Social protection is a grassroots reality: Making the case for policy reflections on community‐based social protection actors and services in Africa. (19th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Awortwi, Nicholas
• Is Part Of: Development policy review. Volume 36(2018:Mar.)Supplement 2
• Page Start: O897
• Page End: O913
• Publication Date: 2018-06-19
• Subjects: Africa -- non‐state mechanisms -- social policy -- social protection; Developing countries -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 338.91
• DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12364
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-6764

Abstract

Abstract: In Africa, the state is not the biggest responder to poverty and social vulnerability. While international attention has searched for State remedies to State shortfalls, the poor themselves have taken a different route. They have improvised, organized, delivered and governed their social protection (SP) services using grassroots mechanisms without State support. Based on empirical studies in 30 districts in six African countries, this article makes the case that the highly localized models may not be perfect, but are probably the best fit for implementing an all‐encompassing SP policy in Africa. The challenge for policy will be to harness this potential—not by trying to turn grassroots organizations into something they are not, but by supporting what they already are.