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Including Inclusion in Europe and Central Asia’s Social Policy: Closing Themes. Arup Banerji Budapest September 26 2007. Six Themes to Take Away. Social inclusion is especially important for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
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Including Inclusionin Europe and Central Asia’sSocial Policy:Closing Themes Arup Banerji Budapest September 26 2007
Six Themes to Take Away • Social inclusion is especially important for Eastern Europe and Central Asia • Many of the approaches work best when applied across sectors/ministries • In parallel, new approaches are “not panaceas”, and are most effective when used as part of broad social policy(mainstreaming) • Many of the approaches to social inclusion has to be inter-generational, and education is key • Some policy initiatives are costly, but the money is there in most countries • Good quality evaluations are still lacking Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA
1. The particular importance of social inclusion for ECA • The challenge of convergence is still large, even at today’s rapid growth rates • Increasing both labor force participation and productivity are the only solutions • Including those in the current populations who are excluded, into jobs, and good (higher productivity) jobs is a fairer and more sustainable solution Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA
2. Cross-sectoral approaches • The quality of delivered services (e.g., education quality) is central for attaining CCT goals • Increasing labor demand is a prerequisite for the most successful activation policies • Community-based approaches are inherently cross-ministerial • Child care needs to involve education and health • Mobility requires action on housing markets Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA
3. Mainstreaming approaches • There are many successful experiences, but they need to be embedded within a broader social policy • Employment • De-institutionalization • CCTs (and their relationship to existing transfers) Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA
4. Inter-generational focus • Addressing exclusion in a generation is difficult, but for the next generation it is affordable (long-term unemployed hardest to reach, to move). • Better educating kids (CCTs, REF approaches for Roma, skills-building for most marginalized groups, better social care for children) a necessary approach Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA
5. Available resources • For many ECA countries, the marginal resources to make costly program changes exist: • EU funds (ESF/structural funds for member states, IPA for candidates, or neighborhood funds) • Oil/mineral revenue • Savings from increasing efficiency (e.g., from better targeting transfers) Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA
6. Evaluation is essential • Social inclusion, by its very complexity, needs experimental/pilot approaches • Scientific, well-designed evaluations are critical: • For understanding results/successes • For not wasting time and resources on falures • For building political support Enhancing Job Opportunities in ECA