National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026

5.4 Financing inclusive life-course social protection 85 Annex 1 System profile of Social Protection Registry for Integrated National Targeting 88 Annex 2 Proposed Management Information System landscape 91 Annex 3 Monitoring and Evaluation framework 96 Bibliography 104 Glossary of terms Ep fet po Help fight poverty Osusu Informal savings and loans National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 5 Acronyms ACC Anti-Corruption Commission CWC Child Welfare Committee DHS Demographic Household Survey FQSE Free Quality School Education GBV Gender-Based Violence GDP Gross Domestic Product GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism HGSF Home-Grown School Feeding IEC Information Education and Communication IMF International Monetary Fund IOM International Organization for Migration IPV Intimate Partner Violence M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MBSSE Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education MDA Ministries, Departments and Agencies MGCA Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey MIS Management Information System MLSS Ministry of Labour and Social Security MoF Ministry of Finance MoHS Ministry of Health and Sanitation MSG Mothers' Support Groups MSW Ministry of Social Welfare MTNDP Medium-Term National Development Plan NaCSA National Commission for Social Action NaMED National Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate NaSSIT National Social Security and Insurance Trust NSPC National Social Protection Council NSPP National Social Protection Policy NSPS National Social Protection Secretariat OECD Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development PLHIV People Living with HIV/AIDS PMT Proxy Means Test QAERP Quick Action Emergency Response Plan SBCC Social Behaviour Change Communication SLeSHI Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance SLIHS Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey SLE Sierra Leone Leone (new currency) SME Small and Medium Enterprises SPF Social Protection Floor SPRINT Social Protection Registry for Integrated National Targeting SSN Social Safety Net STEmPRP Social Transfers Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan ToR Terms of Reference TSC Technical Steering Committee UNDESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs UNICEF United Nations Children's Emergency Fund WFP World Food Programme 6 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Foreword Message from the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Over the years, Sierra Leone has made progress in the areas of health, education, infrastructure, food production, energy and social protection. In 2011, Government approved the Social Protection Policy which was revised and launched in 2020. In 2019, the Social Protection was included under clusters 5, 6 and 7 as key government priorities in the Sierra Leone Medium-Term Development Plan 2019-2023. This created renewed impetus to build on the social protection systems and launch additional programmes to support extremely poor and vulnerable groups. Social protection is one of the five pillars under the Quick Action Economic Recovery Plan initiated in April 2020 as part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, new emergencies such as the CoVID-19 pandemic, flooding and landslides continue to pose additional challenges to the social statistical system which explains the imperative to develop a social protection strategy. As a people, we have demonstrated resilience in the face of these challenges and emergencies. Government has designated social protection and labour market interventions as means to mitigate emergencies, disasters and enhance youth employability. It is therefore the responsibility of Government to take the lead in building an ecosystem to address these new emergencies and employment challenges. The National Social Protection Policy is in line with the Medium-Term Development Plan. With a vision to strengthen the social protection sector, it is critical or vital for Sierra Leone to elaborate on integrated National Social Protection Strategy. The elaboration of the Social Protection Strategy was inclusive. A national consultation process was facilitated by local and international experts in Social Protection were conducted to allow broad base input into the strategy. The Strategy outlines the key priority areas for the next five years and beyond as clearly laid out in the National Social Protection Policy of the Government of Sierra Leone. While the increase in population, and emergencies will continue to be critical factors for our socio- economic progress, this strategy will place priority on optimising our Human Capital Development aspiration. In keeping with the goal we will continue to take additional steps to strengthen coordination, while at the same time implement measures and institute systems to measure progress. I want to thank the Social Protection Inter-Agency Forum and the Hon. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Alpha Timbo for leading the preparation of the strategy. I want to encourage relevant MDAs to align their social protection initiatives and programmes to this strategy. Our government is pleased to present the Social Protection Strategy and Implementation Plan to the people of Sierra Leone. This strategy will herald a new commitment and approach to addressing social vulnerabilities and risks. H.E. Dr Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 7 Acknowledgements The Social Protection Strategy received tremendous input from numerous stakeholders, including Government officials, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), the private sector, development partners, women's groups, youth groups, trade unions, schools, academia, research institutions, persons with disabilities, and local authorities. The level of interest and participation were commendable. Much appreciation goes to the Inter-Agency Forum under Dr Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Hon. Alpha Timbo, Minister of Labour and Social Security, for providing the needed leadership, strategic direction, and guidance throughout the Strategy preparation. Appreciation is owed to Dr Sao-Kpato H.I. Max-Kyne, Commissioner National Commission for Social Action, and Mr Jimmy Batilo, Deputy Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action, for their unwavering support, participation and interest throughout the preparation process. Gratitude is extended to Mrs Francess Alghali, Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, and Mrs Fatmata S. Mustapha, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, for their strategic policy advice. The untiring efforts of the Technical Steering Committee, comprising members of all relevant MDAs and headed by Mr Idris Turay, National Coordinator, Social Protection Secretariat within National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), into drafting the Strategy, providing technical inputs and leading discussions on the Strategy preparation is highly appreciated. I also acknowledge the technical and financial support our partners provide – the World Bank, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and others, all the technical staff of the relevant MDAs and Development Pathways. Of particular note are the contributions of Ms Mona Korsgard, Chief of Evidence, Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF and Dr Abu Kargbo, Senior Social Protection Specialist, World Bank, for providing critical strategic and general ideas for logical consistency and the costing of the plan. UNICEF is appreciated for the financial support for the preparation of the Strategy. The efforts of everyone who, in diverse ways, worked assiduously and contributed to the entire process by making their voices heard were notably helpful. Special thanks to Development Pathways for leading the writing of the Strategy. The commitment demonstrated by all staff of the National Commission for Social Action and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is laudable. 8 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Executive summary Social protection is high on the agenda of the reaching priority groups of the population with Government of Sierra Leone. Since 2014 its age-appropriate social protection services flagship Social Safety Net (SSN) programme incorporating considerations of disability, and other social protection interventions gender and child-sensitive social protection, have reached more than 190,000 extremely including coverage targets which would poor households with a regular cash transfer. enable achievement of the policy objectives. Additionally, in the Medium-Term National It discusses each group's challenges, current Development Plan 2019-2023 (MTNDP), the social protection programmes, the vision Government has declared its commitment to for 2040, an action plan for 2026, priority developing a solid national social protection activities, and costs and benefits for each system and delivering quality social protection group. services to the population to enhance human capital. On the programmes side, technical working groups were set up to reflect the six key life- In January 2020, the Government launched course stages outlined in the NSPP, namely: its revised National Social Protection Policy • Pregnant women and infants (0 to 5 years) (NSPP). It sets out the goal to establish a gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive and • School-age (6 to 14 years) age-appropriate framework for protecting • Youth (15 to 24 years) the extremely poor and vulnerable and to • Working age (25 to 64 years) minimise risks of others sliding into poverty • Older people (over 65 years) through a minimum social protection floor for • Disability and chronic illness all Sierra Leoneans citizens to ensure a life of dignity. The specific objectives under the policy are: The NSPP adopted a life-course framework, which clarifies the different risks, • Stronger state-citizen relationships; vulnerabilities, objectives, coordination, • Enhanced human capital development; partnerships, and linkages relating to specific • Effective management of risk and life-course groups. vulnerability; • Empowerment and livelihood A key consideration for the Strategy is gender development; equity, as a cross-cutting element to be taken into consideration for all life-course stages. In • Sustained social cohesion and nation- general terms, the Strategy takes deliberate building; measures to address women's gender-specific • Inclusive macro-economic policy. risks and vulnerabilities, enabling women and men to thrive and balance employment and To strengthen the strategic vision and direction caregiving responsibilities. of the social protection sector, an integrated National Social Protection Strategy is critical The table below summarises the action plans for Sierra Leone. This Strategy, the result of for the next five years and the vision for 2040 a national consultation process facilitated by for each life-course stage. international social protection experts, outlines the strategic priority areas for the next five years to meet the policy objectives laid out in the NSPP. First, it outlines the programmes needed to reach policy objectives and strategic targets, National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 9 Table 0-1. Summary of life-course stage recommendations Life-course stage Next 5 years To 2040 0-5 • Gradual roll-out of child grant for • Roll-out of mothers' support under 2s Birth registration bonus? groups. • Establishment of mothers' support • Child Grant expansion of age up to groups. 5 years. • Early childhood development programmes. 6-14 • Educational incentives and waivers • Further expansion of child grants up for marginalised/vulnerable children. to 14 years. • Progressively expand the coverage • Roll out home-grown school feeding of home-grown school feeding. to national coverage. 15-24 • Educational incentives and waivers, • Integrate Active Labour Market develop youth skills training and Policies (ALMPs) for youth into links to employment opportunities. SSN. • Support safe transition to • Educational incentives and waivers adulthood (Life skills). for youth. • Provide support (livelihood, psychosocial, health, legal, etc.) to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and other forms of violence. 25-64 • Labour market policy and • Introduction of reformed SSN. legislative reform. • Expansion of coverage of social • Continuation and refinement of insurance (membership and SSN. contingency). • Review of expansion of social insurance. • Develop employment opportunities. • Provide support (livelihood, psychosocial, health, legal, etc.) to survivors of GBV and other forms of violence. >60 • Gradual expansion of pension for • Expansion of pension down to the those over 70 years of age. age of 60 years. • Policy and legislation on age retirement. Disability • Disability assessment system. • National expansion of a disability • Disability registry. grant. • Introduction of a disability grant. • Employment opportunities adapted to persons with disabilities. • Disability friendly infrastructure. The Strategy considers how to operationalise strengthening, a monitoring and evaluation those programmes to meet the policy framework and coordination mechanisms. objectives through setting systems strengthening targets to ensure coherent, The technical working groups focused on coordinated, and effective implementation of specific systems subcomponents: social protection programmes in Sierra Leone. • Back-office systems: registry, This includes tools such as a single social Management Information System registry, a Grievance Redress Mechanism, (MIS), selection, targeting and financial shock-responsive capacity, linkages with management; and referrals to social services, capacity 10 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 • Client-facing systems: outreach, standard life-course social protection Information Education and Communication programmes but also to leverage the ability of (IEC), Grievance Redress Mechanism those programmes to be adaptive and scalable (GRM) and case management; in the event of a shock. There are essentially • Monitoring and evaluation; and three primary requisites for shock-responsive social protection: (i) to have robust and • Governance and coordination. flexible systems already in place, (ii) to have contingency funding available, and (iii) to have It will be necessary to formalize linkages with the necessary procedures in place to trigger a other critical information systems, such as the rapid response. NaSSIT database (for those formally employed in public/private sectors), the education MIS Finally, the Strategy outlines the costs of and the identity system of the National Civil the Strategy as a whole, including systems Registration Authority under the Ministry of strengthening and programmes, and based Internal Affairs. on scenarios modelled with selected levels of coverage of priority groups, benefit levels and Creating such linkages is a critical aspect, comprehensiveness of programming to inform not only for the smooth-running, efficiency, progressive realisation of the NSPP's vision of accountability and good governance of universal coverage by 2040. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 11 Background

1.1 — Context

Since the end of the Sierra Leone civil war in January 2002, the country has experienced a significant boost in economic growth. However, despite its GDP jump from US$ 1.298 billion in 2001 to US$ 3.737 billion in 2020,1 existing studies of the context of social and economic vulnerability in Sierra Leone indicate that poverty and vulnerability are widespread. According to the most recent Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) of 2018, 56 per cent of the population falls below the national poverty line and 160,000 households, which account for 13 per cent, live in extreme poverty. According to the 2019 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report and the Multidimensional Child Poverty Report, 65 per cent of the population live in multidimensional poverty, with 66 children affected by multidimensional poverty. According to UNDP's Human Development Index (HDI) (2020), Sierra Leone is ranked at the bottom of the list at 182 out of 189 countries/territories. The life expectancy at birth is 54.7 years. The expected years of school is 10.6 years for men and 9.2 years for women. The percentage of the population that benefited from secondary education is 20.1 per cent for women and 33 per cent for men. Sierra Leone's overall 'loss' development due to inequality is also high at 35.6 per cent compared to the average of low HDI countries of 31.4 per cent, resulting in an inequality in education of 46.9 per inequality in income of 17.7 per cent.2 Sierra Leone has a Gender Inequality Index score of 1.1 Context their male counterparts in reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. One of the factors exacerbating poverty and inequality rates is Sierra Leone's exposure to climate and health pandemics. While its hazard profile is constituted of frequent floods, tropical storms, and fires, the events with the most disastrous impacts have been landslides, droughts and health epidemics. For example, in 2017, a heavy monsoon rainfall followed by a large landslide near Freetown cost the economy around US$ 31.7 million, equivalent to 0.8 per cent of its 2016 GDP. Before the landslide, Sierra Leone was trying to recover from the Ebola crisis (2014-2016), during which its economy took a hit of US$ 1.9 billion.3 per cent of The COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have further exacerbated the previously stated reality of poverty for the population of Sierra Leone, with many people pushed across the poverty line or deeper into poverty. The World Bank (2020) has reported a drop of half of the average weekly income for self-employed individuals and higher food insecurity with rising food prices and an increase by 20 percentage points in households resorting to harmful coping mechanisms such as reducing in human their number of meals per day. In fact, the reported number of food-insecure people rose from 3.9 million (47.7 per cent) in January 2020 to 5.1 million (63 per cent) in June 2020. cent and an As a result of the current global crises, the price of staple foods significantly increased

0.644 — This score, ranging from 0 to 1, reflects over the January to June period in 2021: the

0.644. This score, ranging from 0 to 1, reflects over the January to June period in 2021: the the loss of potential human development cost of local rice increased by 36 per cent, that from women faring quite poorly compared to of imported rice by 42 per cent and that of 1 The World Bank DataBank, GDP (constant 2010 USD) – Sierra Leone, accessible via https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP. KD?locations=SL, last visited 15 October 2021. 2 UNDP (2020) Human Development Report 2020- The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene Briefing note for countries on the 2020 Human Development Report: Sierra Leone. 3 Ishizawa, A. O., et al (2020) Disaster Risk Management Diagnostic Note : Sierra Leone, The World Bank, Washington DC. 12 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 cassava by 44 per cent.4 The purchasing power The policy explicitly adopts a lifecycle approach of the average Sierra Leonean has been highly providing age-appropriate social protection affected due to the stagnation of incomes. interventions which recognise the need to hinder the build-up of risks and vulnerabilities throughout the lifecycle. It covers three main categories of social protection – social

1.2 — Social protection insurance, social assistance and traditional

1.2 Social protection insurance, social assistance and traditional social protection.5 Within these three Social protection is high on the agenda of the categories, the policy outlines the priority Government of Sierra Leone. Since 2014 its groups as children, people with disabilities and flagship Social Safety Net (SSN) programme ill health, older people, women and youth. and other social protection interventions have reached more than 190,000 extremely Due to the frequency and severity of poor households with a regular cash transfer humanitarian situations in Sierra Leone, which has allowed beneficiary households to which cause loss of life and severe economic smooth their consumption and mitigate the damage, social protection has become a most severe impacts of poverty. In May 2020, significant policy and programme area for taking into account the implications of the the Government. Ensuring shock-responsive COVID-19 pandemic, the Government decided aspects to social protection and enhancing the to expand the SSN programme nationwide capacity to respond to humanitarian situations to reach an additional 70,000 households and through social protection programmes are an has adjusted the programme to address a absolute priority. broader range of vulnerabilities and needs. In the MTNDP, the Government declared its Against the background of COVID-19, the commitment to developing a solid national operationalisation of the social protection social protection system and delivering quality policy objectives in a comprehensive Strategy social protection services to the population to becomes even more urgent. With the onset enhance human capital. of the COVID-19 pandemic, social protection has become a central element of the In January 2020, the Government launched Government's response, with the recognition its revised National Social Protection Policy that infection prevention interventions, (NSPP). It sets out the goal to establish a including restriction on movement, reduced gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive and market access and reduced activity in certain age-appropriate framework for protecting the sectors, severely impact the livelihoods of extreme poor and vulnerable and to minimise households, particularly those within the risks of others sliding into poverty through a informal sector. Social protection is one of the minimum social protection floor for all Sierra five pillars under the Quick Action Economic Leonean citizens to ensure a life of dignity. The Recovery Plan (QAERP), initiated in April 2020 specific objectives under the policy are: for the socio-economic response to COVID-19. Beneficiaries have been targeted through: i) an • Stronger state-citizen relationships; emergency cash transfer programme reaching • Enhanced human capital development; households of informal workers in urban • Effective management of risk and areas; ii) the COVID-19 SSN, which will reach vulnerability; 70,000 households across the country; and • Empowerment and livelihood iii) two rounds of special campaigns targeting development; people with disabilities with food assistance • Sustained social cohesion and nation- and cash transfers ahead of the two rounds of building; three-day full lockdowns in April and May 2020 respectively. • Inclusive macro-economic policy. 4 MoA-WFP Market Monitor Report Sierra Leone (April — June 2022). 5 The NSPP includes under the heading of “traditional social protection” all local-level schemes in the form of cash contribution groups (such as ‘osusu’), informal labour exchange and extended family reciprocity. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 13 Key concerns for the social protection sector age-appropriate social protection services within Sierra Leone are the sustainability incorporating considerations of disability, and longevity of the major programmes, the gender- and child-sensitive social protection, interaction with the current decentralisation including coverage targets which would enable policy and the management of cases for achievement of the policy objectives. beneficiaries. The major social protection programmes, such as the SSN, are funded Second, it considers how to operationalise by development partners, with minimal those programmes to meet the policy allocation from the Government's budget. objectives through setting systems This lack of sustainable long-term funding strengthening targets to ensure coherent, arrangement creates a challenge for coordinated, and effective implementation of coordinating social protection programmes social protection programmes in Sierra Leone. and limits opportunities to go beyond This includes tools such as a single social addressing immediate poverty and to develop registry, a Grievance Redress Mechanism, human capabilities and increase resilience shock-responsive capacity, linkages with through a long-term vision of inclusive social and referrals to social services, capacity protection. Similarly with decentralisation: strengthening, a monitoring and evaluation the Government is keenly aware of the need framework and coordination mechanisms. to decentralise, but capacity and progress towards doing so are limited. Any social Finally, it outlines the costs of the Strategy protection system to meet the vast needs of as a whole, including systems strengthening an underserved rural population in the context and programmes, and based on scenarios of wide disparities between urban and rural modelled with selected levels of coverage poverty must consider the need to support of priority groups, benefit levels and decentralised capacity in service delivery as comprehensiveness of programming to inform a central concern. A third key issue pertains progressive realisation of the NSPP's vision of to the case management for beneficiaries, universal coverage by 2040. whereby the lack of referral mechanisms to services, coupled with the prevailing inadequacy of local service provision, limits access to appropriate needs based on age, 1.4 Process gender, disability, health, nutrition etc. With full national ownership of the process and simultaneously ensure that the Strategy fully reflects the NSPP's commitment

1.3 — Purpose and to a life-course approach supported by

1.3 Purpose and to a life-course approach supported by objectives robust, common and scalable systems, the development of the Strategy was split across specialised technical working groups. These To strengthen the strategic vision and groups covered the two main components of direction of the social protection sector, an the Strategy: the programmes component and integrated National Social Protection Strategy the systems strengthening component. is critical for Sierra Leone. This Strategy, the result of a national consultation process On the programmes side, six of these groups facilitated by international social protection were set up to reflect the six key life-course experts, outlines the strategic priority areas for stages outlined in the NSPP, namely: the next five years (2022-2026) to meet the policy objectives laid out in the NSPP. • Pregnant women and infants (0-5 years) • School-age (6-14 years) First, it outlines the programmes needed to • Youth (15-24 years)6 reach policy objectives and strategic targets, • Working age (25-64 years) reaching priority groups of the population with 6 It should be noted that the age brackets in the NSPP (where youth covers 15 to 24 years) differs from the traditional definition of “Youth” used in Sierra Leone (15 to 35 years). The NSPS retains the age range of the NSPP for consistency. 14 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 • Older people (over 65 years) need to be very different for infants than for • Disability and chronic illness older people or those with disabilities. The remaining four technical working The advantage of working separately across groups focussed on specific systems different life-course groups was that it subcomponents: allowed a much clearer focus on the various risks and vulnerabilities faced through the • Back-office systems: registry, life course. This facilitated the definition of Management Information System primary and secondary objectives for each (MIS), targeting, selection and financial life-course group, helped to identify coverage management; gaps once all existing interventions had been • Client-facing systems: outreach, mapped, and permitted the identification of Information Education and Communication critical linkages, thereby making the scope (IEC), Grievance Redress Mechanism of Strategy development more manageable (GRM) and case management; by focussing collaboration on just the key • Monitoring and evaluation; and partners for that particular life-course group. It also helped to avoid the common pitfalls of • Governance and coordination. developing an undifferentiated overall Social Protection Strategy. For example, it is better All of these working groups met individually to see different interventions for different on several occasions throughout the Strategy life-course groups as being different policy formulation process, in each case supported choices, not as "categorical targeting". It is remotely by an expert from the facilitation more readily apparent that "graduation" from team. During the assignment, there were also a programme is a viable objective only for the three more extensive workshops comprising working age (and perhaps youth), not for other all the working groups and other stakeholders. life-course groups, and that "exit strategies" ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 15 2. Overview of the National Social Protection Policy

2.1 — Conception of social protection

2.1 Conception of social protection In common with many other similar policies beyond what would generally be considered in Africa at the time, Sierra Leone's first pure social protection. Its policy measures social protection policy, developed in 2011, are "classified into 11 categories", including focused on reducing current poverty (in a number that clearly correlates with other addition – even then – to an objective of sectoral responsibilities, for example: strengthening systems). "As a manifestation • Education ("provide free education,… of its commitment, the Government adopted scholarships,…exam fees") the Social Protection Policy in 2011 with the specific sector objectives to (a) Strengthen the • Health ("provide free healthcare") social protection delivery system; (b) Ensure • Agriculture ("improve agricultural the poorest and vulnerable are afforded an productivity") equal opportunity to access basic services and • Employment ("promote the development mitigate risks." of SMEs") • Emergency response ("train emergency By the time of the current iteration of the response volunteers") NSPP, again in common with the evolution of • Infrastructure ("adapt existing and new more global perceptions, there is a recognition streets") that social protection needs to go much further than alleviating current poverty. The • Active Labour Market Programmes goal of the policy is to establish a gender- ("facilitate training…in micro-enterprise sensitive and age-appropriate framework for activities") protection of the most poor and vulnerable • Protection ("interventions such as child and to minimise the risks of others sliding rights and advocacy/awareness, early into poverty through a minimum social child development activities, educational protection floor for all Sierra Leonean citizens assistance, health assistance") to ensure a life of dignity. This recognises that social protection should address broader This comprehensiveness clearly recognises vulnerabilities all citizens face throughout that a comprehensive social protection their lives, build their resilience, and enable system requires a coordinated multi-sectoral them to live in dignity. As His Excellency, approach. But it also requires a countervailing the President, wrote in his Foreword to recognition that social protection alone cannot the NSPP: "It is also our hope that we can achieve these policy objectives: that will foster resilience to emergencies and a more instead require close collaboration and strong inclusive development pathway for the links with the National Development Strategy/ country". The Strategy needs to reflect this Plan as well as other Ministries, Departments broader understanding. and Agencies (MDA), who have the primary mandate for these different sectors. This Strategy, therefore, focuses on the core social protection aspects of the NSPP but with an

2.2 — Scope objective to ensure consistency with other

2.2 Scope objective to ensure consistency with other existing policies that already establish clear The current NSPP is a very comprehensive guidelines in linked areas, such as education, document. Its expansive scope extends health, gender, school meals, disability, HIV/ AIDS, old age, and so on. 16 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 This Strategy must help to build such linkages it sets out a "minimum package" reflecting and partnerships, which has already started the SPF. It also explicitly adopts a rights- through the formation of the working groups based approach, seeing social protection as during the Strategy development process. a "fundamental right" with a "goal of universal coverage" to be achieved – encouragingly, but ambitiously – "within a horizon of no more than twenty years".

