Briefing no. 10: Social protection for older Kenyans: options for implementing the National Social Protection Policy

With the importance of social protection gaining recognition in Kenya this briefing aims to add to the debate on the way forward, with a focus on income security in old age. With this in mind, it explores the options for implementing the National Social Protection Policy.

It describes how a universal pension would provide a practical and efficient way to rapidly increase coverage while avoiding fragmentation in the pension system.

Briefing no. 9: Social protection floors and pension systems: the role of a "citizen's pension"

There is growing recognition that developing countries need to prioritise extending national floors of social protection. But, what are social protection floors, and what link do they have to the pension system?

This briefing aims to answer these questions, and to introduce the concept of a "citizen's pension" as a particularly relevant approach in developing countries.

Briefing No. 8: Electronic payment for cash transfer programmes: Cutting costs and corruption or an idea ahead of its time?

This briefing focuses on the practical considerations of establishing e-payment systems for distributing cash transfers.

It illustrates the positive impacts these systems can have over traditional 'physical' systems whilst also acknowledging the disadvantages. Finally, it explores potential barriers to the use of e-payments by recipients and discusses whether e-payments are suitable within the context of emergency response.

Briefing No. 7: Poverty, pensions and wellbeing: the impact of pensions in South Africa and Brazil, a comparative study

This briefing compares the impact of pensions in South Africa and Brazil, focussing both on poverty and well-being.

It demonstrates that the impact of pensions goes beyond the direct beneficiaries as older people continue to assist their families and households. It finds that the positive impacts of pension income on older people's wellbeing are shaped by the wider economic and public policy context.

Briefing No. 6: Challenges and opportunities for age verification in low- and middle-income countries

This briefing focuses on practical considerations for the design and implementation of new registration systems.

It illustrates why registration for age-based transfers is administratively simpler and thus easier to implement at national scale than when based on income or poverty level. It also provides observations and lessons for strengthening existing weak and ineffective registration systems.

Briefing No. 5: Good practice in the development of management information systems for social protection

This briefing aims to fill a gap in the literature on management information systems (MISs) by examining good practice in their design for social protection.

It recommends that discussions on MISs should move away from the narrow view that they consist only of application software and computer hardware, but rather as the systems that underpin the operations of social protection schemes.

Briefing No. 4: Financing social pensions in low- and middle-income countries

This briefing presents an overview of the different options available to finance new social pension schemes or to scale up existing ones.

It aims to provide useful learning for countries considering the implementation of social pensions, as well as the financing of other cash-transfer and social protection programmes.

Briefing No. 3: Strengthening state-citizen relations in fragile contexts: The role of cash transfers

This briefing examines the role of cash transfers in strengthening state-citizen relations in the context of long-term development in fragile states and situations.

The briefing is based on a longer report. To learn more download Strengthening state-citizen relations in fragile contexts (full report)

Briefing No. 2: The price of income security in older age: Cost of a universal pension in 50 low- and middle-income countries

This briefing considers the potential costs, now and in the future, of universal social pensions in 50 low- and middle- income countries under a range of scenarios.

The briefing is based on a longer report. To learn more download The price of income security in older age: Cost of a universal pension in 50 low- and middle-income countries - Discussion paper

Briefing No. 1: A social pension in Zambia: perceptions of the cash transfer pilot in Katete

This briefing outlines the perceptions of recipients and others of a pilot cash transfer scheme for everyone over the age of 60 and discusses the practical benefits and challenges of implementing the scheme.

A key finding is that the age-based criteria was seen as fair and socially acceptable. This is in contrast to many experiences of poverty targeting.