PROGRESS REPORT 2017–18 RAPID SOCIAL RESPONSE PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT 2017–18 RAPID SOCIAL RESPONSE PROGRAM © 2019 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guar- antee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Rights and Permissions The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. 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Full-page photo credits: Cover: Burkina Faso, © Arne Hoel/World Bank; Section 1: Mexico, Curt Carnemark/World Bank; Section 2: Armenia, Armine Grigoryan/World Bank; Section 3: Sierra Leone, © Andrea Martin/World Bank; Section 4: Lao PDR, Bart Verweij/World Bank; Section 5: Madagascar, © Mohamad Al-Arief/World Bank; p. 67: Ministry of Local Government in Rwanda; Section 6: Ethiopia, © Dominic Chavez/World Bank. TA BL E OF C ON T E N T S Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v Task Team Leaders vi Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix Section 1: RSR Snapshot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Where We Are 2 Recent Updates 4 What’s Next 5 Section 2: RSR Program Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Progress Made and Challenges Ahead 10 Program Evolution 13 RSR Coverage by Region and Theme 15 Association with IDA and Other Bank Operations 16 Section 3: Country Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Botswana 22 Côte d’Ivoire 26 Malawi 30 Nepal 33 Sierra Leone 36 Somalia 40 Vietnam 46 Section 4: Special Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 The RSR-DR Window 52 The RSR-NS Window 57 iii iv  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Section 5: Financial Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Contributions by Development Partner 65 Program Activities 66 Section 6: Supporting Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio 70 6.2  Associated IDA Projects 92 6.3  RSR Results Framework 104 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Figures 1.1 Countries That Have Received Direct Assistance from the RSR 3 2.1 RSR Results Framework Pyramid 14 2.2 Cumulative Resource Allocations and Project Counts by Region, End December 2018 15 2.3 Cumulative Resource Allocations and Project Counts by Theme, End December 2018 16 4.1 RSR-DR Window Funding and Coverage, as of December 31, 2018 55 5.1 RSR Cumulative Grant Approvals and Disbursements as of December 31, 2018 66 5.2 RSR Status as of December 31, 2018 66 5.3 Grant Allocations by Trust Fund Type 66 Tables 2.1 RSR Status at a Glance 11 2.2 Expressions of Interest Submissions and Approvals, Cumulative as of End of Calendar Year 12 2.3 Countries That Have Received Direct Assistance from the RSR 12 2.4 RSR Association with IDA and Other Resources 17 2.5 World Bank Financing Approved for SPJ Activities, as of December 31, 2018 18 2.6 SPJ Coverage Catalyzed by the RSR in IDA-Supported Projects (million $) 19 4.1 The RSR SP-DRM Portfolio, as of December 31, 2018 54 4.2 Overview of Grants under the RSR-NS 60 5.1 Status of RSR Contributions by Trust Fund, as of December 31, 2018 (million $) 64 5.2 Status of Paid and Unpaid Contributions to the RSR MDTF by Development Partner, as of December 31, 2018 65 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS T he authors acknowledge the generous support of the Rapid Social Response Program (RSR) as well as comments and inputs from the six RSR development partners and their representatives: Anna Valkova, Deputy Director, and Anastasiya Zhilova, Advisor, Depart- ment for International Financial Relations, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation; Heather Kindness, Social Protection Team Leader, and Roopa Hinton, Social Develop- ment Adviser, United Kingdom Department for International Development; Alf Håvard Ves- trheim, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Marit Strand, Senior Advi- sor, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation; Lisa Hannigan, Director, and Jacquie Powell, Assistant Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia; Niels Richter, Team Leader, and Marianne Rasmussen, Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark; and Himanshu Nagpal, Deputy Director, Liz Kellison, Gender Lead, and Jamie Zimmerman, Senior Program Officer, Financial Services for the Poor, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. We would also like to extend our gratitude for the support and partnership of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)—notably, Francis Ghesquiere, former GFDRR Practice Manager, and Luis Tineo, Deputy Manager, who helped extend our leverage in their field by financing and guiding the RSR Disaster Response window. The preparation of this report, as well as RSR operations overall, has significantly benefited from the guidance, advice, and support of many managers and colleagues within the World Bank, including Michal Rutkowski, Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) Global Director; Lynne Sherburne-Benz and Dena Ringold, Regional Directors; Margaret Grosh, SPJ Senior Adviser; Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist, Human Development; Jehan Arulpragasam, Anush Bezha- nyan, Hana Brixi, Robert Chase, Pablo Gottret, Cem Mete, Stefano Paternostro, and Iffath Sharif, SPJ Practice Managers; John Blomqvist (Delivery Systems) Gustavo Demarco (Pen- sions and Social Insurance), Ugo Gentilini (Social Safety Nets) and Indhira Santos (Labor and Skills), SPJ Global Leads; Kathy Lindert (Delivery Systems), Robert Palacios (Pensions and Social Insurance), and Ruslan Yemtsov (Social Safety Nets), former SPJ Global Leads; Leslie Elder, Senior Nutrition Specialist, Health, Nutrition and Population; Tina George, SPJ Senior Public Sector Specialist; Lillian Foo, Senior Communications Officer; Svetlana Markova, Com- munications Officer; Vanessa Co, Online Communications Associate, External and Corporate Relations; Raiden Dillard, SPJ Senior Knowledge Management Officer; and Julia Komagaeva, Country Operations Officer. This report was written by the RSR Core Team—Sándor Sipos, SPJ Partnerships Adviser and RSR Manager; Adea Kryeziu, Social Protection Specialist; Mattias Lundberg, RSR Gender Manager/Senior Economist; and Inas Ellaham, Operations Analyst. Amina Semlali, Human Development Specialist, was the main author of the case studies; Shams ur Rehman, v vi  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Program Analyst, managed coordination of the report, with We especially acknowledge the more than 160 RSR task administrative support from Francine Pagsibigan, Program team leaders listed below, as well as their many team Assistant. The authors are grateful for editorial guidance members. It is due to their hard work, creativity, commit- and consistency of the report provided by Nita Congress, ment to excellence, and dedication to their clients that Book Designer/Editor. Finally, we all benefited from the the RSR has been catalytic and successful throughout the leadership and foundational work of the previous RSR Man- years. ager, Hideki Mori. Task Team Leaders Pablo Ariel Acosta, Senior Economist Halil Dundar,* Practice Manager Syud Amer Ahmed, Senior Economist Puja Vasudeva Dutta, Senior Economist Harold Alderman,* Lead Education Specialist John Elder,* Operations Adviser Anastassia Alexandrova,* Senior Strategy and Operations Leslie Elder, Senior Nutrition Specialist Officer Yasser El-Gammal,* Country Manager Colin Andrews, Senior Social Protection Specialist Heba Elgazzar, Senior Economist, Human Development Philippe Auffret, Senior Social Protection Specialist Randa El-Rashidi, Social Protection Specialist Amparo Ballivian,* Lead Economist Lire Ersado,* Program Leader Paul Bance, Senior Operations Officer Tazeen Fasih,* Lead Economist Sajitha Bashir,* Practice Manager Anna Fruttero,* Senior Economist Lucy Katherine Bassett,* Education Specialist Marito Garcia,* Lead Social Protection Specialist Shrayana Bhattacharya, Senior Social Protection Economist Ugo Gentilini, Senior Social Protection Specialist John Blomquist,* Program Leader Tina George, Senior Public Sector Specialist Gbetoho Joachim Boko, Senior Social Protection Specialist Antonino Giuffrida,* Project Leader Caryn Bredenkamp,* Senior Economist Margarita Puerto Gomez,* Senior Social Development Lucilla Maria Bruni,* Senior Economist Specialist Fadila Caillaud,* Program Leader Sarah Berger Gonzalez,* Social Protection Specialist Carmen Carpio,* Senior Economist, Health Endashaw Tadesse Gossa, Senior Social Protection Hugo Chaman, Social Protection Specialist Specialist Emily Weedon Chapman, Social Protection Specialist Rebekka Grun, Senior Economist Robert Chase,* Manager Nelson Gutierrez, Senior Social Protection Specialist Samantha Zaldivar Chimal, Social Protection Specialist Melis Ufuk Guven, Senior Social Protection Economist Yoonyoung Cho, Senior Economist Rifat Afifa Hasan,* Senior Health Specialist Sarah Coll-Black, Senior Social Protection Economist Matthew Liam Hobson,* Senior Social Development Aline Coudouel, Lead Economist Specialist Bénédicte Leroy de la Brière, Lead Economist Maddalena Honorati, Senior Economist Carlo del Ninno, Lead Economist Ziauddin Hyder,* Senior Nutrition Specialist Anastasiya Denisova, Economist Keiko Inoue,* Program Leader Vyjayanti Tharmaratnam Desai,* Program Manager Aylin Isik-Dikmelik, Senior Economist Samantha de Silva, Senior Social Protection Specialist Roberto Iunes,* Senior Economist, Health Jesse Doyle, Young Professional Oleksiy Ivaschenko, Senior Economist *Retired, no longer with the Bank, or now with another department within the World Bank Group.   vii Kelly Johnson, Senior Social Protection Specialist Nga Nguyet Nguyen, Senior Economist Theresa Jones,* Lead Operations Officer Philip O’Keefe, Practice Manager Ole Hagen Jorgensen,* Economist Foluso Okunmadewa, Lead Specialist Pierre Joseph Kamano,* Senior Education Specialist Pedro Olinto,* Program Leader Alex Kamurase, Senior Social Protection Specialist Junko Onishi, Senior Social Protection Specialist Ashi Kohli Kathuria,* Senior Nutrition Specialist Maria Beatriz Orlando,* Lead Social Development Specialist Iqbal Kaur,* Senior Operations Officer (deceased) Azedine Ouerghi, Lead Social Protection Specialist Stefanie Koettl-Brodmann, Senior Economist Mirey Ovadiya, Senior Social Protection Specialist Antonia Koleva, Senior Operations Officer Robert Palacios, Team Leader Pravesh Kumar, Senior Social Protection Economist Jyoti Maya Pandey, Social Protection Specialist Gerard Martin La Forgia,* Lead Health Specialist Harry Anthony Patrinos,* Practice Manager Francesca Lamanna, Senior Economist Snjezana Plevko, Senior Economist Eric Zapatero Larrio, Senior Social Protection Specialist Lucian Bucur Pop, Senior Social Protection Specialist Miriam Matilde Montenegro Lazo, Senior Social Protection Josefina Posadas, Senior Economist Specialist Menahem Prywes,* Senior Economist Matthieu Boris Lefebvre, Senior Social Protection Specialist Jumana Qamruddin,* Senior Health Specialist Jessica Leigh Leino,* Social Protection Specialist Tamer Samah Rabie,* Lead Health Specialist Jose Antonio Cuesta Leiva, Senior Economist Nina Rosas Raffo, Senior Economist Indira Bongisa Lekezwa, Social Protection Specialist Aneeka Rahman, Senior Social Protection Economist Michael Lokshin,* Manager Jasmine Rajbhandary, Senior Social Protection Specialist Maria Ana Lugo,* Senior Economist Andrew Sunil Rajkumar,* Senior Economist, Health Mattias Lundberg, Senior Economist/RSR-Gender Manager Dhushyanth Raju, Lead Economist Muhammad Iftikhar Malik, Senior Social Protection Specialist Laura Rawlings, Lead Social Protection Specialist Erkin Mamadaliev, Senior Operations Officer Setareh Razmara,* Lead Social Protection Specialist Ida Manjolo,* Sector Leader Joel Reyes,* Senior Institutional Development Specialist Jonathan Daniel Marskell,* Operations Officer Iamele Rigolini,* Program Leader Federica Marzo,* Senior Economist Friederike Uta Rother, Senior Social Protection Specialist Tayyeb Masud,* Senior Health Specialist Zurab Sajaia,* Senior Economist Yasuhiko Matsuda,* Program Leader Manuel Salazar, Lead Social Protection Specialist Dimitris Mavridis, Young Professional Maria Laura Sanchez Puerta,* Senior Economist Dino Leonardo Merotto, Lead Economist Cristina Isabel Panasco Santos,* Program Leader Marie Chantal Messier,* Senior Nutrition Specialist Iffath Anwar Sharif, Practice Manager Emma Mistiaen, Social Protection Specialist Meera Shekar,* Lead Health Specialist Muderis Abdulahi Mohammed, Senior Social Protection Maheshwor Shrestha, Young Professional Economist Joana Silva,* Senior Economist Louise Victoria Monchuk, Senior Economist Veronica Silva, Senior Social Protection Specialist Anne Mossige,* Social Protection Specialist Oleksiy Sluchynskyy, Senior Economist Wezi Marianne Msisha,* Senior Operations Officer Yuliya Smolyar, Senior Social Protection Specialist Mack Capehart Mulbah, Social Protection Specialist Verdon Staines,* Senior Economist Menno Mulder-Sibanda,* Senior Nutrition Specialist Victoria Strokova, Senior Economist Edmundo Murrugarra, Senior Social Protection Economist Douglas Sumerfield,* Senior Operations Officer Somil Nagpal, Senior Health Specialist Changqing Sun, Senior Economist Suleiman Namara, Senior Social Protection Economist Claudia Zambra Taibo, Social Protection Specialist Maniza Naqvi, Senior Social Protection Specialist Cornelia Tesliuc, Senior Social Protection Specialist Michelle Neuman,* Senior Education Specialist Mauro Testaverde, Senior Economist viii  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Erwin Tiongson,* Social Protection Specialist Penelope Jane Aske Williams, Senior Social Protection Fanta Toure, Social Protection Specialist Specialist Maurizia Tovo,* Lead Social Protection Specialist William David Wiseman,* Program Leader Renos Vakis,* Lead Economist Quentin Wodon,* Lead Economist John Van Dyck, Senior Social Protection Specialist Sonya Woo,* Senior Operations Officer Andrea Vermehren, Lead Social Protection Specialist Abdo Yazbeck,* Lead Economist, Health Thomas Walker, Senior Economist Giuseppe Zampaglione, Lead Social Protection Specialist Ingo Wiederhofer,* Lead Social Development Specialist ABBRE V IAT IONS ASP adaptive social protection ASPIRE Atlas of Social Protection Indicators of Resilience and Equity DFID Department for International Development FY fiscal year GDP gross domestic product GFDRR Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery GIZ German Agency for International Cooperation HCP Human Capital Project IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IDA International Development Association IFC International Finance Corporation MDTF Multi-Donor Trust Fund MOLISA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs RSR Rapid Social Response Program RSRC RSR Catalyst Trust Fund RSR-DR RSR-Disaster Responsive RSR-NS RSR-Nutrition Sensitive SP-DRM social protection–disaster risk management SPJ social protection and jobs UBR Unified Beneficiary Registry UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund ix SECTION 1 RSR Snapshot 2  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 S ince its inception in 2009, the Rapid Social Response developments and accomplishments and mapping out Program (RSR)—an umbrella trust fund—has been where it will go from here. Section 2 provides a more com- instrumental in bringing about a spectacular increase prehensive look at the program and its progress since the in World Bank lending as well as in related domes- last report. Sections 3 and 4 showcase specific countries tic resource mobilization for social protection and and funding windows, respectively, illustrating the breadth jobs (SPJ) globally. This opening section presents a snap- and reach of the program. Section 5 presents financial data, shot of where the program is right now, highlighting recent and section 6 provides the supporting tables. Where We Are The RSR continues to have great impact, with clear establish and strengthen the core components of SPJ sys- results and leveraging power. As of December 31, 2018, tems through designing new payment modalities; creating the RSR had received a total of 487 expressions of inter- new targeting mechanisms; strengthening management est and approved a total of 260 activities in 100 countries, information systems; coordinating with ministries, agen- amounting to about $122 million. This RSR funding has cies, and subnational governments; and piloting innovations helped leverage approximately $9.6 billion in financing from that have later been mainstreamed into the Bank’s opera- the International Development Association (IDA), includ- tions. ing additional financing for ongoing programs. Through this leveraging power, the RSR has reached 176.1 million The RSR has stayed abreast of emerging global oppor- people. tunities and strategic directions. These are delineated in, for example, World Development Report 2019: The RSR support has been extended to the majority of Changing Nature of Work as well as the SPJ Practice white IDA-eligible countries worldwide. This is in keeping with paper, “Risk-Sharing Policy for a Diverse and Diversify- the program’s original mandate—to increase SPJ coverage ing World of Work” (World Bank 2019c, 2018b). The RSR worldwide, with a strong focus on low-income countries. remains uniquely positioned to boost institutional thinking As of end December 2018, only seven IDA-eligible coun- and knowledge creation through its built-in, demand-driven tries had not received direct assistance from the RSR: feedback loop that enables innovations, and knowledge cre- Eritrea, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States ation and sharing, as well as piloting and systematic support of Micronesia, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu for social protection agendas in the countries in which it (figure 1.1). Additionally, through knowledge exchange operates (both through grants and leveraging power in IDA activities (such as South-South Learning Forums and com- operations). munities of practice), and its nutrition-sensitive (RSR-NS) and disaster-responsive (RSR-DR) funding windows, the The RSR has deepened and broadened its purview. program is leaving an imprint in International Bank for While staying true to its core objective of increasing SPJ Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)-eligible countries coverage through support for SPJ systems building, the as well—taking its SPJ systems-building agenda still fur- RSR has honed its focus on several high-impact cross-cut- ther. ting thematic priorities, including nutrition-sensitive SPJ, disaster-responsive SPJ, and—more recently—gen- Worldwide, the RSR has supported the growing social der-sensitive SPJ. It has also moved to support the latest protection agenda. In countries without prior SPJ mech- development agendas related to urban safety nets, the anisms in place, the RSR has helped initiate new dialogues inclusion of persons with disabilities, youth development, and engagement; for countries with existing support, it has and SPJ in fragile and conflict-affected areas—all the while enabled continued engagement and created new pathways relying increasingly on more flexible and empowering digital for cross-sectoral collaboration. RSR financing has helped payment and service delivery solutions. S ection 1 :   R S R S napshot  3 F I G U R E 1 . 1   Countries That Have Received Direct Assistance from the RSR Hungary Moldova Georgia Mongolia Bulgaria Uzbekistan Albania Kyrgyz Rep. Armenia Azerbaijan Turkey Tajikistan Armenia Afghanistan Bhutan Dominican Pakistan Nepal Mexico Rep. St. Kitts & Nevis Egypt, Antiqua & Barbuda Arab Rep. Bangladesh Haiti Montserrat India Myanmar Dominica Mauritania Lao PDR St. Lucia Cabo Verde Mali Niger Honduras Jamaica St. Vincent and the & the Grenadines Grenadines Chad Grenada Senegal Sudan Yemen Rep. of Rep. Yemen Nicaragua The Gambia Burkina Cambodia Guinea-Bissau Faso Philippines Guatemala Guinea Nigeria Central African L El Salvador Côte Lanka SriLanka Sri Sierra Leone d’Ivoire Republic South Ethiopia Djibouti Panama Colombia Guyana Liberia Cameroon Sudan Colombia Somalia Tonga a ni o D.R. of Uganda Maldives an BeTog n Fiji Gh Congo Congo Vanuatu Ecuador São Tomé and Príncipe Kenya Rwanda Burundi Tanzania Papua New Indonesia Guinea Peru Malawi Comoros Africa Timor-Leste Angola Zambia Mozambique Eastern Europe and Central Asia Bolivia Madagascar East Asia and the Pacific Namibia Zimbabwe Latin America and the Caribbean Chile Botswana Middle East and North Africa Swaziland South Asia Lesotho IBRD 39319R1 FEBRUARY 2014 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). The RSR focus on these new thematic priorities has the related goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Devel- brought in new development partners. Denmark is opment and the Universal Social Protection 2030 agenda. working with the RSR to support a youth agenda; and the The knowledge-sharing initiatives of the RSR have also Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is looking to apply a helped enhance the program’s visibility in both low- and more gender-appropriate lens to SPJ policies, programs, middle-income countries. Through exposure to these learn- and delivery systems and to use pioneering digital solutions ing events for policy makers on issues pertaining to SPJ for better results and the empowerment of women. With priorities, many countries have initiated new projects— these high-impact engagements, the RSR aims at even taking into account the most recent international evidence faster expansion of the SPJ delivery system for more robust and best practice. Communities of practice have been and adequate social protection coverage that creates mul- established around the world. tiple public benefits—and ultimately leads to sustainable economic inclusion of the poor and vulnerable. The RSR has been highly catalytic in incubating and launching new initiatives. For example, the Sahel Adap- RSR knowledge-sharing events have been widely pop- tive Social Protection Program has become a successful, ular and well accepted by government counterparts. rapidly expanding partnership on its own. Additionally, the The South-South Learning Forum, the annual meeting of RSR has partnered with the Global Facility for Disaster finance ministers on social safety nets during the Spring Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and Australia’s Depart- Meetings of the World Bank, the regional/technical work- ment of Foreign Affairs and Trade on disaster-responsive shops, and the dynamic communities of practice have social protection events. We have also partnered with the helped create a broad-based momentum towards realizing German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the 4  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 GFDRR on the 2018 South-South Learning Forum collaboration among IDA and IBRD countries—and thus 2018. Continuation of such activities will allow for more more innovation in SPJ programming. Recent Updates The RSR team is working with the government of Den- high-impact Gender Window will aim to ensure that mark to support a new call for proposals on youth in investments in social protection address these underlying development. The world’s 1.8 billion youth face enormous obstacles. The RSR Gender Window will support activities and complex challenges in their transition to adulthood: that nearly 100 million young people in the developing world are unemployed, and hundreds of millions of young people are ¤ Diagnose and understand the gaps in outcomes and the underemployed or in insecure employment. Today’s young underlying constraints that lead to these inequitable out- people will determine whether we achieve the Sustain- comes; able Development Goals, broad-based economic growth, social cohesion, gender equality, and climate sustainability. But young people often feel excluded from the process and THE RSR PROGRAM REVIEW fruits of development, and are often poorly served by social T and political institutions. The RSR Youth in Development he February 2018 Donor Partners Meeting stressed thematic call for proposals will support activities that the importance of, and agreed on, a retrospective results-oriented review of the RSR. Accordingly, ¤ Enable young people to be more active participants in in October 2018, the SPJ Management launched a their own and their country’s development; program review of the RSR to assess its accomplish- ¤ Provide young people with effective tools to drive social ments and funding to date. The review, undertaken by entrepreneurship and innovation to achieve local and external consultants well-versed in both social protection global goals; practice and the workings of the Bank and of relevant development partners, is expected to be completed in ¤ Provide young people—especially young women— September 2019, and its preliminary findings have been opportunities to develop sustainable livelihoods and incorporated in this report. employment; and ¤ Provide positive options for youth to overcome road- The main purpose of the review was independent assess- blocks to social advancement and belonging and be ment of RSR performance from its launch to the present. active agents of peace. It was not a final outcome evaluation, which is expected to take place after the 2022 completion date of the Bank’s The RSR team is also working with the Bill and Social Protection Strategy and the current closing date Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom for the RSR Multi-Donor Trust Fund. to create a new gender-focused funding window. Although World Bank investments are reaching women The review focused on a critical determination of both and girls, more can be done to design and implement the successes and failures of the RSR (including all chan- gender-transformative social protection interventions. nels and windows at the aggregate level; and on lessons Unfortunately, many current social protection investments learned: what worked well, what did not, and what need- are not designed to help women and girls overcome the ed improvement. Its purpose was to improve the design, structural constraints that prevent them from achiev- implementation arrangements, and results framework for ing full economic and social integration. The RSR’s new, the replenishment of the RSR. S ection 1 :   R S R S napshot  5 ¤ Assist in the identification and design of gender-smart outreach to disadvantaged women; procedures for target- social protection systems; ing and enrollment; comprehensive information systems; effective safeguards, appeals and grievance, and social ¤ Build the evidence on what works; accountability mechanisms; client-oriented case manage- ¤ Strengthen the capability of the World Bank and its ment systems; payment systems; and complementary clients and partners to deliver comprehensive and trans- services and outcomes (e.g., on gender-based violence, formative programs; and sexual and reproductive health, access to finance, and agri- ¤ Build a robust M&E framework to track progress in cultural extension). delivering transformative social protection services for Negotiations on establishing these windows were com- women and girls. pleted as of end December 2018, and the windows were Among the components of gender-transformative social expected to be operational in the first half of fiscal year (FY) protection systems on which the window may focus are 2019. Australia and the United Kingdom have already signed on as development partners for the Gender Window. What’s Next With its leveraging power and strong collaboration with out- to people living in fluid, dynamic, but still highly informal side partners, the RSR continues to shape social protection economic and social environments. priorities and support the broader development agenda in a ¤ Although there has been an evident increase in context of changing development landscapes. social protection coverage worldwide, there is still much more to be done. SPJ coverage remains low par- ¤ The RSR will continue building on the significant ticularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where progress achieved to date by supporting the foun- most of the world’s extremely poor people live—and dations of adaptive social protection systems. where what is delivered to the poor and vulnerable is The RSR will continue establishing new dialogues in often not enough for lasting improvements without fur- countries without a social protection platform; pilot ther policy and delivery system development (World new projects, with innovative angles such as behav- Bank 2018c). ioral change components and electronic payments; strengthen existing systems or create new ones; link ¤ Partnerships forged within and outside the World social protection to broader development agendas such Bank Group have helped increase RSR impact and as disaster risk, fragility, gender, and youth; and, overall, momentum. Internal and external collaborations with extend social protection delivery systems to those most the Bank’s Human Development Practice Group and in need. Denmark as an additional development partner on issues involving nutrition, gender, youth employment and jobs; ¤ The RSR remains the key instrument for implement- with the GFDRR and GIZ for knowledge exchange; and ing the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on gender-fo- 2012–2022 Strategy, and is strategically well aligned cused technology use in social protection have opened with the SPJ Practice white paper on “Risk-Shar- the door to an increasing number of joint efforts and ing Policy for a Diverse and Diversifying World of paved the way for more upcoming collaborations. Work.” The white paper maps out a very rich agenda for the RSR to develop knowledge, innovate, scale up ¤ The Bank’s recent launch of its Human Capital Proj- projects, and create leverage for solutions to provide ect (HCP) offers a new and exciting opportunity for sustainable, adaptable, and adequate social protection the RSR. SPJ policies, programs, and delivery systems 6  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 demonstrably hold great potential for enabling better development outcomes from pregnancy to adulthood. human capital outcomes. To maximize these results, the Social protection and social safety net instruments— RSR will focus on high-impact, cross-cutting thematic and the RSR as the catalyst—are in a unique position to engagements to innovate, catalyze, and leverage public bring together different sectors to coordinate efforts and policies to improve human capital outcomes—and, at the results, and to leverage resources to improve the human same time, further improve SPJ outcomes, leading to full development outcomes of the most vulnerable. economic inclusion of the poor and the vulnerable. ¤ The RSR will continue to support better labor ¤ The 2018 Ministerial Roundtable emphasized the market outcomes for and full economic inclusion need to improve economic opportunities and of the poor and vulnerable. In line with the strate- human capital through social safety nets. Central gic direction of the SPJ Practice overall, the RSR will to this premise, as highlighted at the World Bank–Inter- continue to support policies that protect poor and vulner- national Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, is the RSR’s able households not only by maintaining and increasing role as both a catalyst of IDA support and a tool in help- their consumption in times of shock, but also through ing countries build resilience—and in doing so, protect longer-term empowerment. This empowerment will their human capital. Social protection instruments are an focus on disadvantaged groups, including women, important pillar of human development, improving human migrants, persons with disabilities, and the internally World Bank president David Malpass and Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina visit IDA-funded projects in the village of Soavina; photo: © Sarah Farhat/World Bank S ection 1 :   R S R S napshot  7 THE HUMAN CAPITAL PROJEC T AND THE RSR T he World Bank launched its Human Capital Project (HCP) target the most vulnerable and address inclusion. Beneficia- at the last Annual Meetings in Bali, Indonesia, 2018, as ries of safety net transfers could end up being education and a central driver for growth and poverty reduction. The health program beneficiaries as well, boosting their overall premise underlying the initiative is that by investing in well-being and potential. Evidence from developing countries skills, health, knowledge, and resilience—human capi- suggests that cash transfer programs, both unconditional and tal—people can be more productive, flexible, and innovative. conditional, have the potential to affect the Human Capital In- dex both directly and indirectly. Also, SPJ programs support Investing in human capital is becoming even more important countries in creating better jobs, ensuring the labor market as the nature of work has evolved. The HCP puts people-cen- returns to increase investment in human capital (particularly tered investments at the core of the World Bank’s work. The for women and disadvantaged youth). HCP agenda resonates with all client governments, from fragile and conflict situations to advanced economies. Against As the main instrument for implementing the SPJ strategy, this backdrop, it is clear that social protection—and, by asso- the RSR is well positioned to contribute to the HCP momen- ciation, the RSR—can play a role in this historic agenda. tum. Through its support for SPJ systems building, for lever- aging IDA and IBRD financing, and through its collaboration Within the HCP sphere, SPJ plays a key role in protecting within the human development sector within the World Bank, households’ and individuals’ well-being and supporting the RSR is able to stay abreast of new developments—and them to produce the health and cognitive/noncognitive skills sufficiently flexible to incorporate development challenges needed to lead a fulfilling life. This, in turn, helps break the in- as thematic priorities. To achieve greater results, the RSR will tergenerational cycle of poverty. Social protection plays a role deploy its business model throughout the life cycle—from the early years until retire- ment, helping build human capital that yields returns in the Knowledge Æ Innovation Æ Catalytic engagements Æ labor market. And, through complementary measures (and Leveraging IDA, public policies, and national budgets specific nudges inherent in project design through co-respon- to support high-impact, cross-cutting thematic engagements sibilities or accompanying measures linked to cash transfers), that will innovate, catalyze, and leverage public policies to im- SPJ provides behavioral incentives for utilizing health and prove human capital outcomes in a way that will, at the same education services—further improving nutrition, schooling, time, further improve SPJ outcomes leading to full economic productivity, and overall human capital. inclusion of the poor and the vulnerable. The RSR will be a Similarly, SPJ delivery systems can be used beyond SPJ key driver, forging cross-cutting operational engagements programming. For instance, social registries can promote co- and alliances both among different practices within the World ordination among various programs within a country, helping Bank and with other development partners. displaced, to build their human capital and use it to tailored approaches. As it has with disaster response, achieve a better life for themselves, their families, their nutrition, gender, and youth, the RSR can flexibly, inno- and communities, through jobs and sustainable liveli- vatively, and synergistically take up new development hoods. The increasing global frequency and magnitude challenges including issues of fragility and conflict, inter- of shocks creates an urgent need to continue charting nal and international migration, increased links to the new paths for experimentation. The SPJ Practice overall jobs agenda, and as productive inclusion of SPJ benefi- and the RSR as an instrument and enabler of new stra- ciaries. tegic relationships and operations can help meet this challenge through knowledge sharing and by building on existing social safety net practices while testing new, SECTION 2 RSR Program Overview 10  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 T he RSR Multi-Donor Trust Fund program was estab- catalytic funding, in support of social protection agendas lished in 2009, in partnership with the World Bank, to worldwide. The RSR has demonstrated time and again help the world’s poorest countries build effective social that the grant amounts, while modest, can effectively sup- protection systems. The RSR is currently supported by port countries’ efforts in designing or strengthening their Australia, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Den- social protection systems and reaching those most in need mark, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the through policies, dialogue, and interventions. The catalytic United Kingdom. nature of RSR support helps draw in other resources and partners. Today, the RSR is one of the main instruments for imple- menting the World Bank’s 2012–2022 Social Protection This report focuses on RSR activities up to December 31, and Labor Strategy, primarily in countries eligible for Inter- 2018. Since the previous reporting period, the RSR has national Development Association support. It does so by completed an additional four rounds of calls for proposals— providing small—relative to typical IDA/International Bank Rounds 11, 12, 13, and 14. Reference is made to Round 15 for Reconstruction and Development operations—but in the report, but it is not included in the reported sums. Progress Made and Challenges Ahead During Rounds 11, 12, 13, and 14, a total of $28.5 million SPJ systems so as to better support their vulnerable popu- was allocated to 82 activities, including nutrition-sen- lations. sitive and disaster-responsive social protection. The overall approval rate for expressions of interest submitted The majority of RSR support remains in the Africa is 53.4 percent (a 4.9 percent increase over the previous region, while maintaining a worldwide presence. reporting period), with 39.5 percent of the funds requested Excluding regional and global activities, RSR financing has being granted; this is a 3.8 percent increase over the previ- supported technical assistance and small-scale pilot proj- ous reporting period (table 2.1; table 2.2 shows cumulative ects in a total of 100 countries, 42 of which are in Africa submission and approval of expressions of interest). (table 2.3). Africa continues to account for the majority of projects backed by RSR support, as well as majority of its By the end of 2018, 109 RSR grants were associated funding, as detailed later in this section. with 111 IDA operations. This represents a jump from 80 in the last reporting period and a total of $58.5 million of While progress has been made in the coverage of SPJ RSR resources. RSR funding has helped leverage approx- programs—which today are present in virtually every imately $9.6 billion in IDA financing (including additional low- and middle-income country—much remains financing and other sources such as trust fund programs) to be done. This is particularly the case in Sub-Saharan thus far. That represents an increase of about $2.5 billion Africa and South Asia, which house most of the world’s since the last reporting cycle. poor. Moreover, the world is experiencing an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, as well as As of end December 2018, approximately 176.1 mil- continuous human-made crises—which usually lead to a lion people worldwide were covered by IDA operations reversal of development gains and have the potential to associated with RSR funding. This is an increase of create new layers of transient and often uprooted poor. 45 million over the last reporting period. This increase in These shocks affect the chronic poor disproportionately. social protection and jobs coverage proves both the impor- tance of catalytic investments—however small—and that Against this global backdrop, there is an urgent need of continuous support in helping countries establish their to continue improving and innovating SPJ policies, programs, and systems. These must be more responsive S ection 2 :   R S R S napshot  11 T A B L E 2 . 