Social Development and Social Work Perspectives on Social Protection

Julie L. Drolet

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781317673453
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Social Policy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Social protection is now considered a development milestone and an important tool in combating poverty. Interventions can include, for example, health insurance, public works programs, guaranteed employment schemes, or cash transfers targeting vulnerable populations groups.

This innovative volume is designed to develop understanding about the role and contribution of social protection globally and to share innovative practice and policies from around the world. It explores how to cover an entire population effectively, especially those who are at risk or who are already in a situation of deprivation, and in a sustainable manner. Divided into two parts, the book begins by exploring the theoretical underpinnings of social protection, discussing the social work and social development perspectives and concepts that currently shape it. The second part is comprised of case studies from countries implementing successful social protection initiatives, including Brazil, India, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Indonesia, and reveals how the impact of a successful social protection intervention on poverty, vulnerability and inequality can be dramatic.

This volume is an important reference for advanced students and researchers from a range of disciplines including social policy, social work, development studies, geography, planning, economics, sociology, population health and political science.

1 Introduction

Julie Drolet

Social protection, or social security as it is also known, is a key social development strategy that has been increasingly recognized by the international community (Midgley, 2014). Social protection systems aim to protect individual women, men and children against the risks of impoverishment in situations of sickness, disability, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, old age, death of a family member, high health care or child care costs, and general poverty and social exclusion (Hautala, 2012). With increasing inequalities in and between countries, there is a need for social protection policies grounded in social justice and human rights with a strong state commitment toward universal programs (Dimmel, 2014). This is a unique time in the history of social protection and of the social work profession, both in terms of the challenges we face as well as the solutions that we can develop (Hoffler & Clark, 2014). Social workers have historically advocated on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed groups and have acquired resources for clients, organized communities for causes, and coordinated grassroots advocacy campaigns, and have played significant roles in enacting important legislation into law such as social security, civil and women’s rights, health insurance, among others (Hoffler & Clark, 2014). Social workers as human service professionals guide people to critical resources, counsel them on important life decisions, and help them reach their full potential (Hoffler & Clark, 2014). The eradication of poverty in all its forms is the ultimate goal of social work and social development (Dimmel, 2014). One important aspect of the social work profession, and probably the most well-known and understood, is that of a social safety net (Hoffler & Clark, 2014). New initiatives and innovative social protection programs introduced in many developed and developing countries deserve our attention. The emergence of new forms of social protection is a “recent global development [that offers] inspiration and renewed hope for the possibility of social change and for a better world” (Smith, 2014, p. 57). This book is about social work and social development perspectives on social protection.

This introductory chapter examines the social protection floor initiative, and the post-2015 development agenda including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As will be shown, the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development is a platform for social workers around the world to lend their support. This chapter presents the perspectives of social work and social development and how this relates to social protection. It concludes by reviewing the mandates, principles, practice and roles of social workers and discusses how social work involvement can be enhanced.

Social protection floor initiative

The ILO Recommendation concerning National Floors of Social Protection (No. 202) was adopted in June 2012. This Recommendation reflects a commitment to building nationally defined social protection floors which guarantee at least a basic level of social security to all, with access to health care and income security throughout people’s lives and ensuring their dignity and human rights (ILO, 2014). It is a legal instrument that explicitly recognizes the triple role of social security as a universal human right and an economic and social necessity (ILO, 2014, p. 5). “For the purpose of this Recommendation, social protection floors are nationally defined sets of basic social security guarantees which secure protection aimed at preventing or alleviating poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion” (ILO, 2012, para. 2). These guarantees can be materialized through transfers in cash and in kind such as child benefits, income support benefits combined with employment guarantees for the working-age poor, tax-financed university pensions for older persons, and benefits for persons with disabilities and persons who have lost the main breadwinner in the family (United Nations, 2015). The overall and primary responsibility of meeting these guarantees lies with the state.

