1. Expanding Social Protection in Africa A case of Kenya
Development Talks seminar on Social protection
11th March, 2016
Stockholm, Sweden
Presentation by Winnie Mwasiaji
It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to participate in this workshop.
I will discuss the relationships between social protection and economic growth, with a particular emphasis on evidence from South Africa.
Before tackling the main question, it’s useful to speak briefly about the problem of poverty that social protection addresses, and how we think about it.

2. Presentation Outline Kenya at a Glance Social protection for Kenya
Expanding social protection in Kenya
Examples of SP interventions in Kenya
Operational challenges
Mid-term government priorities
What needs to be in place for Establishment & Expansion of effective SP
Opportunities for Kenya
Policy Gaps
Key debate in SP design & implementation
Conclusions

3. Kenya at a Glance
Population estimated to be 38.3m (Kenya Economic Survey );
46 % living below poverty line (KIHBS 2005/2006);
19.1% extremely poor (KIHBS 2005/2006);
Poverty gap estimated to be 16.9%;
Orphans estimated to be 2.4 million;
5% of population over 65 years of age;
4.6% of population estimated to be PWDs (Kenyan Survey);
HIV/AIDS Prevalence 6%.

4. Social Protection for Kenya
Policies and actions, including legislative measures, that enhance the capacity of and opportunities for the poor and vulnerable to improve and sustain their lives, livelihoods, and welfare, that enable income-earners and their dependants to maintain a reasonable level of income through decent work, and that ensure access to affordable healthcare, social security, and social assistance.

5. Scope of SP in Kenya
NSSF, Public Servant Pension Scheme, private schemes (contributory)
Equity and Poverty Reduction
Risk Management
labor market instruments,
Pension Schemes, Employment injury benefits etc.
HEALTH INSURANCE
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
NHIF and other private health insurance covers (mainly contributory)
Social Protection
Cash Transfers, in-kind transfers etc.

6. Cost of Safety Nets + Pensions Funding (KES)

7. Examples of SP interventions in Kenya
Support to communities affected by droughts, floods and other environmental events;
Support to displaced communities - maintenance and resettlement;
Risk management interventions e.g. National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), National Social Security Fund (NSSF);
Establishment & Expansion of cash transfers

8. SOCIAL CASH TRANSFERS IN KENYA
PROGRAMMES
COVERAGE
FINDING AGENCIES
CT-OVC
355,830
40,000 - DFID
HNSP
100,000
GOK/DFID
OPCT
318,497
GOK
DISABILITY GRANT
45,505
TOTAL COVERAGE
819,832
WE HAVE OTHER SEVERAL CASH AND FOOD TRANSFERS PROGRAMME IN EDUCATION,AGRICULTURE,HEALTH,RELIEF,CONTRIBUTORY AND OTHERS .a HH in Kenya have an average of 5 members
11/6/2018

9. Cash transfer scale up plan
National Safety Net Program (NSNP) Coverage per program
Program
Coverage hh FY 2013/2014
Coverage hh FY 2014/2015
Coverage hh FY 2015/2016
Expected Coverage hh FY 2016/2017
Cash Transfer For Orphans And Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC)
256,830
255,263
355,830
505,830
Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP)
59,924
76,553
100,000
Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT)
161,729
218,497
318,497
468,497
Persons With Severe Disability (PWSD-CT)
13,024
25,505
45,505
75,505
Total Coverage Households
491,507
575,818
819,832
1,149,832

10. Medium- Term priorities
Slum up grading and low-cost housing program
Fully finance Universal Free Primary Education and free tuition in secondary schools with effect from 2015.
Rollout free tuition in tertiary programs in FY 2016/17 throughout the country
Increase coverage of free maternity programme; free primary health care and expanded free polio immunization for children under 5 years;
Empowerment programs for the youth
Increase budgetary allocation toward the National Safety Net Program.

