Social Protection System Research Articles

European Tendencies of Territorialization of Income Conditional Policies to Insertion: Systematic and Narrative Review

(1) Background: ICIP territorialization has been a trend in European countries. Evidence shows that local monitoring is effective in the process of social inclusion; however, territorial differences may cause different results in social and professional trajectories. This systematic and narrative review aims to understand the territorialized elements in income conditional policies to insertion and envisage challenges of national organizations for efficient socio-employment insertion. (2) Methods: Data collection was carried out using Scopus. In addition, a manual search of gray literature by reference authors was used. As a methodology, bibliometric analysis was performed using Vosviewer. (3) Results: The results indicate an increase in the number of publications and citations, especially since 2004. The journals whose articles have the highest citation and co-citation rates belong to the social sciences field. It was possible to detect a strong interconnection between authors, sources, and keywords co-occurrence. The four clusters reveal that the research trends meet the need to restructure the Welfare State, around the new social risks, with the territorialization of the ICIP being a proximity response strategy. Social and professional insertion vary according to territorial cohesion, strong conditionalities with real insertion opportunities and degree of decentralization (4) Conclusions: The degree and effectiveness of ICIP decentralization and socio-employment insertion vary according to the trajectories of European welfare state models and the degree of coverage and generosity of the social protection system. Territorialization tends to reduce the costs of social protection, but these measures remain hostage to different territorial opportunities and real conditions of insertion.

Operationalising social protection: Reflections from urban India

A global pandemic has brought renewed attention to an old question: what do we owe each other? Calls to engage in thinking about a ‘new social contract’ have emerged rooted both in an intimate memory of crisis as well as in the possibilities rooted in relief work, mutual aid and stimulus packages. Scholars have sought to learn, for example, what relief measures could teach us about social protection in a ‘post-pandemic’ world, even while cautioning that socio-economic inequalities were only revealed rather than caused by the pandemic. Drawing on a set of empirical cases collectively produced by researchers (including this author) at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore, this article turns to a specific part of any social contract: the design and operation of social protection systems. Within this, it argues that operational modes of delivering social protection need specific attention within scholarly debates, especially in their complexities within the spatial and economic informality that marks cities of the global south. Put simply: how we deliver both existing and new entitlements is as important as deciding what entitlements urban residents should be entitled to. I offer four main operational concerns that mark the delivery of social protection to informal workers in urban India: (a) residence as an operational barrier; (b) workplaces as sites of delivery; (c) working with worker organisations as delivery infrastructures; and (d) building systems of recognition and registration of informal workers.

Stakeholders' Perspective on Building Integrated Social Protection System in Nepal

Following the inception of federalist structure, the three tiers of government is providing more than 80 social protection programmes in Nepal. The main purpose of this study is to assess the extent of coordination and integration of various programmes and provisions related to social protection, and to put forward better ways of coordination among them. This study adopted mixed method and partially applied the coordination toolkit developed by United Nations Development Group (UNDG) and ISPA. The study draws on analysis of available research, and in-depth interviews with concerned stakeholders using semi-structured questionnaires. Findings show that the involvement of multiple mechanisms and agencies for managing social protection schemes have created fragmentation, duplication, inefficiency, and ineffectiveness despite the fact that there is programme level vertical coordination within a single programme in some social protection schemes. There are a severe lack of horizontal coordination at the policy and operational level among programmes and mechanisms related to social protection. Implementation of international obligations, designing national policies and legal frameworks, establishing institutions, provisioning sustained funding mechanisms, generating political willpower, and using Integrated Management Information Systems (IMIS) are some strategies that can contribute to integration of the programmes. Moreover, it is very important to establish a single mechanism for coordinating the fragmented social protection activities for its sustainable implementation.

