The SPA programme involves research, networking and advocacy in order to create a research and policy network on Social Protection in the Asia region. It is jointly managed by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
(www.ids.ac.uk/go/centreforsocialprotection) at the University of Sussex, UK and the Institute for Human Development (www.ihdindia.org), New Delhi, India.
What do we do?
SPA has the following objectives:
1.
To facilitate research, networking and advocacy among stakeholders on issues of social protection; combining inter-disciplinary academic research with an active engagement with governments, NGOs, donors and multilateral agencies in order to maximise the rigour, relevance and impact of our work
2.
To identify and overcome barriers to the extension of social protection to the poor and marginalized
3.
To identify and study innovative forms of social protection in countries across the region. The project also aims, through the achievement of these objectives:
4.
To build an Asia-wide network of interested groups and develop a cohesive regional voice for sustained advocacy and networking on issues of social protection in the region, by building suitable capacity in the region
Activities supported by SPA:
Research: innovative policy relevant research on social protection ideas, experiences and practice in the Asia region
Key research themes:
• Mobility, migration and social protection
• Informal employment and social protection
• Community-based mechanisms for social protection
• Citizenship and voice: organising and advocacy for social protection
• Financing social protection
Networking, information sharing and capacity building in the Asian region
Institutions working on Social Protection
Dialogue: policy dialogue on social protection that engage policy makers, civil society and the donor community
Communication and dissemination strategies to publicise research findings share regional and global experiences and lessons.
Through the research and related activities of the network, SPA aims to build an empirical base, develop a strong regional voice on Social Protection and an institutional presence that can engage in policy dialogue and advocacy with national governments and international institutions.
Social Protection and Poverty -UNRISD paper by Armando Barrientos - The paper seeks to provide an overview of social protection, and to provide an assessment of its potential contribution to addressing poverty and vulnerability in developing countries.
Social Security for China’s Migrant Workers – Providing for Old Age- Paper by Andrew Watson - The article explores how the current social security system in China, based on household registration, discriminates against migrant workers because of their mobility and the lack of mechanisms to transfer benefits between pools. Faced with this challenge, China’s government has begun to introduce policy reforms to improve social security for migrants. This article explores this development through a focus on old-age insurance. It analyses the special needs of migrants, the obstacles facing policy development and the proposed solutions.
HomeNet Thailand Policy Briefs on Social Security, Health Insurance and Legal Protections
The briefs discuss the country experiences of Thailand in extending social security cover to informal workers, increasing effectiveness of universal health coverage schemes, especially for informal workers’ health problems and also ongoing advocacy for a Homeworker Protection Act in Thailand.
