2024-08-12-世界银行-苏里南贫困与公平评估（英）_78页_5mb

Brief Summary

The 2024 Poverty and Equity Assessment for Suriname examines the country’s economic trends, poverty levels, inequality, human capital deficiencies, labor market outcomes, and social assistance systems. Key challenges include:

• Economic context: Decades of sluggish growth, followed by a deep economic crisis exacerbated by COVID-19. Recovery is underway, but future oil revenues could boost growth but also risk inequalities if managed poorly.

• Poverty and inequality: In 2022, around 17.5% of the population lived below the World Bank’s upper-middle-income poverty line, with higher rates in the interior regions and among marginalized groups such as the Maroon and indigenous populations. Multidimensional poverty affects over 46% of the population, driven by poor health, education, and labor market outcomes.

• Human capital deficiencies: Despite comparable education spending to peer countries, Suriname’s education outcomes lag, particularly for low-income and marginalized groups. Skill shortages limit economic growth, and early marriages/adolescent fertility worsen gender disparities in labor participation.

• Labor market outcomes: Labor force participation and wages are lower for women and those with less education. Informality and access disparities (banking, internet) further hinder economic inclusion.

• Social assistance: Four primary programs provide limited, mostly categorical social support, leaving many poor households uncovered. The newly launched large-scale program (KKV) offers a temporary boost but requires better targeting and integration.

Key Policy Recommendations:

1. Strengthen macro-fiscal stability and prepare for oil revenue management to ensure equitable growth.
2. Transform education and vocational training to focus on foundational skills, equip teachers, and address barriers to learning for vulnerable groups.
3. Promote women’s labor market participation through legal reforms, affordable childcare, and combating early marriage.
4. Reform social assistance to enhance coverage, adequacy, delivery systems, linkages, and integration (e.g., through a social registry).

Additional Insights:

• Data Improvements: Enhance statistical systems for reliable poverty monitoring.
• Long-Term Institutionalization: Formalize a dedicated poverty monitoring authority to sustain anti-poverty efforts.

This report provides a roadmap for Suriname to reduce poverty and inequalities through inclusive growth and targeted social policies.