MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Belize’s Co-responsibility Cash Transfer Program Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation name

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Belize : Background & Context ► Belize – independent since 1981 ► Size: small – 8866 sq. miles ► Population: / HHs ► Part of both the Caribbean & Central America ► Young population: 60% below age of 25 ► Rising Levels of Poverty ► High Crime Rate ► Gini 0.42

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST Background ► BOOST signals a new era of social protection reform in Belize; challenged the status quo! ► Influenced by Mexico’s “Oportunidades”, Brazil’s own “Bolsa Família” and Jamaica's PATH programme ► Began early 2011 ► Flagship program for Ministry (raised profile) ► Now reaches over beneficiaries from households.

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – Program Objectives A Conditional Cash Transfer program Two broad aims: immediate poverty reduction through a small, but regular cash payment break family’s cycle of poverty through human development of children

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – What is it? There 4 outcomes we can measure: 1.Short term service use attendance at school number of health centre visits 2.Final Outcomes educational attainment improved health

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – What is it? There 4 outcomes we can measure: 3.Short term HH welfare family income and expenditures 4. Long term HH welfare child’s future income/wealth mental well-being / happiness

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – Design Details Aimed at five groups of individuals: Women who are pregnant Children 0-4 School children (Infant I – Form IV) Elderly (over 60 years of age) Physically disabled Each group has to meet criteria for payments

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST Features: Compliance ► Children: 0-4 follow Ministry of Health’s vaccination and health check calendar ► Children: 5-14 and attend 85% of school  Non-compliance: 1 st month – half payment  Non-compliance: 2 nd month – no payment ► Elderly population: two health checks per year ► Only education conditions are monitored now ► Health: soft conditions

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Payment Structure [1] ► Payments made to female if possible ► Basic payment is BZ$44 ≡ US$22 a month ► Increases by school level and sex Max. payment is $82 for males & $75 for females $5 F / $7 M $5 F / $10 M +$2 +$5

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Payment Structure [2] Why? Males drop out of school… At greater rates At early levels Secondary school net enrolment data: Males = 37% Females = 44%

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST: Future… ► Monitor Health Conditions  Data exchange with Ministry of Health pending ► Potential for other services offered to BOOST households:  Parenting Course  Financial planning (through Credit Unions)  Skills building and training ► Managed expansion ► Evaluation & Research : Impact on household

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – Program Impact ► Two levels of Impact:  Beneficiaries  Social Protection Sector

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Program Impact – Beneficiaries [1] ► No impact study conducted, but anecdotal evidence from process evaluation conducted by the World Bank ( June 2012)

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Program Impact – Beneficiaries [2]

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Program Impact – SP System [1] ► BOOST as a key driver of wider system reform; intra- and inter-ministry by highlighting ‘opportunities’ in the SP system  Difficulty in getting birth certificates / SS#s  Lack of co-ordination between units /ministries ► Led to collaboration between Education Ministry [Truancy Unit] and MHDSTPA in collecting attendance data from schools

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Program Impact – SP System [2] ► Growing degree of appreciation for evidence based social policy across government ► Moving beyond quantifying the poor to actually targeting services by design… Only programme to use a transparent, objective eligibility criterion (PMT) ► Shown that Government can implement complex, modern and effective programs

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Program Impact – SP System [3] ► Positive feedback from multi-lateral donors ► Ministry profile raised (still a small ministry

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – Program Sustainability ► Wholly funded from GoB recurrent expenditure [very positive] ► High profile with politicians and public  Prime Minister attributes some of last electoral success to BOOST  Good mention in local media

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit BOOST – Innovation ► Really was a new experience for Ministry in terms of implementing such a large, complex program… ► In-House MIS ► Credit Union Accounts ► Proxy Means Test (PMT)

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Innovations: In-House MIS [1] ► Started as series of Excel worksheets… ► Now an Access DB & Website for case mgmt ► Evolution of MIS was demand driven & specifically for context ► All built in-house – zero cost (except for sleepless nights!) ► Extensive use of Google functionality

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Innovations: In-House MIS [2]

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Innovations: In-House MIS [3]

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Innovations: Credit Unions ► Real emphasis on signing up beneficiaries to Credit Unions:  Access to wider financial services  Security [previously large amounts of cash being paid]  No transaction cost using CUs ► Currently 98% of beneficiaries paid through CUs

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Innovations: Proxy Means Test ► Isn’t so innovative in terms of other CCT program in region ► But was sharp change for MHDSTPA  Technical assistance from another project team  Difficulty in explaining results to officers and public

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit Replication & potential for exchange ► Evidence suggest CCTs are easy to replicate in different countries and contexts [vast number being implemented in over 30 countries] ► Some of design settings could be equally applicable to other Caribbean states ► Great potential for exchange

MHDSTPA : Policy and Planning Unit