization’ of universal coverage  National Systems, tailored to context  ‘Inclusive’ social protection: gender, disparities and child-sensitivity Guiding Principles

Too many pilots ….that stay pilots. Scaling up as the key concern Address up-front the arguments on ‘un- affordability’ and challenge ‘over-targetting’ Not enough being done to support families : a measure of success (or failure?) A wider evidence -base of effective strategies ‘Champion’ countries in each region Actions to take Social Protection Floor forward