Caribbean Conference on Horizontal Cooperation in Social Protection . .. St. Michael’s, Barbados January 19-20, 2011 Trinidad and Tobago: Lessons and Experiences The Rights of Individuals to Social and Economic Security, Universal Prosperity (RISE-UP) Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme Ministry of the People and Social Development

Trinidad and Tobago’ s Framework for Sustainable Social Development Millennium Development Goal 1: To Eradicate Extreme Hunger & Poverty T&T National Strategic Plan Pillar 2: Poverty Eradication & Social Justice Core Social Sector Ministry: Ministry of the People & Social Development Target 1 A: Halve the proportion of people living in poverty by 2015 Preference for the Poor and Disadvantaged- To reduce poverty by 2% per annum Corporate Objective 1: To reduce the incidence of poverty in society

Trinidad &Tobago’s Social Situation: Poverty Information Population (1,262,366) Living above poverty line (1,051,551) Non-Poor (937,939) Vulnerable (113,612) Living below poverty line (210,815) Poor (195,667) Indigent (15,148) The 2005 Survey of Living Conditions revealed that the number of persons living below the poverty line declined from 36% in 1992 to 16.7% in 2005. Level of Poverty and Vulnerability lines TT$ Per Month TT$ Per Annum Revised Poverty Line 2009/2010 Indigence line $255.00 3,060.00 479.75 Poverty Line $665.00 7,980.00 1247.34 Vulnerability Line $831.25 9,975.00

Poverty Demographics for Trinidad & Tobago PERCENTAGE OF POOR BY REGIONAL CORPORATION 2005 - Trinidad Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo 10.5 Tunapuna/Piarco 10.5 San Juan/Laventille 14.7 Diego Martin 14.9 Point Fortin 24.6 Chaguanas 8.9 Arima 4.5 San Fernando 11.2 Siparia 27.7 Penal/Debe 12.0 Princes Town 30.0 Sangre Grande 39.1 Mayaro/Rio Claro 26.6 Port of Spain 18.0 PERCENTAGE OF REGIONAL CORPORATION POOR 2005 - Tobago

T&T’s Investment in the Social Sector 2004-2010 Percentage of Budgeted Allocations to the Core Social Sector Ministries in Trinidad and Social Services Divisions of the THA for the period 2004-2010 Allocations to Core Social Sector Ministries in Trinidad and Social Services Divisions of the THA in Relation to GDP (2004-2009)

Core Social Sector Ministries involved in Poverty Reduction in T&T Ministry of the People and Social Development Social Welfare; TCCTP; Poverty Reduction Programme Community Development -Non Traditional Skills Training for Women -Defining Masculine Excellence Education -School Nutrition Programme -Textbook Rental/Loan Programme Health -Chronic Disease Assistance Programme -Surgical Waiting List Public Utilities -Utilities Assistance -National Social Development Programme (NSDP) National Security -Civilian Conservation Corps -MYPART, -MILAT Housing & the Environment -Home Improvement Grant/subsidy -Government Housing Programme -Squatter Regularization Establishment of a Multi-Sectoral Working Committee to review all programmes targeted at poverty alleviation and social support to make recommendations to: Strengthen the synergy, reach and impact of poverty alleviation programmes through rationalisation and integration; and Assist households to step up to prosperity and to reduce the number of people classified as poor by 2 per cent each year. Science, Technology and Tertiary Education -Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) -Mulit-Sector Skills Training Programme (MuST) -Retraining Programme Food Production, Land & Marine Affairs -Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture Finance Unemployment Relief Programme (URP)

