Theme 2Institutions and Social Inclusion

Jose Luis Figueroa, IFPRI

Research Priority Setting WorkshopEgypt Strategy Support Program

MARCH 2, 2016 | CAIRO, EGYPT

Background & Rationale• Economic growth is insufficient to eradicate poverty

and to protect vulnerable people.• Inclusive institutions and policies are key to reduce

poverty.• Globally, 50% of the poor receive social protection (10% in

MENA).• Universal subsidies do not meet the needs of the poor.

• Targeted social programs are key to reduce poverty.• IFPRI’s examples of research topics:

1. Evaluation of national social protection programs. 2. Evaluation of social protection delivery strategies.

IFPRI Research Example: Evaluation of PROGRESA• Mexico moved from universal subsidies to targeted

cash transfers.• The program:

• Reduced poverty (10%)• Increased schooling (0.66 years of school)• Improve child growth (16% increase)

• Combining health, nutrition, and education interventions can break the cycle of poverty.

• IFPRI’s Impact evaluations contributed to sustain and expand the program.

Source: IFPRI. 2002. PROGRESA: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty. Washington, DC; Behrman, J. 2007. Policy-Oriented Research Impact Assessment Case Study on the International Food Policy Research Institute and the Mexican PROGRESA Program. IFPRI Impact Assessment Discussion Paper Number 27. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

IFPRI Research Example: Cash, Food, or Vouchers?• Are Cash or Food subsidies better at tackling

malnutrition? • Cash transfers are better at improving food security at

significantly less cost.• Food transfers often increase calorie consumption.• But, impacts depend on the context.

• Ecuador:cash 5.75-9.04 increase Food Consumption Score (FCS)/6-11% increase in calorie intakefood 4.95 increase FCS/16% increase in calorie intake

• Uganda:cash 3.00 increase FCS/ 19.6% increase in calorie intakefood 0 increase FCS/17% increase in calorie intake.

Source: Hoddinott, J., et al. 2013. Enhancing WFP’s Capacity and Experience to Design, Implement, Monitor, and Evaluate Vouchers and Cash Transfer Programmes. IFPRI, Washington, DC.

Knowledge Gaps & Research Questions

• Not obvious how to move from universal subsidies to targeted policies.• Lack of public support for pro-poor and pro-rural reforms.• Lack of information on objective targeting mechanisms.

• There is a lack of evidence, particularly in the MENA region, on:• Policy designs that meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable

populations.• Costs and benefits of policies across groups (rural vs urban, by

gender, by age, etc.).• Potential synergies among different strategies.