Reducing Vulnerability and Increasing Opportunity : Social Protection in the Middle East and North Africa

Despite social, and economic diversity within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, social protection systems share common characteristics. This report develops a framework for a more integrated approach to social protection, and proposes general strategic lines of actions to guide the reform of social protection systems in the MENA region. It argues that, while during the 1970s and 1980s, economic growth rates outweighed growth rates in other regions, and social indicators improved dramatically, the model of development was not sustainable. It further, discusses key features, and major weaknesses of the social protection systems in the MENA countries, by defining an alternative framework for social protection. However, it also argues that traditional social protection schemes, cannot constitute the sole mechanism to protect vulnerable population groups, help the poor, or increase social welfare. Actions outside the traditional social protection system, suggest promoting prudent macroeconomic management, improving governance, rethinking regulatory institutions, and reforming education, and health systems. Concurrently, actions within the traditional social protection system, include improvements in the financial sustainability of social insurance systems, reforming training systems, and designing safety nets as developmental, and community-based, not just assistance, and centrally administered schemes.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	World Bank
Language:	English en_US
Published:	Washington, DC 2002-01
Subjects:	ADVERSE EFFECTS, ADVERSE SHOCKS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, CAPITAL FLOWS, CAPITAL MARKETS, CASH TRANSFERS, CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, CHILD LABOR, CIVIL SERVICE, CIVIL SOCIETY, COMMODITIES, COPING MECHANISMS, DELIVERY MECHANISMS, DEPENDENCY RATIO, DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS, DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONERS, DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS, ECONOMIC CRISES, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EXCHANGE RATES, EXTERNAL SHOCKS, FINANCIAL MARKETS, FISCAL POLICIES, FISCAL POLICY, FOOD SUBSIDIES, GNP, HEALTH EXPENDITURES, HEALTH INSURANCE, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, HUMAN CAPITAL, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, IMPORTS, INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, INCOME INEQUALITY, INCREASED EMPHASIS, INCREASED RISKS, INSURANCE SYSTEMS, INTEREST RATES, INTERNATIONAL LABOUR, INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINES, LABOR FORCE, LABOR MARKET, LABOR MARKETS, LABOR PRODUCTIVITY, LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, LIFE EXPECTANCY, MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT, MACROECONOMIC POLICIES, MACROECONOMIC STABILITY, MANDATES, MARKET DISTORTIONS, MICROFINANCE, MIGRATION, MORTALITY, NATIONAL AVERAGE, NATIONAL POLICIES, NATIONAL POVERTY, NATIONAL POVERTY LINES, NATURAL DISASTERS, NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, OIL, OIL PRICES, OIL RESERVES, OLD-AGE INSURANCE, PENSION SYSTEM, PENSIONS, POOR COMMUNITIES, POPULATION GROUPS, POPULATION GROWTH, POPULATION SIZE, POVERTY GAP, POVERTY INDICATORS, POVERTY REDUCTION, PRIORITY AREAS, PRIVATE SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTORS, PRIVATIZATION, PRODUCTIVITY, PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, PUBLIC EXPENDITURES, PUBLIC POLICY, PUBLIC SECTOR, PUBLIC TRANSFERS, RETIREMENT, RISK FACTORS, RISK MANAGEMENT, RISK MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS, RISK MITIGATION, RISK REDUCTION, RURAL POPULATION, SAFETY NET, SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, SAFETY NETS, SAVINGS, SKILLED WORKERS, SMALL FARMERS, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, SOCIAL CAPITAL, SOCIAL EXPENDITURES, SOCIAL INSURANCE, SOCIAL INVESTMENT, SOCIAL PROTECTION, SOCIAL PROTECTION MECHANISMS, SOCIAL PROTECTION STRATEGY, SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS, SOCIAL RISK, SOCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK, SOCIAL RISKS, SOCIAL SAFETY NETS, SOCIAL SECTORS, SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL SERVICES, SOCIAL WELFARE, STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT, STRUCTURAL REFORM, STRUCTURAL REFORMS, SUBSIDIARY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, TRANSFER PROGRAMS, TRANSPORT, UNEMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, URBANIZATION, VULNERABLE GROUPS, WAGE SUBSIDY, WAGES, WATER RESOURCES, WATER SUPPLY, WELFARE LOSSES SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS, SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS, REGIONAL DISPARITY, INTEGRATED APPROACH, LABOR MARKET POLICY, SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS, SOCIAL REFORM, POLICY FRAMEWORK, SOCIAL INDICATORS, MACROECONOMIC PLANNING, PRUDENTIAL REGULATIONS, GOVERNANCE APPROACH, INSTITUTIONAL REFORM, REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, EDUCATIONAL REFORM, HEALTH REFORM, FINANCIAL STABILITY, TRAINING ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY-BASED METHOD,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2002/01/1959750/reducing-vulnerability-increasing-opportunity-social-protection-middle-east-north-africa https://hdl.handle.net/10986/14255
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