SOCIAL SECURITY REGULARITY AUTHORITY IN TANZANIA

Mohamed el Munir Safieldin Has sent in the following Contribution::

Social welfare and protection system should be multi-dimensional targeting various vulnerabilities and not one group such as the aging people.



I thank Mr. Festo E. Maro for his contribution and the questions he posed with regard to the management of the to-be-established Social Security Regularity Authority. With no intention to undermine the main question posed in this contribution, I would like to propose widening the scope of social welfare to make it a net work of well coordinated schemes that, when taken together, they address all vulnerable segments of the society whether or not they contribute (or contributed at a previous stage) to a social welfare fund. The reason I am making this proposal is that a number of studies in Africa and Latin America have shown that an increasing number of aging people is using their welfare benefits to support their grand children (many of them orphaned by HIV/AIDS) or their daughters who have become single-mothers. This sharing of benefits by the recipients within an extended family network benefits some unintended members but decreases the material benefits of the intended members. The ultimate result of such situations is that the beneficiary and the individuals he/she feels obliged to support will all survive at levels below descent human living standard. The overall objective of achieving social welfare for the society will be attained only when we have a social protection system that cares for all vulnerable groups such as single mothers; widows; people with disabilities; aging people; and vulnerable children.



It is also important to note that the number of people who contribute/contributed to pension funds and other contributory social welfare systems in developing countries are limited compared to other vulnerable groups in these societies. This is attributable to reasons that have to deal with types of employment and the relatively recent history of welfare programs in these countries.



Who should manage such schemes or system? Certainly the state has a prime responsibility here. However, for the purpose of accountability and transparency, senior technical positions should be offered on competitive grounds to those who have the required technical competencies, commitment, vision and zeal. Beneficiaries and civil society organizations should be represented (as appropriate) at the central and sub-national levels of the management structure.



How should such management systems work? The decentralization of the management structure of social protection is important. The identification of beneficiaries and the assessment of benefits/impact on them must be entrusted to accountable management structures at district levels.



Regards



Munir Safieldin
Deputy Representative
UNICEF Tanzania Office