2.3 — Life-course

2.3 Life-course approach Any of these frameworks could legitimately have been adopted as the basis for the Strategy. However, it was agreed to adopt a The NSPP refers to several different life-course framework (already encapsulated frameworks for social protection. For example, in a human rights-based approach). Already it references the "protection, prevention, the NSPP articulates clearly in its section on promotion, transformation" framework that "Approach to Social Protection" that "The policy was the basis for the previous policy. But adopts a lifecycle approach (cradle to the this, while sound conceptually, is less helpful grave)". Furthermore, the life-course approach operationally. The NSPP also sets out, as is beneficial in providing clarity on the different mentioned above, eleven "categories", and it risks, vulnerabilities, objectives, coordination, makes implicit reference to the internationally partnerships and linkages relating to various promoted Social Protection Floor (SPF),7 life-course groups. particularly in its "Area of Focus #1", where Figure 2-1. Lifecycle Vulnerabilities Pregnancy/ Nursing/ Early School age Youth Working age Old age Disability childhood Covariate shocks • Poor nutrition • Child labour • Inadequate skills • Unemployment or • Increasing frailty • Additional • Stunting • Limited/late • Unemployment underemployment • Inability to work costs of equal • Reduced access to school • Inability to access • Inadequate wages • No care from participation cognitive (esp. girls) training • Debt family • Limited access to Source: Development Pathways development • Early leaving • Alienation • Need to care for • Discrimination in school/vocational • Missed school • Early pregnancy/ children/parents labour force and training immunization • Abuse/neglect marriage • No childcare access to credit • Physical barriers • No access to ANC • Malnutrition • Risky behaviours • Women's • Elder abuse • Stigmatisation and PNC • Loss of parental • Drug/substance rights/gender • Need to care for • Discrimination • Loss of parental care/poor abuse discrimination grandchildren • Isolation/social care parenting • Trafficking/ • Domestic violence • Lack of shelter exclusion • Insufficient birth • Children in the migration • Dowry payments • Social exclusion • Gender inequality spacing street • Harmful practices • Sexual • Gender inequality • Gender inequality • Gender inequality harassment • Sex for grades 7 As per the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommedation 202 on Social Protection Floor (SPF). ILO’s conception of an SPF also includes access to healthcare. In Sierra Leone, social health insurance falls predominantly under the National Health Sector Strategic Plan, so is not included in the NSPS. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 17

2.4 — A focus on avoid these pitfalls and are a much simpler

2.4 A focus on avoid these pitfalls and are a much simpler way of designing a rights-based gender- individuals responsive social security system, as the NSPP recognises. By adopting a life-course approach, the NSPP moves Sierra Leone's social protection to assume a focus on the individual rather than the household. In adopting a life- 2.5 Core principles course approach, it is recognised that many individuals experience multiple and of the Strategy intersecting vulnerabilities during a lifetime. The Strategy adopts the key principles set out In the design of social transfer programmes, in the NSPP, specifically the following: policymakers can choose between targeting benefits to individuals or households. As rights • The principle of redistribution – The holders, individuals of all ages are entitled to State redistributes resources progressively social protection to help them address the to reduce gaps in inequality, using particular risks and vulnerabilities they might important means of resource redistribution face throughout their lives. and provision of non-market services and opportunities to ensure social order In addition to risks and vulnerabilities across and stability. This principle commits to different life stages, policymakers must redistribution of resources, and the GoSL consider the many potential barriers to will reduce poverty among adults and accessing social protection programmes children in line with the SDGs through that may be experienced by individuals or social transfers, social insurance and the households. In particular, when designing provision of social support services. or adjusting the parameters of a social • The principle of universal basic protection programme, policymakers must needs: – All humans have fundamental consider intra-household poverty – which is a universal rights for successful and common deficiency of schemes targeted at critical participation in social life. Human the household level. Household-level targeting needs are the universal preconditions for does not account for the intra-household participation in social life. The Government distribution of income or wealth and can have therefore, affirms the right of every Sierra negative implications for vulnerable persons Leonean to satisfy their basic needs, within the household – particularly those less especially in the areas of education, likely to generate incomes. Such individuals health, food security and housing. may not be eligible for particular social • The principle of citizenship: – This protection schemes if they live in a household principle stipulates that the purpose of categorised as "non-poor". Therefore, providing the State is for the good of the citizens. individual benefits, such as an old-age pension All citizens, without discrimination on or disability benefit, may be a more practical the basis of status, class, gender or approach to avoiding exclusion. orientation, should be offered some minimum standard of living in relation to With household benefits (which tend to be an agreed range of services. The GoSL, paid directly to the head of household), their through its relevant agencies, will carry impact on different household members may out relevant citizenship-related activities to vary due to unequal sharing of resources ensure the effective delivery of services to between household members. Policymakers the populace. in some countries have recognised this risk • The principle of human rights: – The and do not restrict the number of benefits a principles of human rights are built on the household can receive as long as members fact that all human beings are born equal fulfil eligibility criteria. As a result, the overall in dignity and rights. Social and economic value of benefits received by a household rights therefore, therefore, guarantee the is naturally aligned with the severity of the right to life. Social protection rights are challenges it faces. Generally, individual valued as much as other human rights. benefits, paid for common lifecycle risks, 18 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 The GoSL will reverse any leaning that • Responsiveness to the needs, realities suggests that more attention is being and conditions of livelihood of those given to other human rights than to social whom the policy measures are intended protection rights. to benefit. This would importantly include • The principle of social cohesion: - The advancing gender equality and women’s role of the social contract in maintaining empowerment. social stability and cohesion, which • Affordability in the context of short- and are necessary for the well-being of the medium-term planning for the public individuals and groups in every society, budget and in terms of not placing cannot be over-emphasised. The GoSL will unreasonable burdens on households and consciously use appropriate social welfare communities. and social protection mechanisms to • Sustainability, both financially and discourage actions that could lead to social politically, with the requirement that the dislocation, problems and conflict. GoSL ensures that the state’s role in social • Principle of social inclusiveness – Social protection reflects an adequate level of inclusiveness demands that increasing public support for interventions to assist provision be made for economic, social, the poorest. political and cultural opportunities for • Social protection mainstreamed citizens’ participation in the normal institutionally within sustainable structures activities of their society without stigma of Government and implemented within or discrimination. This should include state structures. the issue of intersectionality through • Social protection built on the principle combating all forms of discrimination, of utilising the capabilities of individuals, oppression and marginalisation. GoSL households and communities and avoiding accepts this view and shall take necessary the creation of dependency and stigma. measures to widen access and increase participation by all. • Social protection mechanisms that are flexible and capable of responding to changing scenarios and the emergence Other principles also taken into consideration of new challenges (e.g. the impact of the in the NSPP include: Ebola virus disease, landslides and floods). ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 19 3. Programmes The Strategy follows the structure of the will need to ensure that programmes NSPP in adopting a life-course framework and services within this Strategy address of critical programmes, using the distinct women's specific needs throughout their life life-course groups delineated in the NSPP, cycle. In addition, it is of key importance that namely "0-5, 6-14, 15-24, 25-64 and above 65 social protection programmes are subject to years", with an additional life-course group gender-sensitive eligibility criteria which take concerned with disability. To some degree, into account intra-household dynamics and these age boundaries are artificial, with some distribution of work and resources and do not vulnerabilities – for example, gender-based impose requirements that disproportionately violence (GBV) or access to health8 spanning disadvantage girls and women. several different life-course stages. But they help identify specific risks and vulnerabilities In general terms, the Strategy takes individuals face across their life cycle, so SP deliberate measures to address women's programmes and services can adequately gender-specific risks and vulnerabilities, cover these. The life-course approach also enabling women and men to thrive, recognises the interconnectedness of different survive, and balance employment and vulnerabilities and makes it easier to identify caregiving responsibilities. Social protection gaps so that inequities are reduced through programmes, while acknowledging the role coverage expansion. of women as caregivers, should refrain from reinforcing patterns of discrimination A key consideration for the Strategy is and negative stereotyping. There is also gender equity, as a cross-cutting element evidence9 that suggests a linkage between to be taken into consideration for all life- social protection and a reduction in GBV, course stages. Given that gender-sensitive as more income security decreases men's social protection can accelerate progress stress, anxiety and tensions around poverty towards gender equality and that the impacts and financial insecurity. In addition, women's of social protection programmes are not empowerment can be used to mitigate and gender-neutral, it is of utmost importance prevent GBV; and more linkages with other that these considerations are part of the social services aimed at reducing GBV can proposed targets. As such, the design and be attained. Box 3-1 provides more details implementation of social protection strategies on the type of social protection programme need to recognise the multiple forms of design features that can contribute towards discrimination and risks that especially girls reducing GBV. and women experience. The Government 8 Access to health, through the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance (SLeSHI) scheme, fall under the National Health Sector Strategic Plan, and is not discussed in detail in the NSPS. 9 Roy, S. et al. (2019) Can transfers and behavior change communication reduce intimate partner violence four years post-program? Experimental evidence from Bangladesh. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1869. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Friedman, J. (2019) Cash and Voucher Assistance and Gender Based Violence Compendium: Practical Guidance for Humanitarian Practitioners, A COMPANION GUIDE TO THE IASC GBV GUIDELINES; Petti, A. (2018) “Cash Transfers Can Reduce Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescent Girls”. Presentation at The Gender-Based Violence Task Force of the Interagency Gender Working Group, Addressing Gender-Based Violence Through Cash Transfer Programming, Monday, Gillings School of Global Public Health; Buller AM., et al. (2018) A Mixed Methods Review of Cash Transfers and Intimate Partner Violence in LMICs. Presentation at The Gender-Based Violence Task Force of the Interagency Gender Working Group, Addressing Gender-Based Violence Through Cash Transfer Programming. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UNICEF Innocenti, IFPRI; Heath,R., Hidrobo, M. and Roy, S. (2020) Cash transfers, polygamy, and intimate partner violence: Experimental evidence from Mali. Journal of Development Economics 143: 102410. 20 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Box 3-1. Gender-sensitive social protection programme and service design features10 • Programme delivery: risks of GBV and sexual exploitation need to be addressed through design and implementation. Key: participation of women in design and implementation. What are their considerations? • How the transfer is framed may be crucial in how men respond and, therefore, may affect impact (e.g. children's nutrition versus explicit empowerment framing). Also, in highly patriarchal settings, shifts in household dynamics that are less challenging to traditional gender norms are less likely to prompt violence. • Intra-household relationships are key: design features to allow women to retain control (messaging, frequency, size of transfer) and disaggregate polygamous and non-polygamous households (to decrease possible tensions). • Communications Strategy: messaging and awareness on GBV and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). • GRM/call centres: can also identify GBV/IPV cases and refer them through the appropriate referral channels. • Monitoring and beneficiaries' surveys: data collection should include questions that safely explore potential GBV risks and data disaggregation by sex, age, disability and other inequality factors to monitor equal access. • Women working in care: Government needs to look into how women and girls have also been disproportionately exposed to health risks, violence, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. • Additional services/components provide the potential for synergies and linkages. GBV actors increasingly use social protection as an essential component of programming for survivors of violence – to help facilitate access to services, including payment of fees and transportation costs. • Use of existing gender capacity, as well as mainstreaming GBV tools and the national referral protocols in social protection responses. • Provide training and capacity building to programme implementers on Gender- Based Violence Information Management Systems (GBVIMS) and IPV. • Police record and reference checks for implementation staff, particularly front-line staff in direct contact with programme beneficiaries. • If targeted to women: accompany with gender discussion groups, knowledge strengthening to utilize social protection programmes to assert women's rights to equality and prevent violence, and including men in other support interventions. Sierra Leone has a Gender Inequality Index labour market. In addition to inequality, women score of 0.644. This score, ranging from 0 in Sierra Leone are also subject to or at a high to 1, reflects the loss of potential human risk of being subjected to significant acts of development from women faring quite poorly GBV and harmful practices. For example, the compared to their male counterparts in prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting reproductive health, empowerment and the among girls and women affects 86.1 per cent 10 Buller, AM., et al. (2018) A Mixed Methods Review of Cash Transfers and Intimate Partner Violence in LMICs. Presentation at The Gender-Based Violence Task Force of the Interagency Gender Working Group, Addressing Gender-Based Violence Through Cash Transfer Programming. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UNICEF Innocenti, IFPRI; Quarterman, L. and Peterman, A. (2020) Tips for linking social protection and gender-based violence prevention and response during COVID-19, Gender and COVID-19. Accessible via https://www.genderandcovid-19.org/research/social-protection-gender-based-violence-gbv-covid-19-corona-evidence-programming/, last visited on 29 October 2021. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 21 of women aged 15 to 49;11 and 48.8 per cent space is constrained (especially in the wake of of women aged 15 and older have previously COVID-19) and can only realistically be expected experienced violence by their intimate partner.12 to expand gradually over time. Overall, the Strategy aims to strike a balance The table below summarises the between the longer-term ambition of the NSPP recommendations for each life-course stage. for universal coverage within 20 years and the pragmatic recognition that current fiscal Table 0-1. Summary of life-course stage recommendations Life-course stage Next 5 years To 2040 0-5 • Gradual roll-out of child grant for • Roll-out of mothers' support under 2s Birth registration bonus? groups. • Establishment of mothers' support • Child Grant expansion of age up to groups. 5 years. • Early childhood development programmes. 6-14 • Educational incentives and waivers • Further expansion of child grants up for marginalised/vulnerable children. to 14 years. • Progressively expand the coverage • Roll out home-grown school feeding of home-grown school feeding. to national coverage. 15-24 • Educational incentives and waivers, • Integrate Active Labour Market develop youth skills training and Policies (ALMPs) for youth into links to employment opportunities. SSN. • Support safe transition to • Educational incentives and waivers adulthood (Life skills). for youth. • Provide support (livelihood, psychosocial, health, legal, etc.) to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and other forms of violence. 25-64 • Labour market policy and • Introduction of reformed SSN legislative reform. • Expansion of coverage of social • Continuation and refinement of insurance (membership and SSN. contingency). • Review of expansion of social insurance. • Develop employment opportunities. • Provide support (livelihood, psychosocial, health, legal, etc.) to survivors of GBV and other forms of violence. >60 • Gradual expansion of pension for • Expansion of pension down to the those over 70 years of age. age of 60 years. • Policy and legislation on age retirement. Disability • Disability assessment system. • National expansion of a disability • Disability registry. grant. • Introduction of a disability grant. • Employment opportunities adapted to persons with disabilities. • Disability friendly infrastructure. 11 Statistics Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2017, Survey Findings Report. Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2018. 12 UNDP, Human Development Reports Database. Accessible via http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/SLE,last visited on 28 October 2021. 22 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 This comprises an initial programmatic focus on (i) consolidating and expanding the existing 3.1 Pregnant women social pension for those over 70 years of age and (ii) gradually introducing a new child and preschool grant for those under two years of age (i.e. children (0 to 5 covering the critical first 1000 days), both of which would be operating universally across years) the country by the end of the next five years. These two life-course programmes, though 3.1.1 The challenge restricted in terms of the age of eligibility, would nonetheless constitute the building Infancy is the stage of a person's life when he blocks of an inclusive social protection or she most needs protection. Indeed, such system, start to leverage the political economy protection should ideally start at conception of inclusive social protection and would lay and cover – at an absolute minimum – the the foundation for gradual expansion over first 1000 days. Vulnerabilities at this life- the rest of the period to 2040, by which course stage include malnutrition, resulting time all children below the age of 15 and all in permanent physical stunting and reduced people over the age of 60 would be covered. cognitive development; missed immunisation Alongside these, the next five years would and growth monitoring; limited access to provide the opportunity (i) to establish the ante-natal, postnatal and subsequent medical necessary systems for the determination, care; poor parenting and the absence of mental assessment, registration and enrolment of stimulation; and the possible loss of parental persons with disabilities so that they, too, at care from bereavement or migration. whatever age, could be increasingly included in the pension programme, even within Risks begin in the womb, particularly if the next two years; and (ii) to expand the pregnant women cannot access an adequate home-grown school feeding programme as a and diverse diet or access to health care, as complementary intervention and to validate this will negatively impact their babies' health different approaches to ensuring – while status or even their chances of life. According the child grant is not yet fully expanded – to the Demographic and Health Survey, in that no child is excluded from school as a 2019, the levels of the maternal mortality result of financial barriers. Finally, for the rate was 717 deaths per 100,000 births, the age groups in between (for youths and the infant mortality rate was 75 deaths per 1,000 working age), it is recommended (a) that live births, the under-5 mortality rate was 122 the existing SSN should continue, with deaths per 1,000 live births, and the neonatal some refinements already proposed and an mortality was at 31 deaths per 1,000 live births. expansion of coverage to informal workers Moreover, disaggregated results by wealth who have been hit hard by COVID-19, and quintile showed that neonatal mortality is at (b) that a new set of programmes should be a similar rate throughout the wealth quintiles introduced that specifically targets building the (a rate of 30 in the lowest quintile versus educational attainments, skills, livelihoods and a rate of 33 in the highest wealth quintile). employability of youths. However, there was a slight decrease in infant and under-5 mortality with each increase in Based on the proposals formulated by the wealth quintile (a rate of 91 in the lowest respective working groups, these options quintile versus 60 in the highest, and a rate are discussed in more detail in the following of 145 in the lowest versus 89 in the highest, sections. respectively). Lower quintiles are also less likely to receive a postnatal check for the mother and newborn, with the percentage of women with a postnatal check during the first 2 days after birth varying from 81.4 per cent in the lowest quintile to 92.2 per cent in the highest quintile, and the percentage for newborn's postnatal check National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 23 ranging from 77.7 in the lowest quintile to 90.4 Additional risks to a child's development can in the wealthiest. also be derived from their nutritional status. According to the 2019 Demographic and Moreover, only 49.3 per cent of children aged Health Survey and the 2017 Multiple Indicator 12 to 23 months, on average, have received all Cluster Survey (MICS), on average, 30 per appropriate vaccinations and only 29.7 per cent cent of children in Sierra Leone under age 5 of children aged 24 to 35 months, on average, are stunted (low height for their age), 5 per have obtained all appropriate vaccinations. cent are wasted (low weight for their height), 14 per cent are underweight (low weight for One of the reasons for the high mortality rates, their age), and 5 per cent are overweight (high differing levels of postnatal checks and low weight for their height). The prevalence of levels of immunisations can be explained by stunting decreases with increasing mothers' the fact that 72 per cent of women in Sierra education, from 32 per cent among children Leone report at least one barrier to accessing whose mothers have no education to 20 health care. In the barriers surveyed by the per cent among those whose mothers have 2019 Demographic and Health Survey (i.e. more than a secondary education. Similarly, getting permission to go for treatment, getting the prevalence of stunting decreases with money for treatment, distance to the health increasing household wealth, from 33 per cent facility, and not wanting to go alone), the most among children in the lowest wealth quintile prominent barriers and the barriers with the to 24 per cent among those in the highest most discrepancy between wealth quintiles are quintile (although 24 per cent is still a very (1) getting money for treatment (83 per cent in high level). On the other hand, severe stunting, the lowest quintile and remaining relatively high underweight and wasting are not correlated in the 4/5 lowest quintiles) and (2) the distance with poverty: they are evenly distributed to a health facility (44 per cent on average but across the wealth distribution, meaning that varying from 67 per cent in the lowest quintile malnutrition is a challenge that needs to be and 22 per cent in the wealthiest quintile). addressed universally (see Figure 3-1). ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 24 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Figure 3-1. Malnutrition rates Distribution of Malnutrition by Wealth Quintile 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% Under-5 stunting 20,0% Under-5 severe 15,0% stunting 10,0% Under-5 underweight Source: MICS (2017) 5,0% 0,0% Under-5 wasting Poorest 2 3 4 Richest Moreover, only 54 per cent of children under nutrition are not only monetary, calling for age 6 months are exclusively breastfed, different approaches and responses, including and only 69 per cent of children ages 6 to 8 better access to services and Social Behaviour months receive timely complementary foods. Change Communication (SBCC). Early initiation of breastfeeding decreases with increasing household wealth (from 82 per cent In terms of early childhood development, only among children in the lowest wealth quintile 19 per cent of children aged 2 to 4 have been to 64 per cent among those in the highest engaged in activities that promote learning quintile), while prelacteal feeding is more by an adult household member,13 and only 21 common among children born to mothers in per cent of pre-primary schools receive aid the highest wealth quintile (18 per cent) than from the Government through the Free Quality among those born to mothers in the lower School Education Programme (launched quintiles (8 to 10 per cent). in August 2018) leaving very low gross enrolment rates at 18.3 per cent for boys and Additionally, the proportion of children 20.3 per cent for girls at that level in 2019.14 receiving a minimum acceptable diet rises with increasing mothers' education, from 7 per cent among children whose mothers 3.1.2 Current social protection have no education to 23 per cent among those whose mothers have more than a Whilst there are currently no substantial secondary education. Similarly, the proportion Government-run social protection programmes of children receiving a minimum acceptable specifically targeting this critical age group of diet increases with increasing household pregnant women and preschool children, there wealth, from 6 per cent to 14 per cent, which are several programmes aimed at improving shows (a) that increased income can improve the health, and nutrition of women and nutrition but (b) that barriers to adequate children, in particular through the free health 13 Statistics Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2017, Survey Findings Report. Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2018. 14 CGA Technologies (2021), Out-of-school Children Study. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 25 care initiative and early childhood development with payment schedules linked to particular such as the Government preschools (21 in milestone events to provide an incentive Pujehun, 6 in Bombali and 3 in Kambia) and for attendance at birth counselling, facility- community-based ECD centres. There is also a supervised birth, birth registration, regular nascent initiative to establish Mothers' Support growth monitoring, vaccination, health care Groups to capacitate groups of mothers (in and early childhood development. This would some cases based on existing groups such support robust universal access to birth as women's groups, church groups, married registration, issuance of birth certificates (an adolescent groups, breastfeeding groups, essential human right), and increased access groups for people living with HIV/AIDS and to universal early childhood development and for preventing mother-to-child transmission) to psychosocial well-being. Coupled with supply- improve early childhood care and development side improvements and with appropriate through training in early stimulation and early SBCC, it would potentially contribute to an learning methodologies, WASH, child protection expansion in vaccination coverage and in and safety, nurturing care framework and basic early access of children identified as being group facilitation techniques. severely malnourished to therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes (for Maternity benefit exists for a very limited which the absence of cash for transport costs number of employees in the formal sector. is often a constraining factor), which will, in Many programmes have been targeting the turn, contribute to significant improvements in first 1000 days, run by local and international maternal and child nutrition. NGOs, for example, those implemented by Focus 1000, Child Fund, Save the Children, Alongside the child grant, the expansion of the Cause Canada etc. Finally, there are inevitably national school feeding programme will ensure some beneficiaries of the Government's that, when a child is enrolled at an ECD centre SSN programme who fall into this category, or pre-primary school, a nutritious school meal but they are supported because they are shall be provided to improve the nutritional members of poor households, not because of status of the child. the vulnerabilities they face at this particular life-course stage. And yet, the first 1000 days are critical to a child's development: any 3.1.4 Action plan to 2026 damage done at this stage will be irreversible. It is essential that pregnant women and carers Implementation of the contributory maternity of young infants receive more support and benefit is already considered as a priority guidance and are incentivised to better feed, activity of possible social security reforms.16 nourish and nurture their children. The child grant would be introduced gradually

3.1.3 — Vision for 2040 over the next five years. During this period,

3.1.3 Vision for 2040 over the next five years. During this period, it would start with an exclusive focus on All women in formal employment, and improving nutrition over the first 1000 days – increasingly – those working in the (i.e. targeting children up to the age of 2 informal sector, should be entitled to a years, whilst being gradually rolled out legally mandated, standardised contributory to full national coverage. While abundant maternity benefit funded by the National robust evidence shows that cash transfers Social Security and Insurance Trust (NaSSIT). positively impact poverty reduction, one of the determinants of malnutrition, their impact on All children under the age of 5 should be long-term nutritional outcomes has been more entitled to receive a child grant,15 paid to limited and inconsistent. While timely cash the child's primary caregiver from the time transfers are a critical part of addressing child the mother registers her pregnancy. This malnutrition, the evidence indicates that other would be offered on a universal basis and measures need to complement cash to achieve 15 In 2040, the grant for under-5s would integrate seamlessly with the child grant proposed in the next section. 16 Pers comm, Ministry of Labour and Social Security. 26 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 consistent nutrition outcomes. 1,000 days, health-seeking behaviour, hygiene "Cash Plus" describes programmes that and access to treatment of acute malnutrition. combine cash with behavioural and other By integrating cash transfers with nutrition- interventions to reinforce and expand positive specific interventions, these programmes help nutritional impacts. These can include additional ensure households have access to a minimum benefits or in-kind transfers, information and necessary income to support purchasing a SBCC; psychosocial support; or linkage to other nutritious diet and other expenses related to services. Cash plus programmes that aim to child health. impact nutrition outcomes include measures to address the financial and non-financial barriers Alongside this, there should be a continued to food security, caring practices, household national focus on improved ECD through a environment and access to services. These coordinated programme of support to mothers programmes have two main components: a and caregivers linked to the child grant and nutrition-sensitive cash transfer accompanied through an expansion of preschool facilities by nutrition-specific interventions and linkages operated by the Ministry of Basic and Senior to other sectoral services to improve Infant Secondary Education (MBSSE). and Young Child Feeding practices in the first Priority social protection activities will include: • Build on the UNICEF/World Bank "Business Case and Fiscal Space Analysis" to develop a strong Investment Case for a child grant programme for under-5s as a justification for the Ministry of Finance (MoF). • Design the implementation modalities to incentivise regular attendance at key milestone events from pregnancy through to age 2 and develop cash-plus approaches and SBCC to encourage improved nutrition and ECD. • Work with MoHS to ensure supply-side readiness of clinics and other service providers. • Deliver child grant cash transfers for young children, initially up to the age of 2 (i.e. for the first 1000 days), laying the foundation for a gradual increase in the age of eligibility. • Complete roll-out in a pilot district with high malnutrition rates and good supply- side service provision which would allow testing of the practicalities (and different options) of linking payments to milestone events, compared with regular payments. • Roll out to further districts in each subsequent year so that complete coverage is achieved by 2026, with ongoing monitoring and impact assessment. Associated activities will include: • Strengthen partnerships with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs (MGCA), Ministry of Social Welfare (MSW), Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), NaCSA, National Commission for Children, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and National Nutrition Secretariat; and establish an institutional framework for coordination among MDAs, to leverage the broader potential of the child grant. • Work with MBSSE to expand the national school feeding programme envisaged under FQSE to provide school meals to all pre-primary and primary students in vulnerable communities. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 27 • Further Government collaboration and partnership with the private sector, donors and other international partners to drive the policy and advocacy efforts. • Design the necessary SBCC and complementary programmes informed by existing studies as required to better understand the current drivers of malnutrition. Map and expand complementary programmes of service provision for mothers and infants (e.g. Mothers' Support Groups) to promote these externalities through cash-plus approaches. • Work with the National Committee on GBV and the Child Protection Committee to ensure the protection of children, enabling their rights, and psychosocial well-being through improved case management. • Work with MBSSE to increase universal access to early childhood development as a means of advancing education for all, including the provision of resources, strengthening parenting skills and cognitive stimulation of children, capacity building, and curriculum dissemination (e.g. "Learning Through Play – Preschool Teacher Training Guide".) • Increase access to birth registration, ensuring the inclusion of children with disabilities, by linking with existing birth registration policies and programmes, and consider ways to incentivise mothers to register, for example, through birth registration campaigns that emphasise that registration is a right that opens the door to other rights (such as education and social protection). • Look into early detection of disabilities for children 0 to 5 years of age to allow for linkages with existing services and programmes. • Increase referrals, where necessary, to therapeutic and supplementary feeding for malnourished children, where cash for transport and accommodation is frequently a significant constraint to continuing treatment in a facility. • Develop and support Child Welfare Committees (CWC) to monitor neonatal, postnatal and vaccination programmes and birth registration.