1   RSR Status at a Glance Item 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Development partners Australia, Norway, Australia, GFDRR, Norway, Russian Federation, Russian Federation, Sweden, Sweden, United Kingdom United Kingdom Programmable resources (million $)* 90.53 100.14 101.22 110.01 116.85 121.84 No. of rounds* 6 8 9 10 13 14 Window Classic Classic, NS Classic, NS, DR RSR No. of proposals received* 278 306 349 367 461 487 No. of projects approved* 131 140 167 178 241 260 For Africa 59 65 83 89 109 118 Resource share for Africa (%) 49.5 50.2 49.7 51.0 50.0 50.0 No. of countries directly benefiting* 63 67 79 82 96 100 In Africa 31 34 37 38 41 42 Average RSR project financing ($)b 571,747 561,517 575,457 530,143 486,867 472,260 Largest RSR project financing (million $) 3.155 3.155 3.155 3.155 3.155 3.155 No. of RSR projects associated with IDA 66 72 79 80 108 109 operations* RSR financing (million $)* 43.46 45.98 46.00 47.62 57.89 58.53 No. of IDA operations associated with RSR* 54 67 81 90 104 111 IDA financing (billion $)* 3.35 4.15 5.68 7.09 9.14 9.58 IDA/RSR association ratio: project-to-project 77.1 90.2 123.5 148.8 157.9 163.7 average* IDA/RSR association ratio: program as a whole* 37.0 41.4 56.1 64.4 78.2 78.6 SPJ coverage of associated IDA operations 42.1 77.3 72.4 131.5 176.1 176.1c (million people)* SPJ coverage of associated IDA operations 21.0 38.3 36.2 65.8 88.1 88.1 (million females)* Average RSR $/person to catalyze incremental 2.15 1.30 1.40 0.84 0.66 0.69 SPJ coverage Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: * = cumulative; DR = disaster responsive; GFDRR = Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery; NS = nutrition sensitive; SPJ = social protection and jobs. “Classic” refers to the original RSR program that was created in 2010. a. Programmable resources comprise the combined availability of resource allocations covering RSR Classic, RSR-NS, GFDRR, and the now- closed RSR Catalyst Trust Fund (RSRC), excluding program management and administration grants. b. Average of projects that were approved through Round 14, excluding grants allocated to program management. c. Same as 2017 because it is too early to report on the number of beneficiaries from recently approved associated IDA projects. 12  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 T A B L E 2 . 2   Expressions of Interest Submissions and Approvals, Cumulative as of End of Calendar Year Item 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Number submitted 278 306 349 367 461 487 Total amount requested ($) 220,621,800 233,645,300 251,723,960 262,601,760 298,796,410 308,231,410 Number approved 131 140 167 178 241 260 Total amount approved ($) 74,898,847 78,612,347 88,682,307 93,755,107 116,848,057 121,843,057 Approval ratio, number of submissions (%) 47.1 45.8 47.9 48.5 52.3 53.4 Approval ratio, amount requested (%) 33.9 33.6 35.2 35.7 39.1 39.5 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: 2017 includes FY 2018. to the needs of people on the move for whatever reason, actors will also enable SPJ to help steward these recipients including conflict and natural disasters. It is important to of public support toward ultimately regaining sustainable build linkages between SPJ systems and first respondents, livelihoods and achieving full economic inclusion. as the SPJ systems (including social registries) developed by RSR-informed IDA operations are available to allow The RSR’s role, importance, and engagement have for quicker and more robust and appropriate response in been evolving in response to new challenges in social line with the needs of especially vulnerable populations. protection, as well as development frontiers over- Enhanced linkages with humanitarian and disaster relief all. While staying true to its core purpose of increasing T A B L E 2 . 3   Countries That Have Received Direct Assistance from the RSR Region Country Africa: Angola (1), Benin (1), Burkina Faso (1), Botswana (9), Burundi (6), Cabo Verde (13), Cameroon (1), 42 countries Central African Republic (11), Chad (13), Comoros (7), Congo, Dem. Rep. (1), Congo, Rep. (6), Côte d’Ivoire (4), Ethiopia (1), Gambia, The (1), Ghana (1), Guinea (1), Guinea-Bissau (7), Kenya (1), Lesotho (1), Liberia (1), Madagascar (3), Malawi (1), Mali (1), Mauritania (5), Mozambique (2), Namibia (12), Niger (3), Nigeria (3), Rwanda (1), São Tomé and Príncipe (6), Senegal (1), Sierra Leone (1), Somalia (9), South Sudan (9), Sudan (7), Swaziland (10), Tanzania (1), Togo (1), Uganda (1), Zambia (1), Zimbabwe (1) East Asia and the Pacific: Cambodia (5), Fiji (9), Indonesia (11), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (11), Mongolia (1), Myanmar 12 countries (5), Papua New Guinea (1), Philippines (9), Timor-Leste (1), Tonga (9), Vanuatu (9), Vietnam (7) Europe and Central Asia: Albania (1), Armenia (8), Azerbaijan (13), Bulgaria (13), Georgia (13), Hungary (13), Kosovo (12), Kyrgyz 13 countries Republic (1), Moldova (12), Serbia (12), Tajikistan (1), Turkey (13), Uzbekistan (8) Latin America and the Antigua and Barbuda (4), Bolivia (3), Chile (12), Colombia (10), Dominica (3), Dominican Republic (3), Caribbean: Ecuador (9), El Salvador (3), Grenada (3), Guatemala (11), Guyana (3), Haiti (1), Honduras (1), Jamaica 22 countries (9), Mexico (8), Montserrat (4), Nicaragua (2), Panama (12), Peru (1), St. Kitts and Nevis (4), St. Lucia (3), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (3) Middle East and North Africa: Djibouti (1), Egypt, Arab Rep. (11), Yemen, Rep. (2) 3 countries South Asia: 8 countries Afghanistan (4), Bangladesh (1), Bhutan (5), India (1), Maldives (1), Nepal (1), Pakistan (3), Sri Lanka (1) Note: The numbers in parentheses indicate the first selection round in which RSR assistance was approved for the country. Countries in bold are IBRD-only countries, approved through the RSR-NS or RSR-DR windows. Albania graduated from IDA after receiving RSR assistance. Peru was included in a toolkit/knowledge-sharing project for which IBRD countries are eligible through the RSR-Classic window. S ection 2 :   R S R S napshot  13 SPJ coverage in the poorest and most vulnerable coun- and displacement. Social protection systems are increas- tries, the RSR portfolio must continue to evolve to support ingly being used to improve opportunities for economic activities and dialogues that bring SPJ to the forefront of and social inclusion in rapidly changing societies. Crucial development and help link it with other sectors to improve linkages with graduation programs and jobs will also help opportunities for economic and social inclusion. The role shape the new portfolio. Going forward, the RSR scope of social protection is growing, along with expectations for must continue to expand and evolve to help programs it to become more innovative and collaborative, with new become even more adaptive, scalable, and sufficiently flex- programs and systems that will be able to respond not ible to respond to a variety of shocks resulting from both only to shocks originating within an economy, but also to human-made crises and natural disasters. outside shocks such as climate change, natural disasters, Program Evolution Since its inception, the RSR has become a widely rec- This initial phase positioned the RSR high in the social ognized brand associated with SPJ systems building. protection agenda, which allowed it to then move into It has also substantially evolved in response to changing new and more forward-looking spheres. A total of 80 global circumstances and demands. Since its first phase activities were supported during this phase, with $61.8 mil- (2009–12), which was launched to assist countries in lion of programmable resources from two trust funds: the addressing urgent social needs stemming from crises and RSR MDTF and the RSR Catalyst Trust Fund (RSRC). helping them build the capacity and institutions to better respond to future crises, the RSR has developed during Phase 2 (2012 onwards) to support a broader agenda of P H A S E 2 : S PJ S Y S T E M S SPJ systems building. Cross-sectoral by nature, the RSR ORIENTED embraces both core SPJ areas as well as supports priorities Following its successful and effective Phase 1, the RSR that are easily linked to SPJ operations, including gender, evolved into its second phase, with a strong focus on nutrition, employment and jobs, graduation, and disaster building and strengthening social protection systems. risk management. In the fall of 2012, RSR development partners approved a five-year extension of the program from June 2013 to June P H A S E 1: C ATA LY T I C C R I S I S 2018. This mandate—which marked the official inception of RESPONSE the new phase—was a response to the World Bank’s new 2012–2022 Social Protection and Labor Strategy (World From its operationalization in 2009 until 2012, the Bank 2012), which called for the RSR’s continuous involve- RSR’s main mandate was to help low-income coun- ment in supporting low-income countries as well as global tries cope with major crises such as the food, fuel, and knowledge sharing on SPJ systems through support of financial crises of 2008–10. Support was earmarked solely South-South Learning Forums and communities of practice. for IDA-eligible countries to protect the postcrisis poor populations of the most severely affected countries. The The development partners jointly framed the RSR seed money conveyed through RSR grants provided critical business model and results framework, while the support in the form of services and in-kind benefits to vul- focus on low-income countries in establishing or nerable and poor populations. Some of the pilot programs strengthening their core social protection systems supported by the RSR led to full-fledged IDA operations as remained unchanged. This framework is presented in in Cameroon, Mozambique, and Rwanda. figure 2.1 and delineated in table 6.3 at the end of this report. RSR support continued to be provided to activities 14  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 F I G U R E 2 . 1   RSR Results Framework Pyramid REDUCED POVERTY AND INEQUALITY Impact MORE POOR PEOPLE COVERED BY SPJ SYSTEMS Indicator SPJ coverage in IDA-supported projects (total number, by country, gender) Outcome ENHANCED CAPACITY OF SPJ SYSTEMS TO PROTECT POOR AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE Time and • Increased resource • Increased resource allocation • Global SPJ data complexity Indicators allocation to SPJ to SPJ overall budget – domestic accessible (# of new through IDA (million $) and other funding (million $) countries in ASPIRE/ISPA) Outputs NEW/IMPROVED SPJ SYSTEMS INCREASED AWARENESS OF PROTECTION OF AND COMPONENTS SPJ OPTIONS ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES DURING • System diagnostic and stocktaking • South-South learning events CRISES (2 sub-output dimensions, # and $) (# participants, # countries represented) Indicators • Component design and development • Participation in community of practice (# of • Number of direct (8 sub-output dimensions, and $) beneficiaries • Interagency program harmonization countries, # countries represented) (2 sub-output dimensions, # and $) • Toolkit users (# downloads, # training • Customer feedback participants) (# client governments interviewed) Themes SPJ SYSTEMS LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES DURING CRISES • Diagnostics • South-South Forum Activities • Components • Community of Practice • Safety net benefits for nutrition • Harmonization • Toolkits • Other forms of safety nets Note: The framework is articulated around three levels of results: (1) impacts, (2) outcomes, and (3) outputs. Implementing agencies can exert the most control over outputs, while outcomes and impacts tend to be more contingent on a variety of contextual and exogenous factors. in IDA-eligible countries for new or improved SPJ system boost social protection systems. Phase 2 expanded the components, platforms, and architecture for a specific RSR portfolio to cover 100 countries in total. country or countries (Theme 1) and to protect access to basic services in times of crisis for a specific country or An important subtheme emerged under Theme 2, with countries (Theme 3). However, in contrast to the first a focus on providing nutrition benefits, particularly phase, the inclusion of IBRD countries was made possible for young children and pregnant/nursing mothers. under a new theme (Theme 2), which encourages knowl- A nutrition-sensitive window, the RSR-NS, was there- edge sharing across development levels so as to further fore established under the RSR; more information on this window is provided in section 4. Also during Phase 2, the S ection 2 :   R S R S napshot  15 RSR entered into a partnership with the Global Facility for stand-alone projects and toward both systems building and, Disaster Reduction and Recovery, enabling the RSR to sup- increasingly, preparing catalytic investments in high-impact port and link disaster responsiveness to social protection. thematic areas such as youth development, gender empow- This window, the RSR-DR, aims to help build disaster read- erment, and nutrition using SPJ policies, programs, and iness in countries’ SPJ systems; it too is further discussed delivery systems. Engagement in these thematic areas not in section 4. only enhances SPJ outcomes but also boosts human cap- ital and human development outcomes, often captured as Overall, the programmable resources and mandate health or educational achievements that reduce the vulnera- introduced in Phase 2 have enabled the RSR to boost bility of individuals and increase the full economic inclusion SPJ presence in the broader development agenda of all high-vulnerability groups that require concerted and and increase the World Bank’s engagement in low-in- coordinated efforts for lasting results (e.g. women, youth, come countries. The RSR is focusing more on both the persons with disabilities, displaced by disaster or conflict national and international SPJ agendas, shifting away from and violence and migrants). RSR Coverage by Region and Theme 50++671329D 50 BY REGION F I G U R E 2 . 2   Cumulative Resource Allocations and Given the RSR’s design parameters, a large share of its Project Counts by Region, End December 2018 resources have been directed at Africa, where the largest 9% number of IDA-eligible countries are. Regionally, across all $11.3 mil. rounds and all RSR windows (RSR-Classic, RSR-DR, RSR- 13% NS, and RSRC), Africa accounts for the largest percentage $15.6 mil. of the portfolio (figure 2.2). Total resources allocated to the 3% Africa region by the end of 2018 represented 50 percent of $2.8 mil. ALLOCATIONS all programmable resources, and the number of projects in 13% 50% Africa is by far the largest—125 expressions of interest, or $16.1 mil. $60.7 mil. almost 50 percent of the total count. This allocation trend has been fairly constant throughout the life of the RSR. 7% $7.8 mil. 6% $7.5 mil.  Africa BY THEME  East Asia and the Pacific  Europe and Central Asia Theme 1: New or improved SPJ system components,  Latin America and the Caribbean platforms, and architecture for a specific country or  Middle East and North Africa countries continues to command the dominant share of  South Asia projects, accounting for over 75 percent of both the total  Global number of projects (which include Theme 1, not exclusively) PROJECT COUNT as well as of total resources allocated between calen- dar years 2010 and 2017 (figure 2.3). In all, total resources allocated to Theme 1 are approximately $93 million. The breakdown and share of subthemes within Theme 1 is as fol- 125 15 17 31 3 36 32 lows. Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). 16  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 77++1112D 77 F I G U R E 2 . 3   Cumulative Resource Allocations and ¤ The second highest share is represented by Sub- Project Counts by Theme, End December 2018 theme 1.b.2, building systems for robust identification of beneficiaries and development of registries , with 92 12% approved expressions of interest citing it as a subtheme, $14.6 mil. or over 50 percent of the total count associated with 11% activities approved under Theme 1 (followed closely by $13.6 mil. Subtheme 1.b.2 Improving processes for determination of eligibility with 90 approved expressions of interest). ALLOCATIONS ¤ Subtheme 1.c.2, Integration of individual programs into coordinated, national systems through harmonization and use of common components, platforms, or archi- 77% tecture, is represented by 94 projects; Subtheme 1.a.2, $93.0 mil. Identification or development of effective options, and Subtheme 1.b.7, building information systems for better service management, are addressed in 81 projects,  Theme 1 respectively.  Theme 2 221+ 49+ 18  Theme 3 As of the end of calendar year 2018, the cumulative count of projects and resources allocated for Theme 2: Increased cross-national learning and knowledge sharing for SPJ ser- PROJECT COUNT vice delivery, were 49 and $13.5 million, respectively. The number of projects and the share of resources dedi- 221 49 18 cated to Theme 3: Protection of access to basic services in times of crisis for a specific country or countries did not increase since the last reporting period, remaining at Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). 18 and $14.6 million, respectively. Theme 3 activities are recipient-executed emergency projects that distribute cash and in-kind benefits to poor and vulnerable popula- ¤ Subtheme 1.a.1, Systems diagnostics, analysis, and tions to mitigate the severe impact of major crises. For this stocktaking, including the application of Inter-Agency reason, expressions of interest that include Theme 3 activ- Social Protection Assessment (ISPA) tools, represents ities are not approved unless the application of World Bank the largest share of activities in the RSR portfolio, with Operational Policy 8.00, Rapid Response to Crises and 137 expressions of interest listing it as a subtheme— Emergencies, has been declared for the intended benefi- or 61 percent of the total theme count associated with ciary country. approved expressions of interest under Theme 1. Association with IDA and Other Bank Operations By the end of December 2018, the RSR—including the the United Kingdom) and the GFDRR. Of this, approximately RSR MDTF, the RSRC, the RSR-DR, and the RSR-NS— $58.50 million, funded by the RSR MDTF and the RSRC, had approved an allocation of $122 million in programmable was associated with large-scale national programs/projects resources from its five development partners (Australia, supported by World Bank operations—that is, IBRD loans, Denmark, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and IDA credits/grants, and trust funds other than the RSR. S ection 2 :   R S R S napshot  17 These World Bank operations accounted for a total of non–RSR trust fund resources for RSR MDTF and IDA about $9.6 billion in IDA credits/grants —an approxi- associated projects (table 2.4). Cumulative total financing mately $2.5 billion increase compared to the last reporting from Bank operations reached $18.3 billion. Client govern- period—$50 million in IBRD loans, and $737 million in ments mobilized almost $7.9 billion (table 2.5). T A B L E 2 . 4   RSR Association with IDA and Other Resources Indicator 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Resources (million $) Total programmable RSR resources 90.53 100.14 101.22 110.01 116.85 121.84 Associated with WBG operations 43.46 45.98 46.04 47.62 57.89 58.53 Total amount of WBG operations financing 3,599.00 4,398.18 6,186.00 7,621.00 9,843.57 10,365.28 IDA credits and grants 3,352.50 4,146.68 5,680.00 7,087.00 9,143.31 9,578.72 IBRD loans 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 Non-RSR trust funds 196.50 201.50 455.00 484.00 650.26 737.00 Amount of government financing 5,088.23 5,710.10 6,877.00 6,972.00 6,979.32 7,990.00 WBG + government financing 8,687.23 10,108.28 13,063.00 14,593.00 16,822.89 18,355.28 Association ratios WBG/RSR per total programmable RSR resources 39.8 43.9 61.1 69.3 84.2 85.1 WBG/RSR per RSR financing directly associated 82.8 95.6 134.4 160.0 170.0 177.1 IDA/RSR per total programmable RSR resources 37.0 41.4 56.1 64.4 78.2 78.6 IDA/RSR per RSR financing directly associated 77.1 90.2 123.4 148.8 157.9 163.7 National budget/RSR per total programmable 56.2 57.0 67.9 63.4 59.7 65.6 RSR resources National budget/RSR per RSR financing directly 117.1 124.2 149.4 146.4 120.6 136.5 associated Total associated resources/RSR per total 96.0 100.9 129.1 132.6 144.0 150.6 programmable RSR resources Total associated resources/RSR per RSR 199.9 219.8 283.8 306.4 290.6 313.6 financing directly associated Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: WBG = World Bank Group. RSR programmable resources represent funds available for allocation from the four programs (RSR-MDTF, GFDRR, RSRC, and RSR-NS), excluding program management and administration grants. IDA figures were dominated by a single country (Bangladesh). IDA is the sole financier for most projects, with the following notable exceptions: • IDA provides 28 percent ($745,000) of the total cost of Bangladesh’s Safety Net Systems for the Poorest Project (P132634; June 2013); the rest ($2.2 billion) is provided by the government. • IDA provides 75 percent ($300 million) of support to Nigeria’s Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (P126964; March 2013); the remaining $100 million is provided by the government. • IDA provides 27 percent ($500 million) of support to Nigeria’s Social Protection Project (P151488; June 2016); the remaining $1.33 billion is provided by the government. • IDA provides $220 million to Tanzania’s Productive Social Safety Net project (P124045; March 2012); the remainder is provided by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) ($16 million), the government ($4 million), and Spain ($0.9 million). 18  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 T A B L E 2 . 5   World Bank Financing Approved for SPJ Activities, as of December 31, 2018 Date IDA Government Region Country Project title approved (million $) (million $) Benin Community and Local Government Basic 7/6/18 40.00 Social Services Project Cabo Verde Social Inclusion Project 12/13/18 10.00 Chad Refugees and Host Communities Support 9/12/18 60.00 Project Congo, Dem. Rep. of Productive Inclusion Project 6/28/18 200.00 Ethiopia Ethiopia Rural Productive Safety Net 9/14/17 600.00 621.00 Project Ghana Ghana Productive Safety Net Project 10/31/18 60.00 140.00 Guinea-Bissau Safety Nets and Basic Services Project 5/18/18 15.00 Kenya Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion 11/27/18 250.00 1,010.00 Project Africa Niger Youth Employment and Productive 6/14/18 30.00 Inclusion Project Rwanda Strengthening Social Protection Project 12/18/17 80.00 6.00 São Tomé and Príncipe Social Protection and Skills Development 9/27/18 10.00 Project Senegal Improving Youth Employability Through 11/21/18 53.00 Informal Apprenticeship Togo Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable 3/21/17 15.00 Youth Project Togo Safety Nets and Basic Services Project 3/21/17 29.00 Western Africa West Africa Unique Identification for 6/5/18 122.10 Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) Program East Asia and the Mongolia Mongolia Employment Support Project 4/27/17 25.00 Pacific Tonga Skills and Employment for Tongans 8/28/18 18.51 Latin America and St. Vincent and the Human Development Service Delivery 5/25/17 10.70 the Caribbean Grenadines Project Bangladesh Bangladesh Jobs Programmatic DPC 12/12/18 250.00 South Asia Bangladesh Cash Transfer Modernization Project 1/31/18 300.00 1,043.00 Pakistan National Social Protection Program 3/15/17 100.00 5,276.00 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). S ection 2 :   R S R S napshot  19 For each dollar of RSR programmable resources, there is an T A B L E 2 . 6   SPJ Coverage Catalyzed by the RSR in associated $78.60 in IDA financing. This is a large increase, IDA-Supported Projects (million $) up from $64.40 from last reporting period, which illustrates Year Both sexes Females only the RSR’s continued leveraging power. If total World Bank 2013 42.1 21.0 and national government financing is considered, every dollar of RSR programmable resources leverages an associ- 2014 77.3 38.3 ated $65.60. And when only those projects that are directly 2015 72.4 36.2 associated with World Bank operations are taken into 2016 131.5 65.8 account, $313.60 in total associated financing is leveraged for every dollar of RSR financing. 2017 176.1 88.1 2018 176.1 88.1 S PJ C O V E R A G E C ATA LY Z E D B Y Source: Implementation status and results reports and implemen- tation completion reports of IDA operations associated with the THE RSR RSR. Note: Data for 2017 and 2018 are the same because it is too early The RSR results chain is straightforward. The RSR provides to report on the number of beneficiaries from recently approved a small amount of funding to facilitate SPJ system build- associated IDA projects. ing and strengthening of activities in IDA-eligible countries. Many of those efforts mobilize and facilitate the preparation ASPIRE COVERAGE of a full-fledged IDA-funded project. In turn, the IDA proj- ects provide the needed SPJ coverage. ASPIRE (Atlas of Social Protection Indicators of Resilience and Equity) is an ongoing program funded in part by the As of end December 2018, approximately 176.1 million RSR that aims to improve SPJ data quality, comparability, individuals were estimated to be covered by IDA-funded and availability to better inform SPJ policies and programs. SPJ operations catalyzed by the RSR. Half of those are Its portal (http://datatopics.worldbank.org/aspire/) gener- estimated to be women (table 2.6). Given that the total ates harmonized indicators to assess the performance of programmable resources during calendar year 2018 were social assistance, social insurance, and labor market pro- roughly $122 million, it can be estimated that $0.69 in grams based on nationally representative household survey additional RSR resources leads to the expansion of SPJ cov- data. Most indicators are estimated by program type, for erage for one additional person. This marginal cost to the the entire population and by quintiles, of both pre- and RSR of additional SPJ coverage has fallen over time: the post-transfer welfare distribution. ASPIRE coverage has estimate in December 2015 was $1.40 and in December increased significantly over time. At the end of the present 2016 $0.84. reporting period, its database contained data for 123 coun- tries (including 309 surveys), compared to 57 in 2013. SECTION 3 Country Highlights 22  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 B O T S WA N A Strengthening the Social Protection System in Botswana to Contribute to the Eradication of Food Poverty A best practice example of piloting, operationaliz- and programs have overlapping eligibility criteria. The ing, and mainstreaming a nutrition-sensitive national many social protection programs operate with little or no social protection framework, this RSR grant is unique coordination, and with multiple cash and food distribution in demonstrating World Bank engagement in a programs. Almost 7 percent of all households in the poorest middle-income country and progress on social pro- quintile benefit from at least three programs, and 39 per- tection reform, despite a challenging process. The grant cent benefit from at least two. These overlaps are a direct supported the design and initial implementation of a single consequence of how programs define target groups and eli- social registry, a proxy means test pilot, and a social inter- gibility criteria, as well as the overall fragmented approach. mediation strategy. These activities have been instrumental in improving Botswana’s social protection system. Botswana lacks the administrative systems and tools that underpin efficient service delivery including objective targeting mechanisms, a social registry, and The Challenge modern information systems. Each program requires the completion of a separate application, investigation by staff, and documentation—even though the information collected Botswana’s exceptionally fast-growing economy has is generally the same for all programs. Separate applications made it a middle-income country and a success story are administratively costly and increase time and out-of- in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nonetheless, the country faces pocket costs for applicants. There is considerable disparity high levels of poverty and inequality. Key human develop- across and within programs in collecting and capturing data. ment indicators as measured by the Human Development Index lag the country’s economic performance. Nearly a Many beneficiaries remain on the rolls for years, and quarter of the population is undernourished, and 31 per- the government has expressed concern that they have cent of children under age five are stunted—a rate on par become dependent on social assistance. Linkages with low-income Sub-Saharan African countries. Botswa- between social assistance beneficiaries and labor market na’s extraordinarily high inequality makes it difficult for programs are ad hoc, and are not focused on helping bene- sustained growth to lead to rapid poverty reduction. In addi- fices graduate to jobs and sustainable livelihoods. There are tion, a large number of people are just marginally above the many institutions involved in the sector, and most programs poverty line and are at risk of falling back into poverty, espe- operate in silos with little communication between them. cially in the country’s rural and southern areas. Progress in addressing modernization issues has been Results are not commensurate with the substantial slow. In 2014, the government of Botswana requested a allocation committed to the country’s complex social World Bank operation to support modernization of its social protection system. Botswana has devoted around 4.4 per- protection system. A social protection lending operation cent of its gross domestic product to its social protection from IBRD in the amount of $30 million was subsequently system. However, social protection delivery is fragmented, included in the Botswana Country Partnership Framework. S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  23 However, after the concept stage, the government decided and initial implementation of a social registry pilot and a to halt project preparation pending adoption of its National proxy means test pilot, and development of a nutrition-sen- Development Plan. Even after the plan was approved sitive National Social Protection Framework. in December 2016, project preparation did not resume. The Bank has conducted 10 technical missions since the The engagement was characterized by a highly con- suspension; the Ministry of Finance and Economic Devel- sultative approach. Implementation of the RSR-financed opment has expressed appreciation for the Bank’s technical activities featured frequent consultations with an intermin- assistance and indicates that social protection continues to isterial Social Protection Steering Committee formed by the be a priority for the government. government and including other stakeholders and develop- ment partners, such as UNICEF. Approach The RSR team provided technical assistance in the design of a proxy means test targeting tool to improve the government’s ability to identify the poor. The gov- ernment asked for World Bank support in developing a proxy means test to objectively identify households’ pov- erty status. The team worked in close consultation with A WORD FROM THE government representatives, conducting technical dis- PROJEC T TASK TE AM LE ADER… cussions to help design the proxy means test model. The T he $340,000 RSR grant was absolutely critical in resulting tool was tested with 450 beneficiaries. maintaining momentum and ensuring progress on Under the grant, a single social registry software key social protection reform areas—especially since application was designed to be transferred to the trust fund resources are rarely available for mid- government, along with technical and operational dle-income countries. In the absence of a decision manuals following a training. The objective was to sup- on the future of engagement, the Bank team put its effort port flows of information on individuals/households and in obtaining a second RSR grant to continue the technical their socioeconomic conditions to determine their eligibil- assistance. The support provided by this new RSR grant ity for social safety net programs. The registry will help the [Support to a Coordinated and Scalable Social Protection government understand the economic reality of house- System] is imperative, as the government moves toward holds; as such, it will provide information on both applicants implementation of reforms, particularly of its single and beneficiaries and on the benefits provided. social registry. —Melis Guven The grant supported preparation of a National Social Protection Framework. Development of the framework was guided by the Social Protection Steering Committee. The objective of the RSR grant was to support the govern- Grant activities were also focused on developing a ment of Botswana in strengthening a nutrition-sensitive social intermediation strategy. Among other things, social protection system and contribute to achievement of this strategy looked to help social protection beneficiaries its national goal of eradicating food poverty and reducing graduate by integrating them into the labor market and to chronic malnutrition. Recognizing the challenges in its social promote fiscal sustainability of the overall system. protection system, the government has taken important initial steps toward strengthening its system with support from the RSR grant. The grant contributed to the develop- ment of key reforms and critical tools, including the design 24  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 © Curt Carnemark/World Bank Accomplishments and landscape and an assessment of the sector and its achievements. A framework for harmonization and stake- Results holder roles and responsibilities was proposed, along with ways to mainstream nutrition into programming. Additionally, a monitoring and evaluation framework was Following are key achievements of the RSR grant. incorporated, with proposed indicators and a proposed phased approach for implementation. The work was ¤ Grant activities contributed to the preparation of a conducted through consultations within and outside gov- comprehensive National Social Protection Frame- ernment agencies and in collaboration with UNICEF. The work, which provides a critical road map for a Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, coordinated nutrition-sensitive and disaster-re- which led the formulation of the social intermediation sponsive social protection system. This includes strategy, is moving forward with implementation of the providing an overview of the existing social protection reforms through ongoing pilots. S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  25 ¤ The proxy means test targeting mechanism that to link to services on health, education, and labor market was designed with RSR-financed technical assis- programs. tance will strengthen the government’s ability to identify poor households when implemented. This is • The first version of the social registry application expected to contribute significantly to reducing duplica- software was completed and delivered to the govern- tion and improving social protection system coordination. ment in December 2017. The software was tested in The social protection system suffers from duplication, as January 2018. programs tend to be categorical and targeted to individ- • Several training workshops have been conducted uals, with eligibility criteria overlapping across programs. locally and nationally with technical teams and regis- Proxy means testing aims to address this problem. The try software users. household socioeconomic data collected will be used in populating the social registry and will help move the • Operational and technical manuals for the registry system away from individual benefits to delivering pack- have been prepared and delivered to the government. ages of benefits targeted at households. • Operationalization of the registry was initiated by the government in four pilot districts. A phased national An electronic version of the proxy means test tool using approach will be followed to scale up implementation a smartphone-based application was successfully pre- of the single social registry. tested by social workers, validating the tool’s feasibility. Not only did the tool help to better identify poor house- ¤ Under the grant, a social intermediation strategy holds, it also eased implementation for social workers was developed. The focus was on helping beneficiaries and applicants alike. graduate from social assistance by linking them to labor market programs. It is expected that the strategy will ¤ The RSR-financed activities directly contributed contribute to improvements in fiscal, social, and human to the development of a single social registry to capital by promoting the articulation of services and facil- support nutrition-sensitive outcomes. Automated itating household linkages to these services. In support databases