Оценка эффективности мер социальной поддержки в Сахалинской области (по материалам интервью)

In the present article the author analyzes the functioning of the social protection system in the Sakhalin Oblast based on the results of the research conducted by the in-depth interview method. The main problems faced by the recipients of social services are described, and special attention is paid to the assessment of the effective-ness of measures to support vulnerable groups of the population. It is emphasized that there is a need for con-tinuous monitoring and improvement of this process, as the island region is doing a significant amount of work to meet the vital needs of these categories of citizens, but the existing measures do not always meet the needs of citizens in terms of volume, quality and accessibility. This implies the need to develop and implement mech-anisms aimed at improving the social protection system and providing more effective support for the vulnera-ble segments of the population of the island region.

Navigating the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a multifaceted crisis, impacting health, the economy, policy and society at large, and also resulting in a humanitarian crisis. These crises have impacted everyone, although the effects have been unevenly distributed, leading to further disadvantage and marginalisation for those who were already vulnerable and marginalised. The pandemic laid bare and intensified pre-existing gender inequalities in many aspects of life, from the labor market and educational opportunities to health and social protection systems. The unequal impacts on women and men have been observed in the economy and employment, in domestic work and care, in physical and mental health, and in violence. The collection of articles in this special issue critically interrogates these key issues relating to the impact of the pandemic on gender equality in Europe, highlighting exacerbated gender inequalities, policy responses and the potential for a gender-responsive recovery. This special issue brings together a collection of eight articles that investigate various aspects of gender inequality exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that explore potential pathways towards achieving greater gender equality in the post-pandemic world. They summarise the findings and contributions of several social scientists and also of two EU funded projects: RESISTIRÉ (GA 101015990) and GEARING Roles (GA 824536). The articles are structured around five main themes: labor market disparities, education and skill development, social and political responses, post-pandemic opportunities, and care. Each article contributes unique insights, empirical findings and policy recommendations from a feminist perspective to enrich the ongoing discourse on gender equality. Together, the articles show the necessity of feminist analysis of crisis, and reveal the structural roots of inequalities while simultaneously emphasising the necessity for transformative action to address inequalities.

Understanding informal care burden domains’ impact on overall burden – a structural equation modeling approach with cross-sectional data from Germany

Abstract Informal caregivers are the core of long-term care for older and disabled people. Although previous research has studied factors that influence caregivers’ burden, little is known about the different care domains and why they influence the caregivers’ perceived burden. Drawing on a large-scale German survey, the current study makes a first attempt to address this research gap. The study used cross-sectional data on 1.429 informal caregivers. Germany is characterized by comprehensive but fragmented health and social protection systems oriented toward supporting informal care at home. Structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 3) was used to estimate the effects of five care domains on three burden dimensions and, ultimately, on the overall burden. Our results indicate that support in organizational matters had the highest impact on the overall perceived burden. The findings reveal that German caregivers particularly struggle with bureaucracy, i.e. an area that can directly be influenced by policymakers.

Objectives of military personnel financial and legal protection under martial law

The article examines the issues of financial and legal protection of servicemen as a direction of the State's financial activity under martial law. It has been determined that the financial and legal protection of servicemen is aimed at material support of the entire range of measures on social policy of the State at the expense of budgetary funds. It has been proved that the allocation and use of budget expenditures in 2023 are conditioned by the martial law in which the country is, and have a temporary content, but cover a significant amount of funds, which affected the State's ability to perform its social function.
 The problem of financial and legal protection is related to the problem of financing special social rights of servicemen, and its implementation depends, firstly, on the distribution and volume of State budget expenditures, secondly, on the improvement of the social protection system, which is inherent in ensuring the implementation of the social function of the State, and thirdly, on the distribution of budget funds, the administrator of which is the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the available amount of which is a result of the distribution of State expenditures. At the second and third stages of the budget process, the legal basis for the allocation and use of budget funds is established, in particular for the financing of social rights, the realisation of which depends on the amount of expenditures and the impact of various political, economic and other factors.
 To conclude, we note that budget expenditures for the social sphere in general and for the financing of special social rights of military personnel in particular, as well as for other categories of citizens, need to be regulated at the stages of drafting, reviewing and adopting the budget law. The implementation of measures on financial and legal protection of servicemen depends on the fulfilment of the state's tasks on the distribution and use of budget expenditures for financing benefits, guarantees and compensations for servicemen and is ensured, firstly, by financing social standards and state social guarantees, and secondly, by financing special social rights of servicemen.