3.1.5 — Costs and benefits (2023-2027), corresponding to 0.9 per cent of

3.1.5 Costs and benefits (2023-2027), corresponding to 0.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Figure The cost of the maternity benefit for the 3-2). Set against this, improved nutrition formal sector will be fully covered by during the first 1000 days will potentially contributions from employers and employees have a substantial long-term impact on Sierra (including the Government if it wishes to Leone's future prosperity: estimates suggest become involved). But, as discussed in that countries in Africa currently lose between section 3.4 below, this will have limited 5 per cent and 8 per cent of GDP due to coverage, initially restricted to formal sector malnutrition. employees. Due to the projected population growth This will mean that the Government will (UNDESA World Population Prospects, 2019 have to fund the investment in the proposed Revision), costs to finance the universal child non-contributory universal child grant. The benefit will slightly increase over time (Figure cost of this for all under-2s at full coverage, 3-2 -panel a). However, the increase in the with a transfer amount of US$ 5 per child per number of beneficiaries will be more than month (SLE 61.67,17 indexed to inflation after compensated by economic growth (IMF World that), will be, on average, US$ 40 million (SLE Economic Outlook projections), resulting in 537.88 million) per year in the first five years decreasing costs in terms of the share of GDP invested (Figure 3-2 panel b). 17 Based on an exchange rate of SLE 12.333 per US dollar. 28 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Figure 3-2. Investment over the next five years in millions of US dollars and as a percentage of GDP, assuming full coverage from Year 1 (a) (b) 50 1,0% Investment (million USD) Investment (%GDP) 40 0,8% Source: author’s projections 30 0,6% 20 0,4% 10 0,2% 0 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 However, it is not certain, or even likely, that basis, we assume that only 20 per cent of all the necessary funds will be found to achieve eligible children are reached in the first year complete coverage of all children aged 0 to and an additional 20 per cent every year until 2 by the first year. Therefore, there may be a reaching all of them (100 per cent) in year five. need for a progressive roll-out of the scheme.18 Figure 3-3 (blue bars) shows how costs in both This could be achieved through alternative absolute and relative terms would increase targeting approaches: e.g. households with over the first five years with a progressive roll- persons with disabilities first, restricted to out. The targeting method selected does not infants in households benefiting from existing affect the simulation, though it might have a social assistance or by geography. On this limited impact on administrative costs. Figure 3-3. Investment over the next five years in millions of US dollars and as a percentage of GDP, assuming gradual roll-out (a) (b) 50 1,2% 44 Investment (million USD) 1,0% Investment (%GDP) 40 35 0,8% 0,8% Source: author’s projections 0,7% 30 26 0,6% 0,5% 20 17 0,4% 0,4% 10 9 0,2% 0,2% 0 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 18 This will be explored in more detail in chapter 5. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 29 It is highly likely that a universal child grant, Based on data from the Sierra Leone even if initially targeted only at pregnant Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) 2018, women and under-2s, will quickly gain popular Figure 3-4 shows the direct and indirect and political appeal and that there will be a coverage that a universal child benefit aimed natural tendency to increase the value of its at children 0 to 2 would provide across the transfer or the age limit of eligibility over the welfare distribution. The universal grant period to 2040 when the NSPP indicates would deliver higher coverage among the universal coverage should have been attained.19 poorest households without explicit poverty Careful monitoring of the child grant's targeting.20 nutritional (and subsequent educational) impacts would help underpin such support. Figure 3-4. Direct and indirect coverage across the welfare distribution 100 80 Coverage rate (%) 60 40 Source: author’s projections 20 0 Lowest 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Highest Welfare deciles

3.1.6 — Complementary programmes system (since identity itself is a basic human

3.1.6 Complementary programmes system (since identity itself is a basic human right for children as it opens the possibility A cash transfer on its own will not solve of accessing other rights such as education, the problems of malnutrition and children's health and social protection, among others). vulnerabilities but will provide the incentives This will require coordination with MoHS and on which to "hook" other vital interventions. the Nutrition Secretariat. Key development Key complementary programmes for pregnant partners may include the European Union, women and infants are oriented around early UNICEF and WFP. There are important roles childhood care and development and include for NGOs, and potential partnerships with nutrition guidance and surveillance, free the private sector may exist. It is essential access to primary health, ante- and postnatal to maximise coordination with these care, and provision of micronutrients. In complementary interventions to leverage the addition, early contact with, and testing of, child grant's full potential. pregnant mothers will facilitate existing efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. And it will also allow early access to birth registration and the national identity 19 This is what has happened in South Africa, where the age limit of eligibility for the child support grant has gradually increased from 7 years when it began as a primarily nutritional intervention, to 18 years now. 20 In fact, poorer households are more likely to include more (young) children. 30 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026

3.2 — School age Education is a vital prerequisite for combating

3.2 School age Education is a vital prerequisite for combating poverty, empowering women, economic children (6 to growth, protecting children from hazardous and exploitative labour and sexual exploitation, 14 years) promoting human rights and democracy, protecting the environment, and influencing

3.2.1 — The challenge population growth.21

3.2.1 The challenge population growth.21 Key vulnerabilities for this age group would In Sierra Leone, despite the 2004 Education include: Act, which stipulates compulsory basic • Child labour and the inability (for whatever education for all, children face several barriers reason) to access school or to have a to their access to education. According to the satisfactory environment in which to 2018 SLIHS, out of the 38.7 per cent of Sierra study; Leoneans who do not send their children to school, 61.6 per cent responded they do not • Malnutrition, which, whilst not having the value education.22 Another recent MBSSE same irreversible consequences as during study23 to inform the Government's Strategy infancy, can still impede growth, learning on out-of-school children found that money and mental development; was the most significant barrier to education • Domestic violence and other forms of (see Table 3-2, which shows that 50 per cent GBV; harmful practices; and again of those interviewed saw money as the first • The loss of parental care from barrier, and 85 per cent ranked it in the top bereavement or migration, potentially four).24 Other barriers found by both studies resulting in living on the streets. include the distance to a school being too great for children to walk, the lack of materials, One of the most significant risks for children and the lack of food provided at school at within the life-course group of school age is lunchtime, all of which are related to the the risk of not completing their education. financial barrier. Table 3-2. Barriers to accessing education Barrier 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Not Ranked Money 50% 17% 12% 8% 15% Family 14% 18% 9% 14% 46% Materials 10% 25% 24% 18% 25% Source: MBSSE (2021) Food 8% 21% 24% 20% 29% Teacher 7% 6% 12% 18% 60% Distance 5% 6% 9% 9% 71% Friends 2% 5% 6% 7% 80% 21 In Sierra Leone, children enter primary school at age 6, junior secondary at age 12 and secondary school at age 15. There are 6 grades in primary school and 3 + 4 grades in secondary school. In primary school, grades are referred to as class 1 to class 6. For junior secondary school, grades are referred to as Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 to 3 and in upper secondary to Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1 to 4. The school year typically runs from September to July of the following year. 22 With the nationwide introduction of the Free Quality Education Program, it is expected that 22.6 per cent of Sierra Leoneans, who thinks formal education is too expensive at the time of conducting the 2018 SLIHS, will now cope with the minimal cost of sending their children to schools. 23 CGA Technologies (Charlie Goldsmith Associates, 2021). 24 CGA Technologies (2021), Out-of-school Children Study – Workshop Introduction PowerPoint Presentation. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 31 Sanitation 2% 1% 3% 4% 90% Other 2% 0% 0% 1% 96% Sample size 369 356 353 346 Moreover, even after implementing the on unpaid care or domestic work and be Governmental Free Quality School Education forced into early marriages to support their Programme (FQSE) in 2018, the study found household income. that only 70 to 73 per cent of schools receive Government support at primary, junior Children living in poverty are also more likely secondary, and senior secondary school to engage in child labour which hinders levels. Although the FQSE programme did their ability to study since families need the increase the enrolment rate by 33.0 per cent additional income. The 2018 SLIHS found that on average, in 2019, the gross enrolment rate most children either help without pay in the still significantly dropped from 137 per cent for household (91.0 per cent) or are self-employed boys/140.2 per cent for girls at primary school (7.9 per cent). to 77 per cent for boys/76.7 per cent for girls at junior secondary school, which drops even A report from Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL)25 lower at senior secondary school to 58.5 per indicated the number of children in Sierra Leone cent for boys and 54.5 per cent for girls. who were classified as in employment or working was 1,071,023 or about 54.9 per cent Another critical aspect of this life-course stage of the total number of children 5 to 17 years is taking into consideration gender inequities. old. This number was regardless of whether or In general terms, girls living in rural areas in not the work was categorized as child labour. income-insecure households might be more An estimated number of children engaged in prone than boys to drop out of school to take child labour was 895,428, or about 45.9 per cent ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 25 Sierra Leone National Child Labour Survey, 2011. 32 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 of all children 5 to 17 years old. Furthermore, There are currently no Government-run bursary 428,776 children were identified as engaging in programmes, although some NGOs and faith- hazardous work, about 22.0 per cent of the total based Organizations offer financial support number of children 5 to 17 years old. to poor children, even where education is free, to cover the associated costs of books, The 2020 Findings on the Worst Forms stationery, uniform, transport, etc. of Child Labour26 in Sierra Leone indicate that Sierra Leone has made a minimal UNICEF and United Nations Population Fund advancement in its efforts towards eliminating (UNFPA) jointly launched 2016 the Global the Worst Forms of Child Labour. Whilst the Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child country launched a New National Action Marriage. One of the programme’s objectives Plan against Trafficking in Persons, especially is to provide girls with safe spaces where Women and Children, and further launched they can meet with each other and mentors its FQSE initiative in 2018, children in Sierra and speak openly. Another is to teach girls Leone still continue to be subjected to the about their rights under the law to empower Worst Forms of Child Labour, including them to reject and/or report child marriage. commercial sexual exploitation, mining and The safe spaces also promote the value of other forms of hazardous work. continuing their education, and they educate girls on sexual and reproductive health, prevention of GBV and harmful practices,

3.2.2 — Current social protection stress management and positive coping

3.2.2 Current social protection stress management and positive coping strategies. The spaces are a vital referral School feeding is one of the priority system to other essential local services. The agendas for the Government. The number programme has reached 12,000 girls aged of children benefiting from school feeding 10 to 19 years. The programme also engages has quadrupled since the launch of FQSE. with boys and men in the community who In the 2021/22 school year, school meals are involved in child marriage decisions in are being provided to over 640,655 children order to tackle the driving forces behind child in 14 districts that cover 128 food-insecure marriage. The programme, coordinated by the chiefdoms. The programme is implemented Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Secretariat, by Government (which is investing SLE 69 was launched in the Kono district but has million in the current school year) and key since expanded to 10 other chiefdoms in partners, including WFP, Catholic Relief Kambia and Moyamba districts and has trained Services, Plan International and Caritas (who 340 mentors.27 28 With Irish Aid and the Global themselves mobilise additional funding). It Programme, UNFPA supports MBSSE in is the responsibility of the MBSSE, and its implementing age-appropriate comprehensive objectives are primarily educational: improved sexuality education in schools. school attendance, retention and cognitive attainment, and reduced gender disparity. It has positive impacts on attendance, academic 3.2.3 Vision for 2040 performance and child nutrition. It can also be expected that the programme has some Following the vision of the NSPP, the vision secondary impact as a social protection for 2040 is to have substantially increased intervention, providing, on average, up to the access of children as beneficiaries of 10 per cent of household food intake in social protection programmes through a households with a beneficiary. 26 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/sierra-leone 27 Mutseyekwa, T. (27 April 2021), Adolescent safe spaces – motivating adolescent girls’ positive development, UNICEF Sierra Leone, accessible via https://www.unicef.org/sierraleone/stories/adolescent-safe-spaces-motivating-adolescent-girls-positive-development, last visited on 15 October 2021; Habib, J. (20 December 2019), How Safe Spaces Are Helping to Prevent Child Marriage in Sierra Leone, Global Citizen, accessible via https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/safe-spaces-child-marriage-Sierra-Leone/, last visited on 15 October 2021. 28 Mutseyekwa, T. (27 April 2021), Adolescent safe spaces – motivating adolescent girls’ positive development, UNICEF Sierra Leone, accessible via https://www.unicef.org/sierraleone/stories/adolescent-safe-spaces-motivating-adolescent-girls-positive-development, last visited on 15 October 2021; Habib, J. (20 December 2019), How Safe Spaces Are Helping to Prevent Child Marriage in Sierra Leone, Global Citizen, accessible via https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/safe-spaces-child-marriage-Sierra-Leone/, last visited on 15 October 2021. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 33 gradual expansion of the age of eligibility of its potential complementarities with the the child grant (see section 3.1.3) to cover all expanding child grant. children under the age of 15 years. Alongside the envisaged expansion of school meals, It is also recommended that over the next this will ensure that all children access five years – in other words, before any child educational facilities that enable them to grow in the age range 5 to 14 years is covered by into responsible citizens; it will contribute to the expanding child grant – other mechanisms increased access, retention and completion should be implemented to ensure that no child rates; and it will underpin the provision of ‘safe is excluded from school based on financial spaces’ for adolescent girls and boys to study, barriers. Mechanisms that could be tested to gain life skills and to build self-motivation. include, for example: • Bursaries for girls, perhaps initially targeting those in secondary school to

3.2.4 — Action plan to 2026 encourage continued attendance and

3.2.4 Action plan to 2026 encourage continued attendance and reduce the risks of early pregnancy and It is recommended that this longer-term vision marriage; be achieved through a progressive expansion of the child grant age of eligibility (see section • An enrolment bonus at the start of 3.1.3). Specifically, once the proposed grant each school year to defray the costs of for the first 1000 days has been rolled out uniforms, stationery, materials, etc. again, universally across Sierra Leone, the eligibility this could perhaps be introduced first for age will be progressively raised by one year those enrolling for the first time in primary each year until it reaches the age of 14. This school and/or those transitioning from means the only new beneficiaries to be added primary to secondary school, both key to the programme will be mothers of newly- barriers; conceived children, but gradually, by 2040, all • An educational top-up for households with children under the age of 15 will be included school-going children who are part of the in the programme, as recommended by the SSN programme; or NSPP. • Discretionary payments to other deprived households selected by CWCs, schools, or Alongside this, the school meals programme community structures, either together or will continue, moving progressively towards a in combination. home-grown school feeding (HGSF) model, as set out in the 2021 National School Feeding Operational lessons could be learnt from these Policy – see section 3.2.2. It is recommended pilots, which would inform the design and that the objectives and impacts of the school implementation of the child grant expansion. feeding programme are closely monitored from a social assistance perspective to ensure that optimal value for money is derived from Priority social protection activities will include: • Progressively expand the eligibility age for child grants so that by 2040, all children under the age of 15 will be included in the programme. • Test, monitor and evaluate different approaches in the short term as the child grant is gradually phased in over the years (see suggestions above) to ensure that no child is deprived of schooling because of financial barriers. These should seek to find ways, in the short term, in which social protection can support the radical inclusion policy and future initiatives for out-of-school children. • Develop a clear funding strategy with initial support from interested development partners. 34 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Associated activities will include: • Build on the UNICEF/World Bank “Business Case and Fiscal Space Analysis” to develop a strong Investment Case for a child grant programme for under-15s as a justification for the return on investment for MoF. • Promote linkages of child grants with the home-grown school feeding programme and monitor impacts and effectiveness when coupled with a universal child grant. • Work with the education sector to include social protection in the Out of School Children Strategy. • Ensure that legislation on the minimum age for marriage is included in the current review of the Child Rights Act. • Review the legal framework around FGM and work with other stakeholders to change attitudes and behaviour. • Work with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs to finalise and implement the strategy for addressing issues of street children. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 35

3.2.5 — Costs and benefits 3-14. This corresponds to approximately 1.55

3.2.5 Costs and benefits 3-14. This corresponds to approximately 1.55 per cent of GDP each year.29 This scenario assumes that an expansion of the 0 to 2 child grant will occur from 2027 by As Figure 3-5 shows, the investment will keeping children aged two in that year in the increase in absolute terms and relative to GDP scheme until their fifteenth birthday. Across due to the progressive expansion of age of the period from 2023 to 2040, the cost of eligibility. Note that previsions up to 2040 are the expanded child grant (based on a per purely indicative of the trend in investment child transfer of US$ 5 per month, indexed should economic growth and inflation to inflation) is expected to be, on average, remain constant to 2027 levels (as far as IMF US$ 113 million (SLE 1,399 million) per year, World Economic Outlook projections go), of which about 36 per cent will go to children and population changes adhere to UNDESA aged 0 to 2 and 64 per cent towards children projections as well. Figure 3-5. Investment in a universal child grant up to 2040, in millions of US dollars and as a percentage of GDP, through a gradual expansion of the age of eligibility (a) 250 Investment (million USD) 200 150 100 Source: author’s projections 50 0 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Children 3-14 Children 0-2 (b) 3,0% 2,5% Investment (%GDP) 2,0% 1,5% Source: author’s projections 1,0% 0,5% 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Children 3-14 Children 0-2 29 This is relatively high compared to the other schemes due to children representing a sizable share of the population. It is worth noting that these could be considered upper bound estimates should the fertility rates decline more than anticipated in UNDESA projections. 36 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 In the short term, any pilot approaches • Resultant feelings of inadequacy, introduced to encourage children, especially alienation and frustration among young girls, into education should be costed as per males; the proposed child grant and should start • Exposure to harmful practices and GBV; developing the necessary systems that will be • The risk of being pressured into early used nationally for the child grant. Whilst such marriage for young women and girls; and experimentation is encouraged, it would be counter-productive to introduce a multiplicity • General social and cultural norms primarily of different transfer values, enrolment affect women in terms of expectations procedures and delivery mechanisms. On this around care responsibilities; and – for basis, the costs of any pilots can be simply young girls – the dangers of early calculated based on US$ 5 per month per pregnancy and motherhood. child, plus an estimated overhead of 10 per cent for administrative costs. According to the 2017 MICS, the percentage of secondary school-age children who are out of school equates to 38.8 per cent in the

3.2.6 — Complementary programmes lowest wealth quintile versus 7.1 per cent in

3.2.6 Complementary programmes lowest wealth quintile versus 7.1 per cent in the highest quintile. The MBSSE will be a key partner at this life course stage, responsible for maintaining This low percentage of secondary school free access to education and possibly attendance can be partially explained by the extending it to facilitate the critical transition 2018 SLIHS identifying that this life-course from primary to secondary school. MBSSE group makes up 10 per cent of the total will also continue to be responsible for the economically active population, meaning school feeding programme as an important that many of those who should be attending complementary initiative, ensuring that all secondary school is, in fact, already engaged primary schoolchildren have access to good in the labour market. Moreover, the 2018 quality meals in school, accompanied by a SLIHS also showed that girls within this age broader integrated package of school health group are at a high risk of early marriage and nutrition complementary services. and teenage pregnancy, which would hinder In addition, given the increasing number their ability to finish their education. The 2018 of migrants to cities, the urban destitute/ SLIHS showed that by the time a girl child children in the street initiative will aim to reaches the age of 19, she already had about reintegrate children with their families through two children. This means that a child is already complementary livelihood support. pregnant at about 18 when she is supposed to be in the last year of senior secondary school. According to the 2019 Demographic Household Survey (DHS), 21 per cent of girls