for social safety programs do not exist in of the strategy, a technical note, “Support for Gradua- Botswana, and the government does not have infor- tion through Social Intermediation,” was prepared for the mation on total social protection beneficiaries at any government. point in time. The registry constitutes a significant step toward improving the efficiency of social protection in Botswana. It will enable more accurate selection of eligi- ble beneficiaries, while allowing social workers to spend more time on actual case management by allowing them 26  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 CÔTE D’IVOIRE Productive Social Safety Net Project R SR grant-financed activities have directly improved existed, aside from small-scale, donor-financed activities in and modernized Côte d’Ivoire’s social protection selected regions. and labor delivery system, and improved linkages between the social protection and jobs sectors. The The urgency of finding new ways of expanding social project has used innovative measures to build on and protection and labor support to the poorest in Côte leverage the country’s digital foundation for use in deliver- d’Ivoire was clear. A major challenge was ensuring access ing social benefits. to income support, employment services, education, and health among the poor. Large parts of the population in hard-to-reach rural areas had not been identified, and were The Challenge therefore excluded from all social protection coverage. Approach Despite recent growth, poverty in Côte d’Ivoire remains high and predominately affects the rural pop- ulation. The country’s overall poverty rate in 2015 was 45 percent, and it ranked 170th among 189 countries on the A World Bank– International Finance Corporation (IFC) United Nations Human Development Index in 2018. Mal- partnership: Leveraging core expertise from across nutrition is higher in rural regions; in 2011, 35 percent of disciplines and identifying solutions that were then children in rural regions were stunted compared to 21 per- iterated with the government to ensure a tailor-made cent in urban regions. Poverty throughout the country is approach for the local context. Thanks to funding from exacerbated by an employment profile characterized by the RSR Multi-Donor Trust Fund, a team consisting of the low-productivity self-employment. Demographic pressures World Bank’s Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice exacerbate the situation: the population is rapidly growing and IFC could launch the program. and young, with 41 percent of the population below the age of 15. The development objective of the project was to enhance the government’s capacity in developing No comprehensive social safety net system was in an integrated social registry and a productive inclu- place. An integrated social protection and labor system sion platform for the most vulnerable households as can help lay the foundations for channeling much-needed part of its national social protection and labor system. resources to the poorest. However, before the start of the The technical assistance responded to the government’s IDA-financed Productive Social Safety Net Project in 2015, request for capacity building in (1) assessment and design Côte d’Ivoire’s narrow social protection framework con- of an innovative, integrated social registry as a core ele- sisted mainly of contributory social insurance schemes ment of the institutional architecture; (2) operationalization (primarily pensions and health insurance), covering less of an adaptive productive inclusion platform for the most than 10 percent of the population. Only a limited number vulnerable households, starting with the chronic poor; and of social protection and labor programs targeting the poor (3) design and implementation of a robust social protection and labor policy evaluation framework. S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  27 Photo: © Ami Vitale/World Bank The RSR project had three components: implementation and monitoring of project-related activi- ties and the evaluation of outcomes ¤ Cash transfers to targeted to poor households, with accompanying measures to promote investments in human capital and livelihoods ¤ Supporting the development of key elements in the cash Accomplishments and transfer system—a targeting system, a social protection household registry, a cash transfer payment system, and Results a management information system and capacity-building The RSR grant-financed activities were instrumental in ¤ Project management, monitoring and evaluation ensuring that, for the first time ever, vulnerable households finances consultant services and goods to support the received cash transfers—a significant innovation in govern- ment-to-person payments in Côte d’Ivoire. Additionally, as 28  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 detailed in the box on the next page, the RSR financed-ac- up regular cash payments. The digital payments facili- tivities have been instrumental in mobilizing additional IDA tated by this project can reduce such risks. financing for future scale-up. Other project accomplish- ¤ Digital payments provide particular benefits to ments are highlighted below. women. The project’s potential gender and social impact is strong, especially since 51 percent of the ben- ¤ To date, 300,000 individuals—or 50,000 beneficiary eficiaries to date are women. Digital payments can be a households—have benefited from mobile money means for introduction to the formal economy and can accounts and digital cash payments. These house- help increase women’s economic empowerment. For holds are poor, and many live in hard-to-reach rural example, data collected via mobile providers seem to areas. indicate increased savings as an early effect; women in ¤ The project identified previously “invisible” ben- households typically drive such savings. Similarly, moth- eficiaries. These people and households had never ers are believed to be behind the uptake of requests for previously been reached or received any services or ben- birth certificates and identification of children that has efits; in short, they had been missing from the system. accompanied digitization. Today, an estimated 720,000 individuals (or 120,000 ¤ The project has helped develop a framework households) are registered with the comprehensive supporting digital financial literacy, financial inclu- social registry system managed by the program. The sion, and access to markets in value chains. The registry spans 16 regions in the northern, western, and framework was developed under the livelihoods sub- central zones. component. An Economic Inclusion Platform, targeting ¤ The project built a strong public-private part- three pilot regions, is slated to be rolled out nationwide. nership. The RSR team worked with mobile money ¤ The project’s multifaceted challenges were met operators to provide vulnerable households with mobile by leveraging comparative advantages. The RSR accounts. Once the households had been identified and team—which included members of the World Bank’s the accounts set up, they became a form of identifica- Social Protection & Jobs Global Practice, IFC, the Jobs tion. group, and the private and public sectors—worked col- ¤ The project supported government efforts in imple- laboratively to achieve better social protection, jobs, and menting a well-targeted national productive social sustainable livelihood outcomes. IFC brought critical safety net program. The project is fully staffed by and private sector development expertise, experience, and has been formally institutionalized within the Ministry of connections to the table; while the World Bank team Employment and Social Protection. members drew on over 30 years of experience focused ¤ The project has the potential to reduce social pro- on poor consumers and were able to help all parties tection program administrative and transaction better understand how to meet the needs of the eco- costs. In most social protection programs, the payment nomically disadvantaged. The project thus exemplifies delivery mechanism represents a significant element of exceptional inter- and intra-institutional collaboration. the administrative budget. Shifting to digital payments ¤ The project has helped open up new markets. As can reduce transaction costs by improving transparency, part of the mobile social safety net payments approach, improving efficiency, and reducing leakage. private operators provided beneficiary households with ¤ Digital payments can reduce the risks and costs free hand-held phones. Not only have the beneficiaries associated with fraud and corruption. Recipients of directly benefited from this, but also the private sector cash payments in rural areas often have to travel—fre- by acquiring new mobile customers—customers who quently on foot—considerable distances to designated will likely be taking advantage of additional digital finan- locations, incurring high travel costs. This makes benefi- cial services in the future. ciaries vulnerable to street crime and theft when picking S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  29 A W ORD F ROM T HE P RO J E C T TA S K T E A M L E A DE R… ON T HE C ATA LY Z I NG E F F E C T OF T HE R S R GRANT T he $450,000 RSR grant complemented and built on an existing IDA-financed project [Productive Social Safety Net, $50 mil- lion]. The activities the RSR grant financed contributed to the main project along several dimensions—dimensions that were not only “nice to have” but were in fact essential for the success of the main project and its impact on the ground. For starters, the RSR funding allowed us to recruit critical in-country expertise on local delivery systems—expertise needed to take the original project to the next level. Without the RSR, in-country specialists could not have been hired, and the diagnostics would be lacking. In order to understand the entire social protection system and its internal dynamics, we had to look at multiple aspects, such as how the pensions and information systems worked—and of course, we had to assess the existing livelihoods and delivery/social assistance payments systems in order to be able to set up the reporting. All of this information and analysis led to concrete results, with an extremely large number of highly vulnerable and poor indi- viduals benefiting from cash transfers. And it was these impressive project results that were instrumental in leveraging and preparing the groundwork for additional IDA financing. In June 2019, the World Bank approved a second IDA loan of $100 million to support the government’s cofinanc- ing for the next phase of the project. These funds will be used to scale up the Productive Social Safety Nets project, expand beneficiary coverage, and promote economic inclusion through digital finance and access to markets in value chains. The RSR grant has shown that relatively little can go a long way! —Heba Elgazzar ¤ The RSR team won the 2017 KNOWbel Client Solu- are given to the most outstanding, high-impact proj- tions Award. KNOWbel is an IFC initiative and a World ects that have managed to foster a collaborative culture, Bank Group–wide recognition program aimed at foster- increase efficiency while learning from the past, and— ing a collaborative knowledge-sharing culture. Awards most importantly—supported client-focused solutions. 30  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 M A L AW I Rapid Social Registry Assessment: Malawi’s Unified Beneficiary Registry T he Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) is a to 4.4 children per woman from 6.7 between 1992 and ground-breaking initiative in Malawi. It serves as a 2015/16. At present, 56.2 percent of the population is under consolidated source of harmonized information on the 19 years of age; the working-age population constitutes a socioeconomic status of households and contributes to mere 38.8 percent of the total (World Bank 2018a). an overall more coherent social protection approach. To date the UBR has registered and collected data on 800,000 Although investment in social protection has households (4 million people) in the 13 districts where it has increased significantly over the last decade, the cur- been rolled out. The RSR’s Rapid Social Registry Assess- rent social protection approach remains fragmented. ment reviewed experience to date with the UBR to identify As a whole it does not yet sufficiently achieve its core goals areas of strength and areas in need of improvement; its of reducing household vulnerability to poverty and food recommendations and analysis support UBR strengthening insecurity and increasing resilience and livelihoods at scale. over the long term. The effectiveness of social protection could be improved so that it better reaches those in true need in order to min- imize the impact of seasonal exposure as well as of large The Challenge shocks to households. Approach Malawi’s poverty rate has remained high, increased slightly from 50.7% in 2010 to 51.5% in 2016 (World Bank 2019c). Recurrent cyclical crises and household vul- nerability have prevented long-term poverty reduction. Development of an integrated social registry in Transitory shocks have the potential to exacerbate rural Malawi was conceived as a response to growing poverty, pushing an additional two out of every five house- concerns about the fragmentation of the social pro- holds below the poverty line. The country’s high exposure tection system. Trends in chronic and transitory poverty to climate risks—primarily arising from hazards such as dry highlighted the relevance of a social registry, and demo- spells, drought, and flooding—results in frequent shocks graphic trends further show the potential demand of and emergencies. This problem is compounded by under- delivery systems such as the UBR in the future. The Malawi lying household vulnerability tied to food insecurity and UBR allows households to register and be considered for seasonal patterns of production and consumption that exac- potential inclusion in multiple social programs based on a erbate the impacts of large, covariate shocks. A significant transparent assessment of household needs and condi- proportion of Malawi’s humanitarian needs originate from tions. largely predictable patterns, including normal seasonal vari- ations in weather. The government has taken the lead in designing, managing, and implementing the UBR, with strong Malawi’s population is expected to double in approx- ownership across the core agencies involved. Cen- imately two decades, increasing from 17.2 million in trally, the UBR is owned and coordinated by the Ministry 2015 to 34.4 million in 2038. The total fertility rate is down of Finance, Economic Planning and Development and S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  31 Photo: Kathy Lindert/World Bank managed by the UBR Taskforce, which is composed of UBR was also considered for use by other programs, such key stakeholder representatives. Implementation is car- as the Farm Input Subsidy Program, the Village Savings ried out using district- and community-level structures. The and Loan Program, microfinance, nutrition, scholarships, design and implementation of the UBR has been highly and humanitarian assistance. The use of the UBR by multi- consultative, and the reliance on existing government struc- ple social programs hinges on a set of harmonized eligibility tures—particularly for local implementation—is a major concepts and a common intake questionnaire, the Harmo- strength. A priority going forward would be to institution- nized Targeting Tool. The questionnaire was developed on alize the central-level unit, since the UBR Taskforce was the basis of extensive consultations with stakeholders. originally created as a temporary arrangement. The objectives of the RSR’s rapid assessment of The UBR was designed to serve two flagship social the UBR were straightforward: to review Malawi’s programs, with a view to serving additional programs UBR experience to date; identify strengths and areas for over time. The timing of the RSR’s rapid assessment improvement; provide short-term recommendations to of the UBR was opportune, given the upcoming round support the upcoming expansion, including implementa- of continued expansion of the UBR and a planned shift tion adaptations that would be needed to accommodate in registration targets from 50 percent to 100 percent of the revised registration targets; and support strengthen- households. The initial programs covered were the Social ing of the UBR over the long term. Topics covered include Cash Transfer Program and the Public Works Program. The institutional arrangements, implementation processes, 32  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 information systems, data quality, user programs, and com- to inform implementation going forward. The rapid munications. assessment focused on identifying strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in the short and longer The rapid social registry assessment consisted of doc- term. It was not a comprehensive evaluation and did not ument reviews, stakeholder interviews, a field visit, evaluate the overall design, costs, or final outcomes of the and data checks and analysis. The interviews were held UBR. Rather, it focused on practical aspects of implemen- with members of the UBR Taskforce, associated ministries tation and associated institutional structures, processes, and agencies, district and community officials, user pro- systems, data quality and uses. grams, and development partners. The field visit to Dowa focused on observing a community meeting for the selec- tion and enrollment of beneficiaries in the Social Cash Transfer Program following recent data collection and com- Accomplishments and munity meetings for the UBR. The analytical work was a combination of forward-looking analysis, as well as having a real-time operational enhancement focus. Results The outputs from RSR support have been highly visible, The review was conducted by assessing the UBR in its especially on the social registry assessment—but also in current “as-is” situation. It also considered options and terms of public expenditure reform and public works review. recommendations for the UBR going forward, taking into Specific project accomplishments include the following: account lessons learned and planned changes (including the shift to registration of all households), prioritizing between ¤ Long-term strengthening of the UBR. The rapid measures that would be needed in the near term versus assessment—and review of Malawi’s experience to those for the long term. — helped identify areas of strength as well as areas date­ in need of improvement. The team made short-term The assessment was “rapid” in that it was designed recommendations and implementation adaptations to to be executed in a relatively short time, building on support the upcoming UBR expansion and accommo- lessons learned from recent phases of implementation date the revised registration targets. ¤ Foundation for substantive policy dialogue. The detailed analytical work helped lay the foundation for A WORD FROM THE substantive policy dialogue on priority reform areas on PROJEC T TASK TE AM LE ADER… social protection in Malawi. O ur work on social registry was cutting edge and ¤ Replicability. The UBR has a tremendous potential for novel. A first of its kind in our sector, it aimed to replication in other countries, and it is inexpensive. capture real-time lessons of adaption of social ¤ Best practice collaboration. The effort brought registry work in a low-income setting. This import- together the full expertise of the Bank to conduct the ant and innovative work was made possible with assessment in a very rapid manner, engaging with gov- the generous support of the RSR—and this support, ernment and donors throughout. moreover, has been foundational in a discussion around reform of social protection in Malawi. A new IDA opera- ¤ Leveraging of additional funding. A very ambitious tion is expected to go to the Board in the second quarter new phase of IDA support is in the pipeline. of FY20. The lessons generated from the RSR work will inform the new direction and will have leveraged support for a new agenda going forward. —Colin Andrews S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  33 N E PA L Technical Assistance for Adaptive Social Protection in Nepal I n a country like Nepal with a propensity for natural making it more flexible and adaptive could allow an even disasters and rapid-onset and acute shocks—with often more effective and efficient response to disasters. devastating destruction and particular implications for the poor—social protection must be adaptive and flex- During the past decade, Nepal has halved its poverty ible. Social protection programs must move toward rate and reduced income inequalities, but has experi- promoting household and community resilience ahead of enced only modest growth. Countries around the world shock, and programs need to be able to scale up for rapid usually experience the opposite problem: rising poverty response and recovery in the aftermath of a shock. RSR alongside increasing growth. In contrast, Nepal remains activities have been instrumental in placing adaptive social poor, and is one of the slowest-growing economies in the protection firmly on the development agenda in Nepal. A region. A quarter of the population is poor, and a significant notable accomplishment of the RSR grant is a new focus share of the population is at risk of falling into poverty as a in Nepal on an adaptive approach that integrates social pro- result of shocks. A third of households reported experienc- tection with disaster risk management and adaptation to ing at least one shock in 2016/17 (World Bank 2018d). climate change. Although the country has a large portfolio of social protection programs, these are not yet adaptive. The Challenge Nepal’s social protection programs are mostly categorical in nature and are not designed to build the resilience of poor and vulnerable households or respond to shocks. They are Nepal is highly vulnerable to substantial natural haz- ards, including earthquakes, floods, drought, and landslides. The shocks are devastating, especially for the poor and vulnerable. Recent disasters have highlighted how ASSOCIATED IDA PROJEC T T making social protection more flexible and adaptive could he $150 million IDA Strengthening Systems for So- enable a more effective and efficient development and cial Protection Project aims to improve the coverage humanitarian response. Nepal has a challenging topogra- and delivery of social security allowances, as well phy and is landlocked externally, creating a natural barrier as civil registration coverage. One project goal is to development. A key challenge is the intersection of pre- to establish a national population register in which dictable chronic or seasonal poverty and vulnerability, with each individual would be uniquely identified; this would rapid-onset and acute shocks. In the last few decades, be the basis for a social registry—a critical recommen- Nepal has epitomized the “perfect storm,” in which a dation that has emerged out of associated RSR-funded number of different factors—disasters, conflict, political technical assistance activities in Nepal. The IDA project uncertainty, and challenges to economic growth—coin- also supports strengthening delivery of social security cide, with deleterious effects on people’s well-being and allowances in line with RSR’s review of their potential for development progress. While social protection is playing scale-up during shocks. an increasing role in tackling vulnerability and exclusion, 34  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 An earthquake damaged this Nepalese UNESCO Heritage site; photo © Peter Kapuscinski/World Bank not systematically focused on reducing poverty or building to shocks, both ex ante and ex post. This objective was resilience, and are not designed to be scalable in the after- achieved through a set of analytical activities including a risk math of a shock. Also, there is no national database of poor profile; reviews of policies, systems, institutions, and pro- and vulnerable households linked to current program benefi- grams on social protection and shock response; earthquake, ciaries, which makes identifying eligible and shock-affected landslide, fire, and flood case studies; and the identification individuals or households difficult. Institutional coordination of international good practices. across the agencies responsible for disaster risk manage- ment and social protection is limited. The project looked to initiate a dialogue on adaptive social protection. It sought to facilitate policy dialogue to build a broader understanding and consensus for adaptive Approach social protection through a series of consultations, knowl- edge-sharing workshops, and exposure visits. The RSR grant financed a comprehensive assessment The project featured a collaborative consultative pro- of how social protection programs could become more cess for shared ownership, complementarity, and adaptive. The objective was to recommend possible policy, improved outcomes. All stakeholders were brought programmatic, and institutional measures to make social together and included in the dialogue from the initial protection programs in Nepal more adaptive in responding stage—including launch, review of the terms of reference, S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  35 discussion on preliminary findings, and final dissemina- tion and workshops. The RSR team worked closely with A WORD FROM THE the U.K. Department for International Development and PROJEC T TASK TE AM LE ADER… UNICEF during the analysis and consultations. T he RSR grant has greatly helped place adaptive so- The technical assistance was also a cross–Global cial protection on Nepal’s social protection agenda. Practice—Social Protection and Disaster Risk Manage- The grant-financed activities and analytical work ment—collaboration. Knowledge exchange and mutual helped bring about a policy consensus to improve learning were an essential element; the project featured linkages between disaster risk management and social protection. ¤ South-South learning via an exchange visit to the Philip- —Jyoti Pandey pines; ¤ Exposure to functional adaptive systems, or system aspects, through a series of expert presentations on ¤ Policy discussions and recommendations. The adaptive social protection experiences in Mexico and project facilitated discussions and provided recom- Ethiopia and the Sahel region; and mendations on possible policy, programmatic, and institutional measures for more adaptive social protec- ¤ Production of a brief policy note. tion. ¤ Strengthening of critical links between social pro- Accomplishments and tection and disaster risk management. This link and complementarity are critical in order to accomplish a Results comprehensive adaptive social protection approach. ¤ South-South learning and knowledge exchange The RSR-financed activities contributed to building evi- through exposure visit and expert exchanges. An dence and knowledge on adaptive social protection and exposure visit to the Philippines to study its use of a the current social protection landscape in Nepal. They social registry and technology for disaster prepared- were instrumental in establishing an adaptive social pro- ness and response allowed interaction and discussion tection agenda among the chief government counterparts, among government officials on feasibility, institutional by bringing all stakeholders together around the table for challenges, and the possibilities of such an approach in honest discussion and knowledge exchange. Nepal. ¤ Continued critical engagement. The outputs and ¤ Analytical underpinnings. Project activities focused on exchanges made possible through the RSR financing analyzing existing data, policies, programs, and delivery have allowed the country team to continue its engage- systems to better understand the scope and coverage ment on the implications of the findings and on devising of existing programs and delivery systems and their links next steps to integrate social protection–related pro- to disasters and shocks. This information was presented gramming within disaster risk management—while also as a comprehensive report as well as a policy note. A allowing for continued collaboration with other develop- literature desk review explored legislation and policies, ment partners, such as DFID and UNICEF. program documentation and official implementation guidelines, and evaluations and research. Interviews were conducted with key informants at the national, district, and local government levels; along with focus group discussions and individual interviews, especially with beneficiaries of social protection programs. 36  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 SIERRA LEONE Strengthening Operational and Institutional Elements of the Social Protection System T he RSR-financed activities played a pivotal role in build- in large indirect effects on household welfare. During the ing social protection delivery systems in Sierra Leone crisis, about one-third of households reported using at least that are robust, accountable, and transparent—and suf- one strategy to cope with insufficient food in the last week ficiently flexible to efficiently respond to emergencies. according to high-frequency surveys. The negative socio- The grant supported the government’s efforts toward economic impacts of the crisis on the poor are likely to be establishing a more systems-based approach to providing sustained. safety net income support to the poorest families in Sierra Leone. The government has recognized the challenges facing the country’s social protection system. In the years leading up to the Ebola outbreak, the government took The Challenge concrete measures toward developing a social protection system; this remains a priority. Having recognized the chal- lenges facing the existing social protection system with Sierra Leone remains one of the world’s poorest coun- regard to coverage, leakage, and weak program adminis- tries. More than half of its 6 million inhabitants are poor, tration, the government has continued to prioritize social and nearly 1 million are extremely poor and food insecure. protection and systems building during the immediate Ebola A large number of Sierra Leoneans are food insecure and response and continued to assign it high priority in its Ebola exposed to shocks. Almost half (45 percent) of all house- recovery plan for 2015–17, which included social protection holds are food insecure during the lean season. In the as one of four key priorities. last 15 years, Sierra Leone—a postconflict country—has experienced four major floods, resulting in a loss of lives Approach and severe economic damage. The country is also still characterized by its postconflict attributes of high youth unemployment, corruption, and weak governance. The project approach built on previous RSR-financed The Ebola virus outbreak in 2014–15 was a tremen- technical assistance. As detailed in the box on the next dous setback for the nation and negatively affected page), such assistance has been critical in supporting the socioeconomic conditions in the country. Sierra Leone government in building systems that are responsive to was heavily affected by the Ebola crisis, reporting the high- emergencies, such as Ebola and the most recent flood and est level of cases of any country in the world: 14,122 cases landslide. The approach is characterized by a strong focus and 3,955 deaths at the epidemic’s end. The crisis reduced on the following: the country’s growth in 2014 to 4.0 percent from 11.3 per- cent expected prior to the outbreak. Beyond direct health ¤ Technical assistance, to build capacity within the imple- effects, international and national measures to prevent the menting agency while ensuring smooth implementation; spread of the disease and behavioral responses resulted S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  37 Knowledge exchange and dissemination are a critical A BRIEF HISTORY OF RSR-FINANCED element in the RSR-financed activities to increase sus- ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA LEONE AND THEIR tainability, ensure co-ownership, and share learning IMPAC T experiences with counterparts. Typically, in RSR activ- ities, a team of local staff and consultants works side by 2012: Country’s first RSR grant financed a social side with the client government, ensuring on-the-ground protection assessment to provide direction as information exchange. Also, the tools developed or system government established a basic institutional framework for social protection improvements made are transferred to the client through training or a work session. In Sierra Leone, knowledge 2014: RSR supported the government in developing exchange and dissemination took place through the follow- common social protection delivery systems, while ing: achieving more responsive systems to the Ebola crisis; this was enabled through rapid deployment of simple information and communications ¤ Workshops to facilitate dialogue around social technology–based tools, incorporation of new protection policy issues. The grant supported the vulnerabilities, and linking tools to a single development of innovative tools to streamline, expand payment system for the country’s three main social reach, and reduce the cost of consultations and discus- protection interventions sions with citizens and other policy stakeholders; for Work led to harmonized coverage reaching instance, missions were conducted to discuss findings almost half a million individuals, as these on social protection policy at district-level consultations. systems were deployed by both government and The grant also supported and guided working sessions nongovernmental organizations implementing to draft the country’s revised social protection policy on cash transfers agreed-upon key areas. Exceeding the expectations of Through successful operationalization of these this task, technical assistance was further provided to tools, the transparency they brought, and the prepare the policy document, which was then approved knowledge created for the country, government by the Cabinet. was able to mobilize additional resources from the Bank and other development partners, ¤ Knowledge exchange and capacity building on tech- supplementing the government’s own counterpart nical areas. In collaboration with the Youth Transitions contributions in Post-Ebola Sierra Leone project, the grant supported Statistics Sierra Leone in conducting a workshop to val- 2017: Additional RSR financing was secured with the aim of continuing to support analytical and idate the preliminary findings of the 2016 Labor Force innovative work in Sierra Leone, particularly in Survey, which also contains relevant modules on social area of disaster risk management, while continuing protection. The workshop was led by a recognized to build and strengthen social safety net system professor from the Sorbonne University; participants elements and integrate social protection systems included key stakeholders from the Ministry of Labour within the country and Social Security; the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology; the National Youth Commission; the Economic and Policy Research Unit of the Ministry of this is mainly locally based but also extends to interna- Finance and Development; the National Commission tional assistance for Social Action; and the Ministry of Social Welfare, ¤ Adoption of innovative, information and communications Gender, and Children’s Affairs. Participants received technology– (ICT-) based solutions, including various training on the use of statistical software to analyze labor tools, procedures, and guidelines to simplify and stream- statistics and draft a preliminary findings report. line processes ¤ Knowledge sharing and the general dissemination ¤ Generating evidence and using evidence-based solutions and production of visual materials. These efforts 38  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 helped raise the visibility of social safety nets activities successfully implemented with outstanding achievements in the country office—most importantly, across key min- in several areas. istries. The grant also supported the development of materials (see, for example, SSN Voices) to disseminate ¤ The technical assistance delivered during the Ebola project accomplishments in terms of tools and innova- recovery period and during the floods and landslide tions adopted to improve processes, as well as about emergencies supported the development of social the project itself. These materials were shared locally, safety net system building blocks and expansion of nationally, and internationally. In this regard, a Mobile standardized cash transfers in the country at a speed Technology in Sierra Leone video was prepared on the and at a level of quality that would have not been sus- ICT-based solutions used to improve inclusiveness, tainable for the implementing agency in the absence transparency, and accountability. The video presents pro- of the grant. In this sense, these efforts allowed the gram improvements in an easy-to-understand manner delivery of quality products and services (including and was presented during the 2017 Human Develop- improvements to system elements, tools, and assess- ment Week in Washington, D.C. ments) to improve the ability of the social safety net to deliver efficiently. Further, these took advantage of cross-sector efficiencies to help achieve the develop- Accomplishments and ment objectives of the IDA Sierra Leone Social Safety Nets project, and its Labor Intensive Public Works Proj- Results ect. It also complemented activities under the Youth Transitions in Post-Ebola Sierra Leone initiative to improve the availability of data and knowledge genera- The RSR financed activities directly increased the tion around social protection issues in the country. effectiveness and integration of Sierra Leone’s social protection system. This not only led to better use of exist- ¤ The grant facilitated national dialogue around social ing resources, but also increased the potential for further protection issues, in particular, for the revision of the resources to be channeled to the sector. The grant was social protection policy. This included technical assis- tance to conduct an institutional assessment of the Social Protection Secretariat and consultations for the social protection policy review. As noted above, the A WORD FROM THE revised social protection policy has been taken to the PROJEC T TASK TE AM LE ADER… Cabinet and granted approval. T ¤ The grant-funded activities related to systems improve- he RSR-financed activities directly helped build ment with a focus on simplifying processes