Study faults social protection programmes
While pro-poor social protection is increasingly being praised as an important poverty-reducing strategy, it has the potential of dividing the population between poor and the non-poor especially in least developed countries such as Malawi, a study has revealed.
A study conducted by Marianne Ulriksen from the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg says Malawi is ideal example in social protection issues because it is one of the poorest countries in the southern Africa.
The report, recently tabled at the International Conference on Social Protection in Malawi, explored the implication of targetted programmes on social relations in poor countries.
Said Ulriksen: “As poverty has become the main criterion by which to direct social protection policies, defining the poverty line is critical in identifying the target groups.
“Reference is made to studies made in Malawi that explore the implication of targeted programmes on social relations in poor communities. Malawi is a useful example to discuss because it is one of the poorest countries in Southern Africa.”
The report noted that by merely setting a line where one is poor—below the poverty line, and not poor above the line—does not correspond well with the recognition that poverty is multi-dimensional and that the experience of vulnerability is often felt by poor and non-poor alike.
Ulriksen said despite cash transfer pilot programmes, which target roughly 10 percent of all households in Malawi, the beneficiaries have not been lifted out of poverty, but have been taken out of life threatening situations and deeper social problems.
“As there are at least another 10 percent of households that are also ultra-poor and a further 30 to 40 percent that are marginally better off, the targeting of the appropriate beneficiaries is an exercise with huge risks of fostering resentment,” read the report in part.
The report said the targeting exercise creates incentives for adverse behaviors where, for instance, community leaders or local public officials hijack the programmes and ensure that their friends and relatives are on the beneficiary list.
“Targeting creates a sense of unfairness and resentment and builds a distinction between the poor and non-poor. Targeting social protection programmes to a specific category has political implications. The distinction between poor and less poor divides populations who are otherwise equally vulnerable,” it added.
The report has recommended that universal programmes, despite being more expensive, must be taken seriously, particularly in low income countries with limited social protection and tremendous challenges of poverty and deprivation.
The Malawi Government implements a number of social protection programmes such the multibillion kwacha Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) which enables millions of poor Malawians buy a 50 kilogramme bag of fertiliser at K500. Other programmes include a one cow per family initiative, public works programmes and social cash transfers.
The truth is Malawi economic fundamentals are wrong and all these external aid initiatives are only stop-gap or mere tactical solutions! They will never, never, never develop this country. The earlier Malawians realise this truth the quicker the country can unite to seek better strategic solutions that will make the country develop. Unfortunately, you are being “encouraged” to continue on the road to …well…..Nowhere. I have reviewed all programs currently in operation in Malawi…the national development strategy plan (MGDS II) cannot transform Malawi, the CABS program cannot transform Malawi, all campaign policies being paraded for the 2014 elections cannot transform Malawi. Unless Malawi can think outside the box, the country is doomed to be blissfully a “benighted” nation! Yes you heard it well, the most “benighted” of all nations on earth. Not my words by the that is the word view. This country deserves better. You all deserve better, you are all capable of better things! You just need to find the key!
How can you cheer on donors when they drop bombs on your country with aid freeze? How can you continue doing the same you have been doing for million of years with no success and hope to transform? How can the promise of more agriculture that has not worked in million years be a new brainwave idea to transform the economy? In the 21 century how can you export mined raw materials unprocessed? That is equivalent to your football team waiting to play the game but lacks footballs. When a football appears instead of giving the ball to your team, you give it to another team so your team continues to languish. A new mine appears you dig and export the goods instead of processing them to create jobs and to add value so that you can export at 10,000 times more. How can you operate monetary policy with highest lending rates in the world that discourage job creating investment, business survival and expansion? The world will never tell you all this but I will. Lol.
My question to Malawians is when was the last time you all got united to consider issue of national interest? Malawians, redefine your national plan, redefine your national aspirations and yes redefine your constitution. As you do that please remember there is no country and I mean none that will develop this country for you but you. You will need both social progress and economic progress, but I urge you, Malawi now needs more economic progress than social progress. You are subtly but firmly being driven away from the economic goal to focus more on social issues (governance, corruption and democracy) but you are not encouraged or incentivised to focus on economic goals by some development partners. Please understand this simple but powerful dynamic! The overarching goals of Malawi economic goals must include a) job creation (5-10 million jobs), b) economic growth for national wealth creation and c) price stability. With that in mind you can take a look at the rear-view mirror and see that the past 50 years did not transform the nation because agriculture does not create jobs and is a diminishing return activity itself. I am sorry to break it to you, but agriculture in its current form just promotes “disguised unemployment”. To win Malawi must pursue industrial masterly to absorb every young, old, men and women, able or disabled into workforce. Improve national productivity and then, only then, you can watch your agriculture output blossom beyond you wildest dream. Malawians be ambitious, do not settle for mediocrity. All nations started on agriculture but they industrialised and they have never looked back since. The US, the greatest nation on earth, used to languish in subsistence agriculture and abject poverty. Then it industrialised! The UK, arguably the greatest empire ever was languishing with regular bouts of cholera, TB, plague, famines and starvation with agriculture output not too different to Malawi. It industrialised and transformed into a world super power – yes the glorious days! As late as 1960s China was pursuing agriculture and farming just like Malawi. It regularly faced famines such as the 1959/60 that killed over 15million people. Then it industrialised and now it is perched at the dizzy heights of GDP of $9 trillion (Malawi has $0.0042 tn). China agriculture output now is greater than any other country in the world. China today cannot experience starvation ever! It is for these reasons that I shudder with frustration when modern political parties in Malawi promise to transform the economy and I get all excited at the news. So I am waiting to hear their “how they will do it policy” and it turns out to be… yes you guessed it…more agriculture. Malawians you are talented, you are capable, and I can assure you…you can do better. Transformation of the economy will mean going where you, you grand parents have never been before. Every country started as you, as poor, as disorganised, as ignorant of the way ahead and yes as corrupt. It does not mean it will be easy. Transforming a nation is a “serious rocket science”!!! Industry/manufacturing will take you to the promised land to realise the Malawian dream! Be united! The enemy is not from within. Get rid of this “school playground” bickering along tribal lines that makes you easy target to confuse and derail. Do something amazing, fight for the national flag, fight for unity, fight for national development, fight for peace and fight for love!
Thomas, You have spoken the word and from your tone I can feel your anger as to why we remain to be like this up to now. I wish the government or some organization MCCI for example called for a national conference and you present a paper. I must however request that you include yourself as a Malawian and use the “we” pronoun whether you are fully citizenized in London or not but we are all Malawians and whatever we can lets redeem Malawi. Wawa, Newcastle