Transcript Social Protection Programs in Suriname Measures to combat

Ministry of Social Affairs & Public Housing
Republic of Suriname
‘Workshop Puente in the Caribbean: Program launching’
St. Lucia, 27 – 29 May 2009
Representatives MSAPH: Marsiane Partowidjojo & Saskia Donk
Country Profile
Suriname:
1. Location: north-east coast of South America,
bordered by Guyana in the west, French Guyana in
the east and Brazil in the south.
Coastal area
Interior
 Surface: 163.820 km2
 Language: Dutch
 Population: ± 500.000 (mixture of diverse ethnic,
cultural and religious groups)
 Demographics: geographical characteristics: urban,
rural & interior (10 districts, 62 subdistricts)
National Context
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Political context:
 Executive power: President of the Republic of
Suriname, together with the Vice President & Council of
Ministers (Government of Suriname). The Government is
advised by the Council of State.
 Legislative power: National Assembly & Government.
 Judicial power: President & Vice President of the Court
of Justice, its members & deputy members, the
Procurator General, other members of the prosecution
office & other judicial officers.
Regional governments
Urban, rural & interior:
Each district: District Commissioner (head of district)
Interior:
Population: Maroons & Indigenous communities,
headed by its own community leaders acknowledged by
the Government (Granmans)
Economic Context
 National budget: taxes, non-taxes revenues & donor
financing (grants)
 Main export products: export of gold, bauxite, crude
oil, rice & bananas, shrimp & fish, lumber
Social Context
Poverty rate in main districts (70% of total population):
 Paramaribo: 27%
 Wanica: 27%
 Nickerie: 36%
Institutional mapping
Social Ministries
 Ministry of Social Affairs and Public
Housing
 Ministry of Health
 Ministry of Education
 Ministry of Labor
Distribution National Budget
2005-2006
39.85%
Social Sector
Other Sectors
60.15%
Social Protection Policy
 Largest Social Protection Programs executed by
the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public
Housing (MSAPH)
 Target groups: indigent people, people with
disabilities, senior citizens, children & youth
 Social assistance
 cash-transfers
 Goods
 Services
Directorate of Social Affairs
Material services
 Financial Assistance
 Medical assistance card
(free medical provision)
 Child allowance
 Old age pension
 Subsidies to social institutions
 School supplies
(uniforms, educational tools)
Targeting
Poor households
Poor & near-poor households
Households not receiving child
allowance from their employers
Citizens ≥ 60 yrs of age
Social institutions
Poor households with children
visiting primary schools
Immaterial services
 Daycare centers
 Food for kids
 Center for the elderly
 Center for boys w/behavioral problems
 Care for persons with a disability
takers of people
 Youth care
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Elderly care
Community Development
General Social Work
Family coaching
Child Help Line
Targeting
Working mothers w/children
betw. 0-6yrs of age
Children in daycare
Poor & near-poor senior citizens
(≥60yrs)
Boys (8-16yrs) with behavioral
problems
People with disabilities & care
w/disabilities
Youth (0-24yrs) with social
problems
Indigent senior citizens (≥60yrs)
Communities in need
People & families in need
Indigent single mothers
Children, youth, adolescent up to
25yrs
Directorate of Housing
Policy within the Multi Annual Housing Program:
Primarily establishes facilities to stimulate public-private
partnerships to improve the nations’ quantity and quality of houses
and provides through various house building programs that all
income categories, especially its indigent communities can have
stabile housing.
Service/programs
Targeting

Surface development company
All households

Social Housing
Low income households
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Low Income Shelter Program
Low/moderate income households
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Low Middle Income Shelter Program
Low middle income households
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Project Tout Lui Faut (Chinese Gov’t)
Low income households
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Urban Development Project Richelieu
All income categories
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Project Tout Lui Faut Social Housing
Low income households
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Project District Coronie Social Housing
Low income households
Pilot Urban Development Project Richelieu
1. in public-private partnership, individuals will be able to build, rent
and buy houses within this project
2. project will include public facilities like schools, health facilities,
administrative offices, small industries etc.
Low Income Shelter Program
 Program in execution since April 2003
 Includes a public-private partnership:
 financial institutions
 Ngo’s + Cbo’s have a role in project preparation and execution
 Main objective: improve housing conditions of low -and
moderate- income households in all districts
 Subsidies largely for housing rehabilitation, expansion and
construction of new houses
Low Middle Income Shelter Program
Also includes public-private partnership. Launch in April 2009. Targets
income groups in need of proper housing, that cannot benefit from
services for low and middle income groups, such as the Low Income
Shelter Program and the 7% Housing Facility. Program enables
construction, renovation or expansion of houses through a 6% credit
facility.
Ministry of Education
SOCIAL SERVICES
TARGETING
 School bursaries: Cash grant for
 Students from indigent
indigent high school and college
students to finish high school and
complete a university education.
 Subsidy school transportation:
transportation for schoolchildren from
remote areas to visit schools.
 Project for Teenage Mothers:
Counselling and training project to finish
school education.
 School feeding project for primary
schools: distribution of lunch meals to
schoolchildren.
households
 Schoolchildren from
indigent households &
remote areas
 Teenage mothers between
the age of 11 – 22.
 Schoolchildren of indigent
Household visiting primary
schools
Ministry of Labor
SOCIAL SERVICES
TARGETING
 Foundation for Labor Mobilization &
 School drop outs (≥ 16yrs)
Development: Central training center
concentrated on vocational training in
order to create employment
 Stichting Productieve Werkeenheden:  Small business
Training center concentrated on specific
skills for managing small businesses.
Ministry of Health
SOCIAL SERVICES
TARGETING
 Regional Health Center: Primary and
 Medical Card
secundary medical care
 Immunization program: vaccination of
infants and schoolchildren
 HIV/Aids testing & medication: free of
charge testing for HIV/Aids
beneficiaries of MSAPH
 All infants and
schoolchildren
 Every citizen
Ministry of Regional Development
SOCIAL SERVICES
TARGETING
 Foundation Fund for the
 Communities of
Development of the Interior (Dutch
finances):
1. Stimulation of productive activities and
activities aiming to improve the living
conditions of the community
2. Organizational, technical and
institutional strengthening of the
government and Ngo’s who have a direct
or indirect supporting role
indigenous people
Other measures
 Additional measures taken to support vulnerable groups in
society:
 NCCR: national disaster team: e.g. coordinative aid in
floods occurred in the interior
 ant-plagues which destroy crops of indigenous
communities
 Subsidies for small farmers
 Subsidies for the rice industry
 Subsidies for public transportation
Strengths & weaknesses
Strengths:
1. Large portfolio of social
services targeting a diverse
group of indigent
individuals and families.
2. Accessible social services.
3. Public-private partnerships.
Weaknesses:
1. Poor targeting mechanisms
2. Fragmentation of social
programs
3. Weak infrastructure &
capacity
4. Lack of legislation on most
of the social programs
5. Poor exit strategies
Thank you!