11. Operational challenges
Inefficient administrative structures –
Institutional Capacity (Skills, staffing, equipment),
Poor delivery mechanisms – this has been addressed;
Inadequate Technology e.g. electronic payment system, data management etc.- has been addressed (single registry)
Lack of data and monitoring systems
Targeting– leading to inclusion & exclusion errors (High leakage rate -some are deliberate) – committees formed at local levels to address this;
Political interference in some cases;

12. Operational challenges Contd.
Integrity of some implementers;
Inadequate Monitoring and Evaluation system – this is under development;
Lack of a proper complaints and grievance system – this has been put in place;
Poor Expansion plans for some programs- this has since been developed;

13. What is required for Establishment & Expansion of SP
Own Government Funding -While donor support is helpful, government should ensure home grown funding for sustainability of the SP programmes
Kenya has shown this commitment through increased budgetary allocation to various SP interventions over the years
Relevant & Adequate policies and legislations for effective delivery of SP;
Good governance is critical for successful implementation of these programs (targeting, payment, complaint & grievance address systems etc.)

14. Requirements Contd..
Adequate data on Social Protection must be available to inform programming;
Focused & Adequate recourse allocation;
Political will and good leadership is key for gaining fiscal space to sustain the programs;
Governments should ensure avail essential services including education, healthcare to compliment SP interventions;
Tackle the myths related to SP - affordability, dependency
Good data systems (IT) should be put in place to allow for coordinated and effective implementation;

15. 3. Linkages to other external information users and data sources
IPRS
(Population
Database)
Ministry of Planning
NIMES Indicators
Central SP Database
2. Central Database containing programmes, beneficiary/applicant names, id number, age/date of birth and transfer amounts
1. Enhancement Scenario (Databases that are able to talk to each other)
HSNP
HSNP Database
SQL Server
WFPs e-voucher
e-voucher
Database
CT-OVC
OPCT, PWSD-CT & UFSP

16. Opportunities for Kenya
International & National agreements- Strong political, economic and social rights declarations (Africa Union, Livingstone Call for Action)
Political Will - Ruling Party manifestos (Interest and commitment to social protection)
Constitution of Kenya - contains a comprehensive Bill of Rights.
Country Development Plans – Social protection is a priority to the government

17. Prerequisites Contd.
Long term strategies should be incorporated in CT programs to aid graduation;
Kenya is currently piloting health subsidy with15,000 poor households having OVC
We are also trying to include the youth from the poor household in the Kenya Youth Empowerment Program
Coordination and institutional structures must be established/strengthened to ensure effectiveness;
Delivering mechanisms must ensure an accurate, transparent and predictable process;
Create a partnership and champions cross the sectors;

18. Policy Gaps Inadequate national financing
Scare resources with competing national interests and priorities;
Inappropriately invested of resources - geographical and sectorally - High poverty levels – huge demands for services;
Inadequate understanding of SP concept – seen as handouts;
Lack of mechanisms for graduation / sustainability;
Lack of legal Framework
Poor coordination of SP programs;
No clear strategies for addressing sustainability;

19. Gaps Contd.
Most social security schemes are contributory- leaving out the unemployed;
Some Interventions are fragmented, irregular, unpredictable and inadequate (scattered policies and programs);
Inadequate information sharing between actors:
Risk of duplication, abuse or loss of resources
Some SP programs are not accessible to the poorest & vulnerable population – credit & financial inclusion facilities;

20. Key debate in SP design & implementation
Affordability – How do we maintain Political will and acceptability by tax payers & policy makers;
Accountability – How do we ensure accountability from both implementer and beneficiaries (governance issues)
Coverage - Universality vs Targeting
Dependency- Is this real? How do we avoid this?
Sustainability – How do we build on medium & long term strategies for SP (focusing on Strategic Policy issues vs immediate response?
Duration of support - How long do we give support to a household Social assistance)? Is graduation and Exit possible? How do we facilitate?
Conditional vs non conditional (co-responsibilities) cash transfers – which one works?

21. Conclusions
There is need to shift to long term, predictable and guaranteed social protection programming
It is important to engage all stakeholders (in the planning, design, implementation and monitoring) so as to:
build synergy between the various stakeholders in the SP arena;
Take advantage of competencies of different agencies in SP arena;
To enhance ownership and commitment to SP implementation
A good systems and strategies are necessary for successful delivery of SP

22. ASANTENI SANA