and social protection delivery systems that are robust, incorporating state-of-the-art ICT-based solutions. accountable, and transparent; and established The project built government capacity to efficiently the basis for a flexible system that can efficiently respond to unexpected events that may threaten the respond to emergencies. Innovative, but simple, well-being of the population, including climate and other solutions were developed—solutions that work and types of disasters. The activities increased systems can be replicated at a low cost in other postconflict and efficiency while moving in a more flexible and adaptive fragile contexts, and in emergency situations. The new direction. RSR support builds on this toward an adaptive social protection system for Sierra Leone. There was tremen- ¤ The success of the work funded and the knowledge dous value added at the country level—and hopefully created for the country under this grant enabled the beyond—thanks to the RSR support. task team to secure additional RSR funding to con- tinue supporting analytical and innovative work in —Samantha Zaldivar Chimal Sierra Leone, particularly in the area of disaster risk S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  39 Families held in quarantine due to Ebola in Freetown, Sierra Leone; photo © Dominic Chavez/World Bank management, and to continue building and strength- national citizen consultations as well as cross-sectoral ening social safety net system elements, as well as (mainly human development–related sectors) consul- integrating the country’s social protection systems. tative workshops as part of the social protection policy review activities. The task also supported efforts to ¤ The work has also facilitated elevating the human ensure that social protection/human capital–related capital policy dialogue to other sectors in the coun- indicators were adequately captured in national repre- try. These issues have also been elevated to the highest sentative surveys, such as the Sierra Leone Household political levels, such as the Chief of Staff Office, effec- Integrated Survey and the Sierra Leone Labour Force tively increasing support to and the visibility of the social Survey. protection agenda in the country. The grant supported 40  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 SOMALIA Support the Establishment of a Social Protection Framework T he work conducted under the RSR grant has been into a catastrophe, bringing millions to the brink of starva- a game changer when it comes to Somalia’s social tion. Pastoralism and agro-pastoralism are the backbone of protection landscape. This $400,000 RSR grant and the Somali economy, with around 65 percent of the popu- the process it set in motion may very well have an lation dependent on this sector, which has experienced a impact on millions of Somalis down the line. It helped near-total collapse with crop failures, a widespread short- shape Somalia’s social protection through an in-depth and age of water and pasture, and increased livestock mortality. steady focus on vulnerability delivery mechanisms, govern- Climate shocks affect cereal production; this in turn has a ment capacity, and private sector and development partner direct impact on a household’s welfare and its purchasing approaches. The grant leveraged a $2.0 million Somalia power. In all, 6.2 million people are food insecure and 3 mil- Development and Reconstruction Facility Grant in prepa- lion are unable to meet their daily food requirements. The ration of an IDA-financed design for a government-led government has been unable to prepare for the food crises shock-responsive social safety net system. brought about by extreme weather. An additional direct impact of climate shock is enormous internal and external displacement (Naqvi, Majoka, and Leydier 2018). The Challenge Poverty and nearly two and a half decades of armed conflict have taken a heavy toll on Somalia’s human Somalia’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita capital, and the government is ill-equipped to pro- was estimated at $450 in 2015, making this the fifth vide even basic services. Literacy rates are the lowest poorest country in the world. Real GDP growth declined in the world, and close to half of Somali children are not to 2.3 percent in 2017, compared to 4.4 percent in 2016 enrolled in school. Access to education is marred by gender (Naqvi, Majoka, and Leydier 2018). The vulnerability of inequality; access to health services is inequitable and most of its people is obvious, with poverty rates of over varies by region. Reproductive health is poor, and fertility is 50 percent. However, there is significant variation across extremely high. Somalia needs huge investments in quality regions, with poverty being most prevalent among inter- education and access to health care to meet the needs of nally displaced people at 72 percent. Somalis in urban its youth (see box next page). areas, excluding Mogadishu (where 60 percent fall below the poverty line), are better off compared to those in rural More than 2.2 million people are internally displaced. areas. The younger population of under 15 years of age is According to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- the poorest and most vulnerable, and they have no buffers vention, of some 986,400 refugees, two-thirds live in the against recurrent shocks. neighboring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Repub- lic of Yemen. About 15 percent of the Somali population Somalia is prone to climate shocks, and the frequency (1.5 million) lives abroad. Drought, flood, insecurity, disease of droughts has been increasing. Climate fluctuations outbreak, and resource-based competition are the most have far-reaching consequences on livelihoods. Without commonly cited reasons for displacement. Around 280,000 resilience-building programs, natural shocks can escalate Somali immigrants reside in Europe, with the United S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  41 TURNING THE TIDE ON TAHRIIB S omalia’s youth risk their lives to embark on tahrib, the perilous migrant journey to Europe in search of a better life. All too many have already lost their lives at sea. An Arabic word, tahrib is mainly associated with trafficking, but in contempo- rary Somalia, the word is used to refer to the emigration of young Somali men—and, to a lesser extent, women—leaving for Europe via the Sahara Desert, and then across the Mediterranean Sea. Incidences of abuse and death at the hand of smugglers or while crossing the desert or ocean are common. Both young men and women are at high risk of sexual abuse. Interviewed female migrants reportedly take birth control ahead of their sea journey from Libya because of the high risk of rape. For the families left behind, the worry disrupts everyday life and productivity. Earlier forms of Somali migration saw people of all ages emigrating, as part of a joint family strategy. Today, migration seems dominated by youth, who often leave without notifying their families. Although reliable statistics are lacking, perceptions on the ground suggest that incidences of young people going on tahrib are pervasive. Out of a sample of 194 individuals who undertook tahrib, around 90 percent were below the age of 25 when they did so, and 80 percent were male. Smugglers have ” which eliminates the need to involve other family members in the begun operating a so-called “deferred payment scheme, decision-making process. On average, it can be 11 days before families receive confirmation that their missing children are on tahrib. The majority of young people on tahrib are held for ransom at some point during their journey, with demands then made on their families to release them. It is common for families to spend an average of around $7,700 on tahrib-related ex- penses, having to borrow money or sell land and livestock below market rate—leaving the families all the more vulnerable. ” a “national disaster, The pervasiveness of tahrib has led it to be termed a “youth movement, ” It is often ” or even a “cult. invoked by young people as a collective response to a wide range of economic and social challenges. In July 2015, a group of young men from a Hargeysa football team left together. Earlier, in 2009, a group of male Borama secondary school classmates left together. Peer pressure is frequently cited as an important driver of tahrib. In Somaliland, awareness campaigns have been held to discourage young people from embarking on the journey. Why are youth willing to risk their lives to embark on tahrib? Government and donor agencies consistently cite youth unem- ployment as a key driver. However, it appears to be the result of factors beyond economics, taking in wider social and cultural processes. Men are expected to be able to contribute to their kin group, and failure to fulfill these social obligations could result in the loss of respect, trust, and status for the whole family. Three-quarters of Somalia’s population is under the age of 30. This entrepreneurial, connected, and increasingly technology-oriented population could be turned into an asset with the right human capital investments. With strong social safety nets and access to health care and quality education that is better linked to labor market needs—and the creation of new jobs—Somali youth could have an incentive to avoid the perilous tahrib journey and could instead contribute to Somalia’s own future growth and prosperity. Kingdom home to the largest Somali community (114,000 safety net. Remittances surpass aid and foreign direct Somali born), followed by the Netherlands, Norway, investment, and have played a major role in mitigating pov- Sweden, and Denmark. erty and vulnerability and smoothing consumption at the household level. Somalia received around $1.4 billion in A highly engaged Somali diaspora provides a lifeline remittances in 2015; this accounts for 23 percent of its GDP to large segments of the population. In the absence of (Rift Valley Institute 2017). These remittances rarely extend formal and government-led social programs, households to the poorest and most vulnerable, and especially not to rely on remittances from family and friends as an informal 42  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 In Baidoa, Somalia, women return to their villages from the city center with water; photo: © Mustafa Olgun/Shutterstock.com those living in settlements for the internally displaced. In resources and minimal trust prevent the state from provid- addition to remittances, families rely on clan-based tra- ing the public goods and services necessary to consolidate ditional safety nets and redistribution mechanisms, and its legitimacy. Somalia will need both improved institutions humanitarian crisis and relief interventions by international and predictable development financing. Unless the govern- organizations in response to recurrent climatic shocks. ment is able to perform its core functions, violent conflict will continue to plague the nation. Civil war rendered governance structures nonexis- tent, and lawlessness was rampant. In 2012, the federal The government has identified social protection as a government of Somalia was established; the governments priority, but the institutional capacity for implemen- of Somaliland and Puntland were already in place. Trust tation is limited. A coherent and coordinated approach can only be rebuilt when the government is able to provide is needed among the various actors, and a social protec- public goods and services. Somalia is on a path to political tion framework is key. Somalia will continue to be prone to stabilization—an essential prerequisite for economic recov- multiple types of natural disasters—and potentially to con- ery and sustainable development. To support the emerging flict—so planning for a broader social protection framework but still incomplete political settlement, the nation needs to and programs must take these factors into account so pre- break out of its dual development trap, where inadequate ventative and adaptable measures can be integrated. S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  43 Approach ¤ “Stocktaking of Evidence for a Social Protection Policy and Framework” mapped the key elements of Somalia’s social protection interventions, including The RSR grant sought to support the government of national objectives, policies, schemes, and strategies. Somalia in establishing a social protection framework. The stocktaking has dispelled some generally held Given Somalia’s unique context, in which the government assumptions about social realities. Its aim is to serve is in the initial stages of setting up an institutional and as shared evidence for a country dialogue on how to regulatory framework and where conflict and climate are strengthen Somalia’s social protection interventions constantly affecting socioeconomic dynamics, there was and create a system, identify a set of entry-level policy a need to analyze and curate practices that work best and reform options, and support and promote exchange and build a common consensus on effective social protection coordination between Somalia and international partners. approaches. ¤ The qualitative study “Remittances and Vulnerability The RSR activity builds on the existing work of devel- in Somalia: Assessing Sources, Uses and Delivery opment partners and humanitarian organizations in Mechanisms” was prepared to fill a serious information Somalia. It aims to inform the development of a social gap. Although remittances have played a major role as protection policy and framework through analysis and by an informal coping mechanism and in building household identifying gaps and entry points. The RSR proposal was resilience, little information has been available on how written following the completion by the team leader of a Somalis actually access and use these remittances. The stocktaking report on safety nets for Somaliland: “Somalil- RSR-funded study aimed to address this gap. and Stocktaking of Evidence for a Social Protection Policy The RSR also financed a video, Somalia Safety Net, avail- and Framework: Mobile Nation.” The RSR proposal built able on YouTube. on the recommendations and findings of that report and expanded the work to Somalia. The RSR-funded technical assistance activities sup- ported two main components. These were interlinked Accomplishments and and supported a goal that an assessment of social protec- tion in Somalia would help in developing the scope of a Results safety net strategy. The two components were as follows: The work conducted under the RSR grant has helped shape the direction of social protection in Somalia. Key accom- ¤ Undertake a social protection assessment by conducting plishments are highlighted below. a mapping exercise of stakeholders, interventions, and the current policy, institutional, and regulatory framework ¤ Shifted the national discussion from crisis response ¤ Elaborate a social protection policy with a focus on build- to more sustainable safety net solutions. One of ing a social safety net strategy the most remarkable accomplishments of the work conducted under this RSR grant has been shifting the Project activities focused on targeting and delivery mech- focus from humanitarian relief assistance through inter- anisms adopted by Somalia’s existing cash transfer and national agencies in response to crises toward thinking other safety net schemes, including remittances, while about more sustainable social protection and safety nets exploring the impact of disruptions and uncertainties related by working through government systems. The grant to money transfers on flow of funds. Two documents allowed the introduction of the concept of safety nets were compiled based on desk review, data analysis using and social protection into Somalia’s worldview. The U.K. high-frequency surveys, qualitative field research, and con- Department for International Development (DFID) led the sultations with the development partners. conversation, as it had undertaken previous analytical 44  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Somalia, creating a social registry system, and training A WORD FROM THE government officials. PROJEC T TASK TE AM LE ADER… ¤ Placed social safety nets into the country partner- R ship framework and placed social protection in the SR funds were used to identify a clear narrative results framework. The team was able to put social for social safety nets and change the “doom and safety nets into the country partnership framework. By gloom” and lack of capacity narrative that has virtue of its work and presence, the team was given a been in place for Somalia for decades. The work seat at the table in the development dialogue for the conducted under this comparatively small RSR duration of the RSR grant activities. grant resulted in recommendations for a way forward for developing government-led social safety nets in Somalia. ¤ Provided valuable funding. In the absence of other It gave the team the autonomy to advance the case of funding, the RSR grant provided funding for investment social safety nets when this was not on the agenda—and in in-depth analysis and policy dialogue on social safety an IDA grant was not available for it either. This work has nets and the humanitarian landscape (targeting, deliv- led to a $2.0 million allocation from the Somalia Recon- ery mechanisms, beneficiaries, types of benefit); and struction and Development Trust Fund for the preparation analysis and mapping of cash transfers as a form of of an IDA-financed grant by January 2020. assistance for displaced persons as well as remittances —Maniza Naqvi from diaspora. Among other things, this analysis • Provided evidence fueling a country dialogue on how and technical social protection work in the country. to strengthen Somalia’s social protection interven- The World Bank team collaborated with DFID and pro- tions and create a system; posed the idea of working on social protection policy in CAN MOBILE TECHNOLOGY HELP SOMALIA LE AP FROG TO INTERMEDIATE STAGE S OF DEVELOPMENT? T he stocktaking conducted under the RSR-financed work dispelled some generally held assumptions about social realities in Somalia. Remittances—in recent years through mobile transfers of funds—have played a major role as an informal coping mechanism and in building household resilience, but little was known about how they were used and accessed. Mobile money transfers, such as payment systems, serve de facto government functions. In the absence of a formal banking system, these initiatives have gained popularity, making them the preferred mode of delivering cash or in-kind transfers in Somalia. The technology infrastructure in terms of mobile payments is very well-developed in Somalia, and three-quarters of Somalis over the age of 16 use mobile money. Programs that use innovative technological and operational modalities of delivery could potentially help the nation on its development path (World Bank 2019a). The rapid development of the telecommunications sec- tor has created positive externalities and sector employment. According to a Gallup poll, 72.4 percent of respondents reported personally owning a mobile phone. There is an extensive cellular network in Somalia, and almost all major mobile networks provide mobile money transfer services. For Somalia to more fully harness this sector’s potential—particularly in terms of its contribution to the government budget and private sector development and diversification—will require committed regulation and enforcement, as well as human capital investments and skills development of the country’s large youth population. S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  45 • Mapped the key elements of Somalia’s social pro- operators to build a cash transfer program for produc- tection interventions, including national objectives, tive safety nets. policies, schemes, and strategies; ¤ Substantial knowledge sharing. Through roundtables, • Identified a set of entry-level policy reform options, one-on-one dialogues, whiteboards, blogs, and video, and supported and promoted exchange and coordina- the RSR team provided inputs to various Bank prod- tion between Somali and international partners; and ucts. This new knowledge in turn helped shaped partner • Through the stocktaking, dispelled some generally approaches. It has also contributed to shaping the direc- held assumptions about social realities. tion for other development partners, implementation partners, and government counterpart in formulating ¤ Provided substantial knowledge and analysis in a approaches. “just in time” manner to leverage a social protec- ¤ Trained Somali government officials in social safety tion lens through other Bank interventions. The nets. The team invested in Somali government officials’ technical knowledge on formal and informal safety net training in social safety nets core courses. schemes has been used as “just in time” inputs and has contributed to various stages of Bank-led poverty analy- ¤ Remained engaged with stakeholders. The grant sis, sector analysis, and policy dialogue: allowed engagement with government and donors and development partners, including the humanitarian assis- • Led the drafting of the social safety nets chapter for tance community, for three years, during with the team the drought impact needs assessment; conducted continuous analysis and social safety net evi- • Provided input on the Dadaab Refugee Camp closure dence gathering. crisis; and ¤ Leveraged additional financing. The RSR activities • Contributed to the information and communica- have been instrumental in preparing the ground for and tions technology report on Payments through Mobile leveraging additional financing, including a 2020 IDA proj- Networks Project, which relies on a public-private ect, the government-led Shock Responsive Social Safety partnership with government and mobile network Nets System project for Somalia. 46  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 VIETNAM Integrated Social Protection Delivery Systems R SR grant-financed activities have helped the Viet- vulnerable, prevent and mitigate risk for the whole popu- namese government develop a long-term vision for lation, and promote and sustain movement out of poverty. its social protection delivery system and supported Moreover, these three functions should be mutually rein- pension policy reform. With RSR support, relevant forcing; this is not the case in Vietnam. international experiences have been shared with stakeholders, and evidence provided that has fed into the Although health insurance is provided on a subsidized reform of national social protection policies and programs. basis to the poor and near-poor, pensions and other All of this has helped ensure that the government is better forms of social insurance in Vietnam do not serve a positioned to make informed decisions about social protec- sufficiently preventive function. These schemes cover tion. only about a quarter of the working-age population, primar- ily public sector and formal private sector workers. System administration is fragmented, imposing significant burdens The Challenge on both contributors and beneficiaries. Efforts at modern- ization have recently been undertaken, but this process needs to be continued. Vietnam’s social protection system is in transition. Vietnam is a significantly healthier and more educated soci- The level and amount of social assistance provided ety than it was 20 years ago. Poverty rates have declined, in the country has increased, but lacks integration and Vietnam is today a middle-income country. As countries and coherence in terms of alignment of objectives, transition out of low-income status, their social protection coverage, and beneficiary targeting . There are mul- systems typically grow as a share of public spending and tiple policies and multiple programs with limited impact. gross domestic product. Vietnam is in a transitional phase, Although a range of promotional policies exist, they are as it seeks to move from being primarily reliant on informal, fragmented, with little coherence between social assis- traditional sources of support toward establishing a larger tance and other social protection/antipoverty systems, such and more coherent role for the state. as geographically based programs, social insurance, disas- ter relief, and household-focused interventions. Also, job While Vietnam’s social protection system has brokerage and matching services with public employment improved over the years, it does not perform its are underdeveloped. functions effectively for the large majority of the pop- ulation, especially not the poorest. The country’s social The essential role social protection systems play in protection system is underdeveloped, underfunded, inef- wider economic policy and inclusive growth strat- ficient, and fragmented. It has also not yet adapted to play egies is largely unrecognized. There is a tendency in a significant role in disaster response. This deficiency is Vietnam to view social protection as a “soft” or “nonpro- a concern, given the increase in natural disasters, which ductive” sector; social protection systems have traditionally affect the poorest households the most. A well-function- been seen as involving a trade-off with economic growth ing social protection system should protect the poor and promotion. On the contrary, global evidence clearly shows S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  47 Girl from Ta Ban village, Vietnam; photo: © Mai Ky/World Bank. that well-designed social protection systems can make business processes, and front-end client services. Project a positive contribution to growth, along with making that implementation comprised (1) increasing the government’s growth more inclusive. Vietnam’s reform and reimagining understanding of the current situation and helping it detect of its social protection system for 2030 should be based problems and challenges, (2) sharing international expe- on a recognition of social protection systems not just as an riences relevant to Vietnam for learning purposes, and important pillar of social policy, but as critical to overall eco- (3) helping the government develop a long-term vision of nomic policy and inclusive growth. a future delivery system. Overall, knowledge sharing, in combination with analytical work, was used to provide evi- dence-based input for a long-term vision. Approach The project strengthened social assistance integration by supporting the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs The development objective of the RSR grant was to provide (MOLISA). This aimed at both policy consolidation and the evidence feeding into reform of national social protection integration of delivery systems, and was accomplished policies and programs, including more efficient systems through the following activities: for information management and identification, enhanced 48  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 ¤ Assessment of recently introduced reforms in safety net Knowledge sharing and South-South exchange was an delivery systems important component of the overall approach. Among the methods and techniques used in this regard were ¤ Assessment of the feasibility of moving toward “one- assessment reports, toolkits, “how-to” tools, and deep stop shops” pertaining to social assistance delivery knowledge sharing on practical and operational issues. ¤ Technical advisory support to MOLISA to help it develop Consultation and dissemination workshops were organized the architecture and road map for an integrated informa- to share findings and to take advantage of international tion system experts’ knowledge of and experiences with addressing practical operational issues. The project informed and advanced the develop- ment of a pension policy reform master plan. This was Tools for assessing various building blocks of social accomplished in cooperation with Finance and Market protection delivery systems were used to facilitate Global Practice colleagues to support both MOLISA and the diagnostic assessments. For example, Inter-Agency Vietnam Social Security so as to enhance integrated deliv- Social Protection Assessment (ISPA) tools were applied ery systems for social assistance and social insurance. The with regard to social protection payment delivery mecha- following activities were undertaken to this end: nisms, social registry assessment, national identification system assessment, and social insurance administrative ¤ Assessment of payment systems and the feasibility of system assessment. Application of these newly developed electronic payments tools allowed Vietnam to take advantage of the most recent ¤ Development and integration of new identification sys- developments in the field as well as learn from experiences tems to both MOLISA and Vietnam Social Security client from other countries. Such timely application provided identity management systems a rare opportunity to build local capacity in undertaking assessments, as requested by the government. ¤ Ensuring interoperability across social insurance infor- mation systems and other government agencies, in Accomplishments and particular MOLISA ¤ Organizing consultation workshops at the national and subnational levels Results The RSR grant-financed activities have been instrumental in improving the social protection landscape in Vietnam. A WORD FROM THE PROJEC T TASK TE AM LE ADER… ¤ Provided advisory support for consolidating social assistance policies and business processes, and A mong other things, the application of newly devel- technical inputs for drafting the National Master oped tools has helped Vietnam exploit new knowl- Plan for the Social Assistance System. The govern- edge and technology to reform its social protection ment has decided to build a social registry for all social delivery system. The country’s policy makers need- assistance programs, and has outsourced this public ser- ed to understand the current situation and challeng- vice to a service delivery agency. es, and how to strengthen their social protection system ¤ Completed assessments of the social protection to meet the needs of a middle-income country and take delivery system’s key building blocks. This covered ” This would advantage of the “industrial revolution 4.0. from registration, enrollment, and case management to not have happened without the RSR-financed activities. payment, grievances, monitoring and evaluation, as well —Nga Nguyet Nguyen as policy and business processes. S ection 3 :   C ountry H ighlights  49 ¤ Developed a national database and an integrated management information system. HELPING VIETNAM EXPLOIT NEW AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE ¤ Piloted the consolidation of three existing social ITS SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM assistance programs using the same delivery mech- A anism. s countries transition from low- to upper-middle-in- ¤ Supported policy reform of pensions. A new wave of come status, their social protection systems have pension reforms is reflected in Government Resolution to adapt accordingly—including capitalizing on 28 of 2018. the transformative opportunities offered by new technologies. The application of newly developed ¤ Assessed payment system pilots and the feasibil- tools has helped Vietnam take advantage of new knowl- ity of electronic payments. In Vietnam, the lack of edge and technology in reforming its delivery system. banking services not only has an impact on the local The RSR-financed activities helped policy makers better economy, but also limits the ability of governmental understand how to strengthen their social protection agencies to distribute social protection benefit payments system while taking concrete steps in that direction. to beneficiaries in rural and remote areas. MOLISA is Examples of how disruptive technology was incorporated putting together a circular to guide the application of in the project include the following: e-payments for social insurance contributions and bene- fit payments. ¤ Applying technology for disruptive impacts to address the lack of banking services and hence access to social ¤ Ensured that the government was in a better posi- assistance funds tion to make informed decisions. Project activities helped the government better understand the current ¤ Applying the most updated technology to facilitate the situation, problems, and challenges as well as the need development of robust identification, integration, and for reform within the delivery system through tools and interoperability of information systems toolkits to facilitate assessment and through facilitation of knowledge exchanges on international experience. They also helped identify directions and interventions eliminate gender barriers for women in accessing social needed in both the short and long term. protection services and provide youth with an opportu- nity to contribute to community development as well as ¤ Used modern technology to improve the social expand their employment opportunities. protection delivery system to help elevate a cross-sectoral human capital policy dialogue over ¤ “In-time” support. At the government’s request, the the long term. This included improving the identification project undertook several tasks on a rapid-turnaround of underserved populations, and improving their financial basis, including assessment of an e-payment system literacy and access to financial services; these in turn will and the implications of developing a cash-less payment contribute to elevating a human capital policy dialogue system. Several quick updates of previous assessments, across sectors such as health and nutrition; education, policy notes, and presentations were also provided to skills, and jobs; and finance. For example, a major find- the government as part of its preparation of the pension ing related to the newly developed national database on reform master plan. social assistance is that a large proportion of beneficia- ries do not have national IDs, which thus does not allow for authentication and verification at point of service. ¤ Helped identify policy interventions that could be more beneficial to youth and women. These included the social registry and e-payments, as these could help SECTION 4 Special Channels 52  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 THE RSR-DR WINDOW Laying the Foundations for the Adaptive Social Protection Agenda S ocial protection, by definition, plays a significant role The new agenda has, at its core, two main interrelated in increasing the resilience of poor and vulnerable approaches: households to a variety of shocks. Traditionally, social protection and jobs instruments and policies were ¤ Building household and community resilience prior to a geared toward cushioning the effect of economic shock shocks. Today, SPJ programs and policies are becoming ¤ Increasing the responsiveness of social protection sys- more adaptable to non-economic shocks, including natural tems after a shock. and human-made disasters (such as displacement), given the potential of SPJ to be scaled up and to protect those Furthering the ASP Agenda most vulnerable to all such shocks. Today’s global landscape is punctuated with a pro- fusion of often recurring shocks. It is becoming increasingly difficult for policy makers and practitioners to to Address Disasters navigate the complexities these pose. Social protection is Within the broader ASP agenda, a collaboration has well positioned to play a prominent role in helping house- evolved between social protection and disaster risk holds manage the risks associated with these shocks. management (SP-DRM). While the RSR-Classic window However, although significant progress has been made in has been, and continues to be, one of the key instruments the past decade in introducing new social protection pro- in building social protective systems that can be adaptive grams and scaling up existing programs to expand the to a variety of shocks, the RSR-DR window is designed coverage of the poorest, the variety and severity of contem- to be specific to natural disasters. Part of the RSR since porary shocks expose the limitations of traditional forms of 2014, the RSR-DR window allows for further involvement social protection instruments—and of their coverage. For in IBRD-eligible countries through its partnership with the social protection to be able to address the increasing mix of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. challenges—preferably before a shock occurs—emphasis must be placed on building systems that are adaptable to a The GFDRR and the RSR have a common agenda in variety of shocks. fostering social protection measures to build resil- ience to natural disasters. Established as a global In response, a nascent area in the social protection partnership in 2006, the GFDRR provides support to devel- sphere has emerged: adaptive social protection (ASP). oping countries to understand, manage, and ultimately RSR support in this area has been extensive and enthusi- reduce their risk from natural hazards and climate change. astic from the onset. The prefix “adaptive” has come to Hosted at the World Bank, the GFDRR is supported by 21 represent a recognition by social protection policy makers countries, including Australia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and practitioners that there is a need to better adapt to all and the United Kingdom, and works with over 400 subna- manner of shocks given the context of multiple intercon- tional, national, regional, and international partners. nected risks and uncertainty in which the world now exists. S ection 4 :   S pecial C hannels  53 The RSR-GFDRR partnership has fortified collab- oration between SPJ and DRM—an agenda that is MILESTONES IN THE GLOBAL EVOLUTION attracting much attention. Through its partnership with OF THE ASP AGENDA the GFDRR, the RSR has helped initiate and push this 2005: Launch of the Ethiopia Productive Safety Net agenda even further, through catalytic investment in disas- Programme (multidonor trust fund initiative) ter-responsive social protection systems. 