The SSN Landscape in Trinidad and Tobago Social Assistance Old Age Pension, Public Assistance, Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Utilities Assistance Program, Disability Assistance, Urgent Temporary Assistance, Secondary School Book Grants, Government Assistance for Tertiary Education Social Security National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Widow and Orphan Fund (State) Gratuity & Severance Annuities Health & Nutrition School Nutrition Program, Financial Assistance to Necessitous Patients, Patient Care Program, Chronic Disease Assistance Plan, Government Subsidy for Adult Cardiac Surgery, Special Diet Assistance Labor Market Unemployment Relief, Youth Training &Employment, Multi-Sector Skills Training, Adult Education, Civilian Conservation Corps, Adolescent Mothers Program, multiple Micro Enterprise programs Community-based Community Development Fund, Micro-project Fund Housing Home Improvement Grants, Low Income Settlement Program, Low Income Housing Care & Protection Care and Protection Services General Subsidies Oil and gas

Benefits of the Horizontal Cooperation Programme to T&T The Network has created opportunities for building awareness and dialogue in support of major social development issues relevant to member states; This programme has allowed Caribbean nations to share experiences and learn from each other; The effort of the Network, through its various training initiatives in the area of social development and poverty alleviation, has helped to strengthen human resource capacity in the formulation and implementation of poverty reduction initiatives; This exchange of experience reduced the challenges/pitfalls experienced and helped us to expand social capital in our programme; Improved capacity building - study visits, internships, workshops, seminars and the virtual platform was valuable in the transfer of social technology Challenges Experienced: At the organizational level included -: Turnover of Staff Competing responsibilities

Evolution of the RISE-UP Programme in T&T Social Help And Rehabilitative Efforts (SHARE) Basic Support for the Socially Vulnerable through hamper distribution PUENTE Learning Experience Adaptation of Best Practices derived from the Chile Solidario System TCCTP/ STEP-UP Holistic Approach to Poverty Reduction with a conditional component TCCTP/Rights of Individuals to Social and Economic Security –Universal Prosperity (RISE-UP) Sustainable Poverty Reduction/ Rights-based Approach The T.C.C.T.P is intended to provide social protection by promoting nutrition and food security to vulnerable households, thereby reducing the incidence of poverty. The T.C.C.T.P addresses food insecurity via a cash transfer while simultaneously spearheading rehabilitative and developmental activities by ensuring that recipients are afforded skills training as well as referrals and assistance in finding employment as a prerequisite for receiving the cash transfer. The programme also provides training in specific areas including: budgetary planning, family planning, career guidance and life skills and is governed by Policy Guidelines

RISE-UP Model: Trinidad and Tobago Family Worker & client will begin to examine the key areas of family life & construct the STEPS to a higher standard of living: Minimum conditions established. Psychosocial Support Client Assessment (Eligibility) Programme Offer Developmental Programmes Life Skills Employment Opportunities Social Protection FIN Minimum Conditions Achieved Graduation The Rights of Individuals to Social and Economic Security-Universal Prosperity was designed to implement the conditional component of the TCCTP and is to be executed via the Family Intervention Network (FIN). RISE-UP utilises family caseworkers to provide ongoing psychosocial support to clients by addressing eight dimensions: personal identification, health, education, housing, employment, family dynamics, safety/security and income RISE- UP

8 Pillars of RISE-UP: Conditional Component of TCCTP Personal Identification Income Education Employment Family Dynamics Health Housing Safety & Security

Linkages among Social Protection measures in T&T -Utilities Assistance -National Social Development Programme Social Sector MPSD TCCTP/ RISE-UP -Electronic debit Card -Life skills training -Developmental programmes -Psycho-social support -Women in Harmony Public Utilities Community Development Housing Health Education Poverty Reduction Programme Social Welfare Micro-enterprise Grant Micro-enterprise Loans -Public Assistance Grant -General Assistance Grant

TCCTP Administrative Structure How is RISE-UP implemented ??? . National Director Assistant Director RISE-UP Secretariat (National Training Coordinator (1) & Human Development Officers (3) Database Administrator (1) Outreach Coordinator (1) Regional Managers (4) Regional Coordinators/ Offices (15) Executive Assistant (1) Project Secretary (1) Drivers (2) Data Entry Clerks (5) Liaison Officers / Family Case Workers (105)