The national system of social protection as a component of the system of public services of the Republic of Moldova

The national system of social protection as a component of the system of public services of the Republic of Moldova

The Role of the Welfare State for NEETs: Exploring the Association Between Public Social Spending and NEET in European Countries

This study explores the role of the welfare state in reducing young people not being in education, employment, or training (NEET)s across 15 European countries. Using data from the Survey of Adult Skills in the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) in combination with the Social Expenditure Database, we conducted cross-national analysis to reveal whether the increase in public social spending moderates the risk of being NEET at a young adult age, especially for socially disadvantaged young people. Our results highlighted that the rise of one percentage point of public social spending per gross domestic product, including social expenditure on education, active labor market, and unemployment, is significantly associated with decreasing the odds of being NEET. Furthermore, these social expenditures appeared to lower the NEET risk given socially disadvantaged backgrounds suggesting that young people with low educational levels, whose parents have low educational attainment levels, non-immigrant families, and females are likely to benefit given the robust social protection system. These findings suggest that public social spending may be an effective investment in promoting the social involvement of young people from socially disadvantaged background.

Path to Vietnam's Welfare System Sustainability

This research paper examines the Vietnamese welfare system, concentrating on its distinctive characteristics shaped by cultural influences, demographic demands, and the country's developmental trajectory. The four elements of Vietnam's social protection system are employment and guaranteed minimum income, social insurance, social assistance, and basic social amenities. The importance of cultural practices, such as street vending, in combating poverty and providing affordable food options cannot be overstated. However, the welfare system's sustainability confronts obstacles, such as low pension coverage, financial viability, an early retirement age, and limited participant benefits. The report suggests increasing pension coverage, enhancing financial viability, re-evaluating the retirement age, enhancing benefits, and bolstering social welfare programs. The purpose of these recommendations is to resolve obstacles and improve the sustainability of Vietnam's welfare system.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE LEGAL REGULATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE DISABLED

Social protection of persons with disabilities is part of the internal policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is fully reflected in national legislation. The need for close attention to this category of citizens on the part of the state is equally due to their high number, objective limitations of their opportunities for full participation in the life of society, to work and to self-service. The author defines the basic principles of the formation of state policy in relation to this category of citizens. The ratification by the Republic of Kazakhstan of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities makes it possible to fully guarantee the protection and development of socio-economic and other rights of persons with disabilities. The adoption of this Convention served as a basis for further improvement of legislative and practice-oriented activities in the field of socio-economic protection of persons with disabilities. The author analyzes the normative and legal support of the modern system of social protection of persons with disabilities and provides some of its contradictions with the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The author focuses on the gaps and contradictions existing in the normative legal acts regulating the issues of social security of persons with disabilities. The gaps relate to the issues of individual mobility of persons with disabilities, drug provision, sanatorium treatment and technical equipment. Based on the results of the analysis and research, the author proposes to make amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On Social Protection of disabled people in the Republic of Kazakhstan», the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On the health of the people and the health system» and the Order of the Minister of Health and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On some issues of rehabilitation of disabled people».

