1. Presentation to the Policy Dialogue and a South – South Learning Event Johannesburg, RSA 11 October, 2010 Ministry of Development Planning and Cooperation Poverty Reduction and Social Protection Division Harry Mwamlima

2. Social Protection and Financing 1992/93 Drought Recovery Programme (DRP) Starter Pack Schemes (SPS) in 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 Cabinet endorsement of the National Safety Nets Strategy (NSNS) in February, 2000 1. Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy (MPRS) - 2001 (Pillar 4: Protection of the Vulnerable) hence the National Safety Nets Programme October, 2002) 2. Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) - 2006 (Theme 2: ‘‘Social Protection’’ &‘‘Disaster Risk Management’’) ‘‘Social Protection is an improvement of the National Safety Net Programme under the MPRS’’

3. From NSNP to SP Capacity constraints; Ad hoc and uncoordinated implementation; Inadequate funding; Inherent programme design challenges; and Lack of a policy. Government in 2006, embarked on the formulation of the National Social Protection/Support Programme

4. Rationale Cont’d The National Social Support Policy has been formulated to provide a holistic framework to address chronic poverty and vulnerability. Objectives –To provide welfare support to those that are unable to construct a viable livelihood –To protect the assets and improve the resilience of poor and vulnerable households –To increase the productive capacity and asset base of poor and vulnerable households to move them above the poverty line –To establish coherent and progressive social protection synergies by ensuring strong positive linkages to influence economic and social policies, and disaster management

5. Policy Development Process The Social Protection Stock take/ Review was finalised by April, 2007. The World Bank supported this process following the Road Map (Plan) The Social Protection Framework was produced and discussed by the Steering Committee on 13 th April, 2007. DFID supported this process A sub committee of the National Social Protection Committee produced the 1 st Policy February, 2007 The Technical Committee discussed the Draft from 2007 through 2008

6. Policy Development Process Cont’d Three regional workshops were conducted from November, 2007 through December 2008; International NGOs with communities December, 2007; Local NGOs in early 2008; The Community Services and Social Development Committee of Parliament was consulted in April, 2008; Chairpersons of all Standing Committees of Parliament were consulted in April, 2008; Principal Secretaries were consulted on 7 th May 2008; and The Development Partners were consulted on 15 th May 2008. ‘‘The Social Protection Policy was discussed at Cabinet on 17 th October 2008’’

7. Main Actors –National Social Support Steering Committee (NSSSC) -To provide policy direction and resource mobilization; –Ministry of Development Planning and Cooperation – is the custodian of the Policy, Programme and Basket Fund arrangement as coordinating secretariat; –Line ministries – Policy direction, resource mobilization and supervision. –Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLG&RD) – Implementation through Local Councils (LCs) –NGOs – Implementers, advocacy, awareness raising, M&E –Development partners – Technical and financial assistance, capacity development, advocacy

8. Financing SP Programmes A Social Support Fund (SSF) will be created to contribute to the Local Development Fund; Government revenue Long-term donor support through budget support, pool funding or earmarked funding; Private sector or private foundations contributions; (NGOs parallel funding); Budget = (ORT + Devpt i.e. PSIP), (1)Devpt – (2)Social Services (Social Justice) - (3)SP will be for five years

9. 9  Employment  Skill building  Capital  Productive Assets  Protection from asset/capital erosion  Survival  Productive Assets  Employment PROTECTION AND PROMOTION Agricultural inputs subsidy Public works programmes Insurance programmes (Social, Crop & Livestock) Village savings & loans Micro-credit / Micro-finance PROMOTION Public works programmes School Meals Programme Cash and food for assets combined with skills building and cash for consumption/ Adult literacy training PROVISION Social cash transfers School Meals Programme CATEGORIES AND THEIR SOCIAL SUPPORT NEEDS POTENTIAL SOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMMES/ INTERVENTIONS Draft Suggested Outline Under Discussion 5*% 10 % 25%  Survival  Investment in human capital Ultra Poor with Labour Capacity Ultra Poor & Incapacitated Moderately Poor 40% MALAWI POVERTY LINE 15% Ultra Poor

10. Existing Social Protection Measures, Coverage and Impact 2009 Social Protection Measures Direct Beneficiari es Approximate Cost (USD) Financial & Technical Support Supporting Framework Public Works Programmes (MASAF - 2 Weeks) 1,000,0007.6World Bank, DFID(Awaits Policy Approval) Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme 1,600,000136.0Malawi Government, DFID, Norway, ADB, Irish Republic, World Bank The Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Agriculture Development Plan School Feeding623,00024.0WFP, Marry Meals, UNICEF Supported through the Cabinet Directive for Universal School Meals programme Social Cash Transfer (Pilot) 24,000 (hhs) 4.1NAC (Global Fund), UNICEF, Irish Aid, Malawi Government Pilot was endorsed by Cabinet on 8 th November, 2006 Village Savings and Loans 1000,0001.0NGOs(Awaits Policy Approval)

11. Challenges The delay in passing the SS Policy is creating difficulties to bring development partners on board; Short term nature of existing SP programmes; Inadequate financing; Unavailability of meaningful and efficient SPP and linkages for different categories of the poor; Difficulties in targeting eligible beneficiaries due to insufficient systematic data on number of households in villages (with demographic & economic details); Inadequate Government human capacity at national and district levels; and Unavailability of National Identification system.

12. Lessons learned Advocacy support from partners is helping raise the profile of SP programmes (Global, Regional and in country meetings are important); Strong relationship with the Civil Society and Development Partners, including wide consultations, transparent, participatory and well documented processes are necessary; Create linkages with other programmes to maximize opportunities (This will help ease targeting); Provide appropriate and long term capacity building assistance.

13. End of Presentation Thank You For Your Attention!!