1. Have you ever been involved in the evaluation of social protection programs? What is the approach to assessing such programs?
Yes, nationally and sub-nationally as well as internationally. At national level in my country the Government has created a program called "Samurdhi", in English "Prosperity". It is a social protection program for citizens living well below the poverty line. The vision is "To make a Poverty Free Empowered and Prosperous Sri Lanka by 2030”. The mission is “Contributing to economic development through the building up of a poverty free prosperous country by empowering disadvantaged people (economically, socially, politically, physically, psychologically, legally and environmentally) and minimizing regional disparity through delivering effective, efficient, speedy and productive solutions in a people-friendly manner through the satisfactory contribution of the network of Departmental, Community Based Organizations and Micro-Finance Institutions and professionals with the collaboration of the private, public, people and political sectors and local and global agencies“.
At sub-national level, micro finance institutions, NGOs and other government sub-national entities have taken over most of the targets from economic to social achievements. Therefore, most programs circle it around this objective. However, there are gaps showing in this program due to various social and political environment embedded into the systems.
Initially the program adopted the longstanding welfare approach using both monetary approach and non- monetary approach.
Then it expanded to address the multidimensional aspects of poverty such as economy (consumption and assets), human development (education, health, safe sanitation, safe drinking water, electricity), socio-cultural dimension (dignity and network), political dimensions (power and voice) and protective aspects (conflict, natural disasters, risk of eviction).
2. What are the key elements that any expert would be looking for in social protection activities/programs?
The evaluation questions should address both economic and social aspects of the social protection programme,to assess its contribution to community development in rural areas:
• Is the programme sustainable, contributing to a stable community rather than creating dependency?
• Are the program elements linked with national priorities in terms of livelihood development? F.i. are there links with agriculture/non agriculture sectors, government Agribase/non Agriculture trade subsides/welfare programmes, and activities relating alternative and product development non traditional agribase products?
• Is the program considering land Management, Agriculture land distribution and harvesting technics?
• Are there activities supporting livelihoods such as market development activities relating to the local areas, market expandable beyond the local area, usable technology and introducing new methods, product development?
• Financial inclusion, control over income over expenditure management, loan management.
• Family management and prevention of addiction: such as alcoholism, drugs (locally and internally made stuff) local gambling, abuses and harassment on women and children.
RE: What about stakeholders? Evaluation of social protection programs.
Dear Patricia,
see below my comments on your questions 1 and 2.
1. Have you ever been involved in the evaluation of social protection programs? What is the approach to assessing such programs?
Yes, nationally and sub-nationally as well as internationally. At national level in my country the Government has created a program called "Samurdhi", in English "Prosperity". It is a social protection program for citizens living well below the poverty line. The vision is "To make a Poverty Free Empowered and Prosperous Sri Lanka by 2030”. The mission is “Contributing to economic development through the building up of a poverty free prosperous country by empowering disadvantaged people (economically, socially, politically, physically, psychologically, legally and environmentally) and minimizing regional disparity through delivering effective, efficient, speedy and productive solutions in a people-friendly manner through the satisfactory contribution of the network of Departmental, Community Based Organizations and Micro-Finance Institutions and professionals with the collaboration of the private, public, people and political sectors and local and global agencies“.
At sub-national level, micro finance institutions, NGOs and other government sub-national entities have taken over most of the targets from economic to social achievements. Therefore, most programs circle it around this objective. However, there are gaps showing in this program due to various social and political environment embedded into the systems.
Initially the program adopted the longstanding welfare approach using both monetary approach and non- monetary approach.
Then it expanded to address the multidimensional aspects of poverty such as economy (consumption and assets), human development (education, health, safe sanitation, safe drinking water, electricity), socio-cultural dimension (dignity and network), political dimensions (power and voice) and protective aspects (conflict, natural disasters, risk of eviction).
For more information:
http://www.samurdhi.gov.lk/web/images/stories/publications/english/samurdhi_programme.pdf
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/5305/MK%20Nadeeka-43-64.pdf?sequence=1
2. What are the key elements that any expert would be looking for in social protection activities/programs?
The evaluation questions should address both economic and social aspects of the social protection programme,to assess its contribution to community development in rural areas:
• Is the programme sustainable, contributing to a stable community rather than creating dependency?
• Are the program elements linked with national priorities in terms of livelihood development? F.i. are there links with agriculture/non agriculture sectors, government Agribase/non Agriculture trade subsides/welfare programmes, and activities relating alternative and product development non traditional agribase products?
• Is the program considering land Management, Agriculture land distribution and harvesting technics?
• Are there activities supporting livelihoods such as market development activities relating to the local areas, market expandable beyond the local area, usable technology and introducing new methods, product development?
• Financial inclusion, control over income over expenditure management, loan management.
• Family management and prevention of addiction: such as alcoholism, drugs (locally and internally made stuff) local gambling, abuses and harassment on women and children.