Description
This Discussion Paper argues that women and men face different risks and vulnerabilities, some specific to their gender and others exacerbated by gender inequalities and discrimination.
Building on the analysis in Naila Kabeer’s book, Mainstreaming Gender in Social Protection for the Informal Economy, the authors argue that the design and implementation of social protection programmes should address such gender-related constraints, including barriers to women’s economic advancement.
Social transfers in the hands of women improve children’s health and nutritional status and school attendance, and can be an effective way of reducing hunger and intergenerational poverty.
Contents
The Linkages Between Gender, Social Protection and Pro-poor Growth
Investment in human capital
Supporting women’s labour market participation
Supporting asset accumulation and risk management
Improving intra-household resource allocation
Enabling access to credit and promoting savings
Designing Social Protection Programmes and Policies to Tackle Gender-related Risks
Cash transfers focused on women and children
Childcare support
School feeding
School stipends
Public works programmes
Pensions
Legislation
Knowledge Gaps and Debates on Gender and Social Protection
Gender of the transfer recipient
Women’s empowerment
Different types of social protection instruments
Good Practices in Gender and Social Protection
Political will to adopt a gender mainstreaming strategy
Conducting a gender analysis
Considering gender in policy and programme design
Targeting transfers to women
Linking social protection provision for women with complementary services
Taking account gender specific-constraints
Supporting women’s organisations and awareness raising
Developing robust monitoring and evaluation to assess gender impacts and inform programme development
Policy Implications and Suggestions for Donors and Partner Governments
References