33371 World Bank Social Safety Nets Primer Notes 2005 No. 21 Disability and Social Safety Nets in Developing Countries The relationship between poverty and disability is isthereforedifficultandcostlyanddevelopingcoun- two-way: disability increases the risk of poverty and tries lack the administrative capacity required to run the conditions of poverty increase the risk of disabil- such programs. Community based targeting could ity yet little attention has been given as to whether be the answer, but not in communities where per- social safety nets reach persons with disabilities. sons with disabilities are excluded or stigmatized. Social safety nets have a role to play with regard to Moreover, disability targeting of cash and in-kind disability in terms of poverty alleviation, poverty re- transfers is an outcome of a charitable view rather duction and development, and prevention. than that of a development perspective designed to empower and involve persons with disabilities. DisabilityTargeting These transfers have the further disadvantage of be- Onewaytoreachpersonswithdisabilitiesistotarget ing a disincentive to work and may displace private safety nets based on disability. This approach would transfers. Self-targeting is a promising alternative: benefit persons with such severe disabilities that eligibility tests are not required and goods and ser- they cannot participate in the opportunities gener- vices can be provided which are of no use to persons atedbygrowth,inclusiveemploymentand/oreduca- without disabilities thereby ensuring successful tar- tion policies. These programs might take a number geting. The assistance devices provided can remove of forms such as: social insurance schemes, publicly barriers to participation in society and employment funded transfers (sometimes provided as part of a prospects thus presenting a rope out of poverty. family allowance), in-kind targeting (assistance de- vices for example) or livelihood programs. Disability Disability Inclusion based targeting has a number of advantages: the Amorefeasiblesolutionmaybetoensurethatmain- welfare of persons with disabilities is increased; the stream social safety nets are "disability inclusive". welfare of their caretakers, who are predominantly How can mainstream social safety nets be designed, women, is increased; having their own source of in- implemented and evaluated so that persons with comegivesthedisabledgreaterbargainingpowerin disabilities are not excluded? The table below de- thehousehold;andlikeageorgender,disabilityisan scribes this process. Identification of the physical, easily observed characteristic. social and communication barriers that prevent the inclusion of persons with disabilities is critical. For That said, persons with disabilities form a heteroge- instance, do the attitudes of social safety net staff neous group. Assessing their ability to work, espe- prevent or discourage access to benefits for persons ciallyinthecaseofinvisibleorepisodicimpairments, with disabilities? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sophie Mitra prepared this note based on Mitra, Sophie. 2005."Disability and Social Safety Nets in Developing Countries." Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 0509.World Bank.Washington, D.C. In addition, it is necessary to identify any of the At the program evaluation stage, it is impossible to program's eligibility and application requirements over-emphasize the importance of collecting ad- that may indirectly contribute to exclude persons equate statistics on disability in order to evaluate with disabilities. For example, the cost to apply for a program's processes and impact on persons with benefits may be high for persons with mobility limi- and without disabilities. Such statistics would also tations if they must apply in person. enable monitoring of the effectiveness of new dis- ability inclusion measures. A Framework for the Assessment of Disability Inclusion in Social Safety Nets Several Dimensions Relevant AnalyticalTools 1. Program Implementation 1.a Physical Accessibility Direct observation and review of program's manual of operation. · accessibility of built environment, including SSN facilities and Administrative data on beneficiaries, if available. Analysis of leg- transport system. islative framework. · can social workers visit persons with disabilities? · can a family representative apply, enroll and receive benefits on behalf of a person with disability? · are there any geographical asymmetries in program coverage (by region, urban vs. rural)? 1.b Communication and Social Accessibility Review of existing information materials; semi-structured inter- · is program information available in different formats (e.g., views and focus group discussion with current and potential Braille)? beneficiaries with disabilities and with program staff. · how does the program deal with illiteracy among potential and actual beneficiaries? · is program information delivered through different channels besides the government (media, community)? · do the attitudes of SSN staff prevent or discourage access to benefits for persons with disabilities? · do some of the SSN staff have disabilities? 2. Program Design Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion with · is the cost to apply or collect benefits high for persons with current and potential beneficiaries with disabilities. Desk review disabilities? and analysis. · are some of the eligibility conditions difficult to meet for per- sons with disabilities? 3. Program Evaluation Household data collection and analysis. 3.a Program Coverage · what is the proportion of eligible beneficiaries with disabilities that participate in the program? · what are the profiles of participants with disabilities com- pared to non-participant eligible beneficiaries with disabilities (e.g., demographic characteristics, type of impairment)? 3.b Program's Impact on Poverty Household data collection and analysis. · what poverty alleviation and reduction impact does the pro- gram have on persons with disabilities? 3.c Program's Impact on Inequality Household data collection and analysis. · how does this poverty alleviation and reduction impact com- pare to the one that is found for persons without disabilities? TheWorld Bank Social Safety Nets Primer series is intended to provide a practical resource for those engaged in the design and implementation of safety net programs around the world. Readers will find information on good practices for a variety of types of interventions, country contexts, themes and target groups, as well as current thinking on the role of social safety nets in the broader development agenda. World Bank, Human Development Network Social Protection, Social Safety Nets http://www.worldbank.org/safetynets