Building Social Protection Systems: Mechanism for Harmonization (Ethiopia)

1. Building Social Protection Systems
Ethiopia PSNP/HABP
Mechanism for Harmonization
Wout Soer
AFTSP-Ethiopia
5th
February 2013

2. Structure
Background PSNP/HABP
PSNP/HABP Coordination Mechanisms
Gains
Challenges
Lessons learnt - elements of success

3. Background
Emergency system with annual appeals
for 20 years
Number of people in need ranged between
5 - 14million
Relief Costs: upward
of $1 billion in worst
year and around $700m
on average in the decade
before the start of the
program

4. Background 2
Impact emergency system
Saved lives - not livelihoods
Arrive late, not enough, inappropriate
Asset depletion
Increasing chronic caseload
Bulk of needs were chronic & predictable
Relief response not appropriate for this kind of
need

5. Background 3
Desire to:
Break the cycle of annual relief
Make resource transfers more predictable
Make resource transfers more productive
Government-led coalition for food security called for
Predictable cash & food resources for predictable
problems
One large safety net program to address chronic
needs resulted in PSNP/HABP
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6. Coordination mechanisms
Key Elements
Pooled Funding
Joint Tracking of Progress
Joint Programme Oversight
Common Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework
Shared Implementation Principles: e.g. cash first
principle

7. Coordination mechanisms 2
Institutional arrangements:
GOE /MoARD– overall responsible for the
implementation of the programme
DRMFSS - overall responsibility for coordination, early
warning and logistics
MoFED – Financial Management
NRMD: coordination of Public Works
AED & FCA: overall responsible for HABP
Regions and Woredas - Programme implementation
Development partners: DWG, DCT

8. Coordination mechanisms 3
Important elements:
Common information platform -Key Documents
Archive ( PIM, Aide Memoires, Key studies, RRT reports,
Guidelines, Manuals etc.)
Annual Work Plan and Budget
Six monthly Joint Review & Implementation support
Missions (Aide Memoires and Action plans)
Joint Strategic Oversight Committee – Donors and
Government (and joint technical committees)

9. Gains coordinated approach
One large program with one set of harmonized
procedures supported by 10 Development Partners
Large coverage: 7.6 mln clients in 319 Districts
Large number of PWs with significant developmental
impacts (40-45000 projects per annum)
Systematic strengthening of Government systems
(FM, Procurement, implementation modalities etc.)
Better structured dialogue between DPs and
Government

10. Challenges
Harmonisation between stakeholders not easy
(specific individual institutional requirements may
take over)
Hands-on or hands off: some level of uncertainty
Institutions have the need to generate additional
information at times
Political change necessitates action (HQ)
Transaction costs of coordination/harmonization
are significant
Pace of change

11. Lessons
Need to be context specific –what works in Ethiopia
may not work in other countries
Map out different DPs requirements (e.g. studies,
assessments, reviews etc.)
Invest in a DPs coordination team
Underline need for flexibility to ensure adherence
to agreed MOU, principles, structure etc.
Prepare to compromise

12. Lessons
Work through GoE systems as much as possible ..
but make upfront, detailed assessment of
government capacity to ensure it can deliver what
is expected.
Pool resources where possible: there are efficiency
gains but lots of work as well – need to take that
into consideration during the planning process
Learning by doing
Agree on an incremental change management
approach

13. Better coordination
better support

14. Thank you!