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Trajectories of social protection in Africa

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  • Stephen Devereux

Abstract

Social protection in contemporary Africa is the product of several strands of social policy, from European social security systems to humanitarian relief interventions. Contributory social security mechanisms such as unemployment insurance and pensions were imported to Africa during the colonial period, but cover only a minority of formally employed workers. Food aid alleviates hunger but does not resolve problems of chronic food insecurity. Cash transfers are being promoted as an alternative to food aid, but have been criticised for being ineffective against price inflation and underwriting neoliberal economic policies. Some programmes link social transfers to public works employment and microfinance, with the aim of ‘graduating’ participants off social protection. This article argues instead for a ‘social contract’ approach -- recognising the right to social protection, empowering passive beneficiaries to become entitled claimants, and introducing social audits to hold duty-bearers accountable for effective and equitable delivery of citizen-driven social protection policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Devereux, 2013. "Trajectories of social protection in Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 13-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:30:y:2013:i:1:p:13-23
    DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2013.755871
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    Cited by:

    1. Maione, Carol, 2020. "Adapting to drought and extreme climate: Hunger Safety Net Programme, Kenya," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    2. Scarlato, Margherita & D'Agostino, Giorgio, 2016. "The political economy of cash transfers: a comparative analysis of Latin American and sub-Saharan African experiences," IDOS Discussion Papers 6/2016, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    3. Maia Green, 2021. "The work of class: Cash transfers and community development in Tanzania," Economic Anthropology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(2), pages 273-286, June.
    4. Francesco Burchi & Margherita Scarlato & Giorgio d'Agostino, 2018. "Addressing Food Insecurity in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The Role of Cash Transfers," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(4), pages 564-589, December.
    5. Pouw, Nicky R.M. & Rohregger, Barbara & Schüring, Esther & Alatinga, Kennedy A. & Kinuthia, Bethuel & Bender, Katja, 2020. "Social protection in Ghana and Kenya through an inclusive development Lens. Complex effects and risks," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    6. Rachel Sabates-Wheeler & Nikhil Wilmink & Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai & Richard de Groot & Tayllor Spadafora, 2020. "Linking Social Rights to Active Citizenship for the Most Vulnerable: the Role of Rights and Accountability in the ‘Making’ and ‘Shaping’ of Social Protection," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(1), pages 129-151, January.
    7. Stephen Devereux & Jose Cuesta, 2021. "Urban-Sensitive Social Protection: How Universalized Social Protection Can Reduce Urban Vulnerabilities Post COVID-19," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 21(4), pages 340-360, October.
    8. Julia Ngozi Chukwuma, 2022. "Global ideas of welfare and the narrowing scope of social policy," Working Papers 252, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK.
    9. Gbenga Akinlolu Shadare, 2022. "The Governance of Nigeria’s Social Protection: The Burdens of Developmental Welfarism?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, February.

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