“Social protection is both a human right and sound economic policy” (ILO, 2015, p. 1). It strongly contributes to reducing poverty, exclusion, vulnerability and inequality, and contributes to political stability and social cohesion (ILO, 2015). Implementation of the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) is an indispensable tool to accelerate poverty reduction and promote sustainable development (ILO, 2015). Expanding social protection coverage to the informal economy, rural areas and vulnerable populations is a critical priority for our times (ILO, 2015). Social protection is recognized for delivering positive results and making a real difference in peoples’ lives (ILO, 2015, p. 1).

Social protection was not included in the Millennium Development Goals Agenda, but emerged in the response to the global financial crisis of 2008. The social protection floor concept was formally adopted in April 2009 as one of nine joint initiatives. With the ongoing economic repercussions of the global financial crisis, the world is faced with a deep social crisis that is also a crisis of social justice, with fiscal austerity measures that threaten living standards in many countries (ILO, 2014).

Social protection and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations’ new post-2015 global development agenda includes social protection as a practical action that governments can take to effectively reduce inequalities, eradicate extreme poverty, and promote gender equality, decent work, climate adaptation and universal health coverage. The Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals recognized the need to strengthen social protection floors as part of the SDGs in the post-2015 development agenda. Social protection is represented in the SDGs and targets as follows:

Social protection and SPFs feature prominently in Goal 1 – Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. Target 1.3 proposes that countries implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

Goal 3 is on achieving universal health coverage. Target 3.8 includes financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

Goal 5 is dedicated to achieving gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls, and social protection features as a strategy. Target 5.4 calls on countries to recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of social services, infrastructure and social protection policies, and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.

Goal 10 aims to reduce inequality within and among countries. Target 10.4 proposes that countries adopt fiscal, wage, and social protection policies and progressively achieve greater equality.

(Social Protection Floor, n.d.b, para. 3)

The importance of social protection in the SDGs and targets is significant, and the case for social protection floors is compelling (ILO, 2015). The implementation of the SDGs will require policy coherence, coordination and integration among multi-stakeholder partners. The SDG goals are universally applicable to all countries including both developed and developing countries.

International context

Despite the importance of social protection as a policy tool to ensure that individuals and families are able to realize their full potential, it is estimated that “73% of the world’s population do not enjoy access to comprehensive or adequate social protection coverage” (ILO, 2014, p. v).

For example, 39% of the people around the world are not affiliated to a health system or insurance scheme. The lack of social protection affects people throughout the life cycle. 50% of the world’s children live in poverty, 300 million elderly do not have income security to live in dignity, and only 12% of unemployed individuals have access to unemployment benefits.

(Social Protection Floor, n.d.a, para. 2)

Building social protection floors worldwide is required to help guarantee income and food security, and access to essential services such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation. Social protection benefits and services are recognized as powerful tools for combatting poverty and inequality by investing in social and economic development in the short and long term (ILO, 2014). According to the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD, 2010), “economic growth is important, but alone does not necessarily reduce poverty and inequality” (p. 2). The 1995 World Summit for Social Development outlined a vision of an inclusive society as a “society for all” in which every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play. Social policy continues to play “an integral part of the development strategies of countries that have transformed their economies and reduced poverty relatively quickly” (UNRISD, 2010, p. 2).

In the past, access to social security was the privilege of formal sector workers. Being a salaried worker protected by labour law would guarantee access to existing mandatory social security coverage. It was assumed that by formalizing the economy, more and more people would have access to social security. The Social Protection Floor reaffirms that all residents regardless of their work contract types or occupations are entitled to social security, it is universal and delinks access to social security from the condition of being formally employed.

(ILO, 2013, p. 16)

The social protection floors approach calls for universal coverage of all residents and children, and recognizes that special support may be needed for disadvantaged groups and people with special needs (ILO & UNDG, 2014). The Asia-Pacific region has experienced some of the most damaging disasters in recent decades, with alarming consequences for human development, and this reinforced the need to continue to build nationally defined social protection floors (ILO & UNDG, 2014). “Many countries have significantly extended their social security coverage during recent years and have stepped up their efforts to ensure that all in need benefit from at least basic protection, while continuing to develop their social security systems” (ILO, 2014, p. 2).

