1 The Promise of Protection: Social Protection and Development in Asia and the Pacific Donovan Storey Chief Social Policy and Population Section Social Development Division ESCAP

Context of the study  The study emerged in response to a call from member States of ESCAP  How can social protection act to mitigate and safeguard countries in times of economic crisis?  How can social protection systems strengthen social and economic systems?  The study was formally launched to governments at the 67 th Commission Session of ESCAP (May, 2011)

Methodology and framework of the study  ESCAP invited member States and areas to contribute selected examples for the study  National experiences and good practices were consolidated as a basis for regional knowledge sharing and transfer  Showcased systems and programs reflecting the diversity of the region – including governance systems  Social protection need not depend upon high income status – least developed countries have attained universal coverage in some areas

Key Context  More than 4.2 billion live in the Asia-Pacific region, over 60% of the world’s population  The number of people living in extreme poverty fell from 1.6 to 0.9 billion ( )  Regional growth has been impressive but there remain development divides between and within countries  Several countries will not meet MDG targets in gender, health, sanitation and under-five mortality  Yet, Asia-Pacific invests comparatively less than other regions on social protection – despite its emerging wealth

Social Expenditure by Program Category 2004/5

Unmet Needs of New and Existing Populations  Youth bulge and chronic challenges of youth employment  1.1 billion workers remain in vulnerable forms of employment  Ageing populations: From 438 million in 2010 to 1.26 billion by 2050  Urbanization – gaps in urban services, infrastructure, inter-generational urban poverty  Emerging forms of vulnerability: to natural disasters and environmental change

Social Protection in the Asia-Pacific region  Examples spanned programs and systems of social protection  They range from highly sophisticated multi-sectoral and universal systems, to carefully targeted/conditional and time- bound programs (e.g. response to natural disasters)  Often these have sub-regional variants, e.g. employment guarantee schemes in South Asia; CCTs in Southeast Asia; the focus on health care and pensions in Southeast and East Asia

Building Floors – and Staircases: The case of Cambodia

Key Messages of the Study: The compelling case for action 1.Social protection is an essential basis for inclusive social and economic development 2.Universal social protection is affordable and represents an economic as well as a social investment 3.The most excluded groups should be the primary recipients of social protection programmes 4.Social protection requires advocates which encompass international, regional, national and local actors

1. Social protection is an essential basis for inclusive social and economic development  Social protection should take a ‘life course’ approach  Education, health and employment are key priorities in the region  Empowering women and girls: social protection systems must have a ‘gender lens’  Social protection can act as a form of redistribution and intergenerational transfer  Security enhances livelihood opportunities and choice: it broadens and deepens economies

2. Universal social protection is affordable and represents an economic as well as a social investment  A basic level of social protection is affordable for much of the region: fiscal space for governments exists  Decisions on coverage, cost and priority areas are political and ‘social bargains’  Several countries show ‘scaling-up and out’ strategies, others are more targeted  The more comprehensive social protection systems are the most cost-effective  Evidence of social protection as being an investment – not a cost

3. The most excluded groups should be the primary recipients of social protection programmes  The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing increasing levels of disparity  Social protection must meet the needs of the poorest – but also provide pathways (‘models of graduation’) from dependence  Social protection systems are essential forms of redistribution  But legal and institutional barriers also need to be dismantled

4. Social protection requires advocates which encompass international, regional, national and local actors  Effective social protection systems require coordination across all levels of government, and be inclusive of other key stakeholders  From fragmented programs to comprehensive systems  Regional and sub-regional frameworks; South-South exchange; multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder coalitions, are all valuable platforms  ESCAP’s role in regional cooperation for social protection

Realizing the Dividends of Social Protection Social Protection:  Builds human capacities  Offers an escape from poverty  Reduces income inequality through redistributive mechanisms  Achieves social cohesion through inclusion  Strengthens governance

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