2009: Launch of the RSR (multidonor trust fund initiative) To date, the RSR-GFDRR partnership has supported 2014: Launch of the Sahel Adaptive Social Protection activities in countries with varying degrees of SPJ Program (multidonor trust fund initiative largely system maturity. The effect of these activities has been funded by the UK Department for International to initiate a new dialogue on integrating SPJ with DRM, Development), focusing on a slow-onset agenda establishing the building blocks for a merger between SPJ and DRM, strengthening government capacity for disaster Launch of the RSR-DR window (with GFDRR), focusing on global knowledge and learning on ASP preparedness and response through SPJ, and adapting SPJ and operationalizing ASP at the country level systems to be scalable and disaster-responsive. Conference on Strengthening Social Protection A review of the RSR SP-DRM portfolio reveals several Systems to Manage Disaster and Climate Risk design and implementation parameters that need to in Asia and Pacific (RSR, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, GFDRR) be established to make social protection more disaster responsive. These parameters include the following: 2015: RSR-GFDRR presentation on ASP at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, ¤ Establishing dialogues among the relevant agencies, at which the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk and, ideally, establishing disaster risk financing arrange- Reduction 2015–2030 was adopted ments ahead of time 2016: Messaging on ASP at the World Humanitarian ¤ Piloting or designing programs that have flexibility inher- Summit, Istanbul (with the Social Protection Inter- agency Cooperation Board [SPIAC-B]) ent in their design ¤ Helping invest in service delivery systems ex ante has provided about $4.3 million to support 11 activities in ¤ Investing in, and relying on, credible information systems Botswana, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, (on livelihoods, meteorological data, etc.) to determine Lesotho, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Serbia, Swaziland, the needed response, prepare adequately, and influence the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu), and the Latin timely decision making American and the Caribbean region. It also supported the ¤ Having coordination and capacity in place to carry out most recent (2018) South-South Learning Forum. During disaster-responsive social protection programming the same period, funding under the RSR-Classic window was used to support the SP-DRM agenda in IDA-eligible countries. In Rounds 9–13, $1.8 million was allocated to Countries and Activities SP-DRM activities in Dominica and Grenada, Nepal, Sierra Leone, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sri Lanka. Supported Under Round 14, two more activities, totaling $450,000 in RSR-Classic funding, were approved in Haiti and Nepal, Through Round 14, the RSR and the GFDRR have pro- adding two new countries to the SP-DRM portfolio vided $6.45 million to help build disaster readiness in (table 4.1 and figure 4.1). the SPJ systems of client countries. Since the incep- tion of the partnership in 2014 (Round 9), the GFDRR 54  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 T A B L E 4 . 1   The RSR SP-DRM Portfolio, as of December 31, 2018 RSR Window round Grant title Grant ($) RSR-DR 9 Strengthening Jamaica’s Social Protection System for Disaster Preparedness and Response 430,000 RSR-DR 9 Developing an Emergency Cash Transfer for Increased Household Resilience to Disasters in 400,000 the Philippines RSR-DR 9 Disaster Responsive Social Protection in the Pacific 450,000 RSR-Classic 9 Building Blocks for Disaster-Responsive Social Protection Systems in Dominica and Grenada 440,000 RSR-DR 10 Colombia: Strengthening Social Protection Interventions as a Disaster Risk Mitigation 440,000 Mechanism RSR-DR 10 Building Social Protection’s Role in Disaster Response and Resilience in Swaziland and 360,000 Lesotho RSR-Classic 10 Strengthening Social Protection System for Disaster Preparedness and Response in St. 300,000 Vincent and the Grenadines RSR-Classic 11 Nepal: Technical Assistance to Improve Disaster Responsiveness of Social Protection 400,000 RSR-DR 12 Dominican Republic: Strengthening Social Protection Interventions for Disaster Preparedness 430,000 and Response RSR-DR 12 Serbia: Strengthening the Social Protection Interventions for Disaster Preparedness and 420,000 Response RSR-DR 12 Peru: Strengthening Peruvian Social Protection System as a Disaster Risk Mitigation 450,000 Mechanism RSR-DR 13 Latin America and the Caribbean: Knowledge Exchange on Adaptive Social Protection 200,000 Systems as a Disaster Risk Mitigation Mechanism RSR-DR 13 Botswana: Support to a Coordinated and Scalable Social Protection System in Botswana 290,000 RSR-Classic 13 Sri Lanka: Adapting Social Protection Systems for Disaster Response 365,000 RSR-DR 13 Mexico: Strengthening Mexico’s Social Protection System for Disaster Preparedness and 435,000 Response RSR-Classic 13 Sierra Leone: Strengthening Disaster-Responsiveness and Integration of the Sierra Leone’s 380,000 Social Protection System RSR-Classic 14 Haiti: Analytical Underpinning for the Development of Building Blocks for an Adaptive Social 225,000 Protection System RSR-Classic 14 Nepal: Exploiting Federalism to Improve Integration of Social Protection Systems 225,000 GFDRR-RSR Global: South-South Learning Forum 2018: Building Resilience through Adaptive Social 300,000 joint support Protection Total 6,450,000 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: RSR-DR window is funded by the GFDRR. S ection 4 :   S pecial C hannels  55 28++72D 28 F I G U R E 4 . 1   RSR-DR Window Funding and Coverage, as of December 31, 2018 23 country and 2 subregional activities in 5 regions RSR- Classic 28% Total grant funding $6.5 million GFDRR 72% Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Case Study: Jamaica Several important lessons were learned during grant implementation. The most critical of these was the impor- tance of continued resources to operationalize the system RSR support was critical in strengthening the ASP improvements identified through the technical assistance. dialogue with government and building government The RSR grant provided the government of Jamaica with capacity on ASP overall. In the context of the World clear recommendations on how to improve various aspects Bank’s preparation of a disaster vulnerability reduction of its social protection system and delivery mechanisms for project in 2016, the Jamaican Ministry of Labor and Social greater adaptiveness and responsiveness. But implement- Security identified several areas of technical assistance that ing these recommendations required additional resources, would be essential to improving the responsiveness of the which were not readily available. Among these resource country’s social protection system to disasters. The subse- needs were an information management system to support quent RSR grant formally included safety net response in its the new household assessment instrument, an inventory contingency component and covered the following: management system at the Central Food warehouse, and financing to support continued communications and help ¤ An improved postdisaster household assessment instru- the government complete the revision of its Humanitar- ment ian Assistance Policy and Plan. Additionally, although the ¤ A communications strategy and related materials RSR team was able to provide technical assistance well beyond what was initially requested, some areas of the ¤ A business process review of the country’s main relief system could not be addressed given time and resource distribution mechanism, the Central Food warehouse constraints. ¤ Training on adaptive social protection to government and nongovernment staff An important lesson that was reinforced was the multisector nature of ASP. The team was able to deepen ¤ A process evaluation of key social protection programs intersector collaboration on ASP by involving stakeholders ¤ Social protection payment system assessment and guid- from both the disaster response and social protection sec- ance tors throughout the process. ¤ Technical assistance to update the Humanitarian Assis- tance Policy and Plan 56  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 In the wake of 2018’s Cyclone Winston in Fiji; photo: Vlad Sokhin/World Bank–GFDRR Going Forward The RSR-GFDRR collaboration has been significant in pro- humanitarian response to social protection systems, par- moting the ASP agenda overall, through global learning and ticularly in response to natural disasters. This opportunity, knowledge sharing, as well as operationalization ASP at the building on the record of mutually beneficial cooperation country level. Going forward, the adaptive nature of social and strategic coordination under the RSR-DR window, will protection systems needs to be increased and enhanced spark exploration of strategic joint operational engagements through information, programs, and financing. A huge and build new platforms for knowledge sharing on ASP on a vacuum can be filled in the development scene by linking more global level. S ection 4 :   S pecial C hannels  57 THE RSR-NS WINDOW Strengthening the Linkages between Social Protection and Nutrition M alnutrition is one of the world’s most serious, yet for malnutrition, social protection is a critical element in any least-addressed development challenges, and it nutrition-sensitive investment. With sufficient resources produces substantial human and economic costs. and effective design and implementation, social protection Of the 141 countries with adequate nutrition data, programs have significant potential to address the under- 124—88 percent—face more than one form of mal- lying determinants of malnutrition via three pathways: nutrition on a large scale (Development Initiatives 2018). income, behavior, and/or price. Among those most vulnerable to malnutrition are young children, pregnant women and mothers, the elderly, indig- ¤ Social transfers, including cash, food, or vouchers, enous peoples, and individuals living in poverty. In the face help increase household income and utilization of of human-made] and natural disasters, malnutrition is also social services. As a result, households can invest in a an acute problem for groups who are migrating, displaced, higher quantity and quality of food consumption, boost or living in situations of conflict or fragility. The coexis- resilience to livelihood risks, and increase demand for tence of undernutrition alongside overweight and obesity health and sanitation services. is increasingly prevalent among individuals, households, ¤ Accompanying measures, which complement and populations of all income levels and throughout the income or in-kind transfers, alter behavior and pref- life course. Over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from a erences, and can help boost the impact of a transfer chronic deficiency of micronutrients, a condition known as on nutritional status. These measures aim to increase hidden hunger (Ritchie and Roser 2017). Children are par- demand for health and sanitation services, such as micro- ticularly vulnerable to various forms of malnutrition. Poor nutrient provision, nutritional counseling, proper care and nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can feeding practices, and health and hygiene education. They cause irreversible damage to cognitive development and often consist of community-based behavioral change and has educational, income, and productivity consequences social marketing, which—along with other features of pro- that reach far into adulthood. Addressing childhood stunt- gram design—enhance the impact of such transfers. ing is a key mechanism in fighting poverty, as children who ¤ Price subsidies, quotas, or conditions can encourage escape stunting are 33 percent more likely to escape pov- food expenditures and consumption. A recent analy- erty as adults (Shekar et al. 2017). sis funded under the RSR-NS window found that country governments are beginning to move away from food sub- Nutrition-Sensitive Social sidies and direct food transfers and instead are relying more heavily on vouchers and cash transfers. This shift is Protection due to progress in the availability of evidence, technology use, delivery mechanisms, and systems of accountability (Alderman, Gentilini, and Yemtsov 2018). Social protection systems—and social safety nets in particular—play a unique and important role in over- Given the complexities in addressing the underlying coming the challenge of malnutrition worldwide. With determinants of malnutrition and the vulnerabilities of mechanisms to target individuals and households at risk at-risk populations, existing social protection systems 58  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 are as a useful entry point for investments in nutrition. ensure resources are directed toward effective and inte- Social protection systems can be built and expanded to grated systems with greater potential for impact. address the challenges of nutrition through improved target- ing, beneficiary registration, efficient payment systems, and increased access to services. Social protection is also unique in its ability to lever- Overview of the RSR-NS age programs, expertise, and data across sectors. This RSR-NS, the nutrition-sensitive window of the RSR, feature answers to one of the main challenges in imple- was launched in December 2014 with full funding from menting nutrition-sensitive programming, which requires the Russian Federation. The RSR-NS provides small, yet inputs from the health and sanitation, education, and agri- catalytic, funding in strategic areas to strengthen the linkages culture sectors. In low- and middle-income countries, the between social protection and nutrition through stand-alone share of government expenditures devoted to social pro- pilot activities or by adding a nutrition-sensitive lens to ongo- tection has been growing more rapidly than investments ing country programs. While the grants support programs in other sectors (Alderman 2016). An opportunity exists to in both low- (IDA) and middle-income (IBRD) countries, leverage these growing investments in social protection to they have primarily facilitated investments in IBRD-eligible Families wait to collect sacks of food at a food distribution center in Kindia, Guinea; photo: © Dominic Chavez/World Bank S ection 4 :   S pecial C hannels  59 to allow time for replenishment. The RSR-NS has also THE RSR-NS AND THE SUSTAINABLE taken on responsibility for the popular SecureNutrition plat- DEVELOPMENT GOALS form (www.SecureNutrition.org), which previously was financed through a different source but closely coordinated T he RSR-NS directly contributes to 6 of the 17 Sus- with the RSR-NS. tainable Development Goals: The RSR-NS portfolio has enabled the project teams to ¤ Bridge the gap between research, policy, and implemen- tation; ¤ Strengthen collaboration across agencies, human devel- opment sectors, and levels of government; ¤ Utilize “cash +” programming during critical periods of human development; and ¤ Enhance the connection between safety nets and humanitarian assistance before, during, and in the after- math of crises, as well as in situations of chronic fragility. countries and aim to unlock additional domestic financing. The nutrition-sensitive agenda enables the RSR to ¤ Target populations most vulnerable to malnutrition; Accomplishments and ¤ Pursue behavioral change communication activities to promote household awareness of health and nutrition Results care and health-seeking behaviors; Outcomes achieved in RSR-NS grant implementation ¤ Enhance the quality of nutrition services delivered with across countries over the years include the following. social protection interventions and food programs; and ¤ Enhanced government capacity and commitment ¤ Scale up in times of crisis through adaptive social protec- to design, develop, and strengthen national social tion. protection systems with a nutrition-sensitive lens. Between December 2014 and December 2018, nine grants have been implemented under the RSR-NS pro- gram. All nine were funded by the Russian Federation and THE RSR-NS AND THE HUMAN CAPITAL total $3,137,457 (table 4.2). The grants have been allocated PROJECT among eight countries: Armenia, Botswana, Ecuador, Arab T Republic of Egypt, Guatemala, India (Madhya Pradesh), he RSR-NS has the potential to contribute signifi- Indonesia, and Mexico, in addition to one global invest- cantly to the newly launched HCP while addressing ment. Nutrition-sensitive social protection has also been issues of equity and inclusion. Thus far, over 50 undertaken under the RSR-Classic window for several IDA countries have signed on to the HCP—indicating countries, including Ethiopia, the Gambia, Honduras, Mada- a high level of commitment to improving human gascar, Rwanda, Tajikistan, and the Republic of Yemen. development outcomes. Nutrition, particularly during the early years, is an integral component of the Human The Russian Federation has extended the implementa- Capital Index, and the cross-sectoral work inherent to the tion period of the RSR-NS MDTF until the end of 2019 RSR-NS can be leveraged for greater impact. 60  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 T A B L E 4 . 2   Overview of Grants under the RSR-NS Grant title and description Grant ($) Support the Strengthening of the Mexico SPJ System and its Focus on Wellbeing, Nutritional Status, and Food Security. 378,101 Inform policy reforms that can increase the coverage and effectiveness of Mexico’s social protection system, and document important results and lessons from Mexico to inform other policy dialogues. Armenia Social Inclusion and Activation. Improve the targeting of social safety nets and enhance the contribution of the 378,304 social assistance system in identifying and reducing malnutrition. Strengthening the Social Protection System in Botswana to Contribute to the Eradication of Food Poverty. Support the 338,456 development of a nutritionally sensitive social protection system through development of key reforms and tools. Improving Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection in Ecuador. Support the government in increasing the impact of the social 302,121 protection system on reducing chronic malnutrition through enhancing coordination of programs and benefits, and strength- ening coordination with the health sector. Design of Conditional Cash Transfers for Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Madhya Pradesh, India. Support devel- 450,000 opment of a strategy, design, system components, and piloting of a conditional cash transfer program for maternal and child health and nutrition. Leveraging Social Protection Systems for Improved Nutrition [Guatemala]. Strengthen foundational systems of a conditional 150,000 cash transfer program to more effectively target households, deliver benefits, and manage co-responsibility verification as part of an integrated approach to reducing chronic malnutrition; support strengthened monitoring and evaluation of the pro- gram; and provide support to increase the functionality of the social registry as a dynamic tool to prioritize, coordinate, and harmonize interventions across sectors. Supporting Multisectoral Approach to Reduce Malnutrition among Indonesian PKH CCT Families. Support the Program 450,000 Keluarga Harapan conditional cash transfer with a mechanism for monitoring, coordinating, and encouraging reliable and quality health services; and strengthen monthly family development sessions for PKH beneficiary mothers as a platform to relay essential food and nutrition messages as well as promote positive behavior changes toward better health and nutrition. Strengthening School Feeding Program in Egypt. Support the government in expanding the school feeding programs in 175,682 coordinating with other social safety net interventions, thereby promoting improved nutrition outcomes for children attend- ing public schools in poorer areas. Enhancing Public Food Delivery Systems as a Safety Net (Global). Review the role of public distribution systems (PDS) as 349,795 part of the national safety net, understand the factors that affect the design of PDS programs across studied countries and their reforms over time, and document selected aspects of current design and implementation. Total 3,137,457 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). In Botswana, the RSR-NS grant supported the gov- use of health services among beneficiaries of social ernment’s preparation of a nutrition-sensitive social assistance. The approach relied heavily on interagency protection strategy, and enabled the implementation of a partnership and dialogue to develop shared strategic and comprehensive social registry. This in turn helped utilize operational priorities for targeting and service delivery new methods to target beneficiaries of social benefits. across sectors. ¤ Implementation of new or improved social pro- ¤ Improved systems for coordination and resource tection interventions such as cash transfers and mobilization across sectors and agencies. Working promotion of health services. In Armenia, the RSR-NS across sectors to leverage programs, expertise, and data grant supported the creation of a new targeting mech- has been a primary advantage of the nutrition-sensitive anism to better identify poor households at risk of approach. Six of the RSR-NS grants directly connect rel- malnutrition and combine interventions to stimulate the evant ministries and institutions for policy planning and S ection 4 :   S pecial C hannels  61 implementation. For example, in Ecuador, the RSR-NS ¤ Facilitated improvement in monitoring and eval- grant enhanced coordination of existing programs and uation. Specific programs include the expansion and benefits, strengthened the monitoring of beneficiaries improved integration of a monitoring system on child across sectors, and improved coordination with health growth and development in Ecuador, nutrition monitor- and education stakeholders—including for social regis- ing and counseling in Indonesia with a focus on the first tration systems, results-based financing, and utilization 1,000 days, as well as monitoring and evaluation of the of health and child care services. school feeding program in Egypt, including school atten- dance and provision of meals (to be used as key inputs for Egypt’s flagship cash transfer program). Going Forward The RSR-NS has the potential to advance the evidence Ending malnutrition remains a critical step for sus- base on nutrition-sensitive social protection and sup- tained and intergenerational human and economic port global goals set forth in the G20 Initiative for Early development. At the same time, nutrition interventions are Childhood Development, as well as the Sustainable Devel- considered some of the most cost-effective development opment Goals, among others. Initiatives supported through activities. The evidence base to invest in nutrition programs the RSR-NS window, such as the SecureNutrition Knowl- is strong; however, significant financing gaps remain. In an edge platform and other knowledge-sharing efforts, can era where fiscal space is limited in countries of all income continue to link global development agendas with nutri- levels, existing social protection systems serve as a useful tion-sensitive social protection efforts. entry point for supporting integrated nutrition efforts. Photo: © Maria Fleischmann/World Bank SECTION 5 Financial Status 64  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 A s of December 31, 2018, development partner contri- three RSR trust funds, including information on develop- butions to the RSR—covering the RSR Multi-Donor ment partner cash contributions, investment income, grant Trust Fund (MDTF; the RSR-Classic window), the commitments and disbursements, and funds available RSR-Nutrition Sensitive (RSR-NS) Trust Fund, and for allocation against future calls for proposals. Disas- the now-closed RSR Catalyst Trust Fund (RSRC) ter-responsive (RSR-DR) grants are not reported on here, as totaled about $118.9 million, including investment and other this window is funded through the Global Facility for Disas- income. Table 5.1 presents the financial summary for these ter Risk Reduction and Recovery’s (GFDRR’s) own MDTF. T A B L E 5 . 1   Status of RSR Contributions by Trust Fund, as of December 31, 2018 (million $) RSR and Item successor fund RSR-NS RSRC Total Receipts Cash contributiona 109.40 3.30 3.24 115.94 Investment incomeb 2.74 0.07 0.02 2.83 Other income c 0.18 0.00 0.00 0.18 Total receipts 112.32 3.37 3.25 118.94 Grant amount/allocationd 105.93 3.11 3.01 112.06 Nonproject disbursements Refundse 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.07 Administrative fee f 1.08 0.07 0.16 1.31 Available cash balance g 5.30 0.20 0.01 5.50 Activity disbursements and commitments Disbursementsh 96.00 3.08 2.99 102.00 Commitmentsi 1.83 0.00 0.00 1.83 Total disbursements and commitments 97.78 3.08 2.99 103.85 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: In accordance with the Trust Fund Administrative Agreement, “the World Bank shall furnish to the Donor current financial information relating to receipts, disbursements and fund balance with respect to the Contributions via the World Bank’s Trust Funds Donor Center secure website. The Bank shall provide to the Donors an annual single audit reporting, within 6 months following the end of each Bank fiscal year, which starts on July 1 and ends on June 30 of each year.” Additional information on accounting and financial reporting is included in the admin- istrative agreement, annex 2, paragraph 6. Funds received after July 2015 are subject to the Trust Fund cost recovery reforms. Details may not sum to totals because of rounding. a. Any portion of a contribution made in the form of cash. b. Returns on cash and investments allocated to the trust fund and earned between November 2009 and October 23, 2017, on the undis- bursed balance of the RSR MDTF umbrella. c. Ineligible expenses returned from one of the recipient-executed grants that has closed. Funds will be reallocated against new approved pro- posals. d. The setting aside of funds for specific agreed activities/projects in accordance with the decision-making process specified in the administra- tive agreement. e. Unspent funds from the RSRC were automatically transferred to the development partner bank account. f. The cost of administration and other expenses, which are in accordance with the terms of the administrative agreement and the agreed administrative fee. g. Funds available for new allocation including partial funds that have not been transferred yet against approved grants, after subtracting total grant allocation and the administrative fee. h. Cash payment to a recipient or vendor based on a commitment by the Bank. The Bank provides oversight and supervision over implementation. i. Obligations of the trust fund to provide funds. They are recorded in full amounts in the system, pending disbursement against the allocated goods and services. The commitment also includes funds allocated against recipient-executed trust funds. S ection 5 :   F inancial S tatus  65 The RSR MDTF, the RSR-NS, and the RSRC have earned ($109.40 million in development partner deposits, plus investment income on the undisbursed balance accumu- $2.74 million in investment income and $0.18 million in lated since the inception of the three trustee accounts. refunds). The administrative fee for the three trust funds The income is used for the same purposes as contribution represents the cost of administration and other expenses, funds, as specified in the respective trust fund administra- which are in accordance with the terms of the administra- tive agreements. At present, the RSR-Classic MDTF, which tive agreements. includes the successor fund, is valued at $112.32 million Contributions by Development Partner The Russian Federation remains the largest funder of A total contribution of £2 million (about $3.24 million) was the RSR, followed by, respectively, the United Kingdom, received against the trust fund program. These funds Norway, Sweden, Australia, and Denmark. supported key analytical work in 30 countries focused on assessing existing programs, technical assistance to The Russian Federation is the sole contributor to the improve components of existing systems, and capacity RSR-NS Trust Fund, with a total contribution amount of building for implementing teams. This trust fund closed $3.30 million. All funds under this trust fund have been fully June 30, 2012. allocated, and the remaining balance will be used to cover the cost of the RSR-NS evaluation and maintain the Secure- Table 5.2 shows the breakdown of contributions to the Nutrition website, as agreed with the development partner. RSR MDTF by development partner. These contributions The trust fund is expected to close December 31, 2019. represent the amounts specified in the administrative agreements between the development partners, IBRD, and The United Kingdom, via the Department for International IDA. Development (DFID), was the sole contributor to the RSRC. T A B L E 5 . 2   Status of Paid and Unpaid Contributions to the RSR MDTF by Development Partner, as of December 31, 2018 Contribution Amount received Amount received Unpaid installments Total Development partner currency (contribution currency) (million $) (million $) (million $) Australia Million $A 3.20 3.23 0.00 3.23 Denmark Million DKr 5.00 0.79 0.00 0.79 Norway Million NKr 130.00 21.62 0.00 21.62 Russian Federation Million $ 50.00 50.00 0.00 50.00 Sweden Million SKr 70.00 10.43 0.00 10.43 United Kingdom Million £ 15.00 23.36 0.00 23.36 Total paid and unpaid contributions 109.43 0.00 109.43 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: Installments paid in currencies of contributions are valued at the exchange rates in effect at the time the funds are received and the date they are converted to U.S. dollars. Details may not sum to totals because of rounding. 66  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Program Activities Disbursements under the RSR have increased signifi- of program activities under the RSR. All activities under the cantly since December 2009, as shown in figure 5.1. As of RSRC are legally closed. December 31, 2018, 91 percent of the funds allocated to RSR activities have been disbursed; another 2 percent is The RSR-MDTF, RSRC, and RSR-NS fund two main types contractually committed. of grants, as shown in figure 5.3. Recipient-executed trust funds (RETFs) are funds the Bank passes on to a recipient, Since the inception of the RSR MDTF in late 2009 through whose projects are prepared and supervised by the Bank. December 2018, 14 rounds of calls for proposals have been Bank-executed trust funds (BETFs) finance activities such launched, supporting various sectors as well as regional and as capacity building, technical assistance, and supervision global activities. Figure 5.1 shows the current overall status and preparation of RETF-funded projects. BETFs are imple- mented by the Bank. F I G U R E 5 . 1   RSR Cumulative Grant Approvals and Disbursements as of December 31, 2018 Million $ 120 Approved grants Disbursements Commitments 100 80 60 40 20 0 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Note: Approved grant amounts represent the grants that were activated and recorded by fiscal year in SAP. F I G U R E 5 . 2   RSR Status as of December 31, 2018 F I G U R E 5 . 3   Grant Allocations by Trust Fund Type Recipient executed 10% Active funds 31% Legally Bank closed funds executed 69% 90% Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). Source: SAP (World Bank internal system). SECTION 6 Supporting Tables 70  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Africa Angola: Transforming Angola’s Key Poverty Programs into Effective and Nutri- 440,000 August 2017– Active tion-Sensitive Safety Net Interventions. Support the government in three May 2019 areas: establish key elements of a social safety net system, strengthen nutri- tion-sensitive communication and implementation of safety net programs, and improve the quality and coverage of nutrition interventions. Benin: Scaling Up Social Protection. Support the scaling up of social protection 295,000 March 2017– Active activities in Benin, capitalizing on recent advances in building multiprogram plat- January 2019 forms for targeting, registry, and grievance redress. Botswana: Support to a Coordinated and Scalable Social Protection System in 265,000 March 2018– Active Botswana. Support the development of a coordinated and scalable social pro- June 2019 tection system, with increased focus on building resilience to natural disasters and improving nutrition outcomes. Burkina Faso: Citizens Curb Corruption. Improve the efficiency and transpar- 450,000 January 2018– Active ency of resource use in the social safety net and education projects in Burkina June 2019 Faso, and make the tools effecting the improvement available to wider govern- ment and partners. Burundi: Support to the Operationalization of Burundi’s Social Protection 370,000 September Active Strategy. Support the government in operationalizing the National Social Pro- 2017–May 2019 tection Strategy and its core safety net programs to achieve the dual objective of poverty reduction and fighting malnutrition. Building Cabo Verde: Support to the Scale Up of the Social Protection System in Cabo 400,000 February 2018– Active Social Verde. Support the government in developing adequate social protection deliv- July 2019 Protection ery systems and programs to enable increased coverage. Systems Cameroon: Scaling Up the Safety Net to Respond to Crises in Cameroon. Expand 250,000 October 2017– Active the existing safety net program into a scalable and disaster-responsive system. December 2019 Central African Republic: Operational Policy for Adaptive Social Safety Nets. 206,250 September Active Provide technical assistance to the government to design a comprehensive 2018–May 2020 social protection policy, which includes forced displacement. Central African Republic: Social Protection Policy and Forced Displacement 350,000 March 2017– Active in Central African Republic. Support the government in designing a sustainable February 2019 and inclusive National Social Protection Policy where development responses to forced displacement are fully integrated and operationalized. Chad: Strengthening Social Protection Systems and Adapting Them to the Ref- 400,000 January 2018– Active ugee Crisis. Support the government in developing and strengthening social June 2019 protection systems, including making them more responsive to the shock of ref- ugee influx. Côte d’Ivoire: Building Resilient and Productive Social Protection and Labor 412,000 February 2018– Active Systems. Contribute to government efforts in implementing a resilient SPL sys- August 2019 tem in terms of an integrated social registry and a productive inclusion platform for the most vulnerable households. Democratic Republic of Congo: Developing a National Targeting System. Help 440,000 April 2017– Active the government develop a national targeting system for safety nets which will January 2019 be piloted in IDA-financed operations. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  71 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Democratic Republic of Congo: Strengthening and Adapting SP Systems to 225,000 October 2018– Active Support Refugees. Strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the country’s May 2020 Social Fund (FSRDC) as it positions itself to become one of the leading agen- cies mandated to deliver social protection programs in the Democratic Repub- lic of Congo, including support to refugees and host communities. Ethiopia: Expanding Ethiopia’s Social Protection System: Building the Jobs 435,000 February 2017– Active Agenda. Support the government in strengthening its social protection system January 2019 by building its knowledge and capacity to successfully deliver livelihoods and jobs-related services to poor and vulnerable populations. The Gambia: Support for Designing and Building an Effective Social Safety Net 425,000 April 2017– Active System. Support the government in designing the building blocks of a basic, December effective, and efficient social safety net system for the poor and vulnerable. 2018 Ghana: Creating Youth Employment Solutions for Ghana. Design a youth 325,000 February 2018– Active employment framework aimed at improving productive opportunities by unem- July 2019 ployed and vulnerable youth through diagnostics to identify the potential for youth employment opportunities and expansion of the knowledge base; and technical assessment to identify the potential for public works programs in youth employment opportunities. Ghana: Strengthening, Consolidating, and Scaling Up the Social Protection 450,000 September Active System. Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Ghana’s National Social 2016– Protection System. December 2018 Building Guinea: Promoting Productive Inclusion and Strengthening Safety Nets Sys- 300,000 August 2017– Active Social tems. Support the government in promoting productive inclusion through its May 2019 Protection flagship safety net project; and in implementing its first national social protec- Systems tion policy, with a focus on establishing a social registry. Kenya: From Safety Net to Delivery of Comprehensive Social Protection and 365,000 September Active Jobs Services. Support the government in testing and operationalizing innova- 2017–June tions in the delivery of comprehensive SPJ services. 2019 Liberia: Youth Employability and Empowerment Platform. Support the gov- 187,500 August 2018– Active ernment in improving the employability of youth through the development of a May 2020 Youth Employability and Empowerment Platform. Malawi: Building a Shock-Responsive Safety Net. Improve the efficiency and 450,000 November Active effectiveness of the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee’s emergency 2016– and safety net response. December 2018 Mauritania: Enhancing Livelihoods for Vulnerable Youth in Mauritania. 252,200 February 2018– Active Develop the building blocks of an integrated social protection system for pro- August 2019 ductive inclusion among vulnerable households. São Tomé and Príncipe: Development of Effective Delivery Systems for Social 315,000 April 2017– Active Protection. Support the government in building delivery systems to turn its core January 2019 social protection programs into effective safety net interventions. Senegal: Promoting Graduation and Productive Inclusion for Safety Net Benefi- 436,750 August 2017– Active ciaries. Inform the choice and design of productive inclusion programs for youth June 2019 from extremely poor households in Senegal, support the design of some of their core systems (communications, management information, and grievance mech- anisms, among others), and set up the foundations for their evaluation. 