REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA

SOCIAL POLICIES FOR THE LIFE COURSE: SOCIAL TRANSFERS

BOTSWANA CASEPresented by: Papadi Evelyn NguvauvaDeputy Commissioner – Social Benefits

10 – 14 OCTOBER 2010JOHANNESBURGSOUTH AFRICA

INTRODUCTION

Country Profile:

• Population – (2001):1 680 862

• 2010 projections: 1 800 098

• Male: 885 902

• Female: 925 066

Adult Literacy Rate: 81.2%

Poverty Rate: 23%

Social Safety Nets Programmes implemented by Ministry of Local

GovernmentSocial Welfare Category No. of Beneficiaries

Care and support to patients

Community Home Based care patients

1837

Social safety nets programmes

Old age pensioners 90579

World War II veterans 3000

Destitute persons 31991

School Feeding 331000

Orphans 44003

Ipelegeng (Labour Based Public Works)

40433

TOTAL 542 843

Source: DSS Monthly statistics

Cash Transfer programmes  ORPHANS SCHOOL FEEDING DESTITUTE

PERSONSSTATE OLD AGE

PENSION

Objectives of the Programme

Attend to immediate needs of orphans

Minimise child malnutrition and stunting and enhance learning

assistance to insure good health and welfare

Provide financial security to the elderly

Target group Orphaned children

School age children Poor and destitute individuals unable to work

Older individuals

Eligibility criteria

Child under 18 who has lost one (single parents) or two (married couples) biological or adoptive parents.

Enrolment at government school

Due to disabilities or chronic ill health, incapable of sustainable economic activity

Age 65 or over, with Botswana citizenship and valid Identity Card

Coverage National. National National. National

No. of beneficiaries (2010) figures

44003 331 000 31991 90579

Value of transfer

Food: P450-700

No data Food: P450-700

P220

Other: variable

Cash: P81

Type of transfer

Food; school fees, uniform and other education costs; clothing

Food Food and cash

Cash

Frequency of transfer

Monthly Once daily during school term( three meals for boarders)

Monthly Monthly

Graduation criteria

Reach 18th birthday

Leave school ‘Ability to sustain own livelihood’.

NA

  ORPHANS SCHOOL FEEDING DESTITUTE PERSONS

STATE OLD AGE PENSION

Programmes Successes

• School feeding programme has increased the attendance rate

• Financial security for old age pensioners

• Reduced stigma to OVC

• Food security

• Provision of shelter to the needy

Challenges on the programmes• No linkages with other programmes, some benefit more than once

(e.g. an orphan staying with a destitute grandparent)

• There is no single register for all the claim holders of different programmes (programmes scattered in different Ministries)

• Cases of abuse of the benefits are reported (especially for the OVC) by the caregivers

• Separation of siblings by relatives so as to benefit from the programme

• Temporary Destitute persons not willing to graduate from the programme and engage in income generating programmes

• Lack of an over arching policy for all the safety net programmes

Lessons Learnt

• Need to move to cash transfers rather than food basket so as to give claim holders the chance to use the cash in other beneficial activities within the household

• The universal coverage does not bring stigma against the beneficiaries

• Need to determine the impact of these programmes at household and individual levels

• Non targeting for Orphans and OAP – brings issue of sustainability

• There is need for a ministry of Social Development to coordinate all the safety net programmes.