Вплив безумовного базового доходу на задоволення базових потреб у контексті різних соціально-економічних систем: переваги та обмеження

The article examines the relationship between the introduction of unconditional basic income (UBI) and the satisfaction of needs according to the motivation theories of A. Maslow, D. McClelland, and others. UBI is a guaranteed minimum, which the state pays to every citizen, regardless of his contribution to the economy. It has been found that the idea of UBI has a long history, but its academic research began only in the second half of the 20th century due to the topic’s potential in reforming the social protection systems of developed countries. The purpose of the article is to assess the satisfaction of human needs as a result of the introduction of UBI in the context of various socio-economic systems (capitalism, socialism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and communism). During the research, general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction were used. The content of motivation theories as a whole is highlighted and their evolution is briefly outlined. It is determined that the basic income should ensure the satisfaction of the fundamental needs of the first and second levels and contribute to increasing the level of the individual’s needs. It is shown that the implementation of the UBI in socio-economic systems built on the foundations of various ideologies is most likely to lead to positive consequences, despite the existing limitations. It is concluded that the main result of USI’s application will be the weakening of competition for resources and the formation of potential for the individual’s self-development, which would contribute to the growth of human capital. At the same time, it is emphasized that it is not impossible to solve, with the help of basic income the fundamental problems of inequality, which is characteristic of both developing and developed countries, and which causes competition. Through further research, it will be possible to develop more effective and balanced approaches to the use of basic income in economic systems, taking into account the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustainable Way to Eradicate Poverty through Social Protection: The Case of Sri Lanka

Social protection can be used as an effective policy instrument to achieve zero poverty. A considerable percentage of households in Sri Lanka are still suffering from poverty, reflecting the fact that the existing social protection system does not correctly address the heterogeneity of poverty. This study examines the outreach and impact of social protection on poverty in the context of the spatial heterogeneity of poverty. The reasons and nature of poverty are different according to the different poverty levels and spatial disparities. However, the existing social protection system does not accurately target these disparities. The outreach and impact of social protection are low since the current system does not adjust according to the inflation rate and spatial poverty lines. Hence, it is essential to reformulate the existing social protection system considering the spatial factors and different poverty categories while implementing a rigorous method to select the beneficiaries and benefits of social protection by considering inflation and district-level poverty lines.

Do governments account for gender when designing their social protection systems? Findings from an analysis of national social protection strategies

AbstractThe negative impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on women's employment, care responsibilities, and access to services have motivated an unprecedented level of advocacy around strengthening national social protection systems from a gender perspective. Yet very little empirical evidence exists about what a gender‐responsive social protection system entails in practice. This paper addresses this gap through a comparative analysis of 52 national social protection strategies from primarily low‐and middle‐income countries. To analyse the gender responsiveness of these strategies, we developed an analytical framework based on international human rights standards and social policy, gender and development literature. Through presentation of the framework and our findings, this paper makes several contributions to scholarship and practice. First, our framework―the first of its kind―offers a novel conceptual and methodological contribution by enabling a systematic, comparative assessment of national approaches to social protection from a gender perspective. Second, the framework enables the systematisation of empirical evidence on the degree to which gender is integrated into social protection systems. By applying it to national social protection strategies, we identify which gendered risks and vulnerabilities are most commonly acknowledged and addressed in countries' efforts to create gender‐responsive social protection systems. We also highlight a concerning gap between rhetoric and response when it comes to gender equality in the strategic plans that governments lay out for these systems. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic cross‐country assessment of such documents. We conclude with future directions for research and practice, including the gap between recognition and action.

Social protection systems and gender: A review of the evidence

The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have motivated an unprecedented level of global advocacy for gender-responsive and gender-transformative social protection systems that buffer individuals from shocks and vulnerabilities. This turn to a systems approach reflects growing recognition that the presence of one or two social protection programmes targeting women does not guarantee that they are protected throughout the course of their lives and over a wide range of contingencies. Relative to the high levels of interest, however, very little empirical evidence exists about what a gender-responsive or transformative social protection system entails in practice. This article departs from existing literature that focuses on the design and impact of discreet social protection instruments, to present a ‘state of the evidence’ on gender and social protection systems. Drawing on the results of a phased scoping review of academic and policy literature spanning various fields, the article charts the defining features of the existing evidence base, summarizes what is known and identifies pathways for future research. In addition to scholarly analysis, the article offers a comprehensive view of the evidence for policymakers, practitioners, movement leaders and funders working on policy problems from a gender perspective.

