Description

Many countries in Asia and the Pacific region have implemented social protection programs to help prevent extreme deprivations, reduce vulnerability and eradicate poverty. As a state-funded program to quickly address the needs of the poor people, conditional cash transfers (CCTs) have gained prominence in the region.

This training workshop leverages the cooperation between ADB and the Inter-American Development Bank to enhance understanding of policy makers from developing countries in Asia and the Pacific about lessons learned from the use of CCT programs in Latin America and Caribbean. Learning from such experience can help increase the effectiveness of CCT programs in Asia and the Pacific.

The workshop consists of:

(i) three days of plenary sessions at ADB Headquarters; and
(ii) one day field visit to a municipality in the Philippines where CCT is being implemented.

Objectives

The main objective of the workshop is to facilitate South-South learning on CCTs, focused on the following four areas:

• Building operational foundations for CCTs (targeting and beneficiaries’ selection, managing a dynamic roster of beneficiaries, payment mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation systems);
• Financing and fiscal sustainability within the broader context of non contributory social protection programs;
• Institution and governance arrangements (fostering inter-institutional work; promoting transparency and accountability); and
• Program strategies to address gender inequality issues and increase impact on poverty reduction.

Expected outputs

Workshop highlights, country presentations

Target participants

By invitation

Representatives from government ministries of planning, social welfare, labor, and finance; and agencies working on CCT programs