72  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Sierra Leone: Strengthening Disaster-Responsiveness and Integration of the 380,000 January 2018– Active Sierra Leone’s Social Protection System. Support the government in increas- August 2019 ing the integration and disaster responsiveness of its existing social protection system. Somalia: Support the Establishment of a Social Protection Framework. Sup- 400,000 August 2016– Active port the elaboration of a social protection policy and a safety nets strategy in June 2018 Somaliland as recommended by the Stocktaking and Diagnostic Assessment. South Sudan: Enhancing SP Systems for Conflict-Sensitive Delivery. Contrib- 337,500 September Active ute to efforts at enhancing the social protection delivery system in a context of 2018–August fragility, conflict, and violence by identifying options and testing innovations in 2019 the delivery of safety nets and grievance redress mechanisms to support com- munity-level unity and cohesion. South Sudan: Operationalization of the South Sudan National Social Protection 410,000 March 2016– Active Policy Framework. Provide support to the government to assess the state of the September social protection sector, generate knowledge, and build institutional capacity for 2018 designing, implementing, and coordinating social protection programs. Sudan: Strengthening Safety Nets Programs. Support continued strengthening 337,500 August 2018– Active of the building blocks of a comprehensive social safety net program and social May 2020 protection platform in Sudan, improve the delivery and efficiency of social pro- tection systems, and increase the coverage of effective and adaptive social protection activities. Building Social Tanzania: Enhancing Sustainable Livelihoods and Graduation from Social 420,000 April 2016– Active Protection Assistance in Tanzania—Bottlenecks to Self-Employment and Household June 2018 Systems Enterprises. Identify the most important constraints to higher productivity in nonfarm self-employment and household enterprises (businesses run mostly with the help of family members), and identifies potential interventions to address these constraints. Tanzania: Making Innovations in Livelihood Services Work for the Poor: Test- 337,500 September Active ing Graduation Models at Scale. Support the government in strengthening its 2018–May 2020 safety net program by introducing innovative approaches that promote produc- tive inclusion and contribute to the graduation of the poor and vulnerable into sustainable livelihoods. Togo: Supporting a Unified Social Registry for Integrated Social Protection. 300,000 January 2018– Active Support the government in designing a sustainable and unified national social July 2019 registry in order to build a system of social protection. Uganda: Improving Opportunities for Vulnerable Youth: Evidence and Learn- 385,000 April 2017– Active ing for Solutions in Uganda. Inform and supports the government in the design June 2019 of employment policies and programs aimed at improving access to productive opportunities by vulnerable youth, through system diagnostics and expansion of the knowledge base; stocktaking of what exists; and strengthening knowl- edge sharing and learning capabilities at the national and local levels. Uganda: Protection and Promotion: Empowering Child Survivors of SGBV 259,800 September Active PROSPECS-SGBV [Protection and Promotion Empowering Child Survivors of 2016–June Sexual and Gender Based Violence]. Improve inclusion of child survivors of 2019 sexual violence and those at risk into the social protection system. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  73 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Zambia: Developing an Innovative Payment Platform for the Social Protection 355,000 February 2017– Active System in Zambia. Support the government to design and pilot an innovative January 2019 payment platform that gives beneficiaries the choice of how to receive their benefits and is integrated into the national social protection system. Zambia: Targeting of High-Potential, Extremely Poor Beneficiaries for Produc- 300,000 August 2018– Active tive Inclusion Programs. Develop an innovative assessment to identify poten- May 2020 tial extremely poor beneficiaries for productive programming and mechanisms to establish linkages for extremely poor beneficiaries to markets or productive services. Regional (Benin, Ethiopia, Liberia): Support to Extending Pension Coverage to 380,000 September Active Informal Sector Workers. Support three countries in East and West Africa in 2017– developing options on extending pension coverage to informal sector workers. November 2019 Regional (Benin and Sierra Leone): Support to Improved Fiscal Sustainabil- 277,500 June 2018– Active ity of Pension Systems in West Africa. Provide support to countries to improve August 2019 pension investment policies and their liability/asset valuation. Regional (Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea): Innovations to Sustain WURI through 337,500 August 2018– Active Strategic Communications and by Linking to Civil Registration in West Africa. May 2020 Support the sustainability of the West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea by strengthen- ing processes for birth and death registration and ensuring interoperability between civil registration and foundational ID systems; and enhancing country Building ownership and public awareness of the importance of registering for govern- Social ment-recognized foundational ID systems through strategic communications Protection and stakeholder engagement. Systems Regional (Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania): Cash and Change—Testing Behav- 225,000 September Active ioral Interventions in Cash Transfer Projects. The Human Capital Project (HCP) 2018–May 2020 aims to accelerate more and better investments in people around the world. In Africa, the project will provide support to a critical vision-building and pri- ority-setting exercise for human capital development in seven “early adopter” countries. It will also provide advisory support as countries move toward imple- menting these priorities. Regional—Southern Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and 435,000 August 2017– Active Zambia): Operationalizing the Youth Employment Agenda in Southern Africa. May 2019 Develop a toolkit and foster subregional learning on successfully integrating youth employment support into social protection systems in Southern Africa. Regional: Coherent Pension Policy in West Africa. Equip policy makers with 319,979 March 2016– Active information and international experience required to formulate more equitable June 2018 old-age income security policies in West African countries. Regional: Engaging Vulnerable Groups in the Design of Identification System. 450,000 August 2017– Active Inform the design of identification systems, particularly to reflect the needs and May 2019 experiences of vulnerable groups, in a subset of African countries. Regional: Support to Diagnostics of Financing and Structure of Social Protec- 450,000 September Active tion in Africa. Assess the financing structure of SPL programs in three coun- 2016–June tries in East and West Africa and provide recommendations on improving SPL 2018 system spending efficiency and fiscal sustainability. 74  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Angola: Systemic Support to Social Protection in Angola. Contributed to 442,622 September Closed strengthening the social protection system by enhancing the government’s 2015–March capacity to design and implement social protection programs, strengthening 2017 coordination and institutional linkages among the multiple government institu- tions, and designing a graduation model. Benin: Building a Common National Targeting and Registry System for Cash 272,439 August 2013– Closed Transfers, Public Works, and Other Safety Net Interventions. Supported the June 2015 government in developing a national beneficiary targeting and registry system that can be used across multiple social protection and health programs. Burkina Faso: Strengthening Safety Net Response to Crises. Supported the 499,706 April 2010– Closed development and implementation of a cash transfer program and a feasibility June 2015 study of a public works program to support the poor and vulnerable. Burundi: Supporting Evolution toward a Coordinated Social Protection Sys- 285,803 August 2014– Closed tem. Assisted in a gradual move from fragmented social protection programs August 2015 to a coordinated system through feasibility assessments, support for program implementation, and South-South learning. Cameroon: Strengthening Safety Net Response to Crises. Supported an inventory 549,852 March 2010– Closed and analysis of the country’s social safety nets, and piloted a cash transfer program. December 2013 Cameroon: Support to Building Productive Safety Nets. Supported the develop- 249,576 April 2014– Closed ment of a productive social protection system in Cameroon including strength- August 2016 ening the design of safety net programs and approaches to linking program Building beneficiaries to the labor market and productive activities. Social Protection Comoros: Strengthening Social Protection in Comoros. Supported the govern- 407,304 February 2015– Closed Systems ment in improving social protection policy coordination and safety net program October 2016 implementation. Congo–Brazzaville: LISUNGI–Safety Nets System. Supported building blocks of 339,967 January 2014– Closed a consolidated national safety nets system and an impact evaluation of the LIS- May 2016 UNGI cash transfer pilot program. Côte d’Ivoire: Assessing the Impact of Crises on Human Capital and Laying 299,169 November Closed the Foundations for an Effective Social Safety Net System. Provided technical 2011– assistance to investigating the aggregate and distributional impact of recent December crises on the country´s human capital, and made specific policy recommenda- 2013 tions to better respond to future crises. Côte d’Ivoire: Strengthening Social Protection and Labor Delivery Platforms 417,710 April 2016– Closed in Côte d’Ivoire. Strengthened institutional capacity for improving coordination December and the design of an integrated delivery system for SPL. 2017 Democratic Republic of Congo: Support to Establishing a National Social 338,584 April 2014– Closed Protection System. Strengthened the framework for social protection and the March 2016 establishment of a national social protection system though capacity building of social protection actors and mapping of SPL interventions. Ghana: Building a Common Targeting Registry for Ghana’s Social Protection 431,414 February 2014– Closed System. Building on previous RSR support, this grant supported the government May 2016 in establishing a national common targeting system to scale up the country’s main safety net program (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty—LEAP) and the National Health Insurance Scheme. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  75 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Ghana: Cash Transfers Designed and Brought to Scale. Helped upgrade the 181,322 April 2010– Closed design of the country’s cash transfer programs with a view to develop a com- June 2012 mon targeting mechanism for all safety net programs in the country. Guinea Social Protection Safety Nets Strategy. Supported the government’s 392,212 March 2015– Closed request to elaborate a national social protection policy and strategy document. December 2016 Guinea: Strengthening Social Safety Nets in Times of Crises. Provided techni- 399,981 July 2011– Closed cal assistance, including a feasibility study and capacity building to help create September a safety net system that can respond effectively to crises. 2014 Guinea-Bissau: Laying the Foundations for a Social Protection System. Sup- 382,643 February 2015– Closed ported the government in laying the foundations of a social protection system October 2016 capable of effectively responding to current crises and future shocks. Kenya: Developing and Strengthening the Kenya Social Protection System. 357,326 August 2013– Closed Helped the government enhance the single registry for social protection, May 2016 develop common program targeting mechanisms, and design program graduation mechanisms. Kenya: Social Protection Interventions. Supported the government in its effort 144,891 March 2010– Closed to bring about a systemic change of the social protection system, and deliver December more tangible and sustainable results for vulnerable people. 2012 Kenya: Support to the Government for Social Protection Programming. Sup- 1,292,744 March 2010– Closed ported the government in strengthening its response to the recent crisis September Building through increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of ongoing social protec- 2013 Social tion interventions. Protection Systems Kenya: Support to the Internship Program of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance. 585,000 September– Closed Supported the IDA Youth Empowerment Project in its efforts to increase access December 2012 to youth-targeted temporary employment programs and to improve youth employability. Kenya: Support to the Kenya Youth Employment Project. Supported the govern- 398,075 July 2010– Closed ment’s efforts to improve youth employability. March 2013 Lesotho: Developing the Strategy and Building Blocks for a Social Protection 246,829 May 2014– Closed System. Supported the government in developing a social protection strategy September and laying some of the fundamental building blocks of a social protection sys- 2016 tem, such as targeting, beneficiary registry, and coordination among programs. Lesotho: Estimating the Impact of Economic Crisis on Education and Skills 229,442 April 2010– Closed Development. Provided a policy framework for the development of a demand- April 2013 driven skills system capable of promoting economic growth and poverty reduc- tion, while looking at ways to strengthen the capacity of the labor market to retain a skilled workforce in the country. Lesotho: Social Safety Net Review. Improved the existing safety net to bet- 137,123 November Closed ter protect the poor and vulnerable under crisis by analyzing the efficiency of 2011– current social safety net programs in reaching out to the most vulnerable, and May 2013 developing policy reform options and guidance. Liberia: Developing National Social Protection Delivery Systems. Supported 434,909 August 2015– Closed the government in establishing key building blocks for a basic national safety April 2017 system and strengthening coordination and administrative processes. 76  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Liberia: Development of a Crisis Response Social Protection Strategy and 288,275 November Closed Capacity. Funded a Social Protection Diagnostic Report, which was a critical 2010–March first step in the development of a coordinated and comprehensive social pro- 2012 tection strategy that forms an integrated part of the human development pillar of the country’s poverty reduction strategy. Liberia: Improving Employment of Vulnerable Youth. Provided an analysis and 239,566 November Closed technical assistance to the government on how to prioritize and sequence 2011– employment programs targeting vulnerable youth. June 2013 Madagascar: Developing Madagascar’s Safety Net System. Helped advance 439,541 February 2014– Closed the social protection policy dialogue and developed innovative safety net November approaches to address the needs of the poorest population. 2015 Mauritania: Improving Safety Nets Programs. Helped the government improve 134,474 September Closed targeting, prepare a single registry for safety nets programs, and develop a fea- 2013– sibility assessment for a national cash transfer. June 2015 Mozambique: Building Gender-Sensitive Social Protection and Labor Systems 998,371 March 2015– Closed through Soft Public Works. Supported and expanded the emerging social pro- February 2017 tection system by piloting a gender-sensitive, inclusive safety nets mechanism that provides temporary income support to extremely poor individuals, mainly women, while delivering social and community services to vulnerable groups in underserved rural and urban areas. Mozambique: Developing the Building Blocks for Effective Crisis Response. Sup- 1,906,949 March 2012– Closed Building ported the development of labor-intensive public works in 10 arid and semi-arid December Social rural and 2 urban areas to address the country-specific dynamics of poverty and 2012 Protection improve food insecurity; helped set the direction of the new national public works Systems program by developing and testing criteria for selecting beneficiaries, determin- ing the level of transfers, and ascertaining the types of eligible public works. Nigeria: Developing National Social Protection Platform. Supported the devel- 419,668 February 2015– Closed opment of a comprehensive national platform for an effective safety net pro- October 2016 gram, including a common targeting system, harmonized eligibility criteria, guidelines for a payment system, and a monitoring and evaluation system. Nigeria: Strengthening Social Safety Net. Provided technical assistance to 399,686 July 2011– Closed improve the design of the IDA-supported Social Safety Net program. December 2012 Rwanda: SPL Systems in Rwanda: Operationalizing the Vision. Supported the 448,979 May 2014–May Closed government in improving the effectiveness of its social protection system by 2016 moving from a focus on policy formulation to the design and implementation of key service delivery systems. Rwanda: Technical Assistance for Stronger Social Safety Nets. Provided tech- 2,086,048 April 2010– Closed nical assistance to improve existing social protection programs’ ability to pro- December tect vulnerable households in times of crisis, and boosted the programs’ capac- 2013 ity to scale up interventions and absorb more funds when the need arises. São Tomé and Príncipe: Building Blocks for Social Protection System. Created 318,428 April 2014– Closed the basic blocks for a social protection system by enhancing the government’s November understanding of vulnerability and risk vis-à-vis the existing supply of safety net 2015 interventions, and developing key operational tools to reach the poorest with selected safety net programs. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  77 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Senegal: Developing National Social Protection Delivery Systems. Aimed to 74,346 August 2015– Closed carry out an assessment of public works programs and develop a time-bound April 2017 action plan to design and implement new programs, and strengthen the SPL system and coordination through active engagement of government institutions and other stakeholders. Senegal: Developing Senegal Safety Net System. Supported the design of a 287,039 December Closed responsive safety net system in connection with the government’s launch of 2013– the Food Security Program (Programme de bourse de sécurité alimentaire). June 2015 Senegal: Developing a Unified and Effective Safety Net. Supported the devel- 217,563 September Closed opment of a comprehensive and efficient social protection system including a 2010– unified set of design parameters such as targeting mechanisms, a registry sys- June 2014 tem, payment methods, and a management information system. Sierra Leone: Developing Sierra Leone’s Social Protection System through 299,314 January 2014– Closed Common Targeting Mechanisms. Supported the establishment of a common November targeting system, a critical step in the consolidation of the country’s social pro- 2015 grams into a robust social protection system. Sierra Leone: Social Safety Net Support. Provided a diagnostic of sources of 299,985 July 2011– Closed poverty and vulnerability and made recommendations to improve the design, June 2013 effectiveness, and sustainability of the major safety net interventions, with a view to move from an ad hoc emergency focus to a longer-term programmatic focus on national systems. Building Sierra Leone: Strengthening Operational and Institutional Elements of the 360,000 August 2016– Closed Social Social Protection System. Strengthened key operational and institutional ele- June 2018 Protection ments of the social protection system. Systems Sudan: Strengthening Safety Net Programs. Strengthened the effectiveness 395,849 February 2015– Closed and responsiveness of social protection interventions by improving the imple- October 2016 mentation and coordination of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security’s Social Support Program, built the foundations for a common targeting system, and developed cash for work for poor and conflict-affected regions. Tanzania: Enhancing Crisis Response for the Most Vulnerable Children and 626,136 July 2011– Closed Elderly Poor. Worked to improve household practices and engender sustainability September of livelihoods of current Community-Based Conditional Cash Transfer beneficia- 2012 ries; following some implementation issues, part of the grant was canceled. Tanzania: A Systems-Based Approach for Operationalizing the Tanzania Pro- 409,918 April 2014– Closed ductive Social Safety Net. Developed a strategy for using information and com- May 2016 munication technology for expanded outreach and greater impact as well as enhancing key operational tools including the management information system, the single registry of beneficiaries, and the formal payment system. Togo: Promoting Innovative Crisis-Response Social Protection. Financed a rig- 283,806 November Closed orous impact evaluation of the new public works project and provided techni- 2010– cal assistance to the government in implementing and monitoring the national September social protection strategy. 2012 Togo: Support to Social Safety Net Development. Helped the country move 219,813 November Closed toward an integrated national system for social protection by providing tech- 2011– nical assistance to the development of a cash transfer program and improving December 2013 the design of existing programs. 78  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Uganda: Uganda Social Protection Sector Review. Supported the development 257,028 December Closed of a social protection system through an analysis of poverty, risk, and vulnera- 2013– bility as well as a detailed analysis of existing social safety programs. December 2014 Zambia: Development of Integrated Management Information System and Sin- 1,400,000 December Closed gle Registry of Beneficiaries. Supported the government in strengthening its 2013– social protection system by developing a policy framework and building man- September agement information systems and a single registry to allow robust identification 2016 of beneficiaries. Zimbabwe Productive Safety Net: Pilot Public Works Project. Helped the gov- 1,084,868 March 2011– Closed ernment improve its national public works program to bolster the resilience of February 2013 vulnerable families and communities. Zimbabwe: Revival of Social Protection System. Assisted the government in 243,063 February 2014– Closed the development of a social protection strategy and creation of a harmonized February 2016 targeting system and beneficiary registry for the main social safety net pro- grams in the country. Regional: Building and Sharing Knowledge to Support Identification Systems 408,625 September Closed in Africa. Aimed to produce and share public goods and knowledge to assist 2015– countries in their efforts to build robust identification and birth registration sys- June 2017 Building tems leading to an increased share of the population with robust legal identity. Social Protection Regional: Cash Transfers—Design for Scaling Up in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pro- 391,874 May 2012– Closed Systems vided technical assistance to improve and scale-up existing cash transfer pro- June 2013 grams in Angola, Benin, Lesotho, Mali, Tanzania, and Zambia. Regional: Social Protection Design and Implementation in Sub-Saharan 95,827 April 2010– Closed Africa. Supported the development of cash transfer programs. Depending on the April 2012 country situation, areas for support included the design for scaling up, specif- ics of targeting, design of enrollment and identification of beneficiaries, payment systems, control and accountability mechanisms, monitoring system, and man- agement information systems. Regional: Support to Africa Social Protection System Development. Developed 298,229 January 2014– Closed tools and facilitated knowledge sharing on how to improve social protection June 2015 systems in Africa. Regional: Support to Coherent Pension Policy and Improved Pension Delivery in 308,307 January 2014– Closed Africa. Provided policy makers with the information and international experience May 2016 required to formulate more equitable old age income security policies as well as with tools to allow program administrators to improve delivery of pensions. Regional: Youth Employment in Africa—The Skill Development-Labor Demand 93,719 March 2010– Closed Conundrum. Identified and analyzed programs that improve employability and April 2012 earnings among youth and reduce their vulnerability and risky behavior— knowledge that improves the design of labor-market interventions. Regional: Community of Practice on Cash Transfers in Anglophone Sub-Saha- 360,000 September Active ran Africa. Support the continuation of the community of practice in learning 2017–June Sharing and knowledge exchange to strengthen the safety net and social protection 2019 Knowledge systems of Sub-Saharan Africa anglophone countries and to curate and dis- seminate knowledge products for all Sub-Saharan countries. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  79 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Regional—Franco Sub-Saharan Africa: Community of Practice on Cash Trans- 450,000 September Active fers. Support the continuation of the community of practice in learning and 2017–June knowledge exchange to strengthen the safety net and social protection sys- 2019 tems of Sub-Saharan Africa francophone countries and to curate and dissemi- nate knowledge products for all Sub-Saharan countries. Regional: Africa Community of Practice on Cash Transfer for Francophone 338,559 January 2015– Closed Countries in the Region. Broadened and deepened the results of the franco- October 2016 phone Sub-Saharan Africa Community of Practice on cash transfer programs in member countries. Regional: Cash Transfers and Conditional Cash Transfers in Sub-Saharan 449,805 June 2011– Closed Africa: A Community of Practitioners. This community of practice brought June 2013 together officials and practitioners from Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethi- opia, and Niger to exchange experiences, resources, and learning on condi- tional cash transfers. Regional: Community of Practice of Cash Transfers and Conditional Cash 439,107 August 2013– Closed Sharing Transfers to Support Countries in the Consolidation of Social Protection and December Knowledge Labor Systems. Supported participating countries in their process of launching 2015 or scaling-up unconditional and conditional cash transfer programs as a core pil- lar in the consolidation of SPL systems. Regional: Experience of Cash-for-Work in Liberia and Togo. This activity built 88,699 April 2010– Closed on the experience of the Liberia Cash for Work Project and assisted Togo’s gov- February 2012 ernment in identifying key issues and success factors for a new public works intervention. Regional: Informal Safety Nets in Eastern and Southern Africa. Supported the 118,116 February 2010– Closed preparation of three case studies in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Côte d’Ivoire to April 2012 elucidate the interplay between formal and informal safety nets. Regional: Social Safety Nets System: Administrative Toolkit Development and 300,000 January 2014– Closed Regional Workshop. Supported the improvement of SPL systems through the June 2015 development and application of (1) tools for measuring and evaluating current systems, (2) SPL-specific questionnaires to improve household survey indica- tors, and (3) sharing knowledge within the region. Rwanda: Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection. Support the government in 275,000 April 2017–July Active reducing child malnutrition by identifying, tracking, and building capacity to deliver 2019 nutrition support services in its social protection system. Ethiopia: Strengthening the Early Warning System. Provided technical support 1,014,091 January 2011– Closed to the development and implementation of an early warning system for malnu- December Protecting trition; the project complemented the IDA-supported Nutrition Project. 2013 Access The Gambia: Rapid Response Nutrition Security Improvement Project. Strength- 3,150,623 January 2011– Closed to Basic ened the capacity of the National Nutrition Agency to develop a communi- July 2013 Services ty-driven approach to nutrition, and provided technical assistance to the develop- ment of an updated nutrition policy and strategic plan for implementation. Lesotho: Estimating the Impact of Economic Crises on Education and Skills 229,442 April 2010– Closed Development. Collected and analyzed data to help the government better target December education and labor market policies to help youth and vulnerable groups during 2012 economic crises. 80  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Madagascar: Assessing Negative Effects of the Political Crisis and Protecting 397,900 June 2011– Closed Access to Essential Health and Nutrition Services. Provided technical assis- September tance to ensure continuous and effective health and nutrition service delivery in 2012 stable times and when crises hit. Madagascar: Building Nutrition-Sensitive Safety Nets. Strengthened the nutri- 449,860 April 2016– Closed tion focus of Madagascar’s Productive Safety Net Program through behavioral December interventions and productive activities at the household level. 2017 Madagascar: Development of Tools to Monitor and Mitigate the Effect of Cri- 449,770 November Closed ses on Out-of-School Children. Supported a diagnosis of the effects of eco- 2011–March nomic and political crises on children and devised appropriate mechanisms to 2013 protect vulnerable children’s access to basic education. Protecting Access Malawi: Protecting Early Childhood Development. Supported the government in 2,182,341 April 2011– Closed to Basic the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to increase access to— November Services and the quality of—9,000 community-based child care centers across the country. 2012 Mali: Piloting Effective Early Childhood Development Services. Assisted in the 1,976,234 October 2010– Closed government’s crisis response by developing cost-effective early childhood devel- December opment services for vulnerable children in rural areas. 2013 Regional—Benin and Malawi: Enhancing Institutional Capacity to Design, 375,770 July 2011– Closed Implement, and Monitor Nutrition Security Programs. Worked to enhance the June 2013 two countries’ ability to respond to—and mitigate—the nutritional impact of economic and climate-related shocks. Regional—Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo: Operations and 50,617 February 2010– Closed Capacity Development for Nutrition. Strengthened awareness of the need to April 2012 improve capacity to implement nutrition interventions at scale. East Asia and Pacific Mongolia: Strengthening the Social Protection System in Mongolia. Support 375,000 January 2018– Active Mongolia’s design and implementation of reforms to improve the efficiency and August 2019 equity of the social welfare system. Myanmar: Building Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection Systems in Myanmar. 398,000 February 2018– Active Support the government in building harmonized delivery systems for selected August 2019 social assistance programs, aimed at improving the well-being of the poor and vulnerable, in particular their nutritional status and food security. Myanmar: Improving Systems to Promote Safe, Productive, and Inclusive 420,000 September Active Building Labor Mobility in Myanmar. Strengthen the ability of the government’s migra- 2017–June Social tion management system to facilitate safe, productive, and inclusive migration. 2019 Protection Systems Cambodia: Developing the Components of a National Social Protection System. 249,970 November Closed Put in place elements of a social protection system through technical assis- 2014– tance for the implementation of a cash transfer program; these elements can December then be scaled-up to help develop a comprehensive social protection system. 2016 Mongolia: Building a More Efficient Social Protection System. Improved the 264,852 June 2014– Closed efficiency and effectiveness of the country’s social assistance system by rec- November ommending strategies to consolidate the country’s fragmented social assis- 2015 tance system and by building an integrated information technology system that can serve as an information platform to manage all categorical and proxy- means tested social assistance programs in the country. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  81 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Mongolia: Monitoring and Evaluation for Mongolia Social Welfare Programs. 67,787 February 2010– Closed Helped develop an alternative to the current social security scheme and devel- February 2012 oped a savings program for herders and others involved in the informal sector, as well as a social security reserve fund. Myanmar: Assessing Myanmar’s Social Protection and Labor System and 443,164 February 2014– Closed Designing Policy and Program Options for the Future. Used the Social Protec- September tion Assessment of Results and Country Systems (SPARCS) framework to iden- 2015 tify strategic direction and appropriate instruments to build resilience and pro- mote equity and opportunity; the grant also focuses on building the capacity of government to develop SPL policies, design appropriate programs, and build an effective system for delivery. Papua New Guinea: Ensuring Effective Monitoring and Evaluation and Social 296,590 January 2011– Closed Accountability for the Urban Youth Employment Project. Strengthened the gov- June 2013 ernment’s capacity to implement and evaluate the impacts of an IDA-supported youth employment project that aims to increase the aspirations and future earnings of 17,500 urban disadvantaged youth. Timor-Leste Social Protection Administration Project. Supported the Ministry 2,205,721 March 2011– Closed of Social Solidarity in building a standardized information management system October 2014 Building that integrates beneficiary information across different database systems and Social identifies beneficiaries uniquely and strengthening the government’s capacity Protection to improve delivery of cash transfer programs. Systems Timor-Leste: Strengthening Social Safety Nets Institutions. Strengthened the 87,811 January 2010– Closed delivery of social assistance through a diagnosis of existing payment systems and February 2012 options for alternative systems, and helped establish a management information system in the Ministry of Social Solidarity to facilitate monitoring and evaluation. Vietnam: Integrated Social Protection Delivery Systems in Vietnam. Provided 365,000 November Closed evidence to inform reforms of national social protection policies and programs, 2016– including more efficient systems for information management and identifica- June 2018 tion, enhanced business processes, and front-end client services. Vietnam: Strengthening the Social Protection System. Supported the govern- 446,162 February 2015– Closed ment in strengthening the social protection system through consolidation of November overlapping programs and modernization of management and delivery systems, 2016 in addition to building the capacity of government to develop more effective social assistance and social insurance systems. Regional: Making Social Protection Systems Responsive to Natural Disasters 448,041 December Closed in East Asia and the Pacific. Strengthened the capacity of governments across 2013– the region to adapt social protection programs and systems to mitigate disaster June 2015 risks ex ante, improve coping strategies, and better respond to natural disas- ters and extreme climate conditions. Implementing Social Protection Programs: Asia Learning Forum. The event 436,711 November Closed Sharing took place in Bangalore, India, in September 2012 with the participation of 2011– Knowledge social policy practitioners from 19 countries and focused on the administration May 2013 and implementation aspects of social protection programs. Protecting Lao PDR: Addressing Malnutrition in Lao PDR. Helps put in place the build- 390,000 May 2017– Active Access ing blocks for a social protection system by developing a concrete design for a February 2019 to Basic social assistance program to help achieve the poverty reduction objectives of Services Lao PDR’s 8th National Socioeconomic Development Strategy. 82  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Europe and Central Asia Kosovo: Strengthening Kosovo’s Social Protection and Labor System. Develop 445,000 July 2017– Active tools to improve the effectiveness of SPL systems to better protect the poor June 2019 and foster greater labor market inclusion. Moldova: Improving Efficiency of Moldova`s Main Anti-Poverty Program. 347,000 August 2017– Active Reduce the inclusion and exclusion errors of the country’s main anti-poverty May 2019 program to improve its efficiency in delivering results. Moldova: Strengthening the Delivery of Public Employment Services. Inform the 210,000 June 2018– Active design of the government’s public employment services and increase their capac- August 2019 ity to deliver services for job-seekers and the working-age inactive population. Serbia: Strengthening the Social Protection System for Disaster Prepared- 420,000 August 2017– Active ness and Response. Contribute to developing more effective preparedness and June 2019 disaster response to affected poor and vulnerable individuals and households by strengthening the social protection system in Serbia. Uzbekistan: Integrated Single Window Office for the Social Assistance and 450,000 August 2015– Active Employment Services. Developing a concept for an integrated single-window June 2018 office for provision of services to the population by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection; designing a detailed blueprint for implementation and roll-out of national reform of social assistance and employment program administra- tion, including high-level design of the management information system and a registry of beneficiaries. Building Social Uzbekistan: Supporting Uzbekistan’s Inclusive Economic Reform through 425,000 January 2018– Active Protection Strengthening Its Social Protection System. Support the government in December Systems strengthening its social protection system to better support poor and tran- 2019 sient populations and mitigate any negative impacts of economic reforms (e.g., reforms to the foreign exchange regime and state-owned enterprises). Regional: New Indicators and Tools to Assess Social Protection and Jobs 400,000 May 2018– Active Systems and Simulate Policy Reforms in ECA. Strengthen the capacity of pol- August 2019 icy makers from low-income and, especially, IDA countries to design effective, scalable productive inclusion programs through development of an operational toolkit and the promotion of learning through a regional workshop. Regional—South Caucuses and Central Asia: Learning Labs for the Nuts and 385,000 February 2018– Active Bolts of Strengthening/Introducing Graduation and Activation Programs into August 2019 the Social Protection Systems. Increase understanding and practical knowl- edge in participating countries on options for activation and graduation social assistance programs, how to choose and design them, and the nuts and bolts of their implementation. Albania: A Functional Review of the Administrative Processes of Nhdima 49,846 December Closed Ekonomike. A stocktaking of the country’s main poverty program’s administra- 2009– tive architecture and its operational aspects, functional responsibilities, and December institutional capacity. 