Essence, classification and functions of social services in Ukraine

Formulation of the problem. The extensive social policy of Ukraine, inherited from Soviet times, in particular due to the manifestation of the state’s concern for its citizens by providing a large number of benefits, subsidies and social advantages without taking into account the financial capabilities of the budget, poses a threat to the economic stability of Ukraine. This is especially evident now, when the military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine caused additional large-scale challenges to the system of social protection and social security of the population. Citizens have found themselves in difficult life circumstances and unable to partially or fully provide for themselves and their family members, which has caused and continues to cause irreparable damage to the social security of Ukraine. All these and other arguments determine the need to review the components of the current social system to ensure opportunities for a person to live a full and independent life. Analysis of recent research and publications. Social services are seen throughout the world as a necessary function of society and a mechanism by which governments can address societal problems. The study of the essence of the term “social service” in the international context shows that its interpretation in a specific country is determined by its history, cultural features, political system and level of economic development. The results of the study of the essence of this concept in the scientific works of Ukrainian scientists testify to the consideration of social services as activities or actions organized by relevant institutions for the benefit of an individual or a family, the ultimate goal of which is the opportunity to lead a full, dignified life. Presenting main material. The article analyses the Law of Ukraine “On Social Services”, defines the essence of the concept of “social service”, and classifies social services in accordance with legislative and regulatory documents. It is proposed to supplement the existing classification with a sign of individual needs of recipients of these services. The functions of social services are defined, which should warn, mitigate or protect a person from the consequences of negative social phenomena. The proposed functions make it possible to: study the reasons preventing the achievement of the desired level of social security or stability of individuals and families; determine the factors that contribute to the successful removal of these individuals or families from crisis situations. The definition of “social service” is formulated based on the results of the research. Conclusions. The purpose of providing social services is to improve the quality of human life, resist demographic changes, increase the level of social protection, help reduce poverty, and overcome discrimination in all its forms. The guarantee and prerequisite for the establishment of an effective institutional system of providing social services is the adequate establishment of their essence, classification and definition of the functions they must perform in the system of social protection and social security of the population.

Understanding Vulnerability to Poverty, COVID-19’s Effects, and Implications for Social Protection: Insights from Ghana

The Coronavirus pandemic has created new vulnerabilities and deepened existing ones. In Ghana, the overall headcount poverty decline has disguised a large group of vulnerable households now threatened with falling back into poverty given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article draws on new household panel data to analyse transient poverty, the drivers of vulnerability before and since the COVID-19 pandemic and provides implications for social protection. Using poverty transition matrices, we first measure poverty episodes which help to not only track the movements in and out of poverty but also to identify and categorize households into distinctive groups. We then apply logistic regression to examine the determinants of vulnerability to poverty before evaluating COVID-19 vulnerabilities in the context of social protection in Ghana. We find that a large group of struggling households exist between the poor and the stable middle classes that have been overlooked by cash transfer programmes. We characterize this group and show that current vulnerability measurements and social protection design need adjustments. We also find that poverty and vulnerability to it is no longer a rural phenomenon as the transient poor since the COVID-19 pandemic are mostly located in urban areas and largely not covered by current social protection systems. Both vertical and horizontal expansion of social policy is required to reach these new groups and new locations. For reducing poverty and limiting vulnerability in developing country contexts, our findings imply that (a) new measurements and targeting may be required, (b) vulnerable informal groups in urban areas need to be included, and (c) new types of social protection for struggling households are required to prevent their falling back into poverty in the event of aggregate shocks.