3.3 — Youth aged 15 to 19 had already given birth or were

3.3 Youth aged 15 to 19 had already given birth or were pregnant with their first child. (15 to 24 years)

3.3.1 — The challenge 3.3.2 Current social protection

3.3.1 The challenge 3.3.2 Current social protection The challenges faced by young adolescents The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs would include: has implemented several initiatives to support • A lack of adequate skills to enter this age group (and indeed all age groups)30 the labour market and consequent through a range of GBV response services. unemployment or underemployment; These include the establishment of One Stop Centres in six districts and operationalising the • The inability to access appropriate training; 30 Many of the vulnerabilities and services discussed in this section are applicable also to other life-course stages, both older and younger. They are included here because they are particularly relevant to the youth of Sierra Leone, and in order to avoid repetition or duplication elsewhere in the Strategy. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 37 ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 116 free toll line to report GBV and abuse. who are meant to pass on the training to other The Car Wash Programme is a currently participants. The programme is planned to operating social protection programme have nationwide coverage with 60 car wash targeting the youth population which has centres, 10 of which have been completed, been operating since 2019. The programme's and 28 are currently under construction. overall goal is to promote sustainable livelihood development by reducing The Pro-Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation unemployment among the youth population. Programme II, funded by the Governments of The programme's specific objectives include Sierra Leone and Germany, was implemented job creation, professional career development by NaCSA in Western Area Rural, Koinadugu, and increased income generation among Kailahun and Pujehun Districts. The the participants. Each month, the car wash programme focused on youth through members are remunerated with a cash employment creation and income generation transfer representative of the generated activities in selected rural and semi-urban income of the car wash centre. The value of areas, with the overall programme goal to the monthly transfer, therefore, depends on contribute to peace consolidation. Throughout monthly contribution at a specific car wash the 2015 to 2018 programme, 4,038 youths centre – at least each member gets SLE (10.5 per cent of them are women) were 154 (approximately US$ 12) per month. The provided with short-term employment ranging programme also has a cash-plus element with from 2 to 4 months in both local and non- 50 participants receiving a one-off training of local labour employment (e.g. pathing roads, trainers in bookkeeping, leadership, modern building bridges and culverts).31 The current methods of car washing and customer care GPC III, running from 2019 to 2023, retains the 31 Pro-Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation (GPC) II: Annual Report 2017 (2018), National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank, Freetown. 38 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 objective to reduce un- and-underemployment With support from the IOM, the Ministry of of young people. Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the National Youth Commission Running alongside this programme with also launched an Entrepreneurship Training a similar objective is another programme and Mentorship programme whereby young funded by Germany’s Agency for International entrepreneurs are provided with skills training Cooperation (GIZ) in cooperation with and equipment through start-up kits to the Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Labour and entrepreneurs’ business plans. By August Social Security (MLSS), the Employment 2021, the programme should have counted Promotion Programme. The programme more than 190 recipients.36 operates in the rural areas of Falaba, Koinadugu, Kono and Kailahun in Eastern The Ministry of Youth Affairs in Sierra Leone Sierra Leone. The programme promotes young is also implementing the Youth in Agriculture entrepreneurs and provides training for young Project to reduce youth unemployment by jobseekers in business and agro-processing contributing to their overall empowerment in entrepreneurship skills.32 With phase 4 of the agriculture. The project aims to establish five 4-year Employment Promotion Programme youth farms in five districts and provide the (EPP) launching in 2021, the programme youth farmers with key crops and livestock, as aims to reach 2,500 youths in agriculture and well as training in entrepreneurship, marketing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises basics and market access. The project aims to comprising 50 per cent of women.33 have five fully functioning and profitable youth farms by 2024.37 The Ministry of Youth Affairs, with support from the International Organization for Migration Finally, the Ministry of Youth Affairs started (IOM), has also started a Youth Empowerment piloting in 2020 another project called programme called the Grader and Tractor the Youth Empowerment in Commercial Programme alongside private companies in Transportation Pilot Project. The programme Sierra Leone. The initiative is additionally funded aims to strengthen existing youth structures by the Government of Japan. The programme in various communities (in Western urban was launched in late February 2021 under the and rural areas) by providing taxi cars or IOM’s project ‘Reducing the Risk of Irregular motorbikes on loan to 60 groups comprising Migration through Employment Promotion 20 youths each. The project will benefit and Entrepreneurship for the youths’. At youths' empowerment and economic status the end of March 2021, the programme and the commercial transport constraints had already registered its 940th participant, identified in the targeted communities. The bringing it almost halfway towards the goal loan scheme is to be paid back on a weekly/ of training 2,000 youths and women in skills monthly basis by the youth groups through such as repairing and operating farming, road Loan Recovery Officers. The reimbursements construction and mining machinery. In the past, will then be reinvested into the programme such skilled workers were so scarce that Sierra allowing expansion into other communities. Leone companies would have to import skilled The participating youths will also be trained migrants from other neighbouring countries.34 in the basics of entrepreneurship and Following the training, the IOM is also entering encouraged to start small businesses of their into memorandums of understanding with choice to diversify their income base.38 private companies in a pledge to hire graduates of the programme’s training.35 32 Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany (2021), German-Sierra Leonean Cooperation: a Snapshot. 33 Delegation of the European Union to Sierra Leone (17 February 2021), ‘Project Launch of the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP IV): Team Europe in action to support skills training and boost youth employment in Sierra Leone’. 34 IOM (19 March 2021), ‘Hundreds of Unemployed Youth in Sierra Leone Receiving Skills Training’. 35 Fornah, A. (30 May 2021), ‘UN Resident Coordinator commends IOM’s Youth Empowerment Project as ‘Dream Initiative’’ United Nations Sierra Leone. 36 IOM (16 July 2021), ‘IOM and Government of Sierra Leone Support Young People to Start Businesses’. 37 Ministry of Youth Affairs, Project Overview: Youth in Agriculture. Accessible via https://www.youthaffairs.gov.sl/portfolio/youth-in- agriculture/, last visited 29 October 2021. 38 Ministry of Youth Affairs, Project Overview: Youth in Commercial Transportation. Accessible via https://www.youthaffairs.gov.sl/portfolio/ youth-in-commercial-transportation/ National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 39 The Productive Social Safety Nets and entrepreneurship by creating employment Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project is opportunities, encouraging entrepreneurship implemented by NaCSA in partnership initiatives and developing information sharing with MOYA, NAYCOM, National Social platforms. Ways forward with this life course Protection Secretariat (NSPS), Anti- Corruption stage should build on the existing momentum. Commission (ACC). However, certain programme specificities should be considered to keep the

3.3.3 — Vision for 2040 empowerment principle at centre stage. For

3.3.3 Vision for 2040 empowerment principle at centre stage. For example, future employment programmes The 2040 vision for this life-course group should be designed to operate for a long is that all Sierra Leonean youth, including enough time for the youth participant to build those with disabilities and other vulnerable up skills or assets. Conditions of participation groups, have access to the necessary training, must be flexible enough to not hinder other skills, and qualifications to be engaged in more profitable income-generating activities. decent work. That programmes and services Moreover, when designing the programme, contribute towards tackling gender imbalances contingency plans such as providing and that all youth are fully protected against unemployment allowance for eligible youths harmful and abusive practices, especially age- are recommended to be implemented in case and gender-based. Life skills training and skills a programme is interrupted; and childcare development will make young women less services should be available to any female vulnerable to GBV and provide a channel to youth participating in any programme. The work with male youth’s attitudes to GBV. employment opportunities offered should also be sustainable and beneficial to the country’s context. For example, if Sierra Leone’s social

3.3.4 — Action plan to 2026 service sector lacks a skilled workforce,

3.3.4 Action plan to 2026 service sector lacks a skilled workforce, offering training and employment in that field It is recommended to maintain the overarching could bolster employment and social services. goal to empower youth in each activity undertaken to promote not only employment, Finally, linkages to accompanying services are but decent employment that can offer youth essential at this life course stage. It should sustainable future job prospects. Programmes not be believed that social protection on its aimed at providing employment opportunities own can be the silver bullet to achieve the to young people should increase the skills 2040 vision, but rather that synergies between of said youth to build their capacity to enter different ministries (youth, education, gender, future employment outside of a Governmental etc.) and between them and the private scheme. sector need to be fortified. This is particularly important to address the protection of youth Current existing programmes serve as a against harmful and abusive practices. good basis to expand upon, along with complementary projects from donors, such as the World Bank’s project to support the life skills of youth, their employment, and their Priority social protection activities will include: • Undertake mapping and review of youth empowerment activities across the country to better understand the opportunities for coverage and sector development, explore potential risks of GBV and monitor equal access. 40 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 • Implement youth employment and training initiatives to ensure that youth have the necessary skills to enter the labour market, including the youth employment components of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment project, including (i) public works and life skills support for youth; (ii) its platform to promote youth employment through access to information that will enhance their employability and empowerment; and (iii) its youth-led household enterprise component providing on-the-job training, start-up grants, mentoring and facilitating the formation of youth groups. Associated activities will include: • Put in place measures and services to tackle barriers to access (e.g. providing free childcare services for young mothers to continue their education or gain access to skills training). • Further, promote the professionalisation of social work within the framework of existing initiatives and standardisation of social work curriculum. • Involve young women and men in designing new or expanding programmes to best cater to their considerations and promote protection against harmful and abusive practices. • Map existing services to address GBV and harmful practices frequently occurring during adolescence (i.e. all safe spaces operated by the Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Secretariat and NGOs). • Develop interventions to address gender-based vulnerabilities during adolescence, promote a culture of peace and social cohesion, and safe transition to adulthood. • Continue capacity building around preventing GBV for youth through training, awareness raising and exchange programmes.

3.3.5 — Costs and benefits Education, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the

3.3.5 Costs and benefits Education, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the National Youth Commission, the Ministry of The costs of the activities for the next five Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender years are expected to be substantially covered and Children’s Affairs would support with by the World Bank programmes, developed complementary services such as skills in parallel with this Strategy. This sets aside training, mentoring, counselling on safety and US$ 6 million for creating employment empowerment issues, psychosocial support opportunities and life skills support, US$ 5 and GBV referrals protocols. million for supporting Youth-led Household Enterprises, and US$ 1 million for developing a Other agencies for specific activities, such platform to support Youth Employment. as developing the information platform and other complementary services, maybe Youth Councils, Local Councils, the National Youth

3.3.6 — Complementary programmes Service, NGOs and actors in the private

3.3.6 Complementary programmes Service, NGOs and actors in the private sector. Close collaboration with several ministries will be needed to implement and supplement Moreover, for this life course stage and others, the activities specified above. NaCSA would linkages must be made between all previously coordinate because activities predominantly listed bodies and agencies, NGOs, Councils, fall under the SSN Programme. Other bodies etc. providing quality, age-appropriate such as the Ministry of Higher and Technical response services to survivors of physical and National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 41 emotional abuse and harmful practices to deal The same challenges young women and men with the health, psychosocial, and economic face continue as they become older and their consequences of such experiences. families expand. According to the 2018 SLIHS, the more children in a family, the more likely While reducing GBV is not an explicit objective it is to live in poverty; a household with 8 or of most social assistance, such programmes more members is more than 4 times as likely already empower women and reduce the to be poor as one with 3 or fewer members. prevalence of violence against women and These larger households are less than a children. There is, nonetheless, the potential quarter of the households in Sierra Leone, for social assistance to contribute more but they contain over 40 per cent of the systematically to reducing GBV at scale population. According to 2019 Demographic through various interventions. These are and Health Survey, a woman in Sierra Leone interventions such as reducing poverty- would bear an average of 4.2 children in her related stress, empowering women, and lifetime. This shows a decreasing trend, as the strengthening their social networks, which can average was 5.1 children per woman in 2008 shift gender norms toward greater equality: and 4.9 in 2013. The fertility rate declines with these might include tweaks to existing increasing education, from 5.0 among women programmes such as cash-plus approaches, with no education to 2.0 among women with couples’ counselling, parenting support more than a secondary education. Fertility also and group-based activities. There are also decreases with increasing household wealth. important long-run intergenerational impacts Women in the lowest wealth quintile give birth of social assistance that can lessen lifetime to 5.6 children on average, compared with 2.6 exposure to GBV risk: greater educational children among women in the highest quintile. attainment, smaller age gaps between These trends follow international evidence that intimate partners, and delayed age of first families realise they do not need to depend marriage are associated with reductions in on their children if they have enough means to GBV risks. support themselves in old age. In addition to the fertility rate, working- age adults may be at risk when restricted

3.4 — Working age on sources of income. In terms of

3.4 Working age on sources of income. In terms of (25 to 64 years) unemployment, the SLIHS reports that “rates computed following the International Labour Organization (ILO) recommendations show

3.4.1 — The challenge that Sierra Leone has an unemployment rate

3.4.1 The challenge that Sierra Leone has an unemployment rate of 3.0 per cent of the economically active For those of working age, there are still population nationally, while the urban areas risks, not only the continuing ones of have a higher rate of 4.5 per cent and the accident, sickness, and invalidity but also, rural areas have a lower rate of 3.8 per cent increasingly, of unemployment (or at least unemployment”. underemployment) and the inability to find new work. There are also dangers of domestic The economically active population is, and intimate partner violence, the risk of however, still at risk as a significant portion accumulating indebtedness and high levels (61.1 per cent according to the 2014 Labour of care responsibilities (of elderly parents force survey) of Sierra Leone’s labour force and children) which fall disproportionately on is engaged in the agricultural sector, which women in the household. These vulnerabilities may result in under-employment due to the exist in both the formal and informal sectors of frequent environmental shocks occurring and the economy, but they are more pronounced the seasonal nature of the work. in the informal sector because of the absence of any kind of contributory social insurance Moreover, a large portion of the economically mechanism for the informal sector (the active population is part of the informal equivalent to what NaSSIT provides in the economy and excluded from the social formal sector) security system. Figure 3-6 shows that the Eastern Region contains more informal 42 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 workers than the Northern, Southern, North general social and cultural norms and gender Western and Western regions. The North roles. As such, many women might never Western Region has the second largest enter the labour force or might exit the labour number of informal sector workers. This could force early due to care responsibilities. Some be because both regions (North Western and improvements might include the provision of Eastern) are highly agrarian and engaged in childcare in the workplace, advancing towards mining (gold, diamond and ore). The region more inclusive maternity and paternity leaves that has the least number of informal sector (the latter to make sure that these leaves workers is the Northern region. are also seen as key for men sharing care responsibilities), and compensating women A key challenge during this life-course stage is for their increased vulnerability through social the care and domestic responsibilities, which protection programmes. women are mostly burdened with due to Figure 3-6. Number of persons employed in the informal sector per region 396,981 469,075 North East South 459,132 291,411 Source: SLIHS Report 2018 West North West 460,335 According to the 2018 SLIHS, the urban borrowing money from relatives, neighbours informal employment rate is twice that of the or friends, representing 54 per cent of sources rural informal employment. This is due to the of credit/loans versus a combined percentage expansion of informal sector employment in of 12 per cent from a commercial/co- the urban areas of Sierra Leone, where family operation/micro-finance institution or another contributions to work, casual and seasonal formal source. The primary purposes of these work are common, and the contribution of loans are for consumer goods (representing women is hardly recognized or given value. As 33 per cent of overall purposes). a result, the informal sector is very prominent in urban areas nowadays, and salaried employment is minimal. 3.4.2 Current social protection Following this, according to the 2018 SLIHS, As mentioned above, only a very small individuals in Sierra Leone still, by the majority, number of formal workers in the Government rely on the negative coping mechanism of and private sectors have guaranteed social National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 43 security benefits through NaSSIT and other project (SCADeP) or by NGOs or UN agencies; contributory social insurance mechanisms: it is or, for those without, there is a very limited estimated that only 2 to 3 per cent of the total set of public works opportunities, again population falls into this category. The National offered predominantly with support from Social Security and Insurance Trust Act No.5 of development partners and NGOs. 2001 stipulates that the scheme should cover “all workers employed in the formal sector” More recently, as a complement to the flagship (both public and private) on a mandatory basis SSN programme, the Government has realised and should provide voluntary membership that it is not necessarily only the poorest and for the self-employed. However, since the most vulnerable households that need financial commencement of the NASSIT in 2002, the support. Encouragingly, as a direct result of Scheme was only able to register 259,505 COVID-19, the Government recognised that members (as of June 2021), of which 5,379 those employed on low wages and those in are voluntary contributions, representing 2.07 the informal sector were also highly vulnerable per cent of the insured population. to certain types of shock. It rapidly put in place a new Emergency Cash Transfer, funded by Regarding social assistance, Sierra Leone’s the World Bank and the European Union (EU), main flagship programme is its SSN, known which made one-off cash transfers of nearly locally as Ep Fet Po. It is poverty-targeted, US$ 120 to almost 70,000 households in the household-based, and unconditional, with main urban centres of Sierra Leone, explicitly households receiving quarterly payments. It targeted at informal workers, low-wage began operating in 2014 in four districts, one employees in service industries and workers in from each of Sierra Leone’s four administrative small and micro enterprises. regions.39 Implemented by NaCSA, with World Bank support, the programme was initially designed to support approximately 3.4.3 Vision for 2040 12,000 households. It expanded in 2016 to include beneficiaries supported by NaCSA The vision for 2040 is that all working-age under the Ebola-response SSN project to individuals should have access to social reach over 28,000 beneficiary households protection when required. This should in 11 districts. As part of the next phase of be provided through a consolidated and World Bank support, initiated in 2019, the sustainable combination of contributory and aim was to further expand the coverage non-contributory programmes. of the SSN to provide income support to extreme poor households in all 16 districts Social insurance reforms should have of Sierra Leone, covering 210,000 individuals permitted the progressive introduction of a (35,000 households). However, with the range of contributory, employment-linked advent of COVID-19, this phase was urgently benefits. By 2040, these should include redesigned to provide immediate cover to maternity, sickness, employment injury, 65,000 households. In 2021, WFP provided invalidity and retirement benefits, and – ideally unconditional cash and food transfers to – unemployment benefits. But there should 26,000 severely food-insecure households. also remain a fallback of social assistance, The next phase of support through SSN is provided on a non-contributory basis, as a effective as part of the PSSNYE programme as safety net for those of working age who are of late 2022. not covered by social insurance. This would be in the form of a flexible and scalable expansion Apart from the SSN, the availability of of the current SSN. social protection to the working-age poor is very limited: either for those with land and labour, there is the possibility of access to 3.4.4 Action plan to 2026 free or subsidised agricultural inputs and services, provided, for example, through the The priority social insurance benefits to be Government’s smallholder commercialization introduced in the period to 2026 (in addition 39 A new region has since been added. 44 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 to maternity and paternity benefits and leave • Livelihood Grant –either in the form of a entitlements, discussed in section 3.1.3) are cash lump-sum, as an asset transfer or as employment injury and sickness benefits. In a technological input (such as access to addition, an adapted social security scheme electricity). for the self-employed, especially workers in • Training and mentoring – for example, in (i) the informal economy, should be established. livelihood skills; (ii) business management There should also be a priority to understand and microenterprise development, (iii) the constraints imposed by the absence of preparation of investment plans; and (iv) child care and develop strategies to provide training in the particular microenterprise, access to appropriate childcare. Studies in particular on mitigating the effects of and analyses will need to be conducted climate. to develop the necessary mechanisms to • Behaviour change – in addition to that implement these. already offered to SSN beneficiaries, with a greater focus on highlighting Meanwhile, further refinements should microenterprise and agricultural be made to the SSN, as is already being diversification success stories. discussed in designing the next phase. In particular, it is suggested that the SSN should • Linkages – beneficiaries should be linked include a greater emphasis on economic to appropriate services, where possible, inclusion for those beneficiaries who possess existing services offered by Government. the necessary factors of production and who have the potential to diversify their livelihoods In parallel with the expansion of social through microenterprises. To achieve this, SSN insurance and the refinement of the SSN, would move towards the introduction of an several legislative provisions need to be integrated package of services for selected reviewed as a priority during the next five beneficiaries, with the following components: years. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 45 Priority social protection activities will include: • Review current social insurance instruments (e.g. NaSSIT), and provide recommendations for the phased introduction of a range of priority social insurance benefits, including the design of an adapted social security scheme for self-employed, especially workers in the informal economy. • Generate strategic evidence on the constraints of child care on the labour market and the role of women in the care economy, and make recommendations for addressing these through the provision of appropriate child-care services. • Based on the forthcoming mapping of income-generating activities (IGAs) across the country to better understand the opportunities for economic inclusion, prepare for the economic inclusion component of the planned Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment project. • Pilot the economic inclusion component within the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment project in selected areas and rigorously evaluate its challenges and impacts. Associated activities will include: • Review how the role of technological inputs (such as access to electricity or agricultural advice) can support households switch to more productive activities. • Review all relevant labour laws and policies and enact necessary reforms for public sector employees. • Establish a Salaries and Wages Commission so that the diverse working populations can benefit from equity and inclusiveness, including constraints women working in domestic care may face.

3.4.5 — Costs and benefits are targeted at particular categories of the

3.4.5 Costs and benefits are targeted at particular categories of the poor, so there would be a significant benefit The current budget for the next phase of the in coordinating approaches to beneficiary SSN component of PSSNYE is in the region of selection to ensure that those with land US$ 17 million, to be funded predominantly by and labour capacity were targeted for the World Bank. This will allow a continuation “productive” microenterprises. Those without of the SSN cash transfer, alongside piloting would benefit instead from core social its proposed economic inclusion component, protection. which, with robust monitoring and evaluation, will enable lessons to be learnt for the longer- term future of the programme.

3.5 — Old age

3.5 Old age

3.4.6 — Complementary programmes (over 65 years)

3.4.6 Complementary programmes (over 65 years) The Ministry of Agriculture delivers several

3.5.1 — The challenge

3.5.1 The challenge important complementary programmes that The vulnerabilities faced in old age include promote smallholder agriculture in one form increasing frailty and a decreasing ability to or another, supplemented by various NGO work. There is also the possible lack of care activities: agricultural input fairs, input and from family (sometimes combined with care fertiliser subsidies, extension services, share- responsibilities for grandchildren), dangers of cropping, etc. Many of these programmes 46 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 isolation and stigmatisation, and discrimination programmes and services. Making provisions in areas such as accessing the labour force or for these gaps is crucial for this Strategy. obtaining credit. The loss of independent income can lead About 3.5 per cent (246,284) of Sierra to growing social exclusion: as older people Leone’s total population is aged 65 and over, become less able to contribute to their yet Sierra Leone only spends 0.3 per cent kinship networks – for example, by helping of its GDP on social protection for elderly their grandchildren– they may face increasing persons. According to the SLIHS 2018, the isolation and loss of support from others, older the head of household, the more likely many of whom are, themselves, struggling to the household to be poor. With a poverty provide for their own children. incidence of 61.9 per cent for households with heads aged 66 and over.

3.5.2 — Current social protection

3.5.2 Current social protection Some of the biggest challenges people face happen during old age, as the capacity to work Whilst there is a comprehensive pension gradually reduces due to increasing disability. scheme for the public sector through The prevalence of disability increases sharply NaSSIT, there is no mandatory pension for with age; for instance, the percentage of informal workers under the social security distribution of age as a cause of disability system. Consequently, the majority of amounting to 13.1 for males and 9.7 for the workforce in Sierra Leone is not females. covered by a contributory pension scheme providing adequate income protection Consequently, according to the 2018 SLIHS, during retirement. This means that many elderly-headed households are much more non-government workers, even some of likely to live in poverty than the national those in the formal sector, are reliant on average, with a poverty incidence of around the non-contributory old age pension run 62 per cent for households with a head aged by the MLSS, which has limited coverage 56 and over. Moreover, an estimated 10 per of only around 3,000 beneficiaries. It is cent to 15 per cent of older people face the seriously underfunded and suffers several additional challenge of caring for orphaned or implementation challenges. Targeting abandoned children or supporting vulnerable is meant to be based on need, so it is adults with disabilities. Such intragenerational discretionary and unintuitive, and – in practice households would benefit from several – it means that eligibility is prioritised for individual life cycle benefits: children would those with disabilities and those who are benefit from old pensions, and older persons very old. from child benefits. According to 2018 SLIHS, the share of 3.5.3 Vision for 2040 economically active people significantly decreased for the age group of 60 to 64 years, A sustainable social protection programme falling from a high of 366,445 individuals in the that enhances the recognition of older persons age group of 35-39 (representing 80 per cent and addresses income security, well-being, of the total population for that age-group) to housing, social welfare, health and nutrition 85,215 among those aged 60-64 (representing empowered to manage and sustain their below 60 per cent of the total population for dignity. By 2040, this would be achieved that age-group). through a three-tier pension system for all older persons in Sierra Leone over 60 years. Another factor to bear in mind is gender This would comprise the following: inequalities at this life-course stage. As many • Tier 0 (foundation tier) – a universal non- women might have never entered the labour contributory citizens' pension; force or worked primarily in informal jobs and/or on care and domestic responsibilities • Tier 1 – a mandated contributory old- without remuneration, this will impact how age benefit funded through NaSSIT, elderly women access social protection compulsory for all those in Government National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 47 and in the formal sector (as envisaged Such systems are relatively common and in the NaSSIT Act), and with adapted increasingly more so in sub-Saharan Africa. mechanisms to encourage voluntary (or The structure is presented schematically in even mandatory) contributions for workers Figure 3 7. in the informal sector; • Tier 2 – a voluntary top-up pension for those who wish to make additional savings for their old age. Figure 3-7. Pension tiers Voluntary private Pension-tested benefits are pensions Pension income paid only to those who are not enrolled in contributory schemes Source: Development Pathways Mandatory social insurance Social pension Poorer / informal Richer / formal The (optional) tapering of the non-contributory tier universal pension for all those over 60. pension (so that it remains nonetheless In recognition of the current reality and near-universal) does not present any perverse fiscal constraints, especially in the wake of disincentives for wealthier individuals and COVID-19, it is recommended in particular those in formal employment to save for old that: age (which is a serious risk with means-tested • The pension should be gradually rolled out social pensions): because whatever savings as a universal programme, recognising the they make through mandatory or voluntary additional vulnerabilities of all older people contributions will be additional to the basic and their right to live a life of dignity and social pension. independence. • The eligibility age should begin at the

3.5.4 — Action plan to 2026 higher age of 70, recognising the de facto

3.5.4 Action plan to 2026 higher age of 70, recognising the de facto reality of the current programme and then Several practical activities will need to be gradually reducing over time. undertaken over the next four years to move • The question of a disability grant should the pension towards the vision of a three- be separated from the old age pension: whilst old age and disability are correlated, 48 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 the purpose of the transfer is different in Regarding the other pension tiers, studies the two cases, and it is crucial to have a must be undertaken to consider expanding at system for disability that recognises the least a voluntary mechanism for a contributory challenges of disability through the entire pension to the informal sector and developing life-course (see section 3.6). recommendations for NaSSIT’s future operations in this area. Priority social protection activities will include: • Develop an action plan with MLSS to roll out a universal pension for those over the 70s. • Review and improve the old age pension's delivery, administration and monitoring systems to reduce costs. • Implement the universal pension in a phased roll-out over five years. • As national coverage is reached over the first five years, agree on a phased reduction in the age of eligibility progressively over the period to 2040. • Work with NaSSIT to put in place the arrangements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 for all Government and private sector workers (in employment or self-employed); and agree on the inclusion of the informal sector. • Review the NaSSIT Act No.5 of 2001 to consider any necessary changes. • Implement a functional web-based pension administration system. • Design and operationalize an informal sector pension schemes. • Conduct an updated actuarial valuation of NaSSIT funds, and embark on prudent investment ventures to maintain the real value of its surplus funds. Associated activities will include: • Work with the MoHS to implement the provisions of the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance scheme (SLesHI Act No 46 of 2017) to ensure free health care for older persons and the destitute. • Build welfare group homes for the homeless/disabled aged, at least one each for each regional headquarter town/city. • Ensure a progressive realisation of all public buildings and public transportation becoming old-aged and disability friendly. • Develop a model to provide free use of the Government’s public transport for older and persons with disabilities.

