Social Protection in the Caribbean: Processes, Lessons Learnt and Institutional Context Puente in the Caribbean Program – Phase II Introductory Workshop May 27-29, 2009 Castries, St. Lucia PRESENTER:MS. JOVIL MARTIN, DIRECTOR COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT St. Kitts and Nevis

Profile Two island Federation, Nevis being the smaller Population: 47,000 (2003), Nevis (9,600) 2004 UNDP Human Development Index ranks St. Kitts and Nevis 39th among 174 countries St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest nation in the Caribbean region siteresources.worldbank.org/.../StKittsandNevisCountryOverview.pdf

Political context Independent since 1983 Last election was held in The current administration, the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, has three terms There is a National Assembly in St. Kitts that provides for eleven elected representatives, eight from St. Kitts and three from Nevis. Separate elections are held for the National Assembly and the Nevis Island Assembly. The executive function of government is carried out by the Cabinet while legislative authority rests with the Parliament. There is no local government in St. Kitts The Nevis Island Assembly and the Nevis Island Administration have legislative and administrative responsibility for Nevis within the confines of the Federal structure Nevis, has its own executive branch (Nevis Island Administration) A number of referenda on secession from St. Kitts have been held, but have not passed.

Economic Context Sugar industry closed in 2005 Undergoing a transition to tourism and financial services GDP (2007): $477.4 million. GDP growth rate (2006): 5.8%. Per capita GDP (2006): $8,546. Inflation (2006): 5.25%. In2007 the main economic activity in the country were banking and insurance, construction, manufacturing and wholesale/retail representing 55.5 percent of GDP Total public and publicly guaranteed debt grew from % in 2005 to 185% in 2007

Economic Context There is a self-imposed structural programme A programme of investment incentives for businesses, to encourage domestic and foreign private investment Policies provide liberal tax holidays, duty-free import of equipment and materials, and subsidies for training provided to local personnel. Official exchange rate: EC$2.70 = U.S. $1.

Social Context Life expectancy for men 65, women 75 The literacy rate is 98%. Education is compulsory for all children 5-16 Since 1972 all students reaching the age of twelve are guaranteed a place in secondary schools Universal access also to health care 2002 pegged poverty at 30% with 14% of the people living below the indigence line of EC $ month 67.8% of the poor are under twenty-five years of age, 56% of the poor are women

Inherited a social assistance policy model based on the English Poor Law tradition Social Assistance Act 1998 Crime and violence on the increase Teenage pregnancy Drug abuse

Programmes Areas of focusPersons targeted Institution School Uniforms National Skills, Project Strong School feeding programme Day care centers Student education and learning fund School buses Education Education/Labour markets Nutrition, human capital Education Children of parents earning minimum wage or unemployed School leavers/drop outs All Primary school children Children from poor households All primary and exams fees All primary school children Public Public Private partnership Public and Private Public Travel and medical care Prescriptions, dental Lenses Fee waivers for health care, HealthPoor households Children and elderly Children and poor adults Children and elderly Public/NGO Public/private Private Public Funeral grants Food vouchers Cash transfer Rent assistance Fire victims Home repairs Low cost housing Social assistance Hunger/nutrition/poverty reduc Housing Social assistance Housing/environmental health Housing Poor households Women w/childre, eldery, disable, mentally challenged Poor households Poor household Poor households Women w/children/poor househols Public Public/NGO/CBO Public INSTITUTIONAL MAPPING

ProgrammesArea of focusPersons targetedInstitution Basic Needs Trust FundInfrastructure, construction, minor maintenance for education and health facilities, skills training and upgrading, institutional strengthening, public awareness and information and project management and implementation Communities Poor people within communities Public/CDB/CIDA Home care for the Elderly Home for the Elderly Home for vulnerable children Foster Care Programme Health and social care Health, housing, social care Housing & social care Social care, housing Elderly Elderly, disabled, mentally challenged Children, teenagers Public Public and private Public INSTITUTIONAL MAPPING

STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT MinistryProgrammesTargeting Ministry of Health, SDC & GAFood voucher, cash transfers, school uniform, funeral grants, home repairs Travel and medical care, Prescriptions, dental Lenses Fee waivers for health care and medicines Home care for the Elderly, Home for the Elderly, Home for vulnerable children, foster care programme Basic Needs Trust Fund Community Development Means tested Categorical/means tested Means tested, plus contingency targeting Categorical Categorical targeted plus means tested Expressed need Ministry of Education and Youth Youth Skills, Project STRONG School feeding programmes school buses Student education and learning fund Social Security Self targeting Non targeting, universal Categorical, self selected Ministry of lands and HousingLow income homes and land Means tested

REGISTRY SYSTEM WHOWHENBY WHOMInformation required For what purposeAre there multiple systems mechanisms Women with families Elderly Poor households Vulnerable groups, unemployed By referral Either by self or other When application is made Min. H,SDC & GA Min Education Min. Lands and housing Social Security Income, expenditure Nature of problem Medical reports Pay slips Declaration of all sources of income Inability to provide service requested For making a judgment of service benefit and level of benefit Most programmes are means tested but some are more well targeted than others. Some have leakage to the non poor and significant pressure by the non poor to access the services Services in different agencies

Key issues St. Kitts and Nevis has many good social protection programmes Shows government commitment. Services are Non conditional, systems of graduation not built in. Creates a high level of dependency Improvements are needed in the coordination of the different agencies and services There is a lack of a social policy framework which contributes to overlapping of functions and duplication of effort/services Shift from social assistance to social development is required

KEY ISSUES Economy is vulnerable and Public debt will remain high for many years to come Social Services have suffered /shrinking budget in the face of downturn in economy

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS For Social Development and Poverty Reduction European Union funded Institutional Strengthening for Social And Economic Development Project 1.Policy Review Rationalization of policy/operations to match resources A transparent targeting framework Capacity Building to withstand external pressure 2.Systems Streamline systems of delivery of the various benefits Means testing to minimize leakage Reviewing targeting mechanisms

3.Resources Institutional Review Financial management systems Concordia University 1.Management Information System UWI 1.Research

Building Partnerships Chile Puente Programme Implementation of Chile Puente in St Kitts and Nevis will need these basic processes addressed in order to succeed

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