Access to basic income security and equal access to essential services are a basic right of all people, and governments are duty bearers to ensure that all people can realize these rights (National Institute for Health and Welfare, 2015). Social protection floors do not define new rights, but they contribute to the realization of the human right to social security and to social services, established in Articles 22, 25 and 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other international legal instruments. Greater efforts are necessary to work toward the goal of establishing social protection floors, and there is a need to better understand the role of social workers in this process.

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development

A program for strengthening social work’s role in setting an agenda for global action was developed in 2012 in a document titled “Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development – Commitment to Action” by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW). The Agenda calls for international, regional and national commitment to advocate for a new world order, which makes a reality of respect for human rights and dignity (Staub-Bernasconi, 2014). During the period 2012–2016 international social work efforts are focused in four areas:

1promoting social and economic equalities;

2promoting the dignity and worth of peoples;

3working toward environmental sustainability; and

4strengthening recognition of the importance of human relationships (Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, 2012).

The social protection floor initiative is identified as a major focus in the post-2015 development agenda in order to promote social and economic equalities, and is bringing together the profession of social work to support the realization of the right to social protection.

Global definition of the social work profession

According to the IFSW the global definition of the social work profession is the following:

Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing. The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels.

(IFSW, 2014)

The social work profession’s core mandates include promoting social change, social development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people (IFSW, 2014). Social work recognizes the connections between historical, socio-economic, cultural, spatial, political and personal factors that serve as opportunities and/or barriers to human well-being and development (IFSW, 2014). Structural barriers contribute to the perpetuation of oppression and discrimination (Mullaly, 2007). The social work profession strives to alleviate poverty, liberate the vulnerable and oppressed, and promote social inclusion and social cohesion (IFSW, 2014). A social change perspective is realized when a social work intervention at the level of the person, family, small group, community or society is deemed to be in need of change and development. It is driven by the need to challenge and change those structural conditions that contribute to marginalization and oppression. Social change initiatives recognize the place of human agency in advancing human rights and economic, social and environmental justice.

The principles of social work include respect for the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, doing no harm, respect for diversity and upholding human rights and social justice (IFSW, 2014). Advocating and upholding human rights and social justice is the motivation and justification for social work (IFSW, 2014). Social workers advocate for the rights of people at all levels, and work to facilitate outcomes where people take responsibility for each other’s well-being, realize and respect the interdependence among people and between people and the environment.

Social work embraces first, second and third generation rights. First generation rights refer to civil and political rights such as free speech and conscience and freedom from torture and arbitrary detention; second generation to socio-economic and cultural rights that include the rights to reasonable levels of education, healthcare, and housing and minority language rights; and third generation rights focus on the natural world and the right to species biodiversity and inter-generational equity (IFSW, 2014). Th...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• List of illustrations
• Notes on contributors
• Foreword
• 1 Introduction
• 2 The historical and current context of social protection: the development of the Social Protection Floor Initiative
• 3 “Recovery for all” and reducing inequality: austerity and poverty elimination
• 4 Social protection: a human right to promote social justice and equity
• 5 Key concepts and definitions of social protection, social development, and related terms
• 6 Adaptive social protection: climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
• 7 Social protection and the fight against poverty
• 8 The Bolsa Família program in the context of social protection in Brazil: a debate on central issues: focus and impact on poverty
• 9 Toward livelihood security through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): an initiative of the government of India
• 10 The South African Child Support Grant and dimensions of social justice
• 11 Social protection in Ghana: old challenges and new initiatives
• 12 Child-sensitive social protection initiatives in Nigeria: a role for indigenous social care
• 13 Social protection, disaster risk reduction and community resilience: evidence from rural areas in Indonesia
• 14 Conclusion
• Index