3.5.5 — Costs and benefits Making the current pension universal for all

3.5.5 Costs and benefits Making the current pension universal for all over 70, rather than having it as discretionary The social insurance components of the and poverty-targeted for a limited number of old age pension will be fully funded from those over 60, would cost an average of US$ contributions, either compulsory (Tier 1) or 20 million (SLE 248 million) per year in the voluntary (Tier 2). first five years, corresponding to 0.4 per cent of GDP. This would be based on an (inflation- indexed) transfer value of US$ 12 (SLE 148) National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 49 per month, assuming that 7 per cent of the covering most persons aged 70 and above eligible persons benefit from a contributory will have slightly increasing costs in absolute pension and the remaining 93 per cent is terms (due to the expansion of the over-70 covered by the expanded universal social cohort) but decreasing costs relative to GDP, pension. as a result of predicted economic growth (Figure 3-8) Similarly to the universal child benefit (see section 3.1.4), a universal social pension Figure 3-8. Investment over the next five years in millions of US dollars and as a percentage of GDP (a) (b) 25 0,5% Investment (million USD) Investment (%GDP) 20 0,4% Source: author’s projections 15 0,3% 10 0,2% 5 0,1% 0 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2023 2024 2025 2026 Looking ahead to 2040 and the objective growth and inflation remain constant at 2027 of universal coverage for all older persons, levels, and that population changes follow Figure 3-9 shows indicative costs of achieving UNDESA projections. this objective by progressively expanding the eligibility age, starting in 2027 with older Should contributory pensions become more persons over 70, and reaching all persons popular – say, progressively increasing from aged 60 and above by 2037. covering seven per cent to fifteen per cent of the over 60s, costs would reduce by the The expanded universal social pension orange segment of the bars in Figure 3-9. As scheme is expected to cost an average of will be explored in more detail in chapter 5, it US$ 48 million (SLE 595 million) per year, could also be possible to phase in the social corresponding to about 0.7 per cent of GDP. pension (e.g. by geographic area), achieving an This assumes that NaSSIT will continue to even more gradual increase in costs over the reach only 7 per cent of the over 60s (who first five years (costs would be reduced by the will not get the social pension), that economic yellow segment). 50 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Figure 3-9. Investment up to 2040 in millions of US dollars and as a percentage of GDP (a) 100 90 80 Investment (million USD) 70 60 50 40 30 20 Source: author’s projections 10 0 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Full coverage, fixed NASSIT Progressive coverage, expanding NASSIT Progressive coverage, fixed NASSIT (b) 1,2% 1,0% Investment (million USD) 0,8% 0,6% 0,4% Source: author’s projections 0,2% 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Full coverage, fixed NASSIT Progressive coverage, expanding NASSIT Progressive coverage, fixed NASSIT

3.5.6 — Complementary programmes people will benefit from the child grant as the

3.5.6 Complementary programmes people will benefit from the child grant as the carers of young children. Exact figures are The main complementary programme for not available, but we know that 28 per cent the elderly is free access to health care, with of children do not live with a biological parent the MoHS as a key partner. But linkages with (DHS, 2019) and that 40.5 per cent of children the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade are not living with a biological parent are taken also critical: many elderly citizens continue care of by their grandparents (SLIHS, 2018), so participating in agriculture and commerce. It we can assume that around 10 per cent of all is also worth mentioning that several elderly children live with their grandparents. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 51

3.6 — Disability and Women with disabilities are often more

3.6 Disability and Women with disabilities are often more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and GBV; they chronic illness may have less access to reproductive health care and face more difficulties with pregnancies

3.6.1 — The challenge and childcare than women without disabilities

3.6.1 The challenge and childcare than women without disabilities. These stem from difficulties accessing a One of the most vulnerable sectors of society steady income to support the pregnancy is people living with various forms and extents and childcare. During post-natal check-ups, of disabilities, and particularly children with percentages of health checks following birth disabilities. Children with disabilities are doubly in a facility or at home range from 82.6 per at risk: firstly, as children and, secondly, as cent for women with a functional difficulty to children with disabilities. Their situation spawns 90.9 per cent for women without a functional a complex of structured vulnerabilities for their difficulty. Thus, their social protection needs parents, relatives and carers because to be sensitive to the peculiarities of their often, relationships between the mothers and situation, with respective medication and other fathers of children with disabilities are strained support for them both as mothers and persons due to caring for the children, frequently with disabilities. Their protection support will resulting in the child having single-mother enable them to take care of themselves and parenting. Since children with disabilities, their children, and their support package should especially those with more severe cases, reflect the peculiarities and complexities of need full-time care and attention, it leads their situation. to the (further) impoverishment of carers because they have a reduced ability to engage Barriers to access to health care are magnified in socio-economically rewarding sources of for infants with functional difficulties and/or livelihood while tending their children. There delayed development (who, according to the is a consequent risk of them, especially those 2017 MICS, account for 6.6 per cent of children from poorer households, being placed in – or aged 2 to 4 years) and who may need more abandoned to – institutional care, with the medical attention and rehabilitation to prevent consequent risk of alienation, isolation and long-term disability. abuse. Approximately 11.1 per cent of children living Disability and chronic illness pose challenges with a functional difficulty are on track in the throughout the life course. Stigmatisation, domain of literacy-numeracy versus 15.6 per discrimination and isolation are common. cent of children living without a functional And persons with disabilities face substantial difficulty; 82.3 per cent of children living with a additional costs to participate in society on functional difficulty are on track in the physical an equal basis. According to the 2018 SLIHS, domain versus 90.5 per cent of children living diseases or illnesses are the leading causes without a functional difficulty; and in the of disability (41.2 per cent for men and 45.4 domain of learning, the percentages on track per cent for women). Over 23,000 Sierra are 55.7 per cent versus 80.7 per cent. Leoneans have developed tuberculosis, and an estimated 80,000 live with HIV/AIDS, diseases Children with disabilities are more at risk of that cause 3,000 deaths and 2,600 deaths per not being enrolled in school or not completing year, respectively, where children represent 10 their education. The 2018 SLIHS shows that per cent of the caseload. A recent study40 of among the population living with a disability persons living with HIV/AIDS found that 94 per (accounting for 22.8 per cent of children cent were “vulnerable” or “most vulnerable”; between 5 to 17 years according to the 2017 54 per cent were unemployed, and only 1.6 MICS), 67.4 per cent have never been to per cent had access to social protection. This school, and only 9 per cent have completed highlights the intersecting inequalities that upper secondary education. There is thus a fuel the HIV epidemic and can be addressed critical need to put in place systems that will through improved access to social protection. detect developmental problems at an early age 40 World Food Programme (August 2021), Profiling Assessment of People living with HIV (PLHIV) in Sierra Leone. 52 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 and allow rapid remediation where possible. and 1.4 per cent, respectively. Persons living Children diagnosed with disabilities should with disabilities through the wealth quintiles be supported both as children and as children have different access levels to essential goods with disabilities. Their support should be wide- such as assistive devices. For example, the ranging and include helping manage, stabilize number of men surveyed by the 2017 MICS or correct their situation. who had access to a hearing aid ranged from 22 in the wealthiest quintile to only three in the Partly because of this, persons with disabilities poorest wealth quintile. face additional risks of unemployment. According to the 2018 SLIHS, 57.8 per cent of Persons living with disabilities and chronic the population with disability were employed illnesses are also highly subject to the week preceding the survey interview discrimination; despite the enactment of Article versus 63.1 per cent of persons without a 33(1) of the Persons with Disabilities Act of disability. Sierra Leone,41 1.7 per cent of the population is HIV positive, according to the 2019 DHS report According to the 2017 MICS survey, the and 74.2 per cent of the women (aged 15 to 49) percentage of women aged 18 to 19 years with surveyed during the 2017 MICS were reported functional difficulties in at least one domain as having discriminatory attitudes towards (within the domains of seeing, hearing, walking, people living with HIV. The WFP “Profiling self-care, communication and remembering) Assessment of People living with HIV (PLHIV)” is 0.8 and the percentage of women aged 20 found that self-stigmatization prevented to 24 amounts to 0.9 per cent. The percentage accessing health services for 11 per cent of for the male population equates to 0.3 per cent respondents and the fear of discrimination ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 41 Art. 33 (1) protects every child against torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including any “cultural practice which dehumanises or is injurious to the physical and mental welfare of the child”. The same Act, in its definition of discrimination, includes using words, gestures and caricatures that demean, scandalise or embarrass a person with disability. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 53 for 9.6 per cent. It also suggested that “there investment in helping them to integrate into was evidence of less discrimination and of the labour force can bring valuable economic high chances of integrating vulnerable groups dividends. of PLHIV into society if their social protection needs, such as being part of recipients of It is highly encouraging, therefore, that the the cash transfer scheme by Government Government has placed a significant emphasis and/or other institutions, is well guaranteed”. on prioritising income support specifically to There have also been reports of persons with those with disabilities, cementing their long- epilepsy being subject to traditional treatments standing commitment. The prioritisation was that are incredibly harmful to the person, manifested when the Government initiated, such as cuts, burning or drinking poisonous from its own funds, humanitarian support beverages.42 to Persons with Disabilities, a one-off cash payment (combined, in some cases, during Finally, as in all countries, rates of disability the first COVID-19 lockdown, with in-kind and illness increase with age. Therefore, commodities) to over 7,500 households it is important to recognise synergies and containing a person with a disability. It then integration between social protection negotiated with the World Bank to restructure programmes that address old age and those the main SSN programme to allow higher that address disability. levels of payment to a more significant number of beneficiaries as a COVID-19 response, with a specification that households

3.6.2 — Current social protection containing a member with a disability should

3.6.2 Current social protection containing a member with a disability should be given priority. This demonstrates that the Sierra Leone offers an invalidity benefit Government fully recognises the special through NaSSIT to those in Government and requirement for support to this particular life- formal employment. The Government has in course group. the past provided limited financial support through Welfare Grants to the organizations of At the same time, this has also revealed persons with disabilities. several shortcomings which need to be resolved urgently if support to those with But until recently, it has had no social disabilities, including a universal national assistance grant explicitly aimed at individual disability grant as implied by the NSPP, is people with disabilities, which represented a to be rolled out effectively. These include severe gap in its social protection armoury. the need for a more detailed survey to Many people with disabilities were included in better understand the number of potential the flagship SSN programme (as members of beneficiaries of such support, the need for targeted households), and it appears that the a simple but robust system of determining MLSS old age grant tends to prioritise older and assessing disability nationwide, and the persons with disabilities, but this was not an introduction of a national registry of disabled explicit criterion for selection. It should be persons. since people with disabilities often have higher health costs that negatively impact their well- For the chronically ill, WFP piloted a small being, while discrimination against them is malnutrition-oriented safety net cash transfer common. Some also require additional care programme in 2018/19 for around 400 support, which can mean that other household beneficiaries in the Western area and Bo members have to either not seek employment district, linked to its Nutrition Assessment or only work part-time, which reduces Counselling and Support activity and in close household incomes. Finally, people with collaboration with the National Leprosy disabilities face additional costs in accessing and TB Control Program and the National education, health care and the labour market AIDS Secretariat to assist moderately acute and face incremental hardship in their daily malnourished persons living with HIV and TB. lives and livelihoods. However, a small There are also some smaller NGOs working 42 ACPF (2014) The African Report on Children with Disabilities: Promising starts and persisting challenges, Addis Ababa, The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF). 54 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 specifically with Children living with HIV, diversified needs of people with disabilities including the HAPPY Kids and Adolescents and chronic illnesses. Charity.

3.6.4 — Action plan to 2026

3.6.4 Action plan to 2026

3.6.3 — Vision for 2040

3.6.3 Vision for 2040 In reality, it will take time to develop and The 2040 vision for this life-course group is of deploy the necessary systems nationally: a society where all persons with disabilities a disability survey, a disability assessment and all those living with chronic illnesses are and registration system and a registry of recognised, protected, self-reliant and live persons with disabilities. Only after they are dignified lives; and where they receive a cash in place will it be possible to fully implement transfer that compensates for the additional a disability grant. This action plan assumes a costs they face in participating in society on gradual progressive roll-out of the grant from an equal basis, as part of a comprehensive year 2 (2024), once the systems have been package of support that can address the developed and tested. Priority social protection activities will include: • Build from census data and other existing data sets to better understand the actual situation of disability and chronic illness in Sierra Leone and map existing initiatives to improve it. • Work with MoHS, the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), to develop a simple but robust approach for identifying and assessing disability and functional deficiencies, to be implemented by non-specialists at the community level. • Design and develop a national registry of persons with disability and chronic illnesses that is interoperable with the proposed national social registry (and the national identity system). • Roll these systems out nationally. • Design and develop a disability grant for Sierra Leone based on good practices from appropriate African countries (e.g. South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya). • Commence the implementation and roll-out of a disability grant linked administratively with the social pension and gradually expand coverage. Associated activities will include: • Improve the capacity of frontline officers and social workers in all MDAs to deal with issues of disability and chronic illness. • Build linkages with other MDAs, OPDs and NGOs that work with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses to strengthen families, deliver assistive devices, reduce barriers to access and provide appropriate vocational training. • Include persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses in all livelihood and income- generating initiatives and programmes. • Ensure that the Persons with Disabilities Act, the Radical Inclusion and Out of School Children policies and strategies are fully implemented. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 55

3.6.5 — Costs and benefits Figure 3-10 assumes a progressive roll-out

3.6.5 Costs and benefits Figure 3-10 assumes a progressive roll-out of the disability benefits (from 25 per cent When considering the costing for a disability coverage in 2024 to 100 per cent by 2027) grant, it should be borne in mind that disability and shows how, from 2027, costs both in increases with age, so it is likely that a millions of Leones and as a percentage of GDP significant proportion of those with disabilities would increase over time if the disability rate will be elderly and, therefore, already recipients remained constant, as the population of Sierra of the pension. The cost of a disability grant to Leone grows.44 This also assumes continuous those below the social pension eligibility age economic growth and inflation to the predicted (70 in 2024 to 60 in 2037-2040) with severe 2026 levels. At the same time, as the age disabilities and chronic illnesses43 is estimated eligibility of the old age benefit expands from at US$ 43 million (SLE 529 million) per year on 70 to 60 years old, from 2027 onward, the average between 2024 and 2040 or 0.7 per disability benefit will cover one less age cohort cent of GDP, based on a transfer of US$ 12 each year (from 0-69 in 2024 to 0-59 in 2037), per month, indexed to inflation, assuming full offsetting costs. Reduction in coverage and coverage. economic growth underline the reduction in relative cost observed in Figure 3-10 panel b. Figure 3-10. Investment up to 2040 in millions of US dollars (a) and as a percentage of GDP (b) (a) 50 Investment (million USD) 40 Source: author’s projections 30 20 10 0 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 (b) 0,8% 0,7% Investment (%GDP) 0,6% Source: author’s projections 0,5% 0,4% 0,3% 0,2% 0,1% 0,0% 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 43 Estimated to make up 3.1 per cent of the population. 44 And the disability rate is assumed to remain constant. 56 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026

3.6.6 — Complementary programmes youths (especially girls) with disabilities face

3.6.6 Complementary programmes youths (especially girls) with disabilities face challenges entering the labour market or Important complementary programmes for accessing mainstream vocational training, those with disabilities and chronic illnesses and a particular challenge faced by many are free access to health care and, for people older people is that their disability is often living with HIV/AIDS, to counselling, anti- not recognised: they are frequently regarded retroviral drugs and nutritional support: here, as just “being old”. All of these require close the MoHS is a key partner. But people with collaboration with different MDAs, OPDs disabilities also face various challenges across representing those with varying types of their life course. For example, children with disabilities, and the private sector as potential disabilities find it difficult to access school suppliers of assistive devices. and are at risk of being placed in institutions; ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 57 4. Systems To underpin these programmes for Strengthening the type of inclusive, operationalising social protection according to entitlement-based life-course social protection the NSPP’s life-course stages, there will be a that is envisaged in the NSPP will already need, formulated under its Area of Focus #2 reduce the need significantly for ad hoc shock for “Expansion and strengthening of social response by increasing coverage and building protection programmes and implementation the resilience of individuals. If, in addition, the systems”. These implementation systems systems to deliver that social protection are will include technical support to the existing robust, resilient, flexible, and well-integrated and nascent systems for registration, with other systems and national in their selection and enrolment; delivery; grievance; coverage, then shock-responsiveness will communications; MIS and reporting; and already be assured. Again, there is already monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The NSPP a clear understanding in Sierra Leone of the sets out the progress that has already been need for shock-responsive systems, which made in a number of these areas: the Strategy has been heavily underlined by COVID-19; now needs to specify how they can be and a clear recognition, for example, in the further developed and integrated to provide a Social Transfer Emergency Preparedness and common platform for implementation across Response Plans (STEmPRP) and the COVID-19 programmes, both now and moving into the QAERP of the primacy of having robust future. It will also need to formalize linkages systems in place that can then be leveraged with other critical information systems, such in response to a disaster. The Strategy as the NaSSIT database (for those formally considers this fully when setting out its employed in public/private sectors), the recommendations for system strengthening. educational MIS and the identity system of the National Civil Registration Authority under Systematic effort to build adaptive social the Ministry of Internal Affairs. protection (ASP) is supported through financing from the Global Risk Financing This is a critical aspect, not only for the Facility (GRiF), a Multi-Donor Trust Fund smooth-running, efficiency, accountability and (MDTF) with pledges from Germany and good governance of standard life-course social the United Kingdom, to help countries protection programmes, but also to leverage design and implement financial solutions to the ability of those programmes to be adaptive manage disasters and climate shocks. Under and scalable in the event of a shock. There the World Bank-financed Social Safety Net are essentially three primary requisites for Project (SSN), GRiF provided US$ 2.5 million shock-responsive social protection: (i) to have toward shock-responsive social protection robust and flexible systems already in place, development. Formally, activities supported (ii) to have contingency funding available, include Component 1 (Systems Development) and (iii) to have the necessary procedures and Component 3 (Program Management and in place to trigger a rapid response. It was Capacity Building). Support under Component notable that the main constraints and delays 1 included establishing and operationalizing in implementing Sierra Leone’s response building blocks of a shock-responsive safety to COVID-19 derived not from the lack of net. Support under Component 3 included funding (which was made available rapidly, scaling the provision of Cash Transfers to both domestically and through development beneficiaries in response to COVID-19. partners) nor from a trigger failure but rather The facility also financed the registration from deficiencies in the fundamental systems of households in disaster-prone areas and for identification, registration, delivery and the recruitment of a Disaster Preparedness management. Officer at NaCSA. Under the PSSNYE project, GRiF funds (US$ 3 million) are helping to operationalize recommendations from SSN- 58 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 linked GRiF-supported activities and carry out a This section then focuses on broader Digital Works program. institutional issues of coordination across diverse actors, schemes, institutions, sectors, With support from the World Bank, a disaster and levels of Government. It considers the risk finance (DRF) diagnostic report was mechanisms and structures needed to build prepared and disseminated in February sustainable systems, including national 2022 in collaboration with the Ministry of strategies and definitions of social protection, Finance (MoF). The DRF policy dialogue legislative and regulatory frameworks, extends beyond MOF and NaCSA to other institutional structures and policy designs, line ministries and agencies. MoF adopted and high-level coordination mechanisms. It key recommendations and officially launched emphasises the need for policy coherence the process of developing a DRF Strategy across sectors and coordination mechanisms and implementation plan in April 2022 by (both within social protection and across convening a Core Writing Group, which is sectors) to be defined at the highest levels jointly led by the Ministry of Finance and the and formally embedded within all levels of the National Disaster and Management Agency national social protection system. (NDMA) and comprises the Office of the National Security (ONS); National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA); Environmental 4.1.1 Current system Protection Agency (EPA); Ministry of the Environment (MoE); UNICEF, and Research There is a disconnect between the institutional Institute for Sustainability Transitions (RIST) – a structure set out in the NSPP and the current civil society group. Engagement of the private reality. According to the NSPP, the primary sector in DRF was initiated, starting with institutions involved in social protection in the insurance regulator, discussing potential Sierra Leone should be the National Social synergies to enhance financial protection Protection Council (NSPC), NaCSA, and the and identifying key activities to support the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. But development of the insurance market. the NSPC does not yet exist, so responsibility for technical coordination of social protection remains with the National Social Protection Steering Committee, which meets bi-monthly.

