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2021 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

5. Cash Transfer Programs in MENA from a Child Rights Perspective

Authors : Charlotte Bilo, Anna Carolina Machado

Published in: Social Policy in the Islamic World

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

In recent years the Middle East and North Africa region has seen a number of social protection reforms, which have often included the removal of universal subsidies and the introduction of targeted cash transfer programs. An ever-growing body of research has documented the positive effects of cash transfers on children, not only on reducing monetary poverty but also on improving key determinants of multidimensional poverty. Despite increased efforts, many of the region’s cash transfer programs remain small in scale and their design could be improved to better respond to children’s needs by making, amongst others, more explicit linkages to nutrition and health services. In addition, only few programs are embedded in a legal framework, an important attribute to guarantee children’s right to social protection.

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previous chapter Beneficence and Welfare: Notes for the Comparative Study of “Doing Good” Practices (‘amal Khayr) in the Islamic World

next chapter Challenges of Establishing an Islamic Welfare State: A Historical Overview of Welfare System Developments in Post-Revolution Iran

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Based on UNICEF’s definition of the MENA region, this study covers the following 20 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Four main principles: (i) equality and non-discrimination; (ii) “best interests of the child”; (iii) respect for dignity and avoidance of stigma; (iv) compliance with other children’s rights (Sépulveda 2019).

Note that the programs considered here are programs for poor households as well as other vulnerable groups, they are hence not explicitly targeted at children.

Note that Karama was designed to gradually replace the Social Solidarity Scheme. A residual group will remain in the social pension program, including poor separated and divorced women.

Given the current conflict in the country, it is uncertain whether this law is really applied.

The term ‘legal framework’ is defined here as “all national laws and other decrees or secondary legislations and regulations” (Transform 2017, Glossary).

At least one scheme was included for each of the 20 countries, except for Morocco, Lebanon and the State of Palestine, where the main national cash program do not (yet) have a legal framework. Two programs were included for Algeria, Egypt and Jordan each. For Yemen and Syria, where the ongoing humanitarian crises have led to the suspension of most state-provided social protection schemes, the SWF and the National Social Aid Fund (NSAF) respectively were considered. The analysis is limited to a selection of programs that are targeted at children or families with children, or whose benefit structure increases with the number of household members/children.

Education-related CCTs include cash transfers for families with school-age children, which are conditional on school attendance or enrolment (whether verified or not), but also educational scholarships and student grants paid to individual students, with an implicit conditionality.

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Title: Cash Transfer Programs in MENA from a Child Rights Perspective
Authors: Charlotte Bilo
Anna Carolina Machado
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Book: Social Policy in the Islamic World
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-57752-0

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-57753-7

Copyright Year: 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57753-7_5