mpp specialization choice: social protection policy design & financing

7/26/2019 MPP Specialization Choice: Social Protection Policy Design & Financing

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Specialization:

Social Protection Policy Design & Financing

Dr. Zina Nimeh - Specialization Coordinator

[email protected] icht - 10-11-2014


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Quick Background

As a masters, it was initiated by the ILO in 2001 and carried

out by the Graduate School of Governance.

The aim at the time was to train professionals in socialprotection/policy financing who already work (or who intend

to do so) for social security institutions, insurance companies,

governments, research institutions and consultancy companies.

Today we have expanded to also prepare young professionals

to embark on a career in public, private and voluntary sector

that deals with social protection and development


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What would such a specialization offer you?

Our official response:

1) to contribute towards improved governance of

social protection schemes

2) to reduce country dependence on international or

other advice on social protection/policy financing

and on related policy issues

However we asked students who graduated with this

specialization and this was their response


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What has the specialization offered you?

This specialization offered me with the necessary

'hard' skills that would enable me to contribute to

making this planet a better place.

Thea Westphal [Germany]

This specialization offered me with a very clear

framework on how to think about development so as to

be able to do applied work on the "fight" againstpoverty and vulnerability.

Verena Damareau [Argentina]


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A bit on Social Protection.

Modern government is based on a social contract between citizens and thestate in which rights and duties are agreed to by all to further the commoninterest. Citizens lend their support to a government through taxes andefforts to a countrys good; in return, governments acquire legitimacy byprotecting thepeoplesrights and through public policies that benefit all.

However, policy making is often captured by powerful groups and elites,making government policies biased and unaccountable to the majority ofcitizens.

With half the world's population living below the two-dollar a day povertyline, ineffective social policies can be the spark for state breakdown. Lack of

opportunity, authoritarian rule, gross inequity, exclusion anddeprivation all increase the likelihood of a states de-legitimization andwithdrawal of its citizenssupport, leading to social disintegration, conflict,and violence.


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General points.

Social Protection is an important dimension in thereduction of poverty and multidimensional deprivation.

Social Protection is a diverse topic, the specifics of it

change from definition to definition.

The social protection menu is long.

Country and Societal Context is very important when weare considering social protection.


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General points.

Social policies are necessary because the benefits ofeconomic growth do not automatically reach all.

Inadequate social policies ultimately limit growth in the

medium and long term.

Social policies are justified not only from a humanitarianviewpoint; they are an economic and political need for

future growth and political stability, minimally tomaintain citizen support for their governments


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Varying Contexts


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Varying Contexts (examples)Developing Countries

a) Poverty (all

encompassing)

b) Inequality (e.g. access)

c) Employment (decent

conditions of work,

including wages)

d) Still talking about

elements of Human

Rights

Developed Countries

a) Poverty (In work poverty)

b) Inequality (e.g. outcome)

c) Employment

(unemployment benefits)

d) Moved more towards

challenging topics such as

the maintenance of OldAge Pensions, SPP for

migrants and refugees.


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Social Protection Spending 1980-2013


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Social Policy Agenda World Wide


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Reasons why some students say they chose

this specialization Interest in the topic and its importance

Interest in learning the methodological Techniques

Interest in working in development in poor countries

Interest in working on the European Welfare state models

Work prospects in the future

Current work

Programs history To contribute to making the world a better place


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So why should you chose this specialization?

The specialization in Social Protection was actually one of mymain reasons I came to the Master programme. I started theprogramme with the determination to follow this exactspecialization. After successfully finishing it, I am even happierabout my decision. The Social protection specialization helped megain strong theoretical knowledge, enhance my technical skills

and broaden my horizon in terms of social security,policy designand implementation as well as evaluation. The extensiveteamwork and the need of collaboration with my fellow studentsis another valuable experience I gained from the courses.Therefore, the specialization fulfilled my expectation since it was

both theoretical and practical enough, and technically(quantitatively) oriented as promised which I was looking for andI liked particularly a lot.

Devora Levakova [Bulgaria]


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I chose it because I wanted to contribute to a better world

Ike Jang [South Korea]

I think it was a great mix of theoretical and practical input! IAlso think that the Stata experience was helpful as well

Lucas Jacobs [Germany]

Choose Social Protection because Sleep is OverratedFlorian Jrgen [Germany]


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Students Background

Sociology

Political Science

Development Studies

Philosophy

Development Economics

European Studies

Business Studies(including Finance,

Marketing,)Engineering

Law

Journalism


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Courses

1. Social Challenge

2. Introduction to Social Policy

3. Quantitative techniques

4. Financing Social Protection

Thesis


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Part I (more of a micro focus)

I. The Social Global Social Challenge: The course equips the students withthe building stones for a conceptual and theoretical framework and with the

basic technical skills in order to define the array of problems that social

protection analysts have to address and to intuitively grasp the logic and

design poverty and inequality reduction policies.

II.Understanding Social Protection- From Justification to Intervention:This course presents a comprehensive introduction to social protection

policy. It provides an overview of the development of the main issues,

theories and practices regarding the design and the implementation of social

protection and social safety nets in advanced economies, as well as

contrasting them to emerging and developing economies. The students willbe equipped with the knowledge that is needed identify the range of policy

options to address the global social challenge for developed and developing

economies.


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Part II (more of a macro focus)

III. Techniques & Methods for Social Policy Design: The main

objective of this course is to give the students the knowledge necessary

to establish a social accounting system, undertake social budget

projections and use actuarial and other quantitative analytical tools for

policy making.IV. Financing Social Protection: The objective of this course is to

provide students with the knowledge necessary to undertake budgetary

planning and cost benefit analyses of social protection policy. This

includes the tools for good financial, fiscal and economic governanceof national social protection systems. Furthermore the course outlines

ways to assist in policy processes that define desirable levels and scope

of social protection in a given country.


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What can you do during your study?

Work on available data

Work on available or running projects

Incorporate running projects with your Thesis

Just work on your thesis


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Job Prospects

International Organizations:World Bank, UNDP,UNICEF, Asian Development Bank, Latin AmericanDevelopment Bank, International Social Securtiy

Association, International Labour Organization

Research Institutes, Think Tanks and Universities:United Nations Universities, Overseas DevelopmentInstitute, Institute of Development Studies, TheNetherlands Institute of Social Studies

Private Consultancy Firms: PriceWaterhouseCoorpers

PwC, Booz Allen Hamilton, KPMG, Oxford PolicyManagement, Chemonics International Inc.,

Public Office/Government:Donor AgenciesMinistries- Political Career


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Some of last years Placements

Previous Cohorts: GIZGoogle - World BankEPRIILO

UNDPUNICEFDutch Ministry of ExteriorMaastricht

UniversityOther PhD ProgramsGovernment Posts

Overall Network Include: Germany - SwitzerlandGhana -

Mongolia - Tanzania - Uganda - ArgentinaChinaDenmark

BelgiumIndiaRwandaGuatemala - South Africa

PalestineMexicoPolandAlbanianVietnamEgypt

NetherlandsUK .


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Questions?

mpp specialization choice: social protection policy design & financing

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