Exploring spatial patterns, and identifying factors associated with insufficient cash or food received from a productive safety net program among eligible households in Ethiopia: a spatial and multilevel analysis as an input for international food aid programmers

BackgroundIn low-income countries, households’ food insecurity and the undernutrition of children are the main health problems. Ethiopia is vulnerable to food insecurity and undernutrition among children because its agricultural production system is traditional. Hence, the productive safety net program (PSNP) is implemented as a social protection system to combat food insecurity and enhance agricultural productivity by providing cash or food assistance to eligible households. So, this study aimed to explore spatial patterns of households’ insufficient cash or food receiving from PSNP, and identify its associated factors in Ethiopia.MethodsThe 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey dataset was used. A total of 8595 households were included in this study. Data management and descriptive analysis were done using STATA version 15 software and Microsoft Office Excel. ArcMap version 10.7 software was used for spatial exploration and visualization. SaTScan version 9.5 software was used for spatial scan statistics reports. In the multilevel mixed effect logistic regression analysis, explanatory variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered significant factors.ResultsOverall, 13.5% (95% CI: 12.81–14.27%) of the households’ level beneficiaries received cash or food from PSNP. The spatial distribution of households’ benficiaries received cash or food from PSNP was not random, and good access to cash or food from PSNP was detected in Addis Ababa, SNNPR, Amhara, and Oromia regions. Households’ heads aged 25–34 (AOR:1.43, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.00), 35–44 (AOR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.72, 3.37), and > 34 (AOR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.83, 3.51) years, being female (AOR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.27,1.79), poor households (AOR: 1.91, 95% CI:1.52, 2.39), Amhara (AOR:.14, 95% CI: .06, .39) and Oromia (AOR:.36, 95% CI:.12, 0.91) regions, being rural residents (AOR:2.18, 95% CI: 1.21,3.94), and enrollment in CBHS (AOR: 3.34, 95% CI:2.69,4.16) are statistically significant factors.ConclusionsHouseholds have limited access to cash or food from the PSNP. Households in Addis Ababa, SNNPR, Amhara, and Oromia regions are more likely to receive benefits from PSNP. Encouraging poor and rural households to receive benefits from the PSNP and raise awareness among beneficiaries to use the benefits they received for productivity purposes. Stakeholders would ensure the eligibility criteria and pay close attention to the hotspot areas.

IZAZOVI VOĐENJA SLUČAJA U SOCIJALNOM RADU

Case management is a method that has a long history of its application in socialwork with beneficiaries of services and rights within the social protection system. Theapplication in the Balkan countries is for a shorter period and it is in the process ofdevelopment and in some countries such as the Republic of North Macedonia, it is atthe very beginning of its introduction, which started in 2020. The reason fordevelopment of this paper is to critically refer to the use of the case management method, especially in the Balkan countries, to see the segments needed for itsdevelopment, especially in the countries that are at the beginning of its application. The main objective is to observe certain social circumstances, the creation andapplication of new laws and by-laws, as well as conceptual professional issuesrelated to modern principles, theory and practice of social work, as well asorganizational issues related to the analysis of the process itself through operationalphases in the work with beneficiaries. It is pointed out that there is a need tointroduce the indicator of the complexity of the case, determining the number ofbeneficiaries with whom one case manager can work, as well as the analysis anddevelopment of the documentation. Research was conducted in three centers forsocial work and professional experiences and testimonies of professional workers, case managers, as well as the primary experiences of the author of this text wereused.

SINDROM PROFESIONALNOG SAGOREVANJA KOD SOCIJALNIH RADNIKA I ZNAČAJ MENTALNOG ZDRAVLJA POMAGAČA

This paper deals with the problem of professional burnout syndrome among social workers, the factors that contribute to the occurrence of this phenomenon and the importance of prevention and care for the mental health of professional helpers. In addition to the theoretical analysis of this phenomena and risk factors associated with the nature of the social worker’s professional role, the paper also presents the results of research on the existence of professional burnout syndrome among social workers on the territory of Serbia. The presence of parameters that indicate the occurrence of burnout syndrome among professional workers within the social protection system was established. Elevated levels of stress, tension and emotional exhaustion were noted, as well as the presence of apathy, lack of connection with clients and reduced self-care. Competencies for working with clients and self-image remained preserved. Finally, the paper presents possible ways to prevent the occurrence of burnout syndrome.