SOCIAL PROTECTION REFORM The Case of Belize

Belize in Context Area: 8,867 sq. miles Population: 322,100 Pop. Growth Rate : 3.4 Fertility Rate: 2.9 Life expectancy : 72.5 GDP per capita: US$4090 Multi-ethnic, Multi-lingual society

Belize in Context 2 Poverty rate: 41% population, 32% HH Indigent Rate: 15.8% population, 11% HH Unemployment Rate: 8.5 % Females:13.1%, Youths: 24% Female Headed HH: 24% External debt : 97% of GDP

Indigent HH Indigent Population

Belize spends a significant amount of resources on social protection ( 5.7 % of GDP ), yet this spending has not translated into results! Evidenced by the large number of poor families that remain vulnerable in Belize. Belize spends a significant amount of resources on social protection ( 5.7 % of GDP ), yet this spending has not translated into results! Evidenced by the large number of poor families that remain vulnerable in Belize.

The poor and vulnerable in Belize face a series of important risks resulting from: Macroeconomic disturbances and consequent variations in employment, income, and consumption Microeconomic conditions that expose the poorest families to a series of adverse situations. Natural disasters

The Social Protection System in Belize was found to be inadequate to address the risks these vulnerable groups face.

Key Problems Poor resource allocation Weak targeting Low program effectiveness.

GOB Social Policy Goal Promote key social sector reforms within a framework of fiscal sustainability and macroeconomic stability in order to achieve the social sector goals set out in Belizes National Poverty Elimination Strategy.

Specific Aims 1. Maintain sound macroeconomic policies 2. Improve the quality and coverage of primary health care to the most vulnerable population 3. Improve the quality of teachers and equity in secondary education financing 4. Improve the capacity to target, coordinate, monitor and evaluate social services 5. Enhance fiscal transparency and responsibility for fiscal sustainability.

Strengthening Social Safety Nets

Conditional Cash Transfer Programme Cash transfer programme targeted indigent families with children, elderly and persons with disabilities Reform started in 2008 – doubling the size of the benefit, number of beneficiaries and introducing concept of co-responsibilities. Refocusing of the programme aims- poverty alleviation and human capital development

CCT (2) Benefit is US$22 monthly per person to a maximum of 6 persons. Co-responsibilities : - 85% school attendance for children 5-17 years old - 100% immunization for children 0-5 years old - pregnant mothers access ante-natal service starting in the first trimester - 2 health checks per year for persons 60 years and over

Programme Upgrade in 2011 Renamed BOOST : Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation Increase coverage to 6000 more beneficiaries Introduction of a graduated benefit scheme for children attending school Payment of benefit through credit unions Improved targeting mechanism via refined PMT

Education Fee Waivers $300 registration fee waivers introduced in 2008 for poor first and second year secondary school students. All children in the poorest districts of Toledo and Stann Creek automatically qualify

Public Assistance Programme In kind assistance to poor families – food, rent, medical services, education expenses, funeral expenses Ceilings of benefits increased Families can be eligible for ongoing assistance within a case management framework

The Pantry Programme Subsidized food programme Targets the working poor Families can purchase of a basic basket of goods for half price Being piloted with 1300 families in the largest and poorest urban center with the highest crime rates. Administered by the Salvation Army

SISB Pilot Project in Southern Belize To probe all parts of the SISB Targeting System to reach the most poor Beneficiary Targeting Index Weight family poverty level Single Beneficiary Registry To allow the identification, registration, selection and classification of the poor population Questionnaire Design to capture information to be collected in each household members. Monitoring & Evaluation of Social Programs Evaluate the impact of social programs, in terms of changes in the quality of life of families Database Integration The need to integrate databases for a stronger system and common benefit

Objectives of the SISB Establish a technical, objective, equitable and uniform mechanism for selecting beneficiaries of social investment Specific objectives: o classify applicants of social programs in a rapid, uniform and equitable way; o strengthen institutional development of line ministries with the establishment of a modern social information system; o support inter-institutional coordination to improve impact of social spending and avoid duplications; o Focus efforts on the poorest and most vulnerable

SISB WILL BE USED TO ALLOCATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT BENEFITS WILL ONLY GO TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AT THE LOWER RANGES OF POVERTY

General Population Eligible HH SSN Programmes Beneficiaries Conditional Assistance Food Pantry Single Mothers Project Public Assistance Education $300 Subsidy

Increasing womens employability and reducing the vulnerability of female headed households.

Programme Administration Reform Modernization and streamlining of programme administration Partnerships with non-governmental entities to deliver services

Single Mothers Skills Training Programmme Single mothers with household incomes below the poverty line, who reside in south side Belize City Focused recruitment of women: a) below the age of 30 years b) with active child abuse cases c) domestic violence survivors d) who received public assistance in the past year

Single Mothers (2) Comprehensive programme that provides employable and/or entrepreneurial skills, job readiness, job identification and placement, psycho social and support services. 150 women trained and employed since programme started in late 2009.

Womens Employability Increased support to womens cooperative Re-orientation of training programmes delivered by the Women's Department

Increasing youth employability

Strengthening the Educational System : Focusing on Coverage, Quality and Efficiency School finance reform Strengthening School Inspectorate Establishment of a National Teaching Commission Increasing coverage of second chance /alternative education Re-establishment of apprenticeship programmes

Issues and Challenges These are early days and the work is very much in progress Increasing the coverage of programmes Many pots on the fire – ensuring quality and coherence in programme design, implementation and M & E Coordination with other government Ministries