Managing Transitions: A System-Wide Perspective on Social Assistance and Social Insurance

The large size of the informal economy and its wide heterogeneity pose significant challenges for Governments across the Arab Region to extend social protection coverage to all. Recently, as the limits of strict eligibility requirements for poverty targeted programming have become more evident in low- and middle-income countries, the interaction between means-tested social assistance and social insurance schemes has attracted greater attention. In particular, policy discussions have shifted away from a focus on “graduation” and toward the notion of “transitions” – that is, how to ensure backward and forward pathways between different types and levels of protection with different financing logics and structures. Overall, improved coherence between tax-financed and contributory elements of social protection systems can contribute simultaneously to realizing the rights to decent work and to social protection, especially in the context of life and labour market transitions.

This webinar offers new perspectives on managing these transitions. Speakers will present the main findings of a recent ILO-IPCid-IPEA paper and research brief, which provide a conceptual framework to facilitate forward and backward transitions between means-tested social assistance and employment-related social insurance, building upon extensive review of international experience. The authors propose so-called “push” and “pull” factors, which, together with “structural change drivers” – including strengthening other lifecycle-based social protection programming – can enable more seamless transitions. Panelists will provide insights on the design-related and operational aspects of such programmatic adjustments, including the harmonization of eligibility criteria, the integration of databases and payment mechanisms and related legal and policy adjustments.

The webinar will also provide an opportunity to consider broader opportunities to improve policy coherence, as presented in the new TRANSFORM training Module on Extending Coverage and Improving Protection through Integrated Social Protection Systems for the MENA region. The presentation will illustrate the new module’s enhanced focus on the linkages between contributory and non-contributory social protection to reach out most effectively to the “missing middle”, but also its innovative “gaming” approach, which allows participants to explore first-hand the potential implications of different types and levels of social protection coverage on their daily lives.

Agenda

13:00 – 13:05 | Introduction and welcome

13:05- 13:10 I Opening remarks

13:10 – 13:25 | Presenting the ILO-IPEA-IPCid report on Facilitating transition between means-tested social assistance and social insurance, with a focus on good practices in the Arab Region

13:25 – 13:40| Presenting the new TRANSFORM module

13:40 – 14:10| Panel Discussion

14:10 – 14:25| Q&A

14:25 – 14:30| Closing

Paper | Facilitating transition between social assistance and social insurance: Conceptual framework and review of global good practices for countries in the Arab Region

Research Brief | Facilitating transition between social assistance and social insurance in the Arab Region: Conceptual framework and review of global good practices

One Pager | Facilitating transition between social assistance and social insurance in the Arab Region

TRANSFORM website | Building SP Floors in the Arab Region

This episode is part of the webinar series "Arab Social Protection Compass: Towards Integrated Approaches for Universal Social Protection", organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and technical support of socialprotection.org. The initiative intends to put a spotlight on reforms and programmes geared towards fostering integration within social protection across the region and beyond, while contributing to stir discussion at the national level. Throughout the series, speakers will delve into both the theoretical underpinnings and practical implementations of specific reforms, aiming to inspire a broad audience of practitioners to replicate or scale up similar interventions.