4.1 — Governance and The National Social Protection Inter-Agency

4.1 Governance and The National Social Protection Inter-Agency coordination Forum is an inter-ministerial body responsible for endorsing Government policies (including social protection policy), while NaCSA and the Good governance of social protection systems MLSS are the primary implementers of social is a precondition for the effective realization protection programmes. of human rights. Governance starts at the highest levels of policymaking — including When constituted, the NSPC will be the coordination across diverse actors, schemes, superior body on social protection, located in institutions, sectors, and levels of Government the Office of the President and chaired by the — and permeates every aspect of social Vice-President. The Council will comprise the protection implementation. As discussed in following MDAs: the Ministries of Finance; section 4.2, well-governed social protection Planning and Economic Development; systems benefit from strong accountability Labour and Social Security; Social Welfare, structures, active participation of the Gender and Children’s Affairs; Health and stakeholders, transparency of operations Sanitation; Basic and Senior Secondary and viable access to information. Likewise, Education; Agriculture; Local Government as presented in section 4.2.4, effective and Rural Development; Trade and Industry; governance encompasses good financial Justice; and the Attorney General’s Office; management; benefit delivery that respects plus Sierra Leone Labour Congress, NaCSA, the principles of availability, accessibility, and National Commission for Children (NCC) and adequacy; contribution collection (where the National Commission for Persons With applicable); MIS; data protection and privacy; Disability. Non-state actors, including CSOs, and clear complaint and appeal procedures. private sector and development partners, National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 59 will also be members of the Council. The institution, the Anti-Corruption Commission National Social Protection Secretariat, which is (ACC), manages fraud and corruption enquiries already operational, will become the technical and handles grievances related to social arm responsible for facilitating the NSPC’s protection programmes (see section 4.2.4). oversight functions. NaCSA is a semi-autonomous Government 4.1.2 Vision for 2040 agency that operates under the Office of the President. Within NaCSA, the National Social The NSPP acknowledged some weaknesses Protection Secretariat leads the day-to-day in the current high-level governance of social implementation, coordination, and facilitation protection, which “have led to the slow of social protection programmes and projects, adoption of social protection systems by including social assistance programmes. A the sector agencies”. To remedy these, the Parliamentary Committee on development NSPP sets out a clear vision of a reformed provides parliamentary oversight over NaCSA institutional framework, summarised in table activities. The MLSS implements two small- 4-1 below. scale social pensions. Finally, a separate Table 4-1. Proposed social protection institutional framework Institution Responsibility Membership Office of the Anchor and link to Cabinet; Chief Minister or any other designated person President visioning and broader policy to perform the functions of the COS. direction. National Social SP policy oversight, Core members are drawn from state and Protection Council monitoring, evaluation and non-state actors, with the COS as chairperson (NSPC) standards setting. and the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) as co- chairperson. Other state actors co-opted as and when necessary. National Social Day-to-day administration, NSPS technical and other staff, with support Protection coordination and facilitation, from National Social Protection Technical Secretariat (NSPS) and support of SP. Committee and sub-committees. National Social Coordination and oversight Directorate-level staff of sector ministries Protection Technical of SP policy, strategy and and agencies, including non-state actors, Committee (NSPTC) programmes; systems responsible for SP programmes at national building; SP think tank. level. Source: NSPP District Social Coordination and Technical staff of district-level sectors, Protection Technical oversight, and support to agencies and non-state. Committee (DSPTC) the implementation of SP programmes. It also defines clear roles for each key 4.1.3 Action plan to 2026 stakeholder, arranged under three “pillars” of (i) implementation, (ii) coordination and The Strategy endorses the institutional (iii) policy and authority. The vision for 2040 structures proposed in the NSPP but is to have this governance framework in recommends a refinement in coordination. The place, underpinned by legislation and fully NSPP envisages a National Social Protection operational. 60 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Technical Committee (NSPTC), which “will information and communication technology serve as the ‘think tank’ for the policy”. It will (ICT), M&E and targeting techniques. also coordinate between key stakeholders to Development partners will provide technical ensure the enactment of the Social Protection assistance in the form of mentoring of staff of Bill to roll out the policy and implement the implementing agencies, and training modules Strategy. and process manuals will be developed for guidance on the administration of social As has been stressed elsewhere in the protection programmes. Strategy, adopting a life-course approach facilitates coordination by focusing on specific objectives, reducing the range of service 4.1.4 Costs linkages required and limiting the number of key partners at each stage. Specifically, Costs under this heading include the need the Strategy recommends that under the for training and capacity building particularly. overall NSPTC, there should be a set of As far as possible, this should be based on working groups responsible for providing this building a cadre of Sierra Leonean staff to leadership and the “think tank” function for deliver the training, using open-source training individual life-course stages. Each working modules such as those developed under group would be responsible for one of the TRANSFORM and endorsed by the African life-course stages set out in the NSPP and Union. reflected in the Strategy and would report to the NSPTC. Membership would be limited to ten representatives and include the key ministries and development partners for each 4.2 Back-office life-course stage, plus at least one relevant NGO representative. The working groups systems would meet less formally than the full NSPTC, say quarterly, with a focus on technical design Back-office systems across the social and implementation aspects of the core life- protection delivery chain effectively support course programmes and – in particular – on social programmes and services. Information ensuring coordination, linkages and coherence systems facilitate the delivery of the with secondary programmes. operations for social protection programmes, including the management of beneficiary and A priority activity under the first phase of potential beneficiary information through the the NSPS is to develop ToRs, define the core operational lifecycle of the programme composition and convene the NSPTC and – i.e. from registration of their details to its life-course working groups. Training and facilitating enrolment through to processing capacity building will also be needed at all payments, managing grievances, and exits or levels, including at district level. As set out in graduation from the programme. the NSPP, the “Government and its partners will invest in developing the capacities of Across the social protection and humanitarian institutions for an enduring social protection nexus, programme and beneficiary roll-out at all levels of Government and across management systems – more commonly MDAs”. The first phase of the institutional referred to as MIS – facilitate the capture- development effort will prioritise support flow-reporting of information to support the to the NSPS for strengthening the social key operational objectives for social protection protection systems and oversight functions. interventions set out below. The scope and nature of the capacity building and institutional support will be based on a needs assessment of the capacity of all relevant institutions that will be involved in the administration and implementation of social protection interventions. The needs assessment will identify gaps in technical skills related to financial management, National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 61 Key operational objectives for social protection interventions include: • Eligible beneficiaries are targeted and enrolled on the programme, while citizens and applicants that are ineligible are excluded; • Beneficiary details are maintained and verified appropriately to ensure they remain current and relevant; • The appropriate benefits and services are delivered promptly, regularly, reliably and in an accessible manner; • The operational processes and performance of the programme are monitored for quality and effectiveness; • Appropriate data governance and risk management procedures are in place for handling beneficiary information, including ensuring security, data privacy and transparent process controls (i.e. maintaining an audit history of data changes). Applying social protection information the sharing of the centralised registry as a systems – specifically the programme resource. MIS – is a critical enabler for an effective social protection programme’s operations and service delivery. Social protection 4.2.1 Current systems programmes can vary in how beneficiary information is managed across the delivery The current social protection information chain, including different eligibility criteria, system that supports NaCSA and the payment transfer modalities, approaches SSN programme is the SPRINT Platform to engagement and interaction with the which aims to consolidate information on beneficiary and enabling them to access the both beneficiaries and potentially eligible services. As a result, developing information households to assist the Government in the systems for individual programmes requires targeting and coordination of social protection considerable coordination and can be costly interventions in Sierra Leone. and lengthy to implement and operationalise. The SPRINT supports the intake of households Integrating social protection information onto a centralised social protection registry and delivery systems is a prevalent policy to facilitate targeting and registration for initiative for Sierra Leone, with a nascent programmes. The platform delivers the social protection policy and systems functionality and services associated with environment to support the upcoming social what is commonly referred to as a Social protection programmes and services. As Registry across digital social protection a centralised implementing agency for the literature. The SPRINT platform also manages Social Protection Strategy and the supporting various operational processes of the SSN information systems, NaCSA reviews the Programme and facilitates the Beneficiary opportunity and approaches to linking the Registry for the programme. See Annex 1 for operational processes and delivery systems technical details of SPRINT. for the life-course programmes planned for greater harmonisation and coordination. The key functional modules for the Social Furthermore, centralised registries, such as Registry SPRINT are: the Social Protection Registry for Integrated 1. Household registry: Intake and National Targeting (SPRINT), lay a foundation registration of household records are to facilitate the linkages required to support fulfilled by enumerators at the village the Social Protection Strategy and the life- level through to the district administrative course programmes by enabling efficiencies, level. The household registry enables cost savings and sustainability through 62 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 appropriate approvals workflow to and future programmes' operations and accept the record, including all individual delivery systems depend on adequate members, onto the SPRINT registry. resourcing and capacity development. Updates to the household records are • Scalable architecture: The SPRINT managed directly on the household systems architecture and development registry module. framework enables scalability and 2. SSN programme beneficiary registry: adaptability to the modules and data The system manages the beneficiary lists parameters to cater for the changes that for the SSN Programme, and the SPRINT may be required to onboard other social platform supports a file upload process to protection programmes as per the NSPP merge additional records and/or may be and its Strategy. linked to the household registry record. 3. Payments: The system may generate a Challenges and Opportunities payroll (payment list per beneficiary). • Absence of a national identifier in 4. Grievances: Grievances captured current operations and leveraging through the ACC’s GRM platform at the a civil registry: While a National ID is sub-national administration level can available in Sierra Leone for its citizens, its be entered into the SPRINT system for coverage is limited, multiple other identity change in status, additional comments cards are in use, and there is limited and monitoring, though this module is not interoperability with other Government operational yet. services. As a result, the SPRINT platform has had to create its unique identifier,

4.2.1.1 — Key enablers and and any ID authentication services with

4.2.1.1 Key enablers and and any ID authentication services with constraints for the social NaCSA have been performed manually and protection systems offline. A foundational National ID and civil environment registration offer integration opportunities for a more effective whole-of-government In addition to analysing the existing social approach to social protection delivery. registry system, an assessment of the Civil registration is essential for system's environment in which it operates effectively implementing social protection presents a broader overview of the current programmes and managing beneficiary state of social protection information information. With the Strategy to management in Sierra Leone. move towards more life course-based programmes, including individual Enablers entitlement interventions, there is a need to consider interoperability with other • Decentralised operations: While the databases external to social protection to SPRINT system is managed at the obtain beneficiary lists. National IDs from central administrative level, the system civil administration services can facilitate and its operations can be decentralised integration between programmes and effectively, and the solution has been institutions. distributed across all districts. At the sub- national level, Government officers have • Limited ICT governance on policies, been able to administer the household standards and protocols: There are intake and registration process. As other limited standards and protocols in place programmes are implemented under the to govern data management for public same ownership structure, there is an services. Without a formal agreement or opportunity to onboard the programmes memorandum of understanding (MoU) onto the shared information management with the National ID authority, there has solutions. The decentralised governance been no interoperability achieved and no structure across Sierra Leone’s districts, governance on how data is transferred through to chiefdoms, sections and between institutions, including privacy villages, has the potential to perform considerations and setting rights and an essential role in implementing social responsibilities for accessing and protection schemes. Consequently, current managing beneficiary data. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 63 • Current capacity and resources are human error, data fraud and delays before strained: With minimal delivery system data is uploaded to the household registry. solutions in place, there are concerns Mobile solutions have been explored but about the existing capacity to support not yet rolled out extensively. the design, development, ongoing • Integrated and automated Government- operations and maintenance of enhanced to-Persons (G2P) payment functionality integrated MIS solutions to support is still a gap: Payment transfers are multiple programmes. There is a need to currently supported by the SPRINT develop the capacity to support the Social platform in its support of the SSN Protection Strategy, influence resourcing Programme. As a result, considerable time plans, and ensure delivery systems and effort are spent on facilitating and capacity development is planned for. reconciling the transfers. • Limited access to ICT infrastructure hosted by Government: The SPRINT platform is currently hosted on the Cloud 4.2.2 Vision for 2040 with no policy directives restricting this. There is no centralised Government data The long-term vision for the information centre currently in use by NaCSA. The lack systems supporting social protection in of available infrastructure confirms that Sierra Leone is to support the key operational Government hosted IT solutions and data objectives across the delivery chain for the registries do not follow set standards for social protection interventions and services security, networking, backup and recovery planned as part of the Strategy. processes. • Limited operability/web service While the current SPRINT platform was initially integration experience: The SPRINT designed as a social registry platform, there is platform is being developed as a “one-stop an opportunity to consider further evolution of shop” for social protection operations the system to support the various envisaged and delivery solutions for NaCSA. As a life-course social protection programmes. result, there has been a limited need for Annex 2 sets out a proposed landscape for interoperability across other systems and the social protection MIS in future, setting databases. With the limited number of out the three layers of the planned MIS, the MIS solutions and limited IT infrastructure distinction between social registries and across Government services, especially integrated beneficiary registries, the inclusion within the social protection sector, of additional services and systems, the likely many processes are retained within one trends in technological evolution and the operational programme and still dependent principles for digital development. on paper-based processes. With the life-course programmes identified in the NSPP and the Strategy and the resultant 4.2.3 Action plan to 2026 operational processes required, there will be a need to develop interoperability The approach to developing back-office services with the National ID and other systems should not be merely labelled a sectoral databases and systems for database or an information system, but rather, registration and payments, among others. an operating model of business processes, • Processes at sub-national levels are protocols, policies, technology solutions and largely manual / paper-based: Whilst staffing that manage the collection-processing- targeting and enrolment processes sharing of the information and operations. increasingly use tablets for data capture, paper-based forms and processes remain the primary form of gathering information and engagement with the households at the village through to the district level. Community engagement and registration processes are exposed to the risk of 64 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Figure 4-1: Operating model Policies and Organization Delivery Systems & Institutional Objectives Structures Manual and Scope (Strategic Plan) (Key Design Principles) Technology (Hardware, Software, Integration) People Process (Staffing and (Operations) Capacity) Roadmap and Implementation Plan (Short-Medium-Long Term) • Core operational process and service: • People (staffing and capacities): The core processes that support data Resourcing approach, including roles collection, processing and sharing of and terms of referencing and capacity information, including operational and development. information management standards and • Technology: The application software and protocols. infrastructure components to support the • Organizational and institutional programmes. structures: The institutional management for the programme's operations, including The plan for the next five years will be to decentralisation and coordination continue to move towards this operating model mechanisms. for the back-office social protection systems. Priority activities will include: • Develop a set of harmonised business processes that need to be supported for the relevant life-course programmes. • Determine the coordination mechanism to collect-process-approve potential beneficiary information for registration and enrolment for the relevant life-course programmes. • Determine the systems and registries that are needed (to be developed or linked with) for intake and registration of potential beneficiaries (e.g. disability registry) • Deliver a scope document for the delivery system for each programme operation and conduct a gap analysis with existing platforms, such as SPRINT. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 65 • Deliver the design and solution approach to meet the scope of the programme’s delivery system. • Develop and test the solution under the leadership of NaCSA. • Prepare quality assurance plan, training plan, capacity building and change management strategies. • Implement and roll out the system as the different life-course programmes are expanded and introduced, ensuring staffing and resourcing available for ongoing operations and sustainability.

4.2.4 — Costs communications strategy, or set of strategies

4.2.4 Costs communications strategy, or set of strategies for different programmes and services, as well The World Bank has been supporting the as complaint and redress mechanisms. development of SPRINT as a component of its funding for the SSN programme. It shares the A clear communications strategy is imperative Government’s ambition to transition towards a in ensuring that communities understand the more comprehensive and integrated registry social protection schemes at their disposal and associated MIS that will additionally serve and also for social accountability. This should the proposed life-course programmes of the include, among other aspects: information on NSPP. And it has included core funding in the the existence of the programme; how to apply next phase of support that will cover the costs for and engage with various programmes; of expanding SPRINT over the next five years. eligibility criteria required by the schemes; UNICEF also funds some specific activities. No administrative and complaints procedures; additional costs beyond these are envisaged. as well as accountability mechanisms. In addition, from an inclusion and equity perspective, social protection programmes should develop specific communications

4.3 — Client-facing strategies for persons with disabilities and

4.3 Client-facing strategies for persons with disabilities and ensure they are adequately resourced. systems A communications strategy needs to be tailored to the requirements of specific A central feature of any effective and inclusive types of persons, and it is also key to use social protection system relates to the multiple communication channels. A good interface of rights holders (social protection communications strategy includes key programme and service users) with duty- messages on the cash transfer programme bearers (programme and service implementers during each operational process for different from the State (see Figure 4-2).45 This holds audiences and dissemination activities. true, particularly from a human rights approach: not only are social protection policy outcomes Unclear communications around social important per se for an effective system protection programmes and services can lead but also important is the process through to a lack of sense of entitlement in individuals, which those programmes and services are as they are not aware of the benefits being designed at a higher-policy level and ultimately a right and can also create confusion around implemented at the mid and street levels.46 programme rules and eligibility criteria (Barrantes, 2020), thus hindering participation Among the client-facing systems, there are and accountability from a governance several support mechanisms, including a perspective. 45 Barrantes, A. (2021) Global Research on Social Protection and Governance: Argentina case study. UNDESA and ILO. 46 Barrantes, A. (2021) Global Research on Social Protection and Governance: Argentina case study. UNDESA and ILO. 47 Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102). Article 70 establishes that every claimant should have the right to appeal in case of refusal of a benefit or to complain about its quality or quantity. 66 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 The right to complain and appeal about the As such, social protection systems should quality and quantity of benefits47 is also be based on laws that specify complaint enshrined in international human rights and appeal procedures that are “impartial, frameworks concerning the right to social transparent, effective, simple, rapid, protection. Moreover, the mere “existence of accessible and inexpensive” and that access effective accountability mechanisms marks to them should be “free of charge”.49 States the shift between charity and claims. The are also obliged to ensure that legal remedies, effectiveness of the access to social rights whether of a judicial or administrative nature, is ultimately related to an explicit, clearly are available to aggrieved individuals or interpretable and inclusive framing of social groups and that any remedies put in place are rights, as well as to the justiciability of these “accessible, affordable, timely and effective”.50 rights.”48 Figure 4-2. Interface of right holders with duty bearers GRM/accountability mechanisms: Interface of right holders (social Service providers/ protection programme programme and service users) and implementers duty bearers (service at national and Service users / providers) local levels programme (governmental and beneficiaries / right non- governmental) holders / duty bearers Functioning complaints, grievance, redress level, closest to the citizen) is more effective and accountability mechanism are critical due to low information and transaction costs, for proper accountability and programme while also ensuring access to independent performance within the social protection channels for redress, such as an ombudsman, sector. A social protection system should audit institutions, or third-party contracting ensure that there are multiple channels for out of complaints collection/facilitation.”51 various categories of complaints and that To accompany the inclusive nature of a all grievances are addressed and resolved lifecycle social protection system, it is key within a reasonable timeframe. Moreover, that the multiple channels for appeals and it is recommended that the system allows redress provide equal access to persons with “for multiple levels, where resolution of disabilities, women, minorities, etc. complaints at the point of service (lowest 48 International Labour Conference, 100th Session, General Survey concerning social security instruments in light of the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2011). 49 International Labour Organisation, Social Protection Floors Recommendation (No. 202), United Nations (2012). 50 General comment No. 9, The domestic application of the Covenant (19th Session, 1998), UN doc. E/C.12/1998/24, para. 9. 51 McClanahan, S., Chirchir, R., Kidd, S., Barrantes, A., Kidd, S., and Hillson D. (2021) Global Research on Social Protection and Governance: Global Overview. UNDESA and ILO, p.74. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 67 Social accountability in social protection is information, that beneficiaries act on their crucial for two main reasons: to ensure quality concerns, and that – if concerns are collective delivery of social protection programmes (as – citizens mobilize to overcome obstacles deficiencies can undermine the impact and to collective action, and that the service legitimacy of programmes and services) and providers themselves (on behalf of the state, to build better relations between citizens if relevant) have the capacity and authority to and the state by contributing towards respond to the grievances. It is also important strengthening the social contract and social that social accountability mechanisms enable trust.52 civil society more broadly to hold Government to account if social protection programmes As such, social accountability for social are not well-delivered and to put in place protection governance requires (see Figure citizenship engagement spaces to ensure 4-3 on the conceptual framework) that the participation of communities and social all parties have access to the required protection recipients. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 52 Ayliffe, T., Aslam, G. and Schjødt, R. (2017), ‘Social Accountability in the Delivery of Social Protection Final Research Report’, Development Pathways for UK Aid. 68 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Figure 4-3. Social accountability in social protection53 State Action Information • Relevant officials have incentives • Citizens understand whether they are (intrinsic or extrinsic) to address citizen eligible. concerns and/or face costs of inaction. • Eligible citizens are aware of their • Private sector providers have entitlements. incentives to address citizen concerns. • Information is accessible and • Staff who interface with citizens have appropriate to vulnerable and the authority to resolve the issues, or marginalised men and women in influence with others who do. poverty. • The state has the capacity (staff time • Citizens know how they can raise a and skills) to address the issues. concern. • The state has the financial resources • Local state actors have the information • and allocative flexibility to address the they need to respond constructively to issues. citizen voice. Citizen-State Interface • Interfaces are accessible and culturally appropriate for poor, vulnerable and marginalised men and women. • Appropriate (possible different) interfaces are available to address different SP programme functions and potential problems (individualised or collective, public or confidential, open to who community or only eligible citizens etc.). • Interfaces involve state officials with the authority to address citizens' issues (or strong links to those who can). Civic Mobilisation • Overcomes challenges of Citizen Action individualised nature of social • Anticipated benefits of action protection programming. outweigh costs and risks. • Overcomes risk of co-option of • Do not expect reprisals. community comittees by the state. • Expect state to take positive • Overcomes challenge of action. overburden of the under- • Issue is important - face costs resourced community volunteers. of inaction. • Overcomes disconnects and • Voices of the marginalised power imbalances between local and excluded are heard - elite and higher levels of state. capture avoided. A functioning social accountability framework types of service delivery and programme for social protection should include a set of implementation challenges.54 The following are mechanisms adapted to addressing particular some of the main mechanisms and processes, sets of issues, as different mechanisms and mostly for non-contributory schemes:55 processes are suited to addressing different 53 Ibid. 54 Ibid. 55 Ibid. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 69 • Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM): hand, community scorecards use a In most instances, GRM and appeals community-based qualitative process of mechanisms entail receiving individual problem and priority definition, followed citizens’ feedback and the responses to by face-to-face meetings between citizens these being given to individuals. Hence, and service providers to discuss priorities “these mechanisms structure citizen and jointly develop action plans. action, state response and interface in an • Social audits: These mechanisms involve individualised way”.56 The individualised community-level interface meetings. way in which social protection is implemented in many countries (there As such, it is important to determine how are many instances, for example, in social accountability mechanisms and which individual experiences of the same processes are to be embedded into a properly programme greatly differ, or there might functioning social protection system and that be issues around jealousy between clear delimitation are established between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, might all the different interface channels. This lead to challenges in mobilising citizens for must apply to the social protection system collective action and hence, also demands as a whole, including non-contributory for social accountability). Regarding what and contributory schemes and all other these GRMs entail, they usually collect programmes and services. grievances around operational programme issues, including payments, eligibility Furthermore, according to the ILO,59 social criteria, quality of service, etc. This also protection systems should have four main means that expectations around these types of procedures: internal administrative mechanisms cannot be too ambitious: procedures, where the right to seek a ‘GRMs are particularly ill-suited to change in the decision is only possible at addressing ‘thick’ accountability issues, the administrative level, even if they may that is to say, more complex challenges, be elevated from lower to higher levels on not amenable to a simple rules-based appeal; special judicial procedures, such as solution, including, for example, labour tribunals or courts; judicial procedures complaints of exclusion error in the case before general courts; and mixed procedures, of poverty targeting.’58 where initial complaints can be lodged • Community committees and similar with administrative bodies, and appeals are mechanisms: These have social processed in the various types of courts. accountability as either a main or subsidiary objective, and their focus is often on raising citizen awareness and/ 4.3.1 Current systems or creating opportunities for engagement between the state and citizens. They may The Government, with support from have an important outreach role for the development partners, has made considerable most vulnerable citizens. advances in setting up the basis that will • Structured collective social form a national GR mechanism that supports accountability mechanisms: These can social accountability, citizen engagement (CE), include community scorecards, citizen anti-corruption and community monitoring report cards, and social audits. mechanisms/processes within the SSN • Report cards: Citizen report cards usually framework for development of the building use a survey to collect citizen feedback blocks of national social protection. The and then aggregate survey findings, following are some of the key examples of which may be debated face-to-face and/ existing mechanisms and accompanying or through media channels. On the other documentation: 56 Ibid. 57 Ibid. 58 Ibid. 59 International Labour Conference (2011) 100th Session, General Survey concerning social security instruments in light of the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization. 70 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 • The 2000 Anti-Corruption Act established • Existing Standard Operating Procedures the ACC as an independent commission (SOPs) for cash transfers provide practical to investigate corruption and fraud in guidelines for implementers during Sierra Leone. This has been expanded to field activities, including, among others, include social protection interventions and assessment and profiling of beneficiaries implementing institutions. An independent (targeting and enrolment) at various grievance redress mechanism (GRM) has administrative levels (Regions, Districts, been established to ensure that resources Chiefdoms, Sections (and wards) and reach the intended beneficiaries and localities) to abide by. prevent corruption. The ACC maintains a • Each project is expected to submit a national structure of District Coordinators Project Implementation Manual, which and monitors. This structure is supervised will serve as the rules of engagement by the National GRM Coordinator. between specific projects, the ACC and Institutions implementing social protection the NSPS to ensure compliance with the will take action on admin-related SOPs. complaints channelled through the GRM • Each implementing institution will enter database, while ACC handles corruption- into an MoU with ACC & NSPS (also related cases. Grievances that are admin linked to fiduciary risks for programme related are expected to be resolved within implementation). The purpose of this 90 days. For corruption-related grievances, MoU is to formalize the relationship this is 120 days. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 71 between the implementer, ACC and implementing agency. NSPS. This MOU sets forth the roles and • The revision and circulation of the responsibilities of the Parties concerning Corruption Prevention and GRM Handbook shared and complementary goals of social to describe the operational procedures protection in the country, including: related to corruption prevention and - Joint oversight for profiling potential grievance redress mechanism activities. beneficiaries and independent It is intended to guide all stakeholders, monitoring of the beneficiaries including the ACC and NSPS. and associated project activities. • Community Engagement process as The implementer will facilitate the additional/ complimentary tool to M&E, community-based profiling process harnessing CE as means of verification. per the PIM, and ACC will provide • Existing GRM and social accountability independent monitoring of these mechanisms include different reporting processes. ACC will not seek to channels for programme beneficiaries and influence the selection of beneficiaries community members to file complaints outside of those procedures. and/or corruption issues. These can be • ACC will independently monitor all adjusted and improved based on available key project activities using community platforms within the GRM. monitors (not limited to benefit delivery, • In terms of governance, there are strong complementary project services and intentions to expand and/or mainstream grievance redress support). The code existing social protection GRM and of conduct seeks to impose obligations citizen engagement platforms into other that all Community Monitors (CM) must programmes and/or sectors. abide by. This is, by extension, inclusive of all field staff acting on behalf of the ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 72 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 However, improvements can still be made Another improvement should be oriented to better ensure the effective enforcement towards setting clear targets around solving of national laws around social protection complaints in a timely manner. Allowing and improve access to justice for vulnerable rightsholders to raise concerns and have them groups and citizens at large interacting with addressed promptly is vital to ensure that social protection programmes and services. feedback from beneficiaries and rightsholders It is particularly important that grievance is addressed. This might require clarifying mechanisms for social protection should inconsistencies in the definition of complaints interface with existing referral pathways for and what it means for a complaint to be GBV, IPV and corruption cases. resolved. All of the mechanisms mentioned above Finally, an essential aspect of setting up an pertain to the SSN, which refers to the non- overarching social accountability system for contributory social protection schemes in the social protection sector in Sierra Leone Sierra Leone. Hence, many of the other that helps improve the interface with citizens lifecycle social protection schemes are not at large and social protection service users, in included in the scope of these mechanisms. particular, should be incorporating entitlements These gaps should be filled to have inclusive language in all programmes and service and comprehensive redress mechanisms delivery implementation frameworks and covering all social protection schemes. documentation. This also applies to ensuring that social protection communication outputs Within the current context, there have and outreach outlets include entitlement been suggestions around the possibility language that makes service users aware of of mainstreaming the SSN-GRM-citizen how they can access redress mechanisms in engagement platform into other programmes case their rights are hindered in the service and for other development partners to use and programme delivery process. it and integrate anti-corruption measures. This, in turn, requires decisions on individual mechanisms for each individual social 4.3.2 Vision for 2040 protection programme and service vis a vis the overarching system, whether most In general terms, the vision for 2040 existing mechanisms are primarily focused should seek to set up an overarching social on social assistance programmes, how these accountability system for the social protection will be linked to other lifecycle programmes sector that helps improve the interface with and services, and how data sharing and citizens at large and social protection service confidentiality considerations will be managed users in particular. In particular, the following within this overarching system. aspects should be attained: • Grievance and accountability mechanisms As such, one of the key improvements and structures are based on a national requires setting up the overarching framework normative framework that provides clear for the social protection system and setting responsibilities and scope. clear expectations of what each individual mechanism and/or process will contribute. • Grievance and accountability mechanisms Within the SNN framework, GRM, social and structures provide impartial, accountability, citizen engagement, anti- transparent, effective, simple, rapid, and corruption and community monitoring accessible services to social protection mechanisms/processes will need clear beneficiaries that are also free of charge. definitions of scope and what they can deliver. • Grievance and accountability mechanisms This also requires better coordination and and structures are adequately staffed complementarity between highly individualised and resourced at the national, local and GRMs for social protection programmes and community levels. services, providing individualised accountability • Grievance and accountability mechanisms with a more systemic view of social protection and procedures follow standard operating delivery, implementation and accountability. procedures. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 73 • Grievance and accountability mechanisms, for social protection programmes and and procedures inform citizens of their services provide the right information to entitlements and avenues to seek redress beneficiaries, appropriate channels and if needed. language, considering different contexts • Grievance and accountability mechanisms based on human rights and dignity and procedures are incorporated into principles. programme monitoring information systems. • Considerations for data sharing and 4.3.3 Action plan to 2026 confidentiality are embedded into the normative framework. To achieve the longer-term vision, it is recommended that the Strategy focusses on • SSN communication strategy/strategies some key priorities for the shorter-term. Priority activities will include: • Undertaking an assessment of all existing social protection social, accountability tools and mechanisms, identifying the gaps (for example, mechanisms for contributory schemes) and linkages among different channels/mechanisms. This should also include linkages to the monitoring and evaluation strategy and how to best institutionalise all existing and/or new mechanisms (for example, community monitoring processes). • Conducting a series of national and subnational consultations to review the above- mentioned assessment and discuss ways forward. • Assessing and ensuring that all Social Protection programmes and service rules are easily comprehensible and that programmes have good outreach and communication to beneficiaries. • Improving the GRM platform/system effectiveness: complaints should be resolved within 90 days. • Assessing connectivity and accessibility issues that might hamper access to GRM and other social accountability mechanisms. • Undertaking capacity building on existing social accountability mechanisms. • Strengthening the role of community monitors as the main interface for social protection programmes and professionalising the cadre of monitors. • Making provisions for data sharing and confidentiality considerations. • Assessing the communications strategy/strategies for social protection programmes and services from a human rights and dignity approach.

