Linkage between Social Integration, Poverty Eradication and the Promotion of Full Employment and Decent Work

The 48^th Session of the Commission for Social Development was held in New York, 4^th February, 2010. The meeting was devoted to a panel discussion on the theme “social integration and its relationship to poverty eradication and full employment and decent work for all”.  The discussion intended to stimulate thinking on how to incorporate social integration policies and principles into broader poverty eradication and employment policies, and how poverty eradication and employment promotion efforts could help achieve social integration, particularly of socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. 

TASAF Executive Director Dr Servacius Likwelile, was amongst the panelist to the key note presentation and he examined obstacles to policies aimed at achieving ‘society for all’ 

Dr. Likwelile said human development was at the centre of social integration and that development is also about ensuring people’s social, civil, political and economic rights, and enabling them to participate and influence decisions that affect their lives. He emphasized that despite a number of initiatives that sought to bring about development, especially addressing the issue of poverty reduction, yet poverty is still high, the number of people living in poverty has increased world wide to over 380 million in 2005 (from 190 million in 1990), deprivation is widespread, exclusion is a common scene and denial of basic rights is practised in a number of countries.  In Tanzania 33% of its people live below the basic needs poverty line, while 18% live below the food poverty line.   

This context provides clear pointers as to the link that exists between Social Integration, Poverty Eradication and the Promotion of Full Employment and Decent Work. There is clear interrelationship between these and they mutually reinforce each other.  The understanding of poverty has evolved over the years to now encompass issues of opportunity, empowerment, capabilities, security, etc.  This evolution influences the policy mix and the choice of interventions to address poverty. 

Dr. Likwelile continued to explain that any successful poverty reduction depends, among others, on providing opportunities for poor people to contest their rights through normative changes, including through legal frameworks.  It entails effective participation in economic activities that are meaningful to ones welfare.  Thus real life experiences of the poor must be the starting point for development efforts. 

It is important also that civil and political rights be geared towards empowering poor people not only to claim their economic and social rights but also to demand accountability for good public services, pro poor public policies, and transparent participatory processes.  

He emphasised that social protection should be an integral part of the broader development agenda of a country.  For the poor and vulnerable, community-driven development approaches are instrumental in the process and should be guided by specific principles that empowering communities and local level governance structures, realigning the centre, improving accountability, and building capacity.

Explaining the Tanzania experience particularly within the TASAF context, he said the Project has demonstrated the possibility and effectiveness of involving communities.  Its design allows for community participation in decisions, including management of investment resources/funds, demand-driven operations, direct transfer of investment resources to communities, targeting the poor and vulnerable communities and ensures capacity building.

The design records several achievements including enhanced access to social services such as education, health and water in response to peoples’ needs, it has created safety-nets public works programmes which offer employment opportunities and has promoted access to health and education through community-based conditional cash transfers managed by communities.  TASAF also funds income generating activities for the vulnerable members in society and build their capacity in savings and investment, project management and in fiduciary issues.

Looking at the practical way forward on enhancing linkage between Social Integration, Poverty Eradication and the Promotion of Full Employment and Decent Work Dr Likwelile asserts policies and strategies have to be reviewed to determine what has worked and what has not in terms of processes and coordination. The evaluation and assessment should focus on global support to the vulnerable countries/communities, efforts to achieving MDGs and the alliance nexus for the delivery of the social integration agenda.

Proper investment in human capital is critical therefore long-term capacity building at lower levels need to warrant effective engagement of the poor and vulnerable in decisions that affect their lives while monitoring of the programs should include social protection targets so that corrective measures are taken appropriately.

Likwelile concludes that it needs political will, institutional capacity, and the strength of established alliances, both within countries and with external actors for poverty eradication to move to the next level. (click here for detail discussion)