What are the main mechanisms for the extension of social protection in low-income countries?
Top There is a wide range of mechanisms that can be used to extend social protection. • Social insurance schemes can extend existing or modified benefits to previously excluded groups or contingencies, either on a compulsory or voluntary basis. They may also enhance their effectiveness through improved governance and design. • Special social insurance schemes can be set up for excluded groups. • Universal benefits covering the whole target population without any income test or conditions (for instance, those over a certain age) can be implemented. • Social assistance programs targeting specific vulnerable groups can also be implemented: waivers, social pensions / cash benefits, conditional cash transfers (for instance based on school attendance). • The encouragement and support of the development of micro-insurance and innovative decentralized social security schemes to provide social protection through communities, social partners or civil society organizations.
