Social protection investments register high returns

Nov 23, 2016

Primary and secondary school attendance rates rose nearly three times more rapidly in SAGE districts

Investments in social protection have registered high returns and improved human development and labour productivity especially among the poor and vulnerable populations.

This is according to the minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Janat Mukwaya in a statement.

The investment case clearly indicates that social protection could be a strategic investment to address the issues of persistent poverty, vulnerability and inequality which have for a long time been impediments to Uganda's drive towards a middle income status country.

According to a joint press release with UNICEFF, the investment has shown a positive impact that social protection interventions have had on some vulnerable populations in the country as well as the great potential it offers to the poorest and the most vulnerable across the country and this will even get better if further investments in social protection programmes are made.

The Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE), a grant scheme rolled out to vulnerable families and senior citizens in fifteen districts from 2011 to 2015, has generated positive impacts on a wide range of outcomes, for example the number of households eating fewer than two meals per day fell more than twice as rapidly in SAGE districts than in comparable non SAGE districts.

Primary and secondary school attendance rates rose nearly three times more rapidly in SAGE districts compared to the non-SAGE districts and same was with the employment rate that rose nearly fifty percent rapidly than in non-SAGE districts.

 ead of the social protection secretariat in the inistry for ender tephen asaija utuzo and  country representative ida irma interacting after the launch at olf ourse otel hoto by ajarah alwadda (L-R) Head of the social protection secretariat in the Ministry for Gender, Stephen Kasaija, Mutuzo, and UNICEF country representative Aida Girma interacting after the launch at Golf Course Hotel. Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda

 

"The evidence is irrefutable, social protection programmes targeting lifecycle risks and vulnerabilities that people face at different stages in life have an extraordinary impact on the health, well-being and future potential of the children that benefit from them," said Aida Girma, the UNICEF representative in Uganda, a press statement.

The National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) and Programme Plan of Interventions were approved by the cabinet in November 2015. The policy is an integral part of the Uganda Vision 2040 which underscores the importance of social protection in addressing risks and vulnerabilities.

Social protection has also been integrated into the country's second National Development Plan (NDPII) 2015/2016 to 2020/2021.

The government of Uganda under the gender ministry has been implementing the expanding of the social protection programme since June 2010 and has undertaken the rollout of the senior citizens grant to all districts beginning with 55 by 2020.

The gender ministry together with UNICEF on Tuesday released a report making a case for sustained investment in social protection in the country. 

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