4.3.4 — Costs 4.4 Monitoring

4.3.4 Costs 4.4 Monitoring Financial support to the various client- and evaluation facing systems, including the GRM, social accountability and citizen engagement is A monitoring and evaluation framework already envisaged through the next phase of is an essential component of the Social World Bank funding, with some additional Protection Strategy. It explains how the funding from UNICEF. This will cover the Strategy’s programmes are intended to work proposed activities over the next five years, so by laying out the components of the Strategy additional funds have not been included. and the order and steps needed to achieve 74 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 the desired results. The M&E framework level so far. NaMED can easily enforce M&E defines the relationships between key written procedures and produce uniform M&E factors to implementation and articulates the reports, and it has been mandated to influence assumptions that ensure effective, efficient, each M&E unit within MDAs to comply. relevant and sustainable programmes' success. NSPS maintains an overall monitoring and evaluation coordination function within

4.4.1 — Current system Social Protection Strategy partners and line

4.4.1 Current system Social Protection Strategy partners and line ministries such as the Ministry of Labour and The Sierra Leone Government has established Social Security, Ministry of Welfare, MoHS, the National Monitoring and Evaluation MBSSE and MDAs. The NSPS manages the Directorate (NaMED).60 The overall objective Social Protection registry. of NaMED is to create an effective national institutional framework to monitor and Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) produces evaluate Government and donor-funded timely census and national surveys and has projects as well as the National Development recently assessed some of the following Plan. Whilst NaMED has been allocated overall examples of social protection indicators: responsibility for MDAs’ monitoring and The proportion of PwDs receiving cash evaluation activities, each individual MDA has transfers, the proportion of beneficiaries its standalone monitoring systems set up. receiving emergency cash transfers, and the proportion of households living in disaster- The current capacities within the main actors prone areas. Moving forward, NSPS can in social protection are broadly adequate: strive to strengthen its role in implementing The NSPS has a dedicated M&E Officer who a systematic institutional coordination works directly with the NaCSA M&E Unit mechanism and enhancing access to quality for all support to the Secretariat. NaCSA data exchange among partner institutions. currently has an M&E Unit in the Directorate of Programme Development and Quality NSPS has demonstrated capacity in M&E Assurance. This Unit has the overall M&E functions and has established a specific responsibility for all projects implemented Directorate responsible for ensuring strategic and to track project progress through data planning for monitoring and evaluation, using collection, analysis and reporting. However, data for decision-making. It has experienced each project has an assigned M&E Officer M&E unit staff in collecting and analysing that is directly responsible for the M&E of that programmatic data and producing regular project. Attempts have been made to make reports; it also has field representation across provisions for data sharing with other MDAs, the country with some staff to monitor and such as the Ministry of Social Welfare Ministry supervise field work and maintain operational of Labour and Social Security, among others. data management systems such as MIS. While NaMED is hosted by the President's Despite these strengths, NSPS will need to Office and has an overall national monitoring speed up timely reporting to management and and evaluation function in close coordination donors to strengthen systematic interactions and cooperation with MDAs, the NSPS of the M&E unit with NaMED to exchange continues to coordinate with line ministries. data and share information regularly. For informed decision-making, NaCSA, line The coordination and relationship between ministries, MDAs, and other relevant Social NaMED and MDAs have not yet been Protection Strategy partners would benefit systemized and NaMED has maintained the from improving the quality and quantity of leading role in implementing the national monitoring and evaluation indicators and strategy for M&E; NaMED has the potential establishing a statistical database which to monitor programmes within each MDAs, allows smooth access and exchange of which has not been reflected at each MDAs information among relevant users. 60 Document No. 2 Finance Act 2019 Item 30: Establishment of a National Monitoring and Evaluation Department; Pages 25 – 26; and the Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Extraordinary Vol. CXLX, No. 3 dated 11th January 2019. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 75 Despite existing challenges, NSPS can build In terms of M&E, the inter-agency on its strengths in tracking project indicators, coordination mechanism's current setting improving beneficiaries’ interventions and still shows some technical gaps within the programme cycle management, building upon social protection coordination remit. Although its existing data to upgrade into a database NSPS works closely in direct communication which can prove helpful in qualitative and and coordination with line ministries quantitative data exchanges and, finally, so the such as the Ministry of Labour and Social data can be accessible to all social protection Security, Ministry of Social Welfare, National partners through an online MIS. Other Commission for Persons with Disability, and challenges that need to be addressed are low the local councils, M&E coordination needs levels of coordination among line MDAs and to be strengthened, and tools are to be challenges around sharing and harmonising standardised. beneficiary data among users. In addition, Standard Operating Procedures across social Every agency and/or institution implementing protection interventions must be updated. an existing social protection programme owns the data for programme implementation. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone 76 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 However, the MOU sets out guidelines The Strategy’s Monitoring and Evaluation for data sharing, including the purpose for vision is that, by 2040, all MDAs involved in which the data will be used by SPRINT and social protection will have strengthened a any personally identifiable information that sustainable, integrated national M&E system, may be used to support future programme which is fully operational in tracking progress implementation. Additionally, the NSPS may and demonstrating results and thereby use data to report on benefits being received effectively ensuring evidence-based decision- by users through different implementing making for social protection. agencies. Technical guidance on surveys, data compilation, analysis and reporting is undertaken with supervision from the Sierra 4.4.3 Action plan to 2026 Leone National Statistics Office, Stats-SL (see section 4.2 for more detailed analysis). Effective M&E systems are essential for providing evidence of the impact of projects As Sierra Leone gradually moves towards and programmes. The results convey lessons more inclusive life-course social protection that support the long-term sustainability as set out in the NSPP, there is a need to of programmes. Evaluation is part of the shift away from the current focus on tracking strategy for the implementation of the policy. indicators on the process and household Evaluation will assess the impact of policy consumption towards a more nuanced set implementation on programme beneficiaries of indicators around individual vulnerabilities and communities within a specified timeframe through the life-course. The proposed and against measurable baselines. The M&E framework (see Annex 2) provides a government will use evaluation reports to preliminary set of strategic and results chains plan subsequent or follow-up programmes to and their associated proposed indicators for address lifecycle risks and vulnerabilities. each life-course stage set out in the Strategy. A results-based M&E approach will be NSPS will ensure that the SPRINT is upgraded developed as part of the implementation to account for national indicators under the process for the NSPP, and this Strategy to proposed M&E framework. ensure progress can be tracked and reviewed against performance targets and indicators, enabling learning, adjustments and re-planning

4.4.2 — Vision for 2040 where necessary. M&E in social protection

4.4.2 Vision for 2040 where necessary. M&E in social protection will fall within national M&E arrangements and The Strategy’s vision for its M&E framework be integrated into institutions charged with reflects the National M&E Policy, which M&E at the national, regional and local levels. envisions: “A Sierra Leone where all public sector policies, programmes and projects To ensure effective M&E policy at national and sub-national levels produce implementation and to track developments value for money and are subject to an in social protection holistically, a three- independent, integrated, institutionalised and tier system of M&E will be deployed. This well-coordinated M&E system that ensures will include individual-level M&E by the improved development results, accountability, implementing MDAs, operational-level M&E transparency and learning, and leads to by local councils and overall policy-level M&E evidence-based decision-making”. by NaCSA, NSPS, NaMED and the NSPC and relevant Parliamentary select committees. The Strategy will support establishing and The strategy specifies that NaMED, NSPS and strengthening institutional M&E systems and NaCSA should adopt results-based monitoring capacity development. It will serve as a tool and evaluation to manage the entire cycle for facilitating and enhancing accountability of programmes from planning, monitoring among all development stakeholders, good and reporting to evaluation, as well as use and accountable corporate governance based evaluative evidence to improve programme on transparency and information sharing in the design and implementation. development processes and the attainment of value for money and real changes in the people's lives. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 77 • Individual programme level: At this level, will support performance-based each component programme will have an monitoring, budgeting, planning and in-built, fully functioning M&E system that coordination by implementing MDAs. identifies key results indicators, collects - Outcome key performance and manages data and reports regularly. indicators measure the progress Individual programme monitoring will be towards the national development the responsibility of the implementing objectives in the different strategic institution. sectors in line with the country's • Operational level: At this level, respective strategic development plan. The MDAs will be responsible for oversight structure of the scorecard caters of all social protection activities in their for short- and medium-term operational localities. MDAs will deploy targets, hence periodic evaluation their in-built M&E mechanisms to conduct will be undertaken to provide an periodic M&E activities, including on- understanding of the performance of the-spot checks and verification of the various policies and interventions. performance on key results indicators reported by individual programmes. It is envisaged that NaMED will promote a • Overall policy level: An overarching M&E new M&E system in the future, which will framework will be deployed at this level. build on rectifying the challenges of past The M&E framework will be designed systems. This also includes putting in place an to track in a timely manner inter-sectoral effective and efﬁcient national M&E structure and inter-programme performance in while streamlining the implementation of social protection in accordance with the development interventions from the onset objectives, strategies and interventions of to completion of activities and strengthening the policy. existing M&E structures. - Performance measurement: For the policy to be effective, evidence will In coordination with NaMED, the system will be provided on the extent to which be anchored at the NSPS and NaCSA. The intended beneficiaries are reached. M&E system will be overseen by the NSPC, Towards this end, a scorecard will with participation of the relevant Parliamentary be generated and used as input into committee and MDAs. The programme, the overall National Social Protection operational and overarching M&E systems will Report, providing detailed evidence be closely aligned to the national M&E system of performance. The scorecard will be overseen by NaMED and the NSPC. The NSPC applied to each of the policy measures will also receive reports from the NSPS and and interventions described in chapter NaCSA emanating from national, regional 3 of the policy. The information and district technical steering committees collected through the scorecard responsible for social protection interventions. Alongside and in close coordination with NSPS, NaCSA and NaMED, the following proposed specific SP M&E outputs should be achieved by 2026: • Strengthen SP M&E unit capacity within each MDA and local council involved in implementing life-course social protection programmes under the Strategy. • Identify clear roles and responsibilities among various Social Protection and SP stakeholders to assign leading agencies to monitor and evaluate specific objectives and results and coordination roles to track outputs and actions assigned to each operational entity within MDAs. 78 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 • Develop a clear, transparent, effective and sustainable SP M&E system with clear standards, rules, operations manual and procedures within all operator’s units and equip SP M&E staff with tools, instruments, skills, and accountability for timely and quality report-sharing protocol. • Train and mentor SP M&E staff and senior decision-makers on how to analyse results and outputs and track learning and track change theory to realize overall objectives and make the function of monitoring and evaluation as learning processes and daily jobs for everyone to achieve the vision 2040. • Coordinate and standardize all data collection, instrumentation, analysis and report and information for internal and external users with NSPS, NaCSA, NaMED and MIS for easy and safeguarding data and informed decision-making process. • Apply result-based monitoring and evaluation framework and reporting quarterly, semi-annually and annual monitoring and evaluation assessing progress and performance at operational, strategic and policy levels. • Conduct regular joint monitoring activities and undertake independent interim and final evaluations impact studies, and learn lessons from the process for easy remedial action to strategy.

4.4.4 — Costs • Mentored the Trainers (Social Protection

4.4.4 Costs • Mentored the Trainers (Social Protection M&E unit staff) on Social Protection M&E Costs for the social protection component implementation of a coordinated national M&E framework • Coaching on using M&E standard will depend on the availability of funding to applications, tools, analysis and reporting sponsor the following priority interventions for for the Social Protection M&E team the next five years, as follows: • Coaching on preparing baseline study • Strengthened Social Protection M&E unit before Social Protection Strategy capacity to monitor and evaluate Social implementation Protection Strategy implementation within • Interim Evaluation of the Social Protection each Social Protection MDA Strategy Deployment • Identification of M&E roles and • Final Impact Evaluation of the Social responsibilities and coordination Protection Strategy implementation mechanism among Social Protection • National Social Protection Strategy: Life- MDAs course Impact Assessment study • Improved Social Protection M&E System: SoPs, Social Protection M&E guide/manual The costs are expected to be covered • Trained the Trainers (Social Protection through additional funding from donors and M&E unit staff) on M&E approaches and international partners such as UNICEF, World application Bank and the EU. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 79 5. Costs and financing

5.1 — Estimated costs for the next five years

5.1 Estimated costs for the next five years The additional costs for the introduction and 0 to 2 years), a social pension covering all proposed expansion of the main life-course older persons above the age of 70 years, and programmes envisaged in the NSPP (and a disability allowance for all those with severe presented in Chapter 3) are predominantly disabilities and chronic illness. The total costs associated with the phased introduction of for these three programmes are shown in the child grant (initially covering children aged Figure 5-1. Figure 5-1. Investment over the next five years in millions of US dollars (a) and as a percentage of GDP (b) assuming the progressive roll-out of a 0 to 2 child grant, a 70+ social pension, and a 0-69 disability allowance (a) 120 105 100 Investment (million USD) 82 80 60 58 40 35 20 13 0 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Source: author’s projections 0 9 19 30 40 9 17 26 35 44 4 8 13 18 21 Disability Benefit Child Benefit Old-Age Benefit 80 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 (b) 2,5% 2,0% 2,0% 1,6% Investment (% GDP) 1,5% 1,2% 1,0% 0,8% Source: author’s projections 0,5% 0,3% 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Disability Benefit Child Benefit Old-Age Benefit The other proposed NSPP life-course not be achieved overnight but through a programmes will either be introduced from progressive expansion of life course benefits 2027 onwards (as is the case with school-age such as a child grant, a social pension, and a children) or are already covered through the disability allowance. Figure 5-2 shows how Government’s planned programmes funded age eligibility for these schemes could be through World Bank support and for which progressively expanded as 2040 approaches. the funding is therefore already in place (as • Child benefit to initially cover children is the case for youth and the working age). aged 0-2 until 2027, then expand each year Furthermore, this World Bank financing by one year up to 14 years of age as the additionally includes support for the different maximum age of eligibility; systems discussed in Chapter 4, where the proposed enhancements and priority activities • Old-age benefit to initially cover older for the next five years are already covered. persons aged 70+ until 2027, then expand each year by one year, reaching 60 as the minimum age of eligibility; • Disability benefits are to be introduced progressively for persons with disabilities

5.2 — The cost of below 70, with a maximum age of

5.2 The cost of below 70, with a maximum age of inclusive life- eligibility contracting as the old-age benefit expands. course social protection in 2040 The objective for 2040 is achieving universal coverage for the Sierra Leonean population through a modern, multi-tiered lifecycle social protection system. This goal will National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 81 Figure 5-2. Progressive expansion of age eligibility 100 90 80 70 Age Cohorts 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Child Benefit Disability Benefit Old-Age Benefit Another way to progressively phase in the fifth (or fourth) of the eligible beneficiaries social protection schemes, allowing more time each year until reaching full coverage in 2027. to secure the necessary fiscal space in the Table 5-1 shows the coverage rates assumed annual Government budget, would be a roll- for the simulations. out by geographic area, reaching an additional Figure 5-1. Progressive roll-out. Coverage of eligible recipients 2023-2027 Child benefit Old age benefit Disability benefit 2023 20% 20% - 2024 40% 40% 25% 2025 60% 60% 50% 2026 80% 80% 75% 2027 100% 93% 100% On this basis, and on the assumption of exceed US$ 350 million or 5.1 per cent of constant economic growth and inflation after GDP.61 Almost three per cent of GDP would be 2027, Figure 5-3 gives an idea of investment allocated towards child grants, about two per levels on social protection transfers between cent would go into social pensions for older 2023 and 2040. The estimated total cost of persons, and less than one per cent would the transfers for this hypothetical 2040 (when fund the disability allowance. universal coverage is achieved) would not 61 Assumed transfer amounts of USD 5 per child per month for the child benefit and USD 12 per person per month for old age and disability benefits. 82 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Figure 5-3. Investment in millions of US dollars (a) and as a percentage of GDP (b), assuming the progressive roll-out of a 0 to 2 child grant, a 70+ social pension and a 0 to 69 disability allowance (a) 500 450 Investment (million USD) 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Old-Age Benefit Child Benefit Disability Benefit (b) 5,0% 4,5% 4,0% Investment (% GDP) 3,5% 3,0% 2,5% 2,0% Source: author’s projections 1,5% 1,0% 0,5% 0,0% 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 Old-Age Benefit Child Benefit Disability Benefit

5.3 — The benefits course social protection system (or rather the

5.3 The benefits course social protection system (or rather the cash transfer element of it) on the current of inclusive life- standards of living in the country. course social Given the latest available picture of population protection in 2040 characteristics and living standards, a universal social protection system could potentially increase average consumption by as much as Although it is impossible to predict what the 19 per cent for people in the lowest decile. income distribution and the poverty levels Consumption would increase by about 8 per will be for Sierra Leone in 2040, using data cent for people in the middle decile and 2 per from SLIHS 2018, it is possible to simulate cent for people in the highest decile (Figure 5-4). what would be the impact of a universal life National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 83 Figure 5-4. Change in household consumption expenditure in 2023 if a universal lifecycle social protection system was in place 100 19 80 Chnage in welfare (%) 60 14 11 10 40 8 7 6 5 Source: author’s projections 20 4 2 0 Lowest 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Highest Welfare deciles Child Benefit Disability Benefit Old-Age Benefit Total As a result of the introduction of the cash approximately 41 per cent (given a poverty line transfers, poverty (measured in relation to of SLE 177.08 per month). Figure 5-5 shows the national poverty line of SLE 326.75 per the percentage decrease in poverty and month, using 2018 prices) would decrease extreme poverty across age groups. by about 10 per cent and extreme poverty by Figure 5-5. Change in poverty and extreme poverty rate in 2023 if a universal lifecycle social protection system was in place 0-4 5-11 12-17 18-24 25-39 40-64 65-79 80+ years years years years years years years years Total 0% -10% -10% -9% -9% -8% -9% -10% -10% -14% -12% -20% -30% Source: author’s projections -40% -37% -39% -42% -41% -40% -41% -44% -50% -51% -52% -60% Poverty Extreme Poverty 84 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Overall, the most significant changes would be contributing to filling the gap between the perceived by poorer households in the lowest poorest and the richest, positively impacting decile of the welfare distribution and by the the economy and society. Figure 5-6 shows elderly, which are currently the demographic the predicted reduction in inequality across group among which the highest poverty rates different measures: the Gini index (-6 per are recorded. cent), the Palma ratio (-9 per cent) and the quintile ratio (-11 per cent). Finally, social protection will also have a redistributive effect and reduce inequality, Figure 5-6. Change in inequality in 2023 if a universal lifecycle social protection system was in place Gini Index Palma Ratio Quintile Ratio 0% -2% -4% -6% -6% Source: author’s projections -8% -9% -10% -11% -12%

