Just to clarify again (and I promise this is the last time), that cash transfer programmes can not be seen as 'compensation' for policy reforms with negative impacts.
And context matters very much. In Ghana, where fuel subsidy reform was inevitable and the deficit runs at almost 12%, arguing for increased fiscal space for social protection was crucial. The doubling of LEAP to 150,000 households will indeed make a major difference in those people's lives as the evaluation shows. And the resulting future further expansions must also be supported.
On the targeting, absolutely agree that we must be careful, but having a well-targeted programme for which the majority of benefits reach the extreme poor is better than a non-existent universal programme. The PMT was in place when the Bank did its review although it has been revised since then and the targeting improved (happy to discuss more on that bilaterally). https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fopenknowledge.worldbank.org%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10986%2F13081%2F9780821395936.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=iqz8UqXjD_LH7Aa9h4HoCw&usg=AFQjCNHC-Da1W7UqhEkJ_2HYvxi-boDnDA
Best wishes
Sarah
_______________________
Sarah Hague
Chief of Social Policy/ACMA
UNICEF Ghana
Tel office: (+233) (0)302 772524 or 773583, Ext 1237
Tel mob: (+233) (0)245 352977
http://www.unicef.org/ghana
And context matters very much. In Ghana, where fuel subsidy reform was inevitable and the deficit runs at almost 12%, arguing for increased fiscal space for social protection was crucial. The doubling of LEAP to 150,000 households will indeed make a major difference in those people's lives as the evaluation shows. And the resulting future further expansions must also be supported.
On the targeting, absolutely agree that we must be careful, but having a well-targeted programme for which the majority of benefits reach the extreme poor is better than a non-existent universal programme. The PMT was in place when the Bank did its review although it has been revised since then and the targeting improved (happy to discuss more on that bilaterally). https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fopenknowledge.worldbank.org%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10986%2F13081%2F9780821395936.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=iqz8UqXjD_LH7Aa9h4HoCw&usg=AFQjCNHC-Da1W7UqhEkJ_2HYvxi-boDnDA
Best wishes
Sarah
_______________________
Sarah Hague
Chief of Social Policy/ACMA
UNICEF Ghana
Tel office: (+233) (0)302 772524 or 773583, Ext 1237
Tel mob: (+233) (0)245 352977
http://www.unicef.org/ghana
