Social Safety Nets : An Evaluation of World Bank Support, 2000-2010
Events of the past decade have underscored the vital need for social safety net (SSN) programs in all countries, especially in times of crisis. Many countries have some form of targeted SSN program, especially in high- and middle-income countries,...
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| Format: | Publication |
| Language: | English en_US |
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Washington, DC: World Bank Group
2015
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/01/15890242/social-safety-nets-evaluation-world-bank-support-2000-2010 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/21337 |
| Summary: | Events of the past decade have
underscored the vital need for social safety net (SSN)
programs in all countries, especially in times of crisis.
Many countries have some form of targeted SSN program,
especially in high- and middle-income countries, but SSNs
are increasingly spreading to the lowest income countries.
Over fiscal years 2000-10, the World Bank supported SSNs
with $11.5 billion in lending and an active program of
analytical and advisory services and knowledge sharing, much
of it during the last two years of the decade in response to
the food, fuel, and financial crises. Yet the crises also
pointed out weaknesses, as many middle-income countries
(MICs) found that their poverty-targeted SSNs were not
flexible enough to increase coverage or benefits as needed,
and low-income countries (LICs) lacked poverty data and
systems to target and deliver benefits. Bank support evolved
in positive directions over the decade. The Bank began to
move from a project-focused approach that emphasized
delivery of social assistance benefits toward an approach
that focused on helping countries build SSN systems and
institutions to respond better to poverty, risk, and
vulnerability. Stronger demand for SSN support in MICs led
to significantly stronger engagement there than in LICs.
However, the recent crisis-related expansion of support
included also LICs and permitted initiation of Bank support
in 15 new countries. The Bankapos;s support to SSNs
throughout the decade has relied strongly on both lending
and knowledge sharing to engage clients. Bank support has
largely accomplished its stated short-term objectives and
helped countries achieve immediate impacts. But to achieve
the longer-term goal of developing country SSNs, short-term
objectives need to be better defined, effectively monitored,
and anchored in a longer-term results framework. Weaknesses
in poverty data, program designs, and monitoring indicators
need to be addressed to ensure target groups are adequately
reached. The Bank made substantial progress over the decade,
but key areas of Bank support need strengthening. |
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