This month’s newsletter is dedicated to the United Nations Africa Industrialisation Day, marked each year on 20 November. We therefore present highlights on the contribution of social protection to poverty reduction and economic growth in Africa.
Industrialisation is a process that sees the large-scale introduction of manufacturing, technology, and productive economic activity. Accompanying the pursuit of industrialisation with comprehensive social protection supports growth that is inclusive and sustainable. Social protection has been recognised as an important policy tool for low and middle-income countries for promoting inclusive economic growth, by supporting productive inclusion, women’s economic empowerment, access to decent work, and stimulating local economies.
Social protection has also be found to positively impact household productivity and labour market participation. At the local level, it has multiplier effects of increasing local consumption and improving labour market outcomes. More so, agricultural subsidies, education incentives, and access to micro-finance have been found to support human capital development, which constitutes the foundation of economic development at large.
See the impacts of the “From Protection to Production” (PtoP) project on seven African programmes. There is evidence of significant local economy spill overs, resulting in income multipliers accruing to non-beneficiary households.
Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPWP) programmes, can improve the access of remote communities to regional centres to facilitate trade and regional development.
Cash transfers do not create dependency or reduce participation in productive activities; nor do they lead to negative community-level economic impacts, such as price distortion or inflation.
Join this member based space exploring the contribution of social protection programmes to the promotion of livelihoods by supporting access to jobs in the formal and informal sectors.
Jobs
Access jobs and calls for papers on our dedicated Jobs page. Members can share jobs and calls for papers with our community of social protection practitioners by clicking on + Submit job offer.