New Approaches in RISE-UP Programme Needs New Approaches in RISE-UP Outcomes New Targeting Model Geographic Targeting: Direct Impact- Reaching Out to the People/Seeking out the People Community Targeting Means Testing Self Selection Referred Clients A more pro-active approach to targeting the vulnerable by meeting them at their doors and within communities A co-responsibility framework with beneficiaries to achieve their commitments during the process Social Contract A system that allows clients to become agents of their own change instead of assuming the role of passive recipients Comprehensive approach to poverty reduction RISE- UP/ Life -Skills Training Linkages with other Social Sector Programmes Rights-based Approach Greater emphasis on the family unit-addressing the individual’s problems in the context of the family’s situation Basic support which enables beneficiaries to function within the system. Multiple Grant Card Integration of the various offerings into a coordinated and coherent system. This will allow the TCCTP to address the diverse expressions of poverty and make a comprehensive offering to beneficiaries to promote sustainable poverty reduction. Reorganization of existing resources with a focus on the vulnerable Family Intervention Network Preferential access for vulnerable families to a suite of social services Agent of change who commits to the families during the process and links them to the networks. Integrated Enterprise Case Management System Psychosocial support through the provision of a social worker who works directly with the families: the Family Worker

Direct Impact-Reaching Out to the People Ministry of Social Development on community visits..... The Ministry of the People and Social Development has embarked on a series of community visits aimed at reaching out to the people The initiative is entitled ‘Direct Impact’ Other ministries have also come on board, and even members of civil society have been prompted to reach the most vulnerable in society and ensure they are given a better quality of life. At the visits, the public is informed about social services that are currently available such as the TTCARD and social welfare as well as how to access them. The Princes Town community visit came off as planned and Minister of the People and Social Development, Glenn Ramadharsingh had an opportunity to speak with residents The Ministry of the People and Social Development 'Direct Impact' Outreach in Penal 23 July, 2010 03:14:00 The Ministry of the People and Social Development's "Direct Impact” Outreach to communities was at the Siparia MP’s constituency office, Penal Junction on July 21, 2010. Minister of the People and Social Development Dr. Glenn Ramadharsingh delivered remarks at the event, and Prime Minister Kamal Persad-Bissessar attended in her capacity as MP. Staff of the Ministry of the People and Social Development assist residents in filling out application forms for various social programmes in Penal. Govt plans multiple application card for needy By MELISSA DASSRATH Sunday, October 10 2010

Review of TCCTP -Survey of over 15,000 households

Review of TCCTP

Initiatives of the MPSD Decentralisation of Social Services Delivery (One-stop approach to social services delivery would provide the structure to facilitate RISE-UP) Development of an Integrated Social Enterprise Management System (Create the information technology platform to facilitate an Integrated Enterprise Case Management System) The Way Forward: RISE-UP Development of a Policy for RISE-UP to ensure the integration of the conditional component of the programme and establish clear linkages with in-house social services and external services (housing, education, health) This Framework would incorporate a Rights-based Approach, where clients are given preferential access to social protection measures. Movement to a Multiple-Grant Card and card rebranding Main Tasks to be Addressed by Technical Teams: Cabinet Approvals Formalisation of relationships with key social sector Ministries and stakeholders Staffing, Training and Financial Resources

Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (TCCTP) Recipients - Trinidad POS Diego Martin San Juan/Laventille Tunapuna/Piarco Sangre Grande Chaguanas Couva Tabaquite Talparo San Fernando Map show number of card holders to April 2008. Total 24,260. However, the figure increased to over 32,000 in 2009. Princes Town Mayaro Rio Claro Point Fortin Penal/Debe Siparia

2,372 2,372 TCCTP CARD RECIPIENTS - TOBAGO 2 Figure show number of card holders to April 2008   2, 372 Cards distributed throughout country

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