Uganda’s Old Age Pension: Who Benefits?

Uganda has been piloting two social protection schemes over the last few years, under its Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme. This is a 5-year government programme, supported by DFID and Irish AID. The pilot schemes are intended to gather evidence on impacts of cash transfers as a means of informing...

MPs in Uganda make case for universal social protection programme

When discussing the social protection governance in developing countries, we usually focus on the Executive Branch institutions and their role in policy development – as well as the design, implementation and monitoring of schemes – but pay little attention to the role of Parliaments. Nonetheless, as part of their key...

The steps to supporting older Ugandans to actively contribute set out at national conference

19th September: Uganda’s older persons have the potential to be a tremendous resource for the country and should be supported to actively contribute to their families and nation, Development Pathways...

An overview of Kenya’s Single Registry Model

The launch of Kenya’s Single Registry scheme marks a major step forward in the management and monitoring of social protection in low- and middle-income countries, writes Richard Chirchir. The Registry has enabled the government of Kenya to link together the Management Information Systems (MISs) of five social security schemes (the...

Pensheni Kwa Wote! Building the Social Protection Floor for Older Persons in Kenya

The 31st of March 2017 marked a great step forward for Kenya with the announcement of a social pension for all older persons. Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich – the Minister of Finance – presented the 2017/18 Budget to both Houses of Parliament which included measures to address poverty through social...

The impact of increased migration on the politics of social protection under spotlight

29th November: The politics of social protection and how this is affected by increased migration will be under the spotlight at a University of Cambridge event. The Politics of Social...

What ails Kenya’s elections? Thoughts on a way forward

Unfortunately, Kenya’s election is becoming a circus. We had elections on August 8th that were annulled by Supreme Court over irregularities and illegalities. So, we then had another election on October 26th that was boycotted by the leading opposition figure, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and his supporters. Before or...

How a nation can own its social protection strategy: the Case of Mozambique

In Mozambique, there are plans for substantial increases in cash transfers, as the government attempts to fulfil its progressive social protection strategy approved last year, writes Joe Hanlon. That strategy calls for expanding cash payments to most older people and small children. Under plans sent to Parliament, cash transfers to...

The Zomba conditional cash transfer experiment: An assessment of its methodology

In the 6th edition of our Pathways Perspectives publications, Stephen Kidd and Rebecca Calder examine the results of a study undertaken by the World Bank in an attempt to assess...

When and how citizen engagement can improve social protection programme delivery

Social protection schemes are often implemented in contexts characterised by weak accountability of government officials to citizens. Strengthening accountability is important to ensure the quality delivery of social protection and to build better relations between citizens and the state. One way of strengthening accountability is through increased involvement of citizens in social...