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Intergenerational Poverty
Jo Maher HIV & AIDS Coordinator HelpAge International
Older people
• The proportion of older people is increasing • Older People are consistently among the poorest • Older people are often ‘invisible’ or ignored • Increasing interdependence between older and younger people
The impact of HIV and AIDS
90% of AIDS related care is provided at home, often by older women.
Up to two-thirds of people living with AIDS are cared for by their parents in their 60s and 70s.
Over 60% of orphaned children live in households headed by their grandparents in severely affected countries
The Cycle of Care
Phase of HIV Family life sans HIV Generation of Family Children/ Young Generation
•School •Cared For by parents •Warmth & Care
Phase 1
Weakening of family & loss of income
Phase 2
Morbidity & mortality
Phase 3
Older person as head of family •School most of the time •Caring breaking down •Lack of warmth •School absentee •Caring neglect •Trauma of death of parents •School on/off •Cared for by Grandparents •Loss of parents
Phase 4
Grandchildren reach working age •Finish school & find work •Care for grandparents •Pressure to support •Deceased
Parents/ Middle Generation
•Economic Earners •Care Providers for elderly & children
Grandparents/ Older Generation
•Retired from work •Cared for by Adult children •Secure •Work on/off •Health weakening •Concern for children •Supplement family income •Care for children & sick adults •Insecure •Stop Work •Sick •Stress & physical pain •Death •Sole economic providers •Carers for sick & children •Stress of Caring •Deceased •Earners •Carers •Worry & weary •Retire •Cared for by grandchildren •Some security
Older people’s time
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The cost of care
Rural Mozambique: Cost of caring for a child Cost of caring for a person living with HIV Income of an older person = $21 = $30 = $12 Tanzania: Tanga: Cost of caring for a child TSh25,000 ($19) Pera: Older women spent 80% of their time looking after children
2005: < 10% of households supporting children were reached
Declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS: five years later. Report of General Secretary, 2006
Social protection in the form of a social pension Realise older people’s rights Reduce poverty Tackle HIV and AIDS Effectively support the most vulnerable
Older people and decent work
Older people work: • A high proportion are economically active • Older people’s capacity to earn income is often low • Often work is under recognised, under valued and under paid
Universal social pensions
After a lifetime of work older people have a right to a pension: • Pensions reduce old-age and household poverty • Pensions are affordable • Universal right to social security and to a secure old age
Universal social pensions as % of GDP 1% 2%
Source: Pensions Watch, HAI, 2006
Universal social pensions - coverage
In 17 countries surveyed, 24.3 million people over 60 receive a social pension.
83% do not receive a social pension because they are means tested or the age limit is set too high.
Source: Pensions Watch, HAI 2006
The impact of pensions
Lesotho old age pension
Basic consumption, services for older people and dependents, income generation.
Ethiopia Meket cash for relief programme
Mothers able to spend time with children, livelihoods protected from shocks
Zambia Kalomo pilot cash transfer scheme
Basic consumption, school related expenditure, investment
Mozambique food subsidy programme
Income invested in informal saving schemes during harvest
Older Citizens Monitoring: Promoting good governance and uptake of pensions in Bangladesh • Older people formed associations • Monitored allowances and access to health services • Discovered low take up • Lobbying improved coverage and delivery
Core recommendations
Implement social transfers as a right and entitlement Introduce national instruments with costs integrated into national development plans Incorporate cash transfers into a bigger social protection package Ensure that transfers are regular, predictable and sufficient to ensure the most positive impact on wellbeing Make universal schemes clear and simple