5.4 — Financing investments in high-quality public services,

5.4 Financing investments in high-quality public services, creating a virtuous circle of ever-improving inclusive life- public services and higher government revenues, alongside a thriving economy. course social protection As set out in the NSPP, Sierra Leone should regard further investment in inclusive life- course transfers as the next step in building A social protection system offering high- a modern, universal social protection system. quality, universal life-course transfers is likely By gradually increasing transfer values and to be highly popular and should strengthen expanding the age of eligibility for different the national social contract, encouraging programmes, such continuing investment citizens to pay higher taxes in return for would further underpin the economic these higher-quality services. This was a recovery in the long term, as there would be key component of Europe’s economic and a permanent increase in the level of fiscal social success following the shock of the stimulus. Second World War. By investing in high- quality universal services, including social In the immediate term, especially in a post- security, the social contract in Europe was COVID recovery context, it is to be expected strengthened, and tax revenues increased that a substantial proportion of funding for significantly, which, in turn, enabled further social protection will need to derive from National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 85 development partners. But there are also in inclusive life-course benefits, the vast potential options for increased domestic majority of the population will likely financing in the short term to permit the end up as net beneficiaries. So, while necessary levels of initial investment, which increases in income tax may provoke a are explored in the following paragraphs. negative reaction among a small minority, this will be mitigated if, simultaneously, • Expanding social insurance: Increasing the Government introduces a range the coverage of contributory social of universal life-course benefits, as insurance schemes (e.g. through NaSSIT) proposed in the NSPP. Indeed, it could be could be one option to improve financing a popular move across the majority of the of social protection schemes. Increasing population as long as citizens can clearly the number of contributors – through see that they benefit through a cash labour formalization and expanding transfer. coverage – will increase revenues and improve the financial balance of schemes. • A one-off wealth tax could be considered so that, as with income tax • Quantitative easing: The Government rises, those with the broadest shoulders could attempt “creating new money” are given the opportunity to support the over a short period. This has been a majority of the population at a time of common response to COVID-19, with great need. To the extent that this will Organisation of Economic Cooperation also help maintain stability and reduce and Development (OECD) governments social unrest, those who pay the tax committing to do “whatever it takes” may find it well-spent. Again, the IMF to keep their economies operational. and OECD have argued in favour of such Social assistance is a very effective taxes as ‘solidarity surcharges’ in the way to generate demand – most is recovery from COVID-19. spent immediately on basic and locally- produced items, which can be expected • Proper implementation of existing to generate economic multipliers in taxes: This would be an alternative. the local economy of between 1.5 and For example, legislation exists to 5 dollars for each 1 dollar spent on tax those with substantial holdings, transfers. but enforcement is weak: effectively implementing the existing legislation • Re-allocating Government expenditure: could generate substantial resources. From inefficient areas to social protection Finally, more needs to be done to stop should be a high priority. Each budget illicit financial flows overseas while item should be examined to determine enhancing the capacity of the tax system whether it is delivering value for money to seek out hidden wealth. in the current context. However, given the limited size of Government spending • New tax revenue options: Should be overall, this may produce relatively limited explored, such as on the digital economy amounts. Nonetheless, it could be an or on financial transactions; inheritance, opportunity to rationalize spending on value-added and tourist taxes; a relatively ineffective schemes and instead surcharge on natural resource extraction; focus it on a small number of flagship life- expanding so-called ‘sin taxes’ on luxury course schemes. items, tobacco and alcohol; and even the introduction of a national lottery (as is • Higher-income taxes: For the wealthiest used to fund social assistance in Hong members of society who are still in work, Kong, for example). this could be considered. Increasing income taxes on the wealthy is in line with proposals from the IMF and OECD The Government might seek a short-term in response to COVID-19. Since income debt moratorium followed by medium- to taxes would only affect those who still long-term debt restructuring that would have jobs, it would be a way of asking free fiscal space to invest in protecting the those suffering the least from the crisis population through social security. As Nobel to help those suffering the most. Further, Laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz argues, if income tax increases are used to invest this might include a grace period for growth, 86 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 lower interest rates, a change in maturity to supporting the well-being of children, it and a reduction in the principal. This would should be possible to gain an accord for debt require an international agreement, of course, deferment on condition that the savings were but, for example, if creditors are committed used to fund a universal child grant. ©UNICEF/Sierra Leone National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 87

Annex 1

Annex 1 System profile of Social Protection Registry for Integrated National Targeting (SPRINT) System profile: Social Registry Platform name • Social Registry SPRINT • Social Protection Registry for Integrated National Targeting Owner • National Social Protection Secretariat Implementing • National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) agency Platform type • Social registry of household Database • Single national database of household records with generated unique primary description key • Household records have a familial entity relationship with individual household members, including a household head record • Households are linked with social protection interventions and services Inception • 2014 (initial version) Current version • 2019 (last major upgrade) Geographic • Nationwide coverage • All 16 districts covered Volume • Active records: Approximately 35,000 households • Cumulative household records for the SSN programme: 140,000 + • Cumulative data available for SPRINT: 180,000 + • Disbursements using MIS payments module: US$ 42.3 million Additional Volumetrics: • 40% of supported households are households with PwD • 73% of supported households are headed by women 88 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Key business DATA VALIDATION processes NCRA DATA SPRINT (NSPS) SHARING NaSSIT AND REFERRAL SSN MIS MIS MIS OTHER MIS (NaCSA) GRIEVANCE MANAGEMENT E-GRM (ACC) Available API Supported API Potential API integrations integrations integrations Institutional • Anti-Corruption Commission: Provide the mechanism for periodic data arrangements updates for member or household data being held within the SPRINT • Statistics Sierra Leone: Provide technical guidance on data capture tools and decentralised data collection • Ministry of Labour and Social Security: Provide leadership on the legal framework surrounding the national use of the system • Donor Partners: World Bank, UNICEF, and other donor partners to provide funding and technical support in the development and upgrades to the SPRINT and associated support structures Technology • Software: (Open Source) CSS3, JQuery, HTML5, Spring Boot, Jasper Reports, components Kibana • Database: MongoDB • Integration points / enabled services: GRM API, SMS Broadcast, Facial Recognition, Payment API • Infrastructure: • Cloud server: • 8Gb ECC RAM • 1-2Tb Storage (HDD or NVMe) (250-480Gb OS Drive) • 12x Intel Silver vCPU • 24Tb Transfer (bandwidth) • Virtualisation Services & Console access • Backup and archiving: co-located replication (mirror server specs for cloud) • Operating system: Ubuntu version 21 Resources / • Systems management and administration team staffing • Institution: NaCSA • National Coordinator x1 • Systems Specialist x 1 • Data Management Officer x 1 • Case Management/Grievance Redress Officer x1 • Social Development Specialist x1 • Other • Systems development: • Institution: Independent (vendor) • Programmer x 1 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 89 Resources/ • Field team: staffing • Institution: • Community Development Specialists x 10 Budget and • Operational cost: US$ 3.8 million per annum financing • Data collection/field level costs US$ 14 million • Cost per household: US$ 1.75 90 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026

Annex 2

Annex 2 Proposed Management Information System (MIS) landscape As illustrated below, three layers of information systems support the SP-MIS landscape or ecosystem. SHARED GOVERNMENT / CIVIL ADMINISTRATION SYSTEMS CENTRALISED SOCIAL PROTECTION REGISTRIES AND SYSTEMS PROGRAMME OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ARE (PROGRAMME MIS / BENEFICIARY OPS MGMT SYS) • Programme Operations Management Systems: Most social protection programmes follow similar processes along the delivery chain. The definition of the operational processes for each social protection programme and their harmonisation across key registration, enrolment and payment processes will dictate the information management solution required and whether the existing SPRINT platform can be enhanced to support multiple programmes. Outreach to In-kind and communities Generate complimentary Monitor sector Targeting and Enrollment as a Beneficiary payment list and (cash-plus) Grievance performance registration Identify beneficiary information integrate with services workflow Number of (intake) eligible Member- recertification payment service management Integration beneficiaries based beneficiaries household and updating providers Service with eligible vs on eligibility Eligibility information Graduation Payment audit & provider grievances registered vs criteria assessment maintenance and exits reconciliation integration channels paid TARGETING SELECTION BENEFICIARY REGISTRY BENEFIT SERVICES/CASE GRIEVANCE MONITORING REGISTRATION MANAGEMENT TRANSFERS MANAGEMENT REDRESSAL AND REPORTING • Centralised Social Protection Registries and Systems: It is well recognised that linkages and integration of information management services can support social protection programmes. To support social protection programmes, a centralised registry, delivered by the social protection sector, include a social registry and an integrated beneficiary registry. It could also include payment or grievances management solutions where a standard service is unavailable as part of shared Government services. Centralised social protection registries can provide considerable benefits: National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 91 ■ Opportunity to support multiple programmes through the sharing of resources ■ Make it easier for new programmes to leverage existing capability AND for existing programmes to scale up/expand (including for shock responsive and adaptive social protection) ■ Apply common standards and design/data management principles (promote consistency and coordination) ■ Facilitate integration/linkages with external Government services Foundational / National ID | OTHER EXTERNAL GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES SOCIAL PROTECTION SECTOR INTERVENTION Social Registry Integrated Beneficiary Registry TARGETING SELECTION BENEFICIARY REGISTRY BENEFIT SERVICES/CASE GRIEVANCE MONITORING REGISTRATION MANAGEMENT TRANSFERS MANAGEMENT REDRESSAL AND REPORTING Programme 1 | Programme 2 | Programme 3 | • Shared Government/Civil Administration Systems: Information management services that are provided as public services to citizens. These services are external to the social protection sector but enable accessible services to citizens in a consistent approach. For life course-based programmes, linkages may be facilitated by a National ID and robust and effective civil registration and administration systems. Shared Government-wide services may also be leveraged to obtain information updates and demand-driven interventions by providing local administration offices and other channels with the ability to effectively and efficiently engage with citizens for social protection services. It is the responsibility of the whole of the Government to place appropriate standards and policies for the collection, processing and sharing of information on citizens, including setting data protection and privacy policies. Similarly, using biometrics to register citizens should be facilitated by a central Government authority. The social protection sector can subsequently leverage these shared Government services to support their programme operations. Social Registries and Integrated Beneficiary Registries The current Social Registry SPRINT collects household information to support targeting for the SSN programme. The beneficiary target group for the planned life course programmes, including individual entitlement programmes, will require targeting individuals using a different set of selection criteria. The SPRINT household registry module may need to be updated to cater for the registration and enrolment processes for other programmes, or those programmes may be able to obtain their potential beneficiary lists from other databases, such as the Civil Registry and a National ID authentication service. 92 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 A social registry will perform the following functions: • Gather and maintain socioeconomic information on Sierra Leone’s citizens and households. • Facilitate a harmonised survey for the collection of data about households’ basic information and living conditions. • Enable multiple social programmes and services to use the collected information for targeting. • Maintain an up-to-date registry, to the extent possible, through open and accessible communication channels. If social protection programmes are being supported by separate systems into the future, an integrated beneficiary registry provides the facility to consolidate the beneficiaries into one database to provide a social protection sectoral monitoring and reporting view on the number of beneficiaries, payments made, other services provided, grievances, etc. An integrated beneficiary registry delivers the following capabilities: • A warehouse of information developed by integrating consistent and timely data updates from programmes. • Deliver the M&E framework for the sector. • A monitoring tool providing a single view of programmes and beneficiaries across the social protection sector, including the ability to view “who” is receiving “what“ services, “when“ and “where” they were received. • Social programme data on beneficiaries and expenditure may be aggregated nationally or disaggregated by: - programme/lifecycle phase/line ministry responsibility - age, gender, disability, etc. - geographic location • Monitoring programme performance, such as timeliness of payments, budget execution and handling of complaints. • Enable coordination between programmes. While one system or platform solution, such as the SPRINT, could evolve to provide both sets of registry functionality, they serve very different purposes and, therefore, should have some built-in database layer separation. The following figure illustrates the differences between the two registries to consider. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 93 SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAM DELIVERY CYCLE household registration and updates Integrated Social Beneficiary Registry Registry target registration programme beneficiaries feedback updates TARGETING SELECTION BENEFICIARY REGISTRY BENEFIT SERVICES/CASE GRIEVANCE MONITORING REGISTRATION MANAGEMENT TRANSFERS MANAGEMENT REDRESSAL AND REPORTING Programme 1 | Programme 2 | Programme 3 | Purpose Management of household poverty Monitoring and reporting of beneficiary data and eligibility to facilitate access to social protection services and social targeting and programme inclusion. protection sector performance. Coverage All households and members via All beneficiaries (households and individual survey of their demographic and socio- members) of social protection programmes economic details. only. Updates Periodic mass census / surveys OR Regular programme updates / feeds. Dynamic on demand approaches for inclusion. Implementation • Data privacy concerns. • An M&E framework for the SP sector to and Operational • Need robust process to share data guide monitoring and report indicators. Considerations between institutions. • MIS of individual SP programmes must be able to share data in the prescribed and standardised integration framework. Other services and systems Other solutions that may be incorporated into the SPRINT platform or created as a single separated platform include the following: • Case Management System: To manage the delivery of case management or cash plus services, including for Gender Based Violence referrals or child protection services. The case management system may be linked to the broader social and integrated beneficiary registries, but there may be privacy and confidentiality concerns that prompt keeping the beneficiary lists separate. A case management system will allow for a workflow solution to resolve cases based on pre-set categories and business rules, including notification, hand-offs and resolution deadlines • Government-to-Person (G2P) payment services: There would be a need to link to payment service providers or leverage a centralised G2P service for payment transfers. Some G2P services are being developed in Sierra Leone that may be investigated for this purpose. 94 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 Technology evolution – trends and approaches Technology solutions being developed for large enterprises and transformation programmes are increasingly being developed via services-oriented architecture approaches, including the following: • Modular services – building block approach to enable gradual development of services that can be reused and enhanced without compromising the other modules or building blocks • Configurable development – where possible, remove the need for a software developer to make business changes via enabling configurable screens, workflows and system parameterisation. • Open source platforms to ensure the system is accessible to share, leverage, and build on, including minimising the risk of vendor lock-in. Principles for Digital Development Design with the Develop context-appropriate solutions informed by users’ priorities and needs, user including ensuring that the design is sensitive to and considers the needs of the marginalized populations: women, children, those with disabilities, and those affected by conflict and disaster. Understand Ensure that the initiative aligns with existing technological, legal and regulatory the existing policies and coordinate with other relevant actors working on the same issues. ecosystem Design for scale Plan and design for scale from the outset, regarding technology choices, funding model, strengthening capacities and building an evidence base. Build for Plan for sustainability from the start. This includes identifying and implementing sustainability a sustainable business model, investing in local information technology providers, engaging local governments and integrating national strategies into programming. Be data-driven Design programmes so the impact can be measured continuously and incrementally. Use Open Create a data use culture by prioritizing capacity building and data use efforts. Standards, Open Data, Open Source, and Open Innovation Reuse and Adopt and expand on existing open standards. Share non-sensitive data after improve ensuring data privacy needs are addressed without restrictions on data use to enable open innovation. Address privacy Identify the existing technology solutions (local and global), data and and security frameworks used by your target population, geography, or sector. Develop modular, interoperable approaches instead of those that stand alone. Be collaborative Keep the best interests of end users and individuals whose data are collected. Obtain informed consent before data collection. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 95

Annex 3

Annex 3 Monitoring and Evaluation framework As the M&E framework for the Strategy is being implemented, the Government of Sierra Leone and partners will consider the SDG targets and framework, the MTNDP M&E framework, the Productive Social Safety Nets and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) adaptability framework, and other related frameworks, which require indicators to be disaggregated by gender and disability. 1. Pregnant women and preschool children (0 to 5 years) Strategic targets No Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 and results chain SO1 To cover all 100% of women NaSSIT Act enacted Zero 10% 15% women in formal workers in formal and NaSSIT employment and – sectors are database reports. increasingly – those legally covered working in the by standardised informal sector with maternity benefits. a legally mandated, standardised maternity benefit (funded through the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, NaSSIT). 1.1. Introduced child 100% of 0 to 5 • 0 to 5 child grant Zero 5% 10% grant to caregivers children covered by progress report. of children 0 to 5 a Child Grant. • Birth & Death years. registration records. • Financial records of child grant. 96 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 2025 2026 2027 2028/31 2032/36 2037/41 Assumptions 20% 25% 30% 60% 90% 100% • NaSSIT Act to be enacted. • NASSIT to lead the implementation of the actions in coordination with other MDAs and NaMED, MGCA, MoHS, MSW, NaCSA, NSPS, MBSSE, CWC & MoF. • Mandatory maternity benefit is enacted. 20% 25% 30% 60% 90% 100% • 0 to 5 grant program module defined and endorsed. • Govt. to give priority and make available funding for the provision of child grants incrementally for 0 to 5yrs. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 97 2. School-age children (6 to 14 years) No. Items Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 SO2 Child Grant to 100% of children • 6 to 14 years Zero (0) 0 0 mothers and aged 6 to 14 Grant programme caregivers covers receiving the child progress reports; children aged 6 to grant. • Social protection 14 by 2040. programme coverage surveys, • Financial records. 2.1 Test, monitor and Percentage of Social protection 0% coverage 0% 5% evaluate different children aged 10 intervention approaches in to 14 accessing records. the short term, as social protection the child grant is to support their gradually phased education. in over the years to ensure that no child is deprived of schooling because of financial barriers. SLIHS: Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey 3. Youth (15 to 24 years) No. Items Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 SO3 All Sierra Leonean Number of • Education Sector 317 TVET students 350 TVET 500 TVET youth, including youth enrolled Plan, per 100,000 students students those with on Vocational • Labour Force inhabitants. per 100,000 per 100,000 disabilities and Training.62 Surveys, inhabitants. inhabitants. other vulnerable • Youth groups, have access Employment to the necessary Programme training, skills, and reports. qualifications to be engaged in decent work; programmes and services contribute towards tackling gender imbalances; and are fully protected against harmful and abusive practices, especially those that are age- and gender- based. 62 To be explored at later stage: inclusion of volunteerism and apprenticeship programmes. 98 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 2025 2026 2027 2028/32 2033/37 2038/42 Assumptions 0 0 10% 25% 50% 100% • Rolling out the child grant for 6 to 14. • Convincing evidence to encourage Government support with funds. 10% 15% 30% 50% 75% 100% • Continued commitment to human development programs. • Coordinate and complement to current programme on radical inclusion policy and school retention and performance. 2025 2026 2027 2028/32 2033/37 2038/42 Assumptions 750 TVET 1,000 TVET 1,200 TVET 1,500 TVET 5,000 TVET 10,000 TVET • Availability of students students students students students students funding. per 100,000 per 100,000 per 100,000 per 100,000 per 100,000 per 100,000 • Availability inhabitants. inhabitants. inhabitants. inhabitants. inhabitants. inhabitants. programs incorporating life skills modules and youth employment skills training initiatives. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 99 3. Youth (15 to 24 years). Continued No. Items Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 3.1. • Mapping of youth Number of youths Data based on TBD 2% of youth 4% of youth empowerment participated in public works participated participated activities across the public works programs in at least one in at least one country to better programs and and youth-led opportunity: opportunity: understand the accredited enterprises. (public works (public works or opportunities for certificates or enterprise). enterprise). coverage. establishing skills • Implement youth attained. employment and training initiatives to ensure that youth have the necessary skills to enter the labour market, including the youth employment components of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment project. 3.2. Monitor potential risks Operationalised GBV risks No integrated GBV risk Regular of GBV GBV risk assessment tools GBV risk assessment GBV risk assessment tools. and reports. assessment tool tools assessments is in place. developed are undertaken, for the social and risk protection mitigation sector. measures identified 4. Working age (25 to 64 years) No. Items Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 SO4 • All individuals of At least 90% of Social Insurance 61.1% of workers 0-5% of all 5-10% of all working age 25-64 working age- report by NaSSIT. are informal workers are workers are should have access integrated in social workers in the covered by covered by to social protection protection schemes: agriculture either one either one when they require contributory or sector and had scheme: non or scheme: non or it by providing non-contributory. no coverage of contributory. contributory. a consolidated Contributory and and sustainable non-contributory combination of social security contributory and schemes. non-contributory programmes. • By 2040, Social Number of self- 2-3% of the 2% of informal 4% of informal Insurance will be employed and active labour workers are workers are reformed to cover informal sector force formal covered. covered. maternity, sickness, workers covered by workers fall employment injury, the social insurance under NaSSIT invalidity and scheme. and are covered retirement benefits, by social and – ideally – security benefits unemployment in SL. benefit. 100 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 2025 2026 2027 2028/32 2033/37 2038/42 Assumptions 6% of youth 8% of youth 10% of youth 10% of youth 10% of youth 10% of youth • Availability of participated participated participated participated participated participated public works in at least one in at least one in at least one in at least one in at least one in at least one programmes. opportunity: opportunity: opportunity: opportunity: opportunity: opportunity: • Accreditation (public works or (public works or (public works or (public works or (public works or (public works or of skills gained enterprise). enterprise). enterprise). enterprise). enterprise). enterprise). through public works by MoYA /NAYCOM/City Councils. Regular GBV risk Regular GBV risk Regular GBV risk Regular GBV risk Regular GBV risk Regular GBV risk Continuous assessments are assessments are assessments are assessments are assessments are assessments are coordination with undertaken, and undertaken, and undertaken, and undertaken, and undertaken, and undertaken, and other GBV local risk mitigation risk mitigation risk mitigation risk mitigation risk mitigation risk mitigation and international measures measures measures measures measures measures agencies to inform identified. identified. identified. identified. identified. identified. decision-makers of associated risks. 2025 2026 2027 2028/32 2033/37 2038/42 Assumptions 10-15% of all 15-20% of all 20-25% of all 25-45% of all 45-65% of all 65-90% of all • Social insurance workers are workers are workers are workers are workers are workers are bill to reforms is covered by covered by covered by covered by covered by covered by enacted. either one either one either one either one either one either one • Workers/ scheme: non or scheme: non or scheme: non or scheme: non or scheme: non or scheme: non or employers are contributory. contributory. contributory. contributory. contributory. contributory. willing and attracted to join social security/ insurance contributory schemes. • Government 6% of informal 8% of informal 10% of informal 20% of informal 40% of informal 60% of informal support to the workers are workers are workers are workers are workers are workers are non-contributory covered. covered. covered. covered. covered. covered. scheme. National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 101 5. Old age (over 65 years) No. Items Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 SO5 A sustainable social Action plan with MLSS update on No action plan. Draft Action Validation and protection programme MLSS to roll out a universal pension Plan. Consultation of that enhances the universal pension for the aged. Action Plan. recognition of older for those over 70. persons and addresses income security, well- Implementation NASSIT pension being, housing, social of universal payment report. welfare, health and non-contributory nutrition empowered pensions for all old to manage and sustain age persons. their dignity. By 2040, this would be achieved through a three-tier • 40% coverage of No coverage of 0 0 pension system for all Tier 1 for workers. Tier 1 pensions. older persons in Sierra • including Leone over the age of 60 self-employed years. and informal sectors covered by mandatory contributory old- age benefits by 2040. 6. Disability and chronic illness No. Items Indicators Sources Baseline 2022 2023 2024 SO6 All persons with Established an • Disability No disability Pilot disability Complete disabilities and all those inclusive and assessment assessment assessment. design of living with chronic accessible disability reports. mechanism. disability illnesses are recognised, assessment • National assessment protected, self-reliant mechanism by disability registry mechanism. and live dignified lives; 2026. records. and where they receive a cash transfer that compensates for the 100% of persons SL national 0% coverage 0 0 additional costs, they with disabilities disability grant face participating in and/or chronically management society on an equal ill are covered by a report. basis as part of a disability grant. comprehensive package of support that can address the diversified needs of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. 102 National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 2025 2026 2027 2028/32 2033/37 2038/42 Assumptions Complete Action • Government Plan. commitment to universal pension. • Availability of 25% of old 30% of old 60% of old 90% of old 100% of old domestic revenue person covered. person covered. person covered. person covered. person covered. support for the sustainability of universal pension for the aged. 0 0 5% 10% 20% 40% 2025 2026 2027 2028/32 2033/37 2038/42 Assumptions Validate and Disability • There is a need approve the assessment for disability disability mechanism is assessment to assessment fully established inform access to mechanism. and operational. social services. • Government commitment to 10% 20% 30% 60% 90% 100% provide structure enabling structures to support the disability assessment process. • Domestic revenue support to disability grant for sustainability. 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National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026 107 NATIONAL SOCIAL PROTECTION STRATEGY FOR SIERRA LEONE 2022-2026

National Social Protection Strategy for Sierra Leone 2022-2026

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