Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Gassmann, Franziska
Author-Email: Franziska.Gassmann@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, Maastricht University
Title: Protecting vulnerable families in Central Asia: Poverty, vulnerability and the 
	 impact of the economic crisis
Abstract: Since the end of 2007, countries in Central Asia have been struck by two 
	 major consecutive shocks: the food and fuel price increase in 2007-08, 
	 and the global economic and financial crisis that began at the end of 
	 2008. Households, both poor and not poor, are directly and adversely 
	 affected by the crisis. The multi-dimensionality of the crises and the 
	 volatile economic environment challenge the ability of vulnerable 
	 households to cope and to maintain their living standards. Social 
	 protection programmes play an important role in the response to a 
	 crisis. This paper provides an overview of the social and economic 
	 vulnerabilities of households with children in the five Central Asian 
	 countries, and assesses the ability of national social protection 
	 systems to address these, with the main focus on the role of 
	 non-contributory cash transfers financed from general government 
	 revenues. The paper concludes that the existing social cash transfer 
	 systems are not effective in addressing the needs of poor and vulnerable 
	 children and families in Central Asia. Limited coverage together with 
	 limited funding reduces the potential poverty reduction impact of the 
	 programmes. The paper discusses potential strategies for improving 
	 existing systems by consolidating and protecting government spending, 
	 streamlining existing benefits and transfers, improving the 
	 identification of beneficiaries and strengthening administration, 
	 monitoring and evaluation systems.
Classification-JEL: I31, I32, I38, O15
Keywords: social protection, social assistance, economic crisis, poverty reduction,
	 Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2011
Number: 042
File-URL: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2011/wp2011-042.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2011042