1. Associate Director and Chief, Social Inclusion and Policy
Social Protection Coordination and Cooperation in Africa Africa Union – SPIAC B Joint Session 26 April 2017 Algiers
Alexandra Yuster
Associate Director and Chief, Social Inclusion and Policy
UNICEF New York

2. UNICEF Global Support on Social Protection
Few countries missing:
Belize
Nicaragua
Honduras
El Salvador
Guatemala
Iran
Namibia
Sudan
South Sudan
Belarus
Macedonia
Albania
Serbia
Armenia
Moldova
Montenegro
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina

3. UNICEF Social Protection Support: Africa-wide
Working at national level with government partners to strengthen social protection in almost every country on the continent
Gives a snapshot of the breadth our social protection support in the region (albeit a politically outdated one – apologies South Sudan)
UNICEF country offices reporting some support to national governments on social protection work – as of 2015 as well.
At minimum – analytical support to help counterparts understand who is poor and vulnerable and might benefit from SP progrmmaing.
In many – the majority, support on multiple fronts as described in the next slide
Difference in policy and programmatic questions around social protection. Regional differences in focus given different contexts
Eastern and Southern Africa
How to finance scale-up/expansion? What are the financing options available? How to sustain investments?
How to bring fragmented programmes together? What are the key building blocks of a social protection systems?
How to make sure design of social protection programmes effectively reach children (and families) affected by HIV and AIDS?
West and Central
Do CT create dependency? Are CT handouts? How ensure beneficiaries are not discouraged from income generating activities? (first generation questions?)
“Cash plus” – how to combine CTs with other services and information
How to make SP programmes flexible to effective respond to emergencies?
North Africa
Bringing together fragmented programmes, and necessary mechanisms
Increasing equity and addressing exclusion
Subsidy reform and possible re-allocation

4. UNICEF Social Protection Support: Africa-wide
In support of greater coverage and enhanced impact on children and families….
Systems strengthening
E.g. national policies and strategies, administrative tools, links between programmes and coordination between ministries, strengthening social welfare services and case management
Including reform, where programmes are long-established
Expansion and scale-up of cash transfer programmes in the region
linking cash transfers with social services to increase impacts
Strengthening social protection to respond to and recover from humanitarian crises
Generating evidence on the impacts of social protection on children and families - to improve programmes and maximize positive impacts
National financing
Making the case for and identifying options to increase national budget allocations
Supporting subsidies reforms to ensure progressive social spending
South-south learning – bilateral, but also region-wide through CT Community of Practice
This gives an idea of the breadth of our support
UNICEF work tailored to national priorities, but some common areas of support
Focus is on social assistance and links to services (though some elements help link up with other important aspect of SP, like pensions, public works, health insurance)
System strengthening is key – UNICEF (in collab w UN, WB and other partners) helps govt strengthen SP systems to provide effective SP programmes to children and families by
Helping develop comprehensive policies
(see list above)
Cash transfer pgms are often the flagship – getting this right is crucial.
SP & Cash in emergency –
when emergency strikes, helping countries make use of existing – even fledgling SP systems = to get cash to affected populations – Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Kenya (mainly climate related so far in the region)
Helping countries with ongoing conflict establish pgms despite the challenges – e.g. Somalia, Mali
Need/plan to support further on preparedness
Often play lead role in coordination of social protection working groups
- UNICEF brings helpful links with other social service sectors
Alex – note that the CoP does not cover North Africa, although we have explored possibility of extending

5. Emerging Trends: Africa-wide
Difference in policy and programmatic questions around social protection. Different moments?
Eastern and Southern Africa
How to finance scale-up/expansion? What are the financing options available? How to sustain investments?
How to bring fragmented programmes together? What are the key building blocks of a social protection systems?
How to make sure design of social protection programmes effectively reach children (and families) affected by HIV and AIDS?
West and Central
Do CT create dependency? Are CT handouts? How ensure beneficiaries are not discouraged from income generating activities? (first generation questions?)
“Cash plus” – how to combine CTs with other services and information
How to make SP programmes flexible to effective respond to emergencies?
North Africa
Bringing together fragmented programmes, and necessary mechanisms
Increasing equity and addressing exclusion
Subsidy reform and possible re-allocation

6. What is the state of SP in Africa: Coverage and financing
Limited coverage and national investment in social protection (social assistance and other)
Presentation Overview
Source: ILO World Social Protection Report 2014