scholarly journals Agents, Coercive Learning, and Social Protection Policy Diffusion in Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Devereux ◽  
Anna Wolkenhauer
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Policy Diffusion ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Protection Policy ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Policy Ideas ◽  
Building Activities ◽  
Evidence Generation

This paper makes theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions to the study of social policy diffusion, drawing on the case of social protection in Africa, and Zambia in particular. We examine a range of tactics deployed by transnational agencies (TAs) to encourage the adoption of cash transfers by African governments, at the intersection between learning and coercion, which we term ‘coercive learning’, to draw attention to the important role played by TA-commissioned policy drafting, evidence generation, advocacy, and capacity-building activities. Next, we argue for making individual agents central in the analysis of policy diffusion, because of their ability to reflect, learn, and interpret policy ideas. We substantiate this claim theoretically by drawing on practice theories, and empirically by telling the story of social protection policy diffusion in Zambia through three individual agents. This is complemented by two instances of self-reflexivity in which the authors draw on their personal engagements in the policy process in Zambia, to refine our conclusions about the interplay of structure and agency.

scholarly journals Some Useful Sources

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-512
Author(s):  
Theodoros Papadopoulos ◽  
Ricardo Velázquez Leyer
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Conditional Cash Transfers ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
The World

The literature on social protection in Latin America – and more specifically on Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) – is substantial and growing as, increasingly, more academics from around the world seem to be attracted to social policy developments in the region and the role of CCTs in these developments. As the articles in our themed section cite many of the key sources on particular aspects of CCTs, we chose in this guide to highlight those sources we consider essential for any academic interested to investigate CCTs and, more broadly, the development of social policies in Latin America for research or teaching purposes.

scholarly journals Forum Introduction: Dynamics of social protection in fragile contexts: Nepal and Myanmar

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Koehler ◽  
Nicholas Mathers
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Protection Policy ◽  
Child Benefits ◽  
Protection Systems ◽  
Fiscal Space ◽  
Social Protection Systems ◽  
Administrative Obstacles

This article explores some of the shared dimensions of fragility experienced by Myanmar and Nepal to illuminate the challenging contexts in which social protection policies and programmes have taken shape. Both countries have adopted a universalist, rights-based vision in their approaches to social protection, with social pensions and child benefits at the forefront of social protection programming. At the same time, both countries are employing incremental strategies to overcome political, social, and administrative obstacles, while demonstrating that fiscal space is available. The politics of social protection policy making are obvious, and consistent engagement by progressive social policy advocates in these countries will be necessary to seize opportunities, and to ensure continued investment in building inclusive, effective, and accountable social protection systems.

scholarly journals The Role of Stomach Infrastructures on Children’s Work and Child Labour in Africa: Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8563
Author(s):  
Dagim Dawit Gonsamo ◽  
Herman Hay Ming Lo ◽  
Ko Ling Chan
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Child Labour ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
Vulnerable Families ◽  
Children’S Work

Child labour remains a prevalent global concern, and progress toward eradicating harmful children’s work appears to have stalled in the African continent and henceforth, integrated social policy intervention is still required to address the problem. Among several forms of social policy interventions, stomach infrastructure (i.e., in-kind and/or cash transfers) have been a key policy approach to support vulnerable families to lighten households’ resources burden, which forces them to consider child labour as a coping strategy. There is growing evidence on the impacts of these programs in child labour. However, this evidence is often mixed regarding children’s work outcomes, and the existing studies hardly describe such heterogeneous outcomes from the child-sensitive approach. To this end, a systematic literature search was conducted for studies in African countries. From 743 references retrieved in this study, 27 studies were included for the review, and a narrative approach has been employed to analyse extracted evidence. Results from the current study also demonstrate a mixed effect of in-kind and cash transfers for poor households on child labour decisions. Hence, the finding from the current review also demonstrates a reduced participation of children in paid and unpaid work outside the household due to in-kind and cash transfers to poor households, but children’s time spent in economic and non-economic household labour and farm and non-farm labour, which are detrimental to child health and schooling, has been reported increasing due to the program interventions. The question remains how these programs can effectively consider child-specific and household-related key characteristics. To this end, a child-sensitive social protection perspective has been applied in this study to explain these mixed outcomes to inform policy design.

