2013年-世界发展银行全球_Sierra_Leone_Social_Protection_Assessment_267页_5mb

Social Protection Assessment of Sierra Leone

Core Content

This document is a Social Protection Assessment of Sierra Leone, part of the Africa Social Safety Net and Social Protection Assessment Series, conducted by the World Bank. It aims to guide the government in implementing its Social Protection Policy and support the development of a more comprehensive and effective social protection system. The assessment was prepared in 2013 and is based on field visits in 2011 and 2012, desk research, and stakeholder engagement.

Main Purpose

The primary goal of the assessment is to:

• Identify the key risks and vulnerabilities across different age groups and household contexts.
• Analyze the current social protection programs and their effectiveness.
• Propose strategies for improving the social protection system in Sierra Leone to better address poverty and inequality.

The assessment is structured around a lifecycle framework and uses the concept of Social Risk Management (SRM) to evaluate how well the system protects the most vulnerable populations.

Key Risks and Vulnerabilities

General Risks

• Economic shocks (e.g., food, fuel, and financial crises) have led to seasonal and annual income variations, affecting household stability.
• Food insecurity is highly seasonal, peaking during the lean season (June to August), with 45% of households and 2.5 million people experiencing food insecurity.
• Natural disasters (e.g., floods, landslides) and social instability (e.g., conflict, lack of governance) are recurring threats.
• Poverty remains widespread, with 53% of the population living in poverty in 2011, and over half still below the poverty line.

Lifecycle Risk Analysis

• 0–5 years old: High risk of low birth weight, malnutrition, diseases (especially malaria), and lack of early stimulation.
• 6–17 years old: Risk of child labor, low school enrollment, and cultural barriers to education, particularly for girls.
• 18–35 years old: High risk of unemployment, lack of skills, and limited access to credit.
• 36–59 years old: Risk of poverty due to loss of income, illness, and inability to support dependents.
• 60+ years old: Vulnerable to poverty, lack of social services, and health issues.
• Household risks: Include economic instability, limited access to basic services, and lack of social safety nets.

Current Social Protection Programs

The government has implemented various programs to address these risks:

• Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI): Provides free healthcare for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under 5.
• Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM): Supported by DFID, EU, and UNICEF.
• Supplementary Feeding Programs: Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
• Child birth registration program: Aimed at increasing registration rates among under-5 children.
• Education programs: Includes pre-primary education expansion, school enrollment, and scholarship initiatives.
• Social assistance programs: Such as Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT), social pensions, and public works programs.
• Agricultural support: Includes Smallholder Commercialization Program (SCP) and extension services.

Assessment of the Social Protection System

Spending

• Social sector spending is relatively low compared to international benchmarks.
• Public spending on education, health, and social welfare is under-resourced.
• Fiscal cost of fuel subsidies is high, and price controls are costly and inefficient.

Program Coverage, Gaps, and Overlaps

• There are gaps in program coverage, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable.
• Fragmentation of programs exists, leading to inefficiencies and duplicated efforts.
• Poor targeting and low generosity of social assistance programs are identified as key issues.

Targeting Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness

• Targeting mechanisms are often inefficient, leading to inadequate support for the most vulnerable.
• Cost-effectiveness of social protection programs is low, due to high administrative costs and limited program impact.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems are underdeveloped.
• There is a need for more robust data collection and analysis to improve program performance.

Institutional Arrangements

• Institutional fragmentation and poor coordination between government agencies and donor partners are identified as major challenges.
• The National Social Protection Authority (NSPA) is a key institution for coordinating social protection efforts, but its capacity and authority are limited.

Recommendations

Proposed Strategy

• Develop a minimum integrated social protection system that covers all vulnerable groups.
• Implement targeted social pensions, labor-intensive public works, and conditional cash transfers.
• Rationalize and strengthen existing social assistance programs.
• Reform social security to make it more inclusive and efficient.

Establishing a New Operational Platform

• Create a unified beneficiary registry to improve targeting and transparency.
• Implement grievance and appeal mechanisms to ensure accountability.
• Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems to assess program impact.
• Develop a management information system to support program implementation and data collection.

Institutional Arrangements

• Improve institutional coordination and accountability.
• Strengthen capacity building within the National Social Protection Authority (NSPA).
• Enhance public sector governance and program design.

Conclusion

The assessment concludes that Sierra Leone needs to move from ad hoc emergency interventions to a national social protection system. This system should be coherent, targeted, and cost-effective, with strong institutional arrangements and robust monitoring and evaluation. The Agenda for Prosperity is expected to include a new social protection pillar, signaling a shift from crisis response to systemic protection.

The document also includes a range of tables and figures to support the analysis, as well as boxes highlighting specific challenges such as violence against children in schools, youth employment issues, and agricultural challenges. The questionnaire used to collect data on social assistance programs is included in Annex 1, and supporting tables are in Annex 2.

Key Information

• Population: 5.9 million (2011), with 44% under 15 years.
• Poverty headcount: 53% in 2011, down from 66% in 2003.
• Poverty line: 2.5 million people are just above or below the poverty line.
• Food insecurity: 45% of households are food-insecure during the lean season.
• Severe food insecurity: 6.5% of the population (374,000 people).
• Malaria prevalence: High among children under 5, with only 30.3% using insecticide-treated nets.
• Vaccination rates: Declined from 51% in 2005 to 46.2% in 2010.
• Pre-primary education: 93.5% of children aged 3–5 are not in pre-primary school.
• Social protection system: Needs to be rationalized, strengthened, and integrated.

Main Viewpoints

• Ad hoc interventions are no longer sufficient; a national system is needed.
• Fragmentation and inefficient targeting are major barriers to effective social protection.
• High administrative costs and limited program generosity reduce the impact of existing programs.
• Improved coordination and institutional reform are essential for long-term success.
• Strengthening the NSPA and creating a unified platform for social protection will improve program efficiency and targeting.

Summary

This assessment provides a comprehensive analysis of social protection programs in Sierra Leone and outlines key recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of these programs. It emphasizes the need for a systemic approach to social protection, moving beyond crisis response to long-term, inclusive development. The Agenda for Prosperity is expected to reflect this shift, with a new social protection pillar that will help reduce poverty, improve equity, and promote growth.