Integrating social policies and the delivery of social protection floors in Cambodia - discussed at a workshop

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (ILO News): Sharing models and innovative ideas for implementing a national social protection strategy in Cambodia and developing nationally defined social protection floors in ASEAN were the focus of a workshop held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 29 to 31 May 2013.

The technical workshop on “Integrating Social Policies and the Delivery of Social Protection Floors (SPF)” was co-organized by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the ILO.

In his opening speech, H.E Yim Chhay Ly, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) stressed “the growing evidence that coordination and integration of social policies together with adapted case management are more efficient and effective in expanding social protection coverage and facilitating graduation out of poverty.”

More than 25 country experiences of SPF implementation were showcased and examined during the workshop. Discussions also focussed on effective action in establishing SPF models which rely on coordination at the national level, with delivery of the programmes through single window services embedded in local administrations or civil society networks. Participants also acknowledged that there must be harmonized information systems and efficient feedback, with tools to reach out to beneficiaries. There were also specific references to the fact that beneficiaries must be registered and be empowered through combined packages of social transfers and services to promote everyone’s full potential across the life cycle.

The common denominator of these approaches – the Single Window Service concept - contributes to making the guiding principles enshrined in the ILO’s Social Protection Floors Recommendation 2012 (No. 202) a reality. The event, which was based on a South-South exchange model, provided concrete inputs to Cambodia’s Social Service Delivery Mechanism (SSDM), which is being launched in two districts in the Siem Reap Province.

H.E. Mr Kim Chhai Hieng, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap said that the province stands ready to facilitate the implementation of the SSDM, improve the capacities of subnational authorities and look at ways to support the expansion of the SSDM.

The workshop provided a multi-country platform for disseminating “useful models and ideas for the further development of nationally defined SPFs and higher levels of social protection in ASEAN, as well as the preparation of an ASEAN framework on social protection”, explained Ms Mega Irena, Assistant Director and head of social welfare division, ASEAN Secretariat.

The presentations and discussions at the workshop will contribute to an ILO SPF Good practices guide on Integrating Social Policies and the Delivery of Social Protection Floors which will be published by the ILO during the course of this year. The workshop also provided an opportunity for future collaboration and South-South cooperation with LabourNet (India), Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. These development partners have confirmed the intention to provide concrete support to the implementation of specific SPF components and Single Window Services in ASEAN and will offer guidance to the development and implementation of an ASEAN social protection framework.

The workshop was attended by 120 participants from ASEAN countries, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia. Present were Mr Maurizio Bussi, Director, ILO Decent Work Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific; H.E. Jean-François Cautain, European Union Ambassador to Cambodia; H.E. Yuji Kumamaru, Ambassador of Japan; Ms Claire Van der Vaeren, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia; Mr Francisco Simplicio, Chief of Division at UNDP New York’s Special Unit for South-South Cooperation and Ms Christine Bockstal, Chief of Country Operations and Technical Cooperation of the Social Protection Department, ILO Geneva.

More details can be found at:
http://www.social-protection.org/gimi/gess/ShowProjectPage.do?pid=2207

For further information please contact:

Ms Valérie Schmitt
Social Security Specialist, DWT-Bangkok
Tel. +66 22 88 1767
Email

Ms Malika Ok
National Programme Officer, ILO Phnom Penh
Tel. 023 220 817
Email