scholarly journals Food Should not be Forgotten: Impacts of Combined Cash Transfer Receipt and Food Security on Child Education and Cognition in South Africa and Malawi

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Sherr ◽  
Kathryn J. Roberts ◽  
Mark Tomlinson ◽  
Sarah Skeen ◽  
Helen Mebrahtu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Child Cognitive Development ◽  
Cash Grant

AbstractSocial protection can take many forms. Both cash transfers and food security may have important contributions to child cognitive development. This study examines the potential impact of combinations of cash transfers and food security status on child cognitive development and educational outcomes. Cross-sectional data for 796 HIV-affected children in the Child Community Care study were utilised for this analysis. Children and caregivers completed interview schedules comprised of standardised items on socio-demographics, household data, cash grant receipt and food security status, school achievement, and cognition. A series of logistic and linear regression models and marginal effects analyses were undertaken to explore the impacts of differing levels of social protection (none; either cash grant receipt or food secure status or, both in combination) on child educational and cognitive outcomes. Although all children lived in poverty-stricken households, 20% (157/796) of children did not live in a household in receipt of a cash grant and did not report food security; 32.4% (258/796) reported either component of social protection and, 47.9% (381/796) received both measures of social protection in combination. Compared to no social protection, being in receipt of either component of social protection was found to be significantly associated with being in the correct class for age, higher scores of non-verbal cognition, and higher working memory scores. Receiving both social protection measures in combination was found to be significantly associated with reduced educational risk scores, improved odds of being in the correct class for age, regular school attendance, missing less than a week of school in the previous two weeks, higher scores on measures of nonverbal cognition, higher working memory scores, and learning new things more easily. Educational and cognitive outcomes for children can be bolstered by social protection measures (cash grant receipt or food security). Benefits are enhanced when social protection is received in combination. Such findings support the notion of synergistic social protection responses for children living in environments impacted by high levels of HIV burden and deprivation.

Social Policies and Center-Right Governments in Argentina and Chile

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (03) ◽  
pp. 72-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Niedzwiecki ◽  
Jennifer Pribble
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Executive Branch ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Left Turn ◽  
The Past ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Left Party ◽  
Spending Cuts

AbstractLatin America's “left turn” expanded cash transfers and public services, contributing to lower poverty and inequality. Recently, right-leaning candidates and parties have begun to win back seats in the legislature, and in some cases have captured the executive branch. This shift has sparked debate about the future of Latin America's welfare states. This article analyzes social policy reforms enacted by two recent right-leaning governments: that of Sebastián Piñera in Chile (2010–14) and Mauricio Macri in Argentina (2015–). It finds that contrary to neoliberal adjustment policies of the past, neither Macri nor Piñera engaged in privatization or deep spending cuts. Instead, both administrations facilitated a process of policy drift in some sectors and marginal expansion in others. Policy legacies and the strength of the opposition help to explain these outcomes, suggesting that Latin America's political context has been transformed by the consolidation of democracy and the experience of left party rule.

Social protection for orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe: The case for cash transfers

2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mildred T. Mushunje ◽  
Muriel Mafico
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Attractive Option

The unprecedented number of orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe has created an urgent need to create innovative ways to provide for the social protection of these children. Innovative packages consisting of educational, food and psychosocial support are being implemented by non-governmental organizations. However, as the orphan crisis continues to deepen, more needs to be done and, learning from the experiences of other countries, the option of cash transfers for social protection for orphans and vulnerable children offers an attractive option for Zimbabwe. This article explores the possibility of using cash transfers for the support of orphans and vulnerable children and highlights the challenges and strengths of this approach.

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