2012 Kyrgyz Republic: Enhancement of Targeted Social Assistance. Supported the 259,413 June 2011– Closed modernization of the cash transfer program directed to families with children, January 2013 and the development of a social protection strategy for the country. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  83 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Kyrgyz Republic: Rapid Assistance to Improve Social Safety Nets in Kyrgyzstan 59,660 March 2010– Closed in the Face of Energy Tariff Reforms. Supported the Agency for Social Protection February 2012 in reforming its social safety nets so that vulnerable families with children have better access to programs and are less harmed by increases in energy prices. Kyrgyz Republic: Road map for Improving Social Safety Net Administration 338,844 October 2013– Closed Building and System Building. Supported the efforts of the Ministry of Social Develop- December Social ment to design and implement a road map for social protection; the grant cata- 2015 Protection lyzes the switch from isolated social assistance interventions toward a system Systems approach by providing critical analytical inputs and helping stakeholders to make informed choices. Tajikistan: Targeting and Payment of Social Assistance to the Poor. Supported 2,283,190 May 2010– Closed the building blocks of a more efficient system to deliver aid to the poorest December households, so that the government and donors will have an effective way to 2013 intervene in ordinary times and during crises. Regional: ECA Learning Forum—Management Information Systems for Mod- 328,687 March 2014– Closed Sharing ernization of Social Protection Programs. Shared lessons and experiences on June 2015 Knowledge the benefits of using new technologies in systematic ways to operate existing and new social protection interventions. Tajikistan: Protecting and Promoting Access to Maternal and Neonatal Health 396,291 November Closed Protecting Services. Provided technical assistance to assess the feasibility of a condi- 2011– Access tional cash transfer to protect access for the poor to basic maternal and child April 2013 to Basic health and nutrition services in selected rayons (districts) of the Sogd oblast Services (region) in Tajikistan. Latin America and the Caribbean Honduras: Strengthening Productive Inclusion for Sustainable Social Safety 270,000 January 2018– Active Nets. Support the government in increasing productive inclusion and skills devel- December opment of vulnerable youths and women by strengthening linkages between 2019 social safety net and employment programs and building its analytical capacity. Mexico: Strengthening Mexico’s Social Protection System for Disaster Pre- 435,000 February 2018– Active paredness and Response. Support the strategic planning and evaluation of August 2019 key social programs and strengthening of Mexico’s Comprehensive System of Inspection Service (SISI). Nicaragua: Identifying Opportunities for the Productive Inclusion of Female 412,000 February 2018– Active Building Youth in Nicaragua. Strengthen the government’s capacity to understand the July 2019 Social unique challenges experienced by girls and young women in accessing job Protection opportunities, and the extent to which its current active labor market program Systems portfolio effectively addresses these productive inclusion challenges. Dominican Republic: Strengthening Social Protection Interventions for Disas- 430,000 November Active ter Preparedness and Response. Strengthen social protection instruments 2017–June and knowledge base to effectively contribute to disaster preparedness and 2019 response for the poor and most vulnerable groups. Haiti: Analytical Underpinning for the Development of Building Blocks for 225,000 July 2018–May Active an Adaptive Social Protection System. Conduct key assessments to inform 2020 the preparation of a social protection strategy and identification of options for addressing systemwide constraints; also support strengthening of coordination capacity and leadership of social protection. 84  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Bolivia: Strengthening Access to Social Services among Women and Indige- 34,997 September Closed nous Groups. Filled information gaps about dimensions of access to social ser- 2014–January vices among women and indigenous groups in Bolivia with the goal of promot- 2016 ing more equitable access to social services, social protection, and economic opportunities. Haiti: Strengthening Haiti’s National Social Protection System. Helped the 321,469 April 2014– Closed government improve its capacity to coordinate and target social initiatives April 2016 and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending in the area of social protection. Honduras: Strengthening Social Protection. Strengthened the government’s 72,566 January 2010– Closed safety net programs by helping redesign the conditional cash transfer program June 2012 and enhance targeting of social safety net interventions. Nicaragua: Expansion of the Family and Community-Based Social Welfare 2,548,570 February 2012– Closed Building Model with Cash Transfers. Provided technical assistance to the expansion April 2013 Social of a model program for family and community-based social welfare and cash Protection transfers. Systems St. Lucia: Transforming Social Protection in St. Lucia. Supported implemen- 299,382 February 2014– Closed tation of a social safety net reform through: (1) analyzing and improving key May 2016 operational elements of St. Lucia’s flagship Public Assistance Program, (2) har- monizing the architecture of social assistance programs, and (3) improving the Ministry of Social Transformation’s capacity to implement the social safety net reform. Regional (Bolivia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, St. 148,438 April 2014– Closed Vincent and the Grenadines): Building Evidence on Program’s Performance to May 2016 Strengthen Social Protection and Labor Systems in Low-Capacity LAC Coun- tries. Grant financed data collection and SPL system components mapping, capacity-building activities, and stocktaking notes and dissemination. Regional—Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): Enhanced Crisis 475,118 November Closed Resilience Project. Strengthened the OECS Secretariat’s capacity to support 2011– and guide national crisis responses on social protection. June 2013 Regional: Knowledge Exchange on Adaptive Social Protection Systems as 200,000 October 2017– Active a Disaster Risk Mitigation Mechanism. Enhance cross-country learning and June 2019 increase the knowledge base for strengthening the adaptiveness of social protection systems in the region to ensure better protection and build the economic resilience of poor and vulnerable households in the face of natural disasters. Regional: Knowledge Exchange on Productive Inclusion—Enhancing the Par- 290,000 January 2018– Active Sharing ticipation of the Poor and Vulnerable in Productive and Employability Inter- July 2019 Knowledge ventions. Strengthen the capacity of policy makers from low-income and, especially, IDA countries to design effective, scalable productive inclusion programs through development of an operational toolkit and the promotion of learning through a regional workshop. Regional: Improving Latin America and Caribbean Countries’ Responses to 255,999 July 2011– Closed Protect the Nutritional Status of the Poorest and Most Vulnerable. Supported February 2013 the development of a toolkit that offers policy makers and program administra- tors in the region cost-effective tools. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  85 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Regional—Listening to LAC: Mobile Phones as Instruments for Rigorous Sur- 239,106 April 2010– Closed Sharing veys. Developed and piloted the use of a low-cost, quick method of gathering June 2012 Knowledge data via mobile phone technology to give timely information on the effects of crises on poor and vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Haiti: Gender-Based Violence in Post-Earthquake Haiti. A community-based 580,951 January 2011– Closed organization received support from RSR to improve delivery of services to sur- September vivors of gender-based violence and to enhance the growing public dialogue 2012 around the issue. Haiti: Household Development Agent Pilot. Improved family health and nutri- 3,202,317 April 2010– Closed tion practices by enhancing the quality and coordination of social services and December introducing household development agents. 2014 Haiti: Nutrition Security and Social Safety Nets. Improved the capacity and 90,345 November Closed effectiveness of nutrition-related safety net programs to address acute and 2010– chronic malnutrition. June 2012 Honduras: Improving Nutritional Monitoring and Targeted Response to the 1,054,662 July 2012– Closed Protecting Global Crisis. Helped offset the negative effects of the global food crisis on the December Access most vulnerable children by strengthening monitoring systems and providing 2013 to Basic technical assistance to the expansion of the nutritional services in the most Services affected areas of the country. Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti: Education Sector Rapid Response and Pro- 378,251 December Closed tection of Youth Vulnerable to Violence and Conflict. Provided support to pol- 2011–March icy development and strategic planning to protect children and youth from vio- 2013 lence made worse by crises. St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Strengthening Social Protection System 299,742 November Closed for Disaster Preparedness and Response in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 2016– Strengthened the knowledge base and provided options for effective disaster May 2018 preparedness and response of the social protection system. Regional: Building Blocks for Disaster-Responsive Social Protection Systems 440,000 April 2016– Closed in Dominica and Grenada. Established the building blocks for disaster-respon- June 2018 sive SPL systems in Dominica and Grenada. Middle East and North Africa Building Djibouti: Employment for the Poor Project. Piloted an integrated safety net 173,593 January 2010– Closed Social mechanism that combines a workfare program with social assistance for nutri- April 2012 Protection tion, using community-driven and participatory approaches as well as targeted Systems capacity-building interventions. Lessons from Successful Education Administration under Difficult Circum- 398,720 October 2010– Closed Sharing stances. Captured lessons from the success of the United Nations Relief and November Knowledge Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which provided education to Palestinian 2012 students in the Middle East. Protecting Republic of Yemen: Targeted Delivery of Early Childhood Nutrition Interven- 201,146 November Closed Access tions. Supported a short household survey to monitor the economic and social 2010– to Basic impact of instability, including food insecurity; the pilot project was canceled December Services due to prevailing security concerns in the Republic of Yemen. 2012 86  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status South Asia Bangladesh: Citizen Engagement for Effective Targeting of Social Protection. 320,000 September Active Support the government in ensuring targeting data quality and building effec- 2017–June tive citizen engagement mechanisms as part of its social protection system. 2019 Bangladesh: Impact Evaluation of a G2G Agreement to Facilitate International 190,000 September Active Migration. Evaluate the impact of government-to-government (G2G) foreign labor 2017–June market access on the welfare of migrants and on the families remaining behind. 2019 Bangladesh: Social Protection Interventions for the Urban Poor and Migrants: Evi- 337,500 August 2018– Active dence and Learning for Solutions in Bangladesh. Improve the services provided to May 2020 and labor market outcomes of the urban poor by informing and supporting the gov- ernment in the design of SPL policies and programs, focused on urban populations. Bhutan: Encouraging Private Sector Youth Employment. Support the govern- 350,000 September Active ment in strengthening its social protection systems and analytics in order to 2017–June increase private sector job demand among youth. 2019 Bhutan: Improving Employment and Inclusion Impacts of Entrepreneurship 225,000 July 2018–May Active Interventions in Bhutan. Support the government in improving the coverage 2020 and impact of its entrepreneurship development programs. Nepal: Exploiting Federalism to Improve Integration of Social Protection Sys- 225,000 July 2018–May Active tems. Support integration of social protection delivery systems to strengthen 2020 inclusive and effective delivery of services in a federal context. Building Nepal: Technical Assistance to Improve Disaster Responsiveness of Social 400,000 April 2017– Active Social Protection. Support the government in improving the disaster responsiveness January 2019 Protection of Nepal’s social protection delivery systems and programs, with a focus on Systems Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development’s social protection pro- grams. Pakistan: From Haven to Home—Urban Safety Nets for Migrants. Enhance the 420,000 January 2018– Active performance of social protection systems in urban areas for the most vulnera- January 2020 ble including migrants in two major cities (Karachi and Lahore). Sri Lanka: Adapting Social Protection Systems for Disaster Response. 365,000 January 2018– Active Advance the dialogue in Sri Lanka on the need for an adaptive safety net to August 2019 safeguard all households against poverty; improve government capacity for forecasting and analysis of disasters and preparation of local estimates of pov- erty and population; and support the integration of disaster assistance into the country’s social safety net delivery system. Regional (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan): Strengthening Migration Systems for 350,000 September Active Poor and Low-Skilled Temporary Migrants. Strengthen systems for temporary 2017–June migration to reduce vulnerability and improve outcomes of poor and low-skilled 2019 migrant workers from South Asia. Regional: South Asia Pensions. Expose policy makers to the conceptual frame- 250,000 January 2018– Active work, analytical tools, and regional experience to achieve more sustainable July 2019 and adequate old-age income protection for civil service retirees; identify the latest thinking in the region on policy design and implementation options for improving worker and retiree pension coverage; and expose policy makers and administrators to options for diagnosis and mapping to strengthen identification systems and pension administrative systems. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  87 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Afghanistan: Results-Oriented Approach in the Pro-Poor Program Design of 199,124 November Closed Implementation. Aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity to monitor and 2011–June evaluate government programs and mechanisms delivering benefits. 2014 Afghanistan: Assessing the Potential and Feasibility of Scalable Public 369,753 June 2014– Closed Works. Explored options for increasing the social protection coverage of the April 2016 poor by assessing the potential and feasibility of scalable short-term employ- ment generation programs. Bangladesh: Assessment of Identification Systems for Social Protection. 111,566 June 2015– Closed Aimed to strengthen the SPL system by enhancing government’s capacity to March 2017 improve ID systems, develop options for how ID systems can be more effective and efficient, set up an action plan to operationalize the most preferred policy options, strengthen coordination among the government institutions involved in SPL programs, and understand the operational foundations of public food dis- tribution systems. Bangladesh: Improving the Payment and Monitoring System for the Employ- 605,706 June 2011– Closed ment Generation Program for the Poorest. Provided technical assistance to June 2014 make beneficiary payment and recordkeeping mechanisms for the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest more efficient. Bangladesh: Piloting Conditional Cash Transfers for Human Development 2,619,345 September Closed through Local Governments. Piloted the mechanisms for delivering conditional 2010– Building cash transfers through local governments to improve children’s nutrition and December 2013 Social education. Protection Bhutan: Supporting the Development of a Social Protection Strategy. Sup- 225,975 April 2014– Closed Systems ported the development of an evidence-based social protection strategy. June 2015 India: Broadening the Urban Safety Net Dialogue. Provided support to stream- 99,048 March 2010– Closed lining and improving the effectiveness of urban safety nets in New Delhi and February 2012 improving the monitoring and delivery of benefit programs using integrated information technology platforms, databases, and smart cards. India: Strengthening Social Protection Systems in Bihar. Strengthened the 422,338 October 2013– Closed institutional capacity of the Department of Social Welfare and the Rural Devel- December opment Department to deliver social protection programs and services and 2015 expand outreach of social care services for poor and vulnerable households, persons with disabilities, older persons, and widows in the state of Bihar. Maldives: Targeting the poor in the Maldives. Assisted the government in 124,295 March 2011– Closed designing and implementing a common platform for identification of the poor. August 2012 Nepal: Human Development—Social Protection Pilot. Improved the delivery 1,535,882 January 2011– Closed of cash-based social safety nets in pilot districts of Nepal through technical September assistance and capacity building to the Ministry of Local Development. 2014 Nepal: Safety Net System Building Technical Assistance. Supported the gov- 449,852 November Closed ernment in strengthening the basic architecture of its administrative systems, 2014–April with an emphasis on the payment system, the management information system, 2017 and the ministry’s internal institutional arrangement for SPJ policy coordination and service delivery. 88  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Pakistan: Financial Inclusion and Literacy Outcomes of Cash Transfers 802,254 June 2011– Closed through the Banking System. Conducted an assessment to improve the design May 2013 and implementation of the payment side of cash transfer programs in Pakistan and how different technologies work for the poor; established ways to make cash grants more sustainable through financial inclusion (e.g., savings) and literacy. Sri Lanka: Skills Development for Unemployed Youth. Examined the impact of 238,800 June 2011– Closed the economic crisis on vulnerable groups in the formal and informal labor mar- May 2013 Building kets, and supported an analysis of critical policy issues on skills development, Social employment creation, and economic growth. Protection Sri Lanka: Strengthening Social Protection Systems. Supported reform and 399,965 May 2016– Closed Systems strengthening of delivery systems for Sri Lanka’s main social safety net programs June 2018 by financing technical assistance focused on the development of specifications for modern program targeting, management information and payments systems, and the legal and policy frameworks required to implement these systems. Sri Lanka: Strengthening Targeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation of Safety Nets. 167,760 June 2011– Closed Supported an assessment of the beneficiaries of the largest social safety net June 2013 program with a view to make the program more efficient in helping the poor become more productive. Regional: Community of Practice on Service Delivery Systems in South Asian 180,000 February 2018– Active Region. Support the creation of the South Asian Community of Practice for August 2019 learning and knowledge exchange to strengthen service delivery systems for Sharing the social protection programs of member countries. Knowledge India: Strengthening Urban Safety Nets in India. Created a community of practice 250,428 April 2016– Closed to undertake strategic analytic and advisory activities to help identify, assess, April 2017 and improve determinants of key human development outcomes in India. Bangladesh: Supporting Nutrition-Sensitive Safety Nets through Strengthened 314,447 August 2015– Closed Local Government Administration. Supported streamlined social protection ser- April 2017 vices at the local level, with a focus on implementation of nutrition-sensitive safety nets in Bangladesh by strengthening local-level institutional arrangements for safety net administration, developing innovative tools for promotion of nutri- tion among the poorest through income support and beneficiary engagement. India: Critical Analysis of the Institutional Arrangements for Improving Nutri- 99,640 February 2010– Closed tion Outcomes. An analysis of existing institutional arrangements for organiz- May 2012 Protecting ing, coordinating, and delivering nutrition services in India and recommenda- Access tions for how service delivery could be strengthened. to Basic Maldives: Technical Assistance to the National Social Protection Agency 58,098 June 2011– Closed Services on the National Health Insurance Scheme. Strengthened the capacity of the June 2013 National Social Protection Agency to improve the design of the Madhana, the country’s nascent social health insurance system, and helped build a robust monitoring and evaluation system that enhances the system’s efficiency and effectiveness. Pakistan: Protecting Pakistan’s Poor Against Health Shocks. Provided tech- 363,992 December Closed nical assistance to development of a diagnostic and a review of the health 2011–March sector’s policy options to increase the population’s resilience to health shocks 2013 caused by natural disasters. S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  89 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Global Africa and South Asia (IDA Countries): Taking GBV into Account in Social 326,250 September Active Safety Net Programs. Provide policy makers and implementing agencies with 2018–May 2020 detailed operational guidelines to improve social safety net program design and implementation so as to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on gender-based violence (GBV). Enhancing the SPJ Data Completeness and Reliability for 22 IDA Countries. 337,500 July 2018– Active Improve SPL data coverage, quality, comparability, and availability to better August 2019 inform design of SPL policies, programs, and systems; for the social safety net report series, the objective is to highlight social safety nets as a global priority. From Platitudes to Practice 2.0: Targeting. Provide a practical resource for 450,000 August 2017– Active those engaged in the design and implementation of targeted safety nets pro- May 2019 grams around the world. Producing and Testing New ISPA Tool to Enhance Impact of Cash Transfer Pro- 330,000 March 2018– Active grams. Support countries in achieving better results in cash transfers by mak- July 2019 ing global knowledge more accessible through development of a new Inter- Agency Social Protection Assessment (ISPA) tool on cash transfers. Social Registries and Integrated Social Protection Information Systems. Sup- 450,000 August 2017– Active port countries in the design, improvement, and implementation of their social June 2019 protection delivery systems, particularly social protection information systems. Universality and Targeting: Assessing the Scope, Rationale, and Feasibility of 350,000 June 2017– Active Building a Cash Transfer Program in the Form of Basic Income Grants in Mozambique January 2019 Social and Beyond. Enhance the government’s and global knowledge and practice on Protection basic income grants as part of social protection systems. Systems Assessing Social Protection Systems. Supported countries in building effec- 445,844 September Closed tive SPL systems by providing clear, cross-country guidance for assessing and 2013–June monitoring system performance; supported Social Protection Assessment of 2016 Results and Country Systems (SPARCS) in developing and applying common instruments to assess the structure of SPL systems and guide their devel- opment, and Atlas of Social Protection–Indicators of Resilience and Equity (ASPIRE) in collecting, harmonizing, and sharing comparable indicators of pro- gram performance based on household and administrative data. Development of a Management Information System for Social Protection. 348,057 December Closed Developed a high-quality, reliable client registry system for efficient delivery of 2011–August social protection systems. 2013 ID4D-RSR. Facilitated access to services and rights for all people in develop- 450,000 November Closed ing countries by increasing the number of people in those countries who have 2016–June an official form of identification. This was achieved by supporting governments 2018 in building effective and inclusive official identification systems using multisec- toral approaches and 21st century solutions. Social Registries and Management Information Systems in Social Protection 314,793 February 2015– Closed and Labor: Framework, Assessment Tool, and Country Cases. Developed guid- April 2017 ance notes and accompanying social information system assessment tools to support clients’ efforts in developing streamlined and harmonized informa- tion management systems; piloted the assessment tool in selected countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. 90  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status EAP and SAR-Asia-Pacific Social Protection Knowledge Exchange. Facilitate 450,000 October 2017– Active knowledge exchange among policy makers and program implementers in Asia June 2019 and the Pacific and act as a platform for future bilateral and other exchanges of regional experience in strengthening social protection systems. Social Insurance Administration Assessment Toolkit. Promote understanding and 337,500 July 2018– Active build knowledge about options for improving the efficiency of social insurance August 2019 delivery systems by developing an operational toolkit that includes a comprehen- sive assessment of social insurance delivery systems, and fostering an institutional ecosystem that ensures broad stakeholder awareness about best practices. South-South Learning Forum 2015: Urban Social Protection Systems. Foster 444,446 May 2015– Active global knowledge sharing among social protection practitioners on the devel- June 2017 opment of social protection systems in urban areas. South-South Learning Forum 2017. Deepen knowledge and shared experiences 450,000 February 2017– Active of how tailored design and delivery systems can support social protection pro- February 2019 grams to adapt to shocks and build household resilience. Public Works Learning Forum: Social Protection South-South Learning Forum 244,763 February 2010– Closed 2010. This forum, held in June 2010 in Arusha, Tanzania, allowed more than 220 December delegates from 40 low- and middle-income countries to exchange knowledge 2011 and take part in cross-country learning on the design and implementation of public works programs as safety net interventions as well as the development Sharing of an ongoing community of practice. Knowledge South-South Learning Forum: Building Resilient Safety Nets in Low-Income 348,370 November Closed Countries and Fragile States. This forum, carried out in June 2011, focused 2010– on promoting resilient safety nets following the recent wave of food, fuel, and September financial crises and natural disasters. 2012 South-South Learning Forum: Designing Social Protection Systems. Promoted 449,033 January– Closed global knowledge sharing among social protection practitioners on the devel- December opment of social protection systems, notably in low-income countries and frag- 2014 ile states; forum brought together approximately 200 practitioners and experts from 50 countries in Rio, Brazil. South-South Learning Forum: Labor Market Policy Response to the Global 447,859 December Closed Jobs Crisis. Organized in Hyderabad in November 2012 to stimulate a discus- 2011– sion and exchange on the experiences of labor and social protection policies January 2013 during the recent economic crisis and how to bolster effective policy making on labor markets and social protection in response to future crises. Resilience in the Face of Crisis: Multisector Actions to Achieve Nutrition Results. 249,313 February 2011– Closed Developed and disseminated tools for a multisectoral approach to planning and February 2014 implementing actions that protect and improve nutrition outcomes for the poorest. Development of the ADePT Crisis Module. Supported development of a crisis module 249,263 April 2011– Closed for the ADePT software platform, which produces simulations to help policy makers September understand the distributional effects of macro-shocks and structural reforms. 2012 S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  91 Table 6.1  RSR Project Portfolio (continued) Theme Grant title and description Funding ($) Timeline Status Development of a Global Action Plan for Scaling-up Nutrition. Provided ana- 39,690 February– Closed lytical work, consultations, and policy guidance on how to scale-up nutrition December investments and encourage multisectoral actions to achieve nutrition results. 2010 Food Crisis Monitoring System. Developed a framework that defines, identifies, 74,339 November Closed and monitors food security crises at the national level caused by shocks and 2011– factors that are not attributed to a given country; the framework categorizes November each IDA country’s exposure to shocks and its capacity to respond. 2012 The Health Sector and the Poor in a Financial Crisis: Identifying and Managing 435,611 December Closed Risks. Stocktaking of the health sectors in the European region and their pre- 2011– paredness and operational responses to the economic shock of 2008/09 with a June 2013 view to generate lessons and encourage stakeholder dialogue. Impact of Financial Crises on Children and Youth: Protecting Human Capital 241,127 January 2011– Closed of Future Generations. Supported rapport, and accompanying policy notes, to June 2012 show how the right policies and targeted interventions for children and youth Protecting can yield important returns in human capital, and that even small, strategically Access applied resources can go a long way to protect and promote human develop- to Basic ment in crises and in stable times. Services Monitoring the Health Outcomes and Financial Vulnerability of the Poorest. 160,535 April 2010– Closed Built the capacity of policy makers and researchers to carry out analysis of finan- September cial protection and equity, using ADePT Health software, and produced coun- 2011 try-specific reports on financial protection, vulnerability, and equity in the health sector. Policy Levers to Protect Health and Enhance Financial Protection. Improved 443,947 July 2011– Closed the capacity of governments and the international community to monitor the December health outcomes of the poor after the food, fuel, and financial crises; also helped 2012 design health systems and policies more effectively to provide protection to future crises. Preparing Social Protection Systems for Natural Disasters and Climate 370,094 July 2011–July Closed Change. Supported the development of a series of case studies and recom- 2013 mendations from five countries to enhance the capacity of safety net programs to respond more effectively to natural disasters and the impact of climate change. Note: SPL = social protection and labor. Table includes RSR-Classic and RSRC grants only. Grant amounts reflect allocated funds against approved proposals, as of March 10, 2019. These amounts may change slightly by the time the grants close, reflecting actual disbursements against the activities the grants funded. Excess funds from closed grants are reused and reallocated against new activities. For the most recent listing of the RSR project portfolio, see the World Bank’s Trust Fund Development Partner Center secure website. 