CHAPTER 5
The Way Forward: How to Make Safety Nets in the Middle East and North Africa More Effective and Innovative
Introduction This report has made a case for putting in place more effective social safety net (SSN) programs in the Middle East and North Africa. As described in the framework for SSN reform (chapter 1, figure 1.4), SSNs can be a powerful instrument to promote • Social inclusion, by enabling investment in human capital (such as supporting school attendance or better nutrition for children); • Livelihood, by protecting against destitution; and • Resilience to crises, by helping households navigate the effects of shocks. Achieving these outcomes requires a focus on the following goals: • Enhance the emphasis on the poor and vulnerable • Empower individuals with tools to improve their lives • Ensure ready and rapid temporary support in response to crises to better promote resilience • Give citizens a greater voice to promote civic engagement and policy ownership. To fulfill these goals, SSNs need to be carefully designed and implemented in ways that ensure they are reaching the most vulnerable since 2009, through improved administrative and governance systems. Currently, 80 percent of developing countries have plans to initiate or strengthen their safety nets, according to World Bank assessments (World Bank 2012). 225