REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA SOCIAL POLICIES FOR THE LIFE COURSE: SOCIAL TRANSFERS BOTSWANA CASE Presented by: Papadi Evelyn Nguvauva Deputy Commissioner – Social Benefits 10 – 14 OCTOBER 2010 JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA

INTRODUCTION Country Profile: Population – (2001): projections: Male: Female: Adult Literacy Rate:81.2% Poverty Rate: 23%

Social Safety Nets Programmes implemented by Ministry of Local Government Social WelfareCategoryNo. of Beneficiaries Care and support to patients Community Home Based care patients 1837 Social safety nets programmes Old age pensioners90579 World War II veterans3000 Destitute persons31991 School Feeding Orphans44003 Ipelegeng (Labour Based Public Works) TOTAL Source: DSS Monthly statistics

Cash Transfer programmes ORPHANSSCHOOL FEEDINGDESTITUTE PERSONS STATE OLD AGE PENSION Objectives of the Programme Attend to immediate needs of orphans Minimise child malnutrition and stunting and enhance learning assistance to insure good health and welfare Provide financial security to the elderly Target groupOrphaned children School age childrenPoor and destitute individuals unable to work Older individuals Eligibility criteria Child under 18 who has lost one (single parents) or two (married couples) biological or adoptive parents. Enrolment at government school Due to disabilities or chronic ill health, incapable of sustainabl e economic activity Age 65 or over, with Botswana citizenship and valid Identity Card

CoverageNational.NationalNational.National No. of beneficiaries (2010) figures Value of transfer Food: P No dataFood: P P220 Other: variable Cash: P81 Type of transfer Food; school fees, uniform and other education costs; clothing FoodFood and cash Cash Frequency of transfer MonthlyOnce daily during school term( three meals for boarders) Monthly Graduation criteria Reach 18th birthday Leave school‘Ability to sustain own livelihood’. NA ORPHANSSCHOOL FEEDINGDESTITUTE PERSONS STATE OLD AGE PENSION

Programmes Successes School feeding programme has increased the attendance rate Financial security for old age pensioners Reduced stigma to OVC Food security Provision of shelter to the needy

Challenges on the programmes No linkages with other programmes, some benefit more than once (e.g. an orphan staying with a destitute grandparent) There is no single register for all the claim holders of different programmes (programmes scattered in different Ministries) Cases of abuse of the benefits are reported (especially for the OVC) by the caregivers Separation of siblings by relatives so as to benefit from the programme Temporary Destitute persons not willing to graduate from the programme and engage in income generating programmes Lack of an over arching policy for all the safety net programmes

Lessons Learnt Need to move to cash transfers rather than food basket so as to give claim holders the chance to use the cash in other beneficial activities within the household The universal coverage does not bring stigma against the beneficiaries Need to determine the impact of these programmes at household and individual levels Non targeting for Orphans and OAP – brings issue of sustainability There is need for a ministry of Social Development to coordinate all the safety net programmes.