92  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Africa Support to a Systemic Improve access of poor households to Approach to Social AO-Local Develop- Approved basic services and economic opportunities, Angola 0.45 81.7 P105101 Protection and ment Project (3/10) and enhance local institutional capacities Poverty Reduction among Angola’s municipalities Building a Common Benin: Decentralized Improve access to decentralized basic social Approved National Targeting 76.0 P117764 Community Driven services and mainstream the communi- (5/12) and Registry System Services ty-driven development approach for services Benin for Cash Transfers, 0.28 Contribute to increasing the coverage of Public Works and Benin: Health System Approved quality maternal and neonatal services in Other Safety Net 22.8 P113202 Performance Project (5/10) eight health districts (roughly a quarter of Interventions the population) Strengthening Safety Provide income support to poor and vulner- Burkina Faso Social Approved Burkina Faso Net Response to 0.50 150.0 P124015 able groups and lay the foundations for a Safety Net Project (4/14) Crises basic safety net system Provide regular cash transfers to extreme Supporting Operation- poor and vulnerable households with chil- BI-Social Safety Nets Approved Burundi alization of SPJ Strat- 0.37 40.0 P151835 dren in selected areas while strengthening (Merankabandi) (12/16) egy in Burundi the delivery mechanisms for development of a basic social safety net system Strengthening Safety Support the establishment of a basic 0.55 Net Response to Crises national safety net system including pilot- Cameroon Social Approved Cameroon Scaling Up the Safety 110.0 P128534 ing targeted cash transfers and public Safety Nets (3/13) Net to Respond to 0.25 works programs for the poorest and most Crises in Cameroon vulnerable people Social Protection Service Delivery and Policy and Forced Increase access to basic services, infra- Central African Support to Communi- Approved Displacement in 0.35 28.0 P161591 structure, and safety nets for communities Republic ties Affected by Dis- (5/17) Central African affected by forced displacement placement Project Republic Strengthening Social Comoros Social Safety Approved Increase poor communities’ access to Comoros 0.41 6.0 P150754 Protection Net Project (3/15) safety net and nutrition services Human Development Strengthen select management systems for Approved 45.0 P145965 Systems Strength- education and health services in targeted (1/14) ening geographic areas Support to Establish a Improve the living conditions of populations 0.35 National SP System Kinshasa Urban Devel- of selected poor and vulnerable neigh- Congo, Dem. 500.0 P161602 opment and Resilience Pipeline borhoods of Kinshasa; and strengthen Rep. Project the capacities of central, provincial, and municipal institutions in urban governance Establish core building blocks of a safety net Developing a National Productive Inclusion Approved 0.44 200.0 P163962 system and improve access of poor house- Targeting System Project (6/18) holds to productive safety net interventions Establish the key building blocks of a Congo Brazzaville: national safety net program and pilot a LISUNGI Safety Nets Approved Congo, Rep. LISUNGI—Safety Net 0.35 34.0 P145263 cash transfer program to improve access Project (1/14) Systems to health and education services of poorest households in participating areas S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  93 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Assessing the Impact of Crisis on Human Capital and Laying the 0.30 Foundations for an Effective SSN System Set the foundations of an effective and pro- Building Resilient and Productive Social Approved ductive type of safety net system capable Côte d’Ivoire Productive Social 150.0 P143332 0.41 Safety Net (5/15) of responding to the country’s needs both Protection and Labor in normal times and during times of crisis Systems Strengthening Social Protection and Labor 0.42 Delivery Platforms in Côte d’Ivoire Strengthening the Improve child and maternal care behavior Nutrition Information and increase utilization of key micronutri- Ethiopia 1.02 27.8 P106228 Ethiopia Nutrition Closed and Early Warning ents in order to contribute to nutritional sta- System in Ethiopia tus of vulnerable groups Rapid Response Maternal and Child Approved Increase the coverage of community-based Gambia, The Nutrition Security 3.16 16.2 P143650 Nutrition and Health (3/14) nutrition and primary health care services Improvement Project Results Project Cash Transfers Designed and Brought 0.18 to Scale Improve targeting in social protection Social Opportunities spending, increase access to condi- Strengthening, 87.9 P115247 Closed Project tional cash transfers nationwide, increase Consolidating and 0.45 access to employment and cash-earning Ghana Scaling Up the Social opportunities for the rural poor during the Protection System agricultural off-season, and improve eco- Building a Common nomic and social infrastructure in target Additional Financ- Targeting Registry Approved districts 0.45 50.0 P146923 ing for Ghana Social for Ghana’s Social (5/14) Opportunities Project Protection System Strengthening Social Productive Social Approved Provide income support to vulnerable Safety Nets in Times 0.42 37.0 P123900 Safety Net Project (6/12) groups and to lay the foundations of a of Crises Guinea social safety net strategy by testing some Guinea Social of the building blocks necessary for a Nafa Program Support Protection: Social 0.40 40.0 P168777 Pipeline larger system Project Safety Nets Strategy Additional Financing Increase access to priority basic social and to Rural Community- Approved economic infrastructures and services in 10.0 P151443 Driven Development (5/16) participating communities in at least two Project regions of Guinea-Bissau Social Safety Net Guinea-Bissau 0.38 Increase coverage of a well-targeted Systems Support safety net program for selected vulnerable Guinea Bissau: Social Approved 15.0 P163901 households and increase access to basic Protection Project (5/18) social services in poor communities of Guinea Bissau 94  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective National Integrated Social Protection Approved Establish an effective national safety net 0.15 300.0 P131305 Safety Net Program Interventions (5/13) for poor and vulnerable households (P4R) Increase social safety net access for Support for Kenya Cash Transfer Approved extremely poor orphans and vulnerable chil- Social Protection 1.29 58.5 P111545 for Orphans and Vul- (3/09) dren (OVC) households through effective Programming nerable Children and efficient expansion of CT-OVC Program Support the government’s efforts to Support to the Youth Empowerment Approved increase access to youth-targeted tempo- 16.4 P111546 Internship Program Project (5/10) rary employment programs and to improve 0.98 youth employability Kenya of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance Kenya Youth Employ- Approved Increase employment and earnings oppor- 150.0 P151831 ment and Opportunities (5/16) tunities for targeted youths Strengthen delivery systems for enhanced Kenya Social and Approved access to social and economic inclusion From Safety 250.0 P164654 Economic Inclusion (11/18) services and shock-responsive safety nets Net Delivery to Project for poor and vulnerable households Comprehensive Social 0.37 Protection and Jobs Development Improve access to basic social services, Services Response to Displace- Approved expand economic opportunities, and 103.0 P161067 ment Impacts Project (4/17) enhance environmental management for in the Horn of Africa communities hosting refugees in target areas Developing the Assist the government in implement- Lesotho: Second Strategy and Building Approved ing a reform program aimed at promoting 16.0 P146534 Growth and Competi- Blocks for a Social 0.25 (4/14) growth, competitiveness, and public sector tiveness DPC Protection System in efficiency Lesotho Support the government in improving the Lesotho efficiency, equity, and shock-responsive function of selected social assistance pro- Social Assistance Approved Lesotho Social Safety 40.0 P151442 grams and, in the event of an eligible cri- 0.14 Project 6/16 Net Review sis or emergency, provide immediate and effective response to said eligible crisis or emergency Expand access of poor and young Liberians Improving Employment Youth, Employment, Approved 0.24 6.0 P121686 to temporary employment programs and of Vulnerable Youth Skills Project (6/10) improve youth employability Support the broadening of reforms to Development of a include economic transformation and Crisis Response Social Poverty Reduction Approved 0.29 10.0 P127317 human development in the context of the Protection Strategy Strategy Credit I (6/13) Liberia implementation of the government’s second and Capacity Poverty Reduction Strategy Establish the key building blocks of a basic Developing Liberia’s national safety net delivery system and National Social Liberia Social Safety Approved 0.45 10.0 P155293 provide income support to households that Protection Delivery Nets Project (4/16) are both extremely poor and food insecure System in Liberia S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  95 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Assessing Negative Effects of the Political Crisis and Protecting 0.40 Access to Essential Health and Nutrition Emergency Support Preserve critical education, health, and Services to Critical Education, 73.0 P131945 Closed nutrition service delivery in targeted vul- Health and Nutrition Development of nerable areas in the recipient’s territory Services Project Tools to Monitor and Madagascar Mitigate the Effect 0.45 of Crises on Out-of- School Children Developing 65.0 P147514 Emergency, Food Approved Strengthen the country’s immediate capac- Madagascar’s Safety 0.44 Security and Social (2/14) ity to respond effectively to the food secu- Net System Protection Project rity and locust crises Building Nutrition 0.45 Sensitive Safety Nets Developing the Building Blocks 2.16 for Effective Crisis Provide temporary income support to Response Social Safety Net Approved extremely poor households and put in place Mozambique 60.0 P129524 Building Gender- Project (3/13) the building blocks of a social safety net Sensitive Social system 0.90 Protection and Labor Systems Increase access of the poor to youth Youth Employment and Approved employment opportunities, social services, 0.40 400.0 P126964 Social Support Oper- (3/13) and strengthened safety net systems in ation Strengthening Social participating states Nigeria Safety Net Establish building blocks of a national Social Protection Approved social safety net system for effectively 0.43 500.0 P151488 Project (6/16) targeting and delivering cash transfers to extreme poor and vulnerable households Support government’s efforts to consoli- Technical Assistance Support to Social Pro- date, enhance efficiency and effectiveness, for Stronger Social 0.07 40.0 P126877 Closed tection System and expand coverage of its social protec- Safety Nets tion system Technical Assistance Support government’s social protection and and Capacity Building Third Community Liv- Rwanda 2.12 6.0 P122157 Closed health reforms designed to reduce extreme to the Vision 2020 ing Standards Grant poverty Umurenge Program Support government’s efforts to consoli- SPL Systems in Rwanda Second Sup- Approved date, enhance efficiency and effectiveness, Rwanda: Operational- 0.45 50.0 P131666 port to Social Protec- (3/13) and expand coverage of its social protec- izing the Vision tion System tion system 96  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Rwanda Third Support Support government’s efforts to enhance 70.0 P146452 to the Social Protection Closed effectiveness and expand the coverage of System its social protection system Support government to improve the effi- Social Protection Sys- Approved Support for 70.0 P151279 ciency, accountability, and coverage of its tem Support (1/15) Strengthening social protection system 0.06 Rwandan Social Second Social Pro- Second and third in a series of three devel- Safety Nets 95.0 P155024 tection System DPO Closed opment policy operations whose program (SPS-2) development objective is to support the Third Social Protec- government to improve the efficiency, Rwanda Approved 95.0 P158698 tion System Support accountability, and coverage of its social (10/16) protection system (SPS-3)  mprove the effectiveness of Rwanda’s I Strengthening Social Approved social protection system, notably the flag- 80.0 P162646 Protection Project (12/17) ship Vision 2020 Umurenge Program for tar- Nutrition Sensitive geted vulnerable groups Social Protection in 0.28 Rwanda Contribute to reduction in stunting rate Rwanda Stunting Pre- Approved among children under five years of age 25.0 P164845 vention and Reduction (2/18) (with a focus on those under two) in the Project targeted districts Building Blocks for Social Protection 0.32 Support the development of an effective System Social Protection and São Tomé and Approved national safety net system for poor house- 10.0 P163088 Skills Development Príncipe Development of Effec- (9/18) holds and inclusive and labor market–rele- Project tive Delivery Systems 0.32 vant skills development programs for Social Protection Developing a Unified 0.29 and Effective Safety Net Senegal Social Protection: Public 0.88 Senegal Safety Net Approved Assist government in developing building Works Diagnostics 97.5 P133597 Operation (4/14) blocks of an efficient safety net system Promoting Graduation Senegal and Productive 0.44 Inclusion for Safety Net Beneficiaries Increase utilization and quality of maternal, Developing Senegal Senegal Health and Approved neonatal, and child health care and nutri- 0.30 20.0 P129472 Safety Net System Social Financing (12/13) tional services, especially among the poor- est households in targeted areas Social Safety Net 0.30 Support Developing Sierra Leone’s Social Protection System 0.30 Create a comprehensive, efficient, well-tar- through Common Sierra Leone Safety Approved Sierra Leone 17.0 P143588 geted productive safety net system for the Targeting Mechanisms Nets Project (3/14) poor and vulnerable Strengthening Operational and Institutional Elements 0.36 of the Social Protection System S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  97 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Operationalization Provide access to income opportunities of the South Sudan Safety Net and Skills Approved and temporary employment to the poor and South Sudan 0.41 21.0 P143915 National Social Protec- Development (6/13) vulnerable and put in place building blocks tion Policy Framework for a social protection system Enhancing Social Create a comprehensive, efficient, well-tar- Protection for the Tanzania Productive Approved geted productive social safety net system Most Vulnerable 0.63 420.0 P124045 Social Safety Net (3/12) for the poor and vulnerable section of the Children and Elderly Tanzanian population Poor A Systems-Based Approach for Operationalizing the 0.41 Tanzania Productive Social Safety Net Enhancing Sustainable Tanzania Livelihoods and Graduation from APL Phase 1 is to create a comprehensive, Tanzania Produc- Social Assistance in Approved efficient, well-targeted productive social 0.42 200.0 P151838 tive Social Safety Net Tanzania: Bottlenecks (6/16) safety net system for the poor and vulnera- Additional Financing to Self-Employment ble section of the Tanzanian population and Household Enterprises Making Innovations in Livelihood Services Work for the Poor: 0.34 Testing Graduation Models at Scale Provide selected poor communities with Experience of Cash Togo Community Approved improved basic socioeconomic infrastruc- for Work Program in 0.09 8.7 P121067 Development Project (6/10) tures, income-generating and labor-inten- Liberia for Togo Additional Financing sive activities, and access to food Togo Support to SSN 0.22 Development in Togo Provide poor communities with greater Community Develop- Approved Promoting Innovative 14.0 P127200 access to basic socioeconomic infrastruc- ment and Safety Nets (3/12) Crisis Response Social 0.28 tures and social safety nets Protection Measures Uganda Social Provide effective income support to and Third Northern Uganda Approved Uganda Protection Sector 0.26 130.0 P149965 build the resilience of poor and vulnerable Social Action Fund (5/15) Review households in Northern Uganda Support for Development of MIS 1.40 and Single Registry of Beneficiaries Developing an Support government to increase access to Innovative Payment Girls Education and livelihood support for women and access Platform for the Social 0.36 Womens Empower- Approved Zambia 290.0 P151451 to secondary education for disadvantaged Protection System in ment and Livelihood (5/15) adolescent girls in extremely poor house- Zambia Project holds in selected districts Targeting of High- Potential, Extremely Poor Beneficiaries for 0.30 Productive Inclusion Programs 98  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Benin: Decentralized Community Driven Regional: Servicesa Angola, Benin, Establish sustainable social safety net sys- Lesotho, Mali, Cash Transfers— tem and scale-up programs that increase Tanzania, Design for Scaling Up 0.39 Mali: Emergency Approved 122.0 P127328 income and consumption of poor and vul- Uganda, in Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Nets Project (4/13) nerable households through cash transfers Zambia, and short-term employment Zimbabwe Tanzania Productive Approved Social Safety Neta (3/12) Improve access to employment skills and Benin: BJ-Youth Approved 35.0 P132667 employment opportunities for underem- Employment (3/14) ployed youth in Benin Regional: Burkina Faso: Youth Increase access to temporary employment Youth Employment Approved Benin, Burkina 50.0 P130735 Employment and Skills and skills development opportunities for in Africa—The Skills (5/13) Faso, Ghana, 0.09 Development out-of-school youth Development-Labor Guinea, Sierra Demand Conundrum Increase short-term employment oppor- Leone tunities and improve employability and Sierra Leone Youth Approved 20.0 P121052 incomes of targeted youth; program seeks Employment Support (6/10) to address constraints on the demand and supply sides of the labor market Benin Multisectoral Increase coverage and utilization of com- Approved 28.0 P143652 Food Health Nutrition munity-based child growth and nutrition Enhancing (12/13) Project interventions in selected areas i Regional: Institutional Capacity Benin and to Design, Implement, 0.39 Increase access to, and utilization of, Malawi and Monitor Nutrition selected services known to contribute to Malawi Nutrition and Approved Security Programs 102.6 P125237 the reduction of child stunting, maternal and HIV/AIDS Project (3/12) child anemia, and the prevention of HIV and AIDS in children and sexually active adults Regional: Burkina Faso, West Africa Unique Increase the number of persons in par- ID4D-RSR 0.45 Côte d’Ivoire, Identification for Approved ticipating countries who have govern- Guinea, Niger 122.0 P161329 Regional Integration (6/18) ment-recognized proof of unique identity and Inclusion Program that facilitates access to services Engaging Vulnerable Regional: Groups in the Design Increase the number of persons in Nigeria Côte d’Ivoire 0.45 Nigeria Digital Identi- of Identification who have government-recognized proof of and Guinea 115.0 P167183 fication for Develop- Pipeline System unique identity that enables them to access ment Project services East Asia and the Pacific Strengthen capacity of Ministry of Social M&E for Mongolia Mongolia Multi- Approved Welfare and Labor to improve the efficacy Social Welfare 0.07 12.0 P119825 Sectoral Technical (6/10) of social expenditure by designing and Programs Assistance Project implementing a targeted poverty benefit Contribute to government efforts to Building a More Strengthening Fiscal Mongolia Approved strengthen fiscal and financial stability and Efficient SP System in 0.27 12.0 P161048 and Financial Stability (6/17) improve the quality of expenditure man- Mongolia Project agement Provide job-seekers and microentrepre- Mongolia Employment Approved 25.0 P159215 neurs in Mongolia with improved access to Support Project (4/17) labor market opportunities S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  99 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Ensuring Effective M&E and Social Provide urban youth with income from Papua New Urban Youth Employ- Approved Accountability for 0.30 15.8 P114042 temporary employment opportunities and Guinea ment Project (1/11) the Urban Youth increase their employability Employment Project Strengthening the Social Protection 0.45 Support government in strengthening System Social Assistance social assistance system by developing Approved Vietnam 60.0 P123960 System Strengthening innovations in management and service Integrated Social (1/14) Project delivery nationwide, and by piloting these Protection Delivery 0.37 innovations in four project provinces Systems in Vietnam Europe and Central Asia Support Albania’s implementation of Social Assistance Approved 50.0 P122233 reforms to improve the equity and effi- Modernization Project (4/12) Albania Social Safety ciency of its social assistance programs Albania 0.05 Nets TA Social Sector Reform Support policy changes to improve the 25.0 P116937 Development Policy Closed effectiveness of social safety nets Loan Rapid Assistance to Safeguard social assistance to the poor Improve Social Safety Economic Recovery 0.06 30.0 P125425 Closed and to conflict-affected families in the face Nets in the Face of Support Operation of fiscal pressures and improve targeting Energy Tariff Reforms Kyrgyz Improve health outcomes in four health pri- Republic ority areas in support of the National Health Enhancement of Second Health and Approved Reform Program 2012/16; and enable the Targeted Social 0.26 16.5 P126278 Social Protection (4/13) government’s efforts to enhance effective- Assistance Project ness and targeting performance of social assistance and services Strengthening the Effectiveness of the Improve the efficiency and equity of Moldo- Improving Efficiency Social Safety Net va’s safety net through fiscally sustainable Moldova of Moldova`s Main 0.35 36.6 P120913 Closed Results-Based Financ- expansion and strengthening of the Ajutor Anti-Poverty Program ing Specific Invest- Social Program ment Loan Improve the capacity of the government to plan, monitor, and manage social assistance Targeting and Social Safety Net Approved for the poor through the development of a Payment of Social 2.72 3.2 P122039 Strengthening Project (6/11) national registry of social protection and the Assistance to the Poor provision of training, equipment, and related Tajikistan items for improving said capacity Protecting and Contribute to the improvement of the cov- Tajikistan Health Ser- Promoting Access to Approved erage and quality of basic primary health 0.40 15.0 P126130 vices Improvement Maternal and Neonatal (7/13) care services in rural health facilities in Project Health Services selected regions Latin America and the Caribbean Strengthen the statistical capacity and improve the informational base of the recip- Strengthening Access Strengthening Statisti- ient in order to provide quality information, to Social Security cal Capacity and Infor- Approved as defined by its reliability, timeliness, accu- Bolivia 0.09 50.0 P101336 among Women and mational Base for Evi- (1/11) racy, and representativeness with the level Indigenous Groups dence-Based Planning of disaggregation necessary to support sys- tems for planning, designing, monitoring, and evaluating public programs and policies 100  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Haiti: Improving Household Increase the access and use of maternal Maternal and Child Approved Development Agent 3.38 95.0 P123706 and child health, nutrition, and other social Health through Inte- (5/13) Pilot services grated Social Services Haiti Haiti: Improving Strengthening Haiti’s Increase the access and use of maternal Maternal and Child Approved National Social 0.45 95.0 P123706 and child health, nutrition, and other social Health through Inte- (5/13) Protection System services grated Social Services Support the government’s efforts to build an improved social protection system mainly Honduras Social Approved by strengthening institutional capacity to 40.0 P115592 Protection (6/10) design and implement a new conditional cash transfer program, the Bono 10,000 Program Improve institutional capacity to manage the conditional cash transfer program by Strengthening Social strengthening transparency and target- 0.07 Protection ing, monitoring compliance with program co-responsibilities, and making payments Honduras Additional Approved to beneficiaries; provide income support to 12.3 P144928 Financing for SP (8/13) eligible beneficiaries; increase use of pre- Project ventive health services and school atten- Honduras dance in grades 1–6 among beneficiaries in rural areas; and improve recipient’s capac- ity to respond effectively to an eligible emergency Improve Honduras’s social safety net for children and youth by strengthening the Improving Nutritional Additional Finance for country’s capacity to administer social Monitoring and Approved 1.20 23.6 P126158 Nutrition and Social assistance programs, improving nutritional Targeted Response to (6/11) Protection and health status of young children, and Global Crisis Project increasing employability of at-risk youth by piloting an employment program Improve the outcomes of the urban compo- Social Protection Approved nent of the conditional cash transfer pro- 30.0 P152057 Integration (4/19) gram and strengthen integration of the social protection system for the extreme poor Improve basic conditions of welfare and social well-being of extremely poor ben- Expansion of the eficiary families with children in selected Family and Community Nicaragua Social Approved localities, strengthen capacity of MIFAN to Nicaragua Based Social Welfare 2.75 19.5 P121779 Protection (2/11) implement the family and community-based Model with Cash social welfare model, and promote pre- Transfers school and primary school attendance through the provision of school lunches Regional Disaster Measurably reduce vulnerability to natu- Vulnerability Reduction Approved ral hazards and climate change impacts in Strengthening Social 56.5 P117871 APL1—Grenada and (6/11) St. Vincent and the Grenadines and in the Protection System for St. Vincent and the Eastern Caribbean Subregion St. Vincent and Disaster Preparedness Grenadines 0.30 the Grenadines and Response in Strengthen the quality of service delivery in St. Vincent and the Human Development education, improve efficiency of social pro- Grenadines Approved 10.7 P154253 Service Delivery Proj- tection systems, and improve effectiveness (5/17) ect of labor market systems in St. Vincent and the Grenadines S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  101 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Strengthen the basic architecture of the consolidated conditional cash transfer program and the capacity of the Minis- Grenada Safety Net Approved try of Social Development to implement 5.0 P123128 Advancement Project (7/11) it, improve coverage of poor households receiving cash transfers, and improve edu- cational outcomes of poor children and health monitoring of vulnerable households Nicaragua Social Protectiona Regional: Building Evidence Strengthen the effectiveness of social pro- Bolivia, on Program’s tection system by supporting the design, Dominica, Performance to financing, and implementation of two flagship Grenada, Bolivia: Investing in Strengthen Social 11.0 P101084 Closed interventions of the social protection net- Guyana, Haiti, 0.15 Children and Youth Protection and work strategy, while enhancing its capacity Honduras, Labor Systems in to coordinate and monitor programs that are Nicaragua, St. Low-Capacity LAC part of the social protection network Vincent and the Countries Grenadines Honduras Social Pro- tectiona Haiti: Improving Mater- nal and Child Health through Integrated Social Servicesa Improve employability and labor income Improving Employabil- Approved of poor youth by supporting the expan- 20.0 P143995 ity and Labor Income (5/14) sion of the Skills Development Programs in of Youth Project Selected Cities Grenada Safety Net Advancement Projecta Regional Disaster Vul- Measurably reduce vulnerability to natu- nerability Reduction Approved ral hazards and climate change impacts in 8.8 P149259 Project (Additional (6/15) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and in Building Blocks for Finance) the Eastern Caribbean Sub-region Regional: Disaster-Responsive Reduce vulnerability to natural hazards Dominica and Social Protection 0.44 Third Phase Disaster and climate change impacts in Dominica Grenada Systems in Dominica Approved 48.0 P129992 Vulnerability Reduc- through investment in resilient infrastruc- and Grenada (4/14) tion APL for Dominica ture, and improved hazard data collection and monitoring systems Contribute to the recovery of housing for Housing Recovery Approved households affected by Hurricane Maria 40.0 P166537 Project (4/18) and improve the application of resil- ient-building practices in the housing sector Middle East and North Africa Support the provision of short-term employ- ment opportunities in community-based Crisis Response— Employment for the Approved labor-intensive works for the poor and Djibouti 0.17 5.0 P130328 Social Safety Net Poor Project (6/12) vulnerable, and support the improvement Project of nutrition practices among participating households 102  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective South Asia Afghanistan: Results- Improve the administration of the public Oriented Approach Afghanistan Pension pension schemes, and pilot a modest social Approved Afghanistan in the Pro-Poor 0.20 7.5 P113421 Administration and safety net program as a first step to devel- (10/09) Program Design and Safety Net Project oping a sustainable approach to safety nets Implementation in the country Improving the Payment Provide short-term employment on com- and Monitoring System Employment Genera- Approved munity subprojects to enable households for the Employment 1.10 150.0 P118701 tion Program for the (11/10) to better cope with vulnerability, while Generation Program Poorest strengthening program implementation for the Poorest Supporting Nutrition- Provide income support to poorest mothers Sensitive Safety Nets in selected upazilas, while increasing their’ Income Support Pro- Approved through Strengthened 0.32 300.0 P146520 use of child nutrition and cognitive devel- gram for the Poorest (12/14) Local Government opment services, and enhancing local level Administration government capacity to deliver safety nets Assessment of Identification Systems 0.12 for Social Protection Bangladesh Identi- Establish a secure, accurate and reliable Supporting Nutrition- fication System for Approved national ID system that serves as the basis 124.0 P121528 Sensitive Safety Nets Enhancing Access to (12/14) for more efficient and transparent service through Strengthened 0.32 Services (IDEA) delivery Bangladesh Local Government Administration Address country’s jobs challenges by mod- Impact Evaluation of ernizing the trade and investment environ- Bangladesh Jobs Pro- a G2G Agreement to Approved ment, strengthening systems that protect 0.19 250.0 P167190 grammatic Develop- Facilitate International (12/18) workers and build resilience, and improving ment Policy Credit Migration policies and programs that enhance access to jobs for vulnerable populations Piloting Conditional Cash Transfers for Human Development 2.99 through Local Bangladesh Safety Improve the equity, efficiency, and transpar- Governments Approved 745.0 P132634 Net Systems for the ency of major safety net programs to benefit (6/13) Bangladesh Citizen Poorest Project the poorest households Engagement for 0.32 Effective Targeting of Social Protection Encouraging Private Strengthening Fiscal Promoting policies to improve fiscal man- Approved Bhutan Sector Youth 0.35 30.0 P164290 Management & Private agement, and strengthening private sector (3/18) Employment Sector Employment employment opportunities Integrated Child Devel- Improve nutritional outcomes of children Critical Analysis opment Services—Sys- in India; strengthen the policy frame- of Institutional Approved India 0.10 106.0 P121731 tems Strengthening and work, systems, and capacities, and facili- Arrangements for (9/12) Nutrition Improvement tate community engagement; and ensure Nutrition Program greater focus on children under three S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  103 Table 6.2  Associated IDA Projects (continued) Funding (mil. $) IDA project Country RSR grant title RSR IDA ID Title Status Objective Strengthen institutional capacity of Depart- ment of Social Welfare and Rural Develop- Bihar Integrated ment Department to deliver social protection Approved 0.45 84.0 P118826 Social Protection programs and services and expand outreach (12/13) Strengthening Project of social care services for poor and vulner- Strengthening Social able households, persons with disabilities, India Protection Systems older persons, and widows in Bihar Bihar Rural Livelihoods 63.9 P090764 Closed Enhance social and economic empower- Project—JEEViKA ment of the rural poor in Bihar through com- Bihar Rural Livelihood munity institution development, community Approved 100.0 P130546 Project Additional investment, and technical assistance (5/12) Financing Building a Common Support the implementation of the National Platform for Identifica- 0.19 Pension Act, to strengthen institutional tion of the Poor Pension and Social capacity of key agencies responsible for Approved Maldives TA to the National AP 12.0 P125700 Protection Additional implementing the National Pension Act, (6/11) Agency on National Financing and to develop the processes and plat- 0.06 forms required for the delivery of social Health Insurance Scheme protection programs Safety Net System Building Technical 0.45 Assistance Strengthening Approved Improve the efficiency of MOFALD’s social Nepal TA to Improve Disas- 150.0 P154548 Systems for Social (12/16) protection programs and civil registration ter Responsiveness of Protection Project 0.40 Social Protection in Nepal Support implementation of Health Sector Protecting Pakistan’s Strategy by focusing on improving cover- Punjab Health Sector Approved Poor against Health 0.40 71.1 P123394 age and utilizing quality essential health Reform Project (5/13) Shocks services, particularly in the low-performing districts of Punjab Support expansion and strengthen admin- istration and performance of country‘s Approved Pakistan 208.4 P103160 Social Safety Net TA safety net with particular focus on Bena- Financial Inclusion (6/09) zir Income Support Program (BISP) as the and Literacy national safety net platform Outcomes of Cash 0.81 Transfers through the The additional financing will support the Banking System Social Safety Net evolution of Pakistan’s BISP through the Approved 150.0 P125793 Project—Additional expansion of program coverage and broad- (3/12) Financing ening of objectives to promote access to educational services Skills Development for Skills Development Approved Support the government to improve the quality 0.25 101.5 P132698 Unemployed Youth Project (6/14) and relevance of the skills development sector Strengthening Social 0.40 Contribute to the improved equity, effi- Sri Lanka Protection Systems Social Safety Nets Approved ciency, and transparency of Sri Lanka’s Strengthening the Tar- 75.0 P156056 Project (12/16) social safety net programs for the benefit of geting of Safety Nets 0.20 the poor and vulnerable in Sri Lanka Total 58.02 10,078.7 Note: TA = technical assistance. Grant amounts reflect allocated funds against approved proposals; these may change slightly by time of grant closure to reflect actual disbursements against activities covered by the grant. Excess funds from closed grants are reused and reallocated against new activities. a. Project details provided previously in table. 104  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.3  RSR Results Framework Indicator 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Impact: Social protection cover- 42.1 77.3 72.4 131.5 176.1 176.1 More poor age in IDA-supported proj- people covered ects (both sexes; millions) by social Social protection cover- 21.0 38.7 36.2 65.8 88.0 88.0 protection age in IDA-supported proj- systems ects (female only; millions) Increased resource allo- 3.36 4.15 5.68 7.09 9.14 9.57 cation to social protection Outcome: through IDA (billion $) Enhanced capacity of Increased resource allo- 5.09 5.71 6.88 6.97 9.14 7.99 social protection cation to social protection systems to overall budget, domestic protect poor and other funding (billion $) and vulnerable people Global data accessible 57 112 115 122 123 124 (number of new countries in ASPIRE/SPARCS) Output 1: New or improved social protection and labor system components and architecture 1.1 System diagnostic and stocktaking Number 71 76 89 95 129 137 1.1(a) Diagnostic, stocktaking, and Number of countries 45 48 60 60 62 68 mapping Amount (million $) 11.94 12.31 13.77 14.17 17.30 18.14 1.1(b) Number 31 36 47 52 75 81 Identification or Number of countries 37 40 51 51 52 56 development of effective options Amount (million $) 6.37 6.74 7.84 8.19 10.12 10.63 1.2 Component design and development 1.2(a) Building Number 27 34 47 54 87 92 systems for robust Number of countries 21 27 43 43 44 47 identification of Amount (million $) 2.54 3.05 3.93 4.43 6.63 6.84 beneficiaries and development of registries 1.2(b) Improving Number 35 40 53 59 85 90 processes for Number of countries 29 33 47 47 48 51 determination of eligibility Amount (million $) 5.36 5.70 6.58 6.98 8.33 8.81 1.2(c) Developing Number 9 11 15 18 35 38 effective appeals Number of countries 7 9 15 18 19 20 and grievance procedures Amount (million $) 0.62 0.78 0.99 1.32 2.35 2.55 S ection 6 :   S upporting T ables  105 Table 6.3  RSR Results Framework (continued) Indicator 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Number 12 18 26 30 45 47 1.2(d) Streamlining Number of countries 14 20 31 31 31 32 payment systems Amount (million $) 2.36 2.80 3.32 3.43 4.22 4.34 1.2(e) Setting Number 26 29 33 37 52 58 up appropriate Number of countries 21 24 29 29 30 32 evaluation arrangements Amount (million $) 6.25 6.47 6.86 7.22 7.95 8.23 1.2(f) Establishing Number 17 20 27 30 56 63 practices for Number of countries 13 16 23 25 27 29 communication and outreach Amount (million $) 2.47 2.65 3.19 3.32 5.15 5.53 1.2(g) Building Number 33 38 43 47 75 81 information systems for Number of countries 28 32 38 38 40 42 better service Amount (million $) 5.94 6.29 6.59 6.74 8.42 8.61 management 1.2(h) Improving Number 24 26 37 42 69 78 administrative Number of countries 29 31 38 38 39 41 processes and clarifying rules Amount (million $) 4.86 4.97 5.60 5.82 7.39 7.90 1.3 Interagency program harmonization 1.3(a) Number 17 18 22 25 38 40 Coordination of Number of countries 18 19 24 24 26 27 legal and policy- level frameworks Amount (million $) 1.53 1.66 1.99 2.16 2.93 3.03 Number 33 34 49 57 87 94 1.3(b) Integration Number of countries 28 29 43 43 45 46 of programs Amount (million $) 3.86 3.91 5.15 5.92 8.05 8.39 Number of client govern- 6 15 20 91 61 21 1.4 Customer ment officials interviewed feedbacka Rate of satisfaction (%) 80 80 95 89 93 91 106  R A P ID S O C I A L RE S P ON S E P ROGR A M P ROGRE S S RE P OR T 2017–18 Table 6.3  RSR Results Framework (continued) Indicator 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Output 2: Increased learning and knowledge sharing for social protection and labor service delivery Number of events 11 13 16 18 27 27 Amount (million $) 2.70 2.89 3.63 4.05 5.88 5.88 2.1 South-South Number of participants 856 1,017 1,398 1,398 1,398 1,648b and peer-to-peer learning Number of countries rep- 70 70 75 75 75 100 resented Rate of satisfaction (%) 82.1 82.1 95.0 95.0 95.0 Number 3 4 5 8 12 12 Amount (million $) 0.70 0.81 1.28 1.28 2.45 2.45 2.2 Communities Number of participants 141 200 280 380 380 573C of practice Number of countries rep- 25 35 47 47 47 47 resented Satisfaction rating Very high Very high Very high Very high Very high Very highd Number 15 17 19 20 25 27 2.3 Analytical Amount (million $) 2.78 2.95 3.09 3.50 4.46 5.13 and operational Number of downloads — — — — — — toolkits Number of training — — — — — — participants Output 3: Protection of access to basic services in times of crisis Number 18 18 18 18 18 18 Number of countries 12 12 12 12 12 12 Amount (million $) 14.62 14.62 14.62 14.62 14.62 14.62 3.1 Projects to provide benefits Number of beneficiaries 86,000 86,000 86,000 86,000 86,000 86,000 (both sexes) Number of beneficiaries 43,000 43,000 43,000 43,000 43,000 43,000 (female only) Note: — = not available. All indicators are cumulative from the inception of the RSR to the end of the reporting year unless otherwise stated. a. Based on the internal Bank system and a two-minute survey conducted by the Bank team. This result is captured at the Bank-wide level because the data cannot be disaggregated at the RSR level. Accordingly, for 2018, 91% of those interviewed confirmed that they are satisfied with their projects in terms of achieving the intended development outcomes. b. The team organized a South-South Learning Forum in Germany in 2018. c. The regional teams organized two major communities of practice events which were funded by two RSR grants: the Community of Practice on Cash Transfers in Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa and the Community of Practice on Cash Transfers in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa. d. Not all the reports included a section on rate of satisfaction; “very high” represents the cumulative rate reported across the years. REFERENCES Alderman, Harold. 2016. “Summary of Evidence Prepared for the Global Forum on Nutrition- Sensitive Social Protection Programs, 2015.” World Bank, Washington, DC. Alderman, Harold, Ugo Gentilini, and Ruslan Yemtsov, eds. 2018. The 1.5 Billion People Question: Food, Vouchers, or Cash Transfers? Washington, DC: World Bank. Development Initiatives. 2018. “The Burden of Malnutrition.” In 2018 Global Nutrition Report: Shining a Light to Spur Action on Nutrition, chapter 2. Bristol, UK: Development Initiatives. Naqvi, Maniza B., Zaineb Majoka, and Beatrice Leydier. 2018. “Somalia—Social Protection: Stocktaking of Evidence for a Social Protection Policy and Framework.” World Bank, Washington, DC. Rift Valley Institute. 2017. “Remittances and Vulnerability in Somalia: Assessing Sources, Uses and Delivery Mechanisms.” World Bank, Washington, DC. Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. 2017. “Micronutrient Deficiency.” Our World In Data. August. Shekar, Meera, Jakub Kakietek, Julia Dayton Eberwein, and Dylan Walters. 2017. An Investment Framework for Nutrition: Reaching the Global Targets for Stunting, Anemia, Breastfeeding, and Wasting. Washington, DC: World Bank. World Bank 2018a. Malawi Economic Monitor: Realizing Safety Nets’ Potential. Washington, DC: World Bank. —. 2018b. “Risk-Sharing Policy for a Diverse and Diversifying World of Work.” Paper presented at the First Meeting of the G20 Employment Working Group. World Bank, Washington, DC. —. 2018c. The State of Social Safety Nets 2018 . Washington, DC: World Bank. —. 2018d. “Strengthening Linkages between Social Protection and Disaster Risk Management for Adaptive Social Protection in Nepal.” World Bank, Washington DC. —. 2019a. “Somalia Economic Update, Fourth Edition: Building Education to Boost Human Capital.” World Bank, Washington, DC. —. 2019b. “World Bank in Malawi Overview.” Online. —. 2019c. World Development Report 2019: The Changing Nature of Work. Washington, DC: World Bank. 107 The World Bank  |  Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice www.worldbank.org/rsr