“Improving Social Protection” is one of five components of the Growth and Social Protection Technical Assistance (GSPTA) Project, a major project to enhance the Central Government’s ability to deliver public goods and services.
This component aims to help with the targeting, planning and administering of public assistance programmes for the poor, vulnerable and indigent people in Dominica.
Users of Dominica’s Social Services are being encouraged to give their help and co-operation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public assistance programme here.
The Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs is currently in the process of reassessing those who genuinely need the services provided under the programme, by conducting household assessments of applicants and those who live in identified areas of poverty. The programmes which will initially form part of the Growth and Social Protection Technical Assistance Project include the Education Trust Fund, the School Feeding Programme and Public Assistance.
This Project will help participating Ministries to identify priorities, make the process more transparent and ensure that those who are most in need get the help that they require.
One of the major activities so far has been setting up a Beneficiary ID system for current beneficiaries and applicants. The system will:
• allow applicants for assistance to be grouped quickly and efficiently
• helps to strengthen the development of an information system
• helps different departments of government work together effectively to avoid duplication and make sure those most in need get help
• improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the way the Public Assistance Programmes are administered
One of the main components of this software is what is known as a Proxy Means Test. This is a scientific method analyzing the individuals and or households levels of income and expenditure, consumption, access to amenities among other factors which will then be used to establish who really needs the services. This methodology was presented as part of the Management Information Systems Consultancy. This means testing was approved by the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and is currently being applied through house visits to identify the individuals and households who fall under the category of poor, vulnerable and indigent.
A Household Assessment Form has been designed and is being used for collecting data on households wishing to access social benefits. Information on family composition, education levels of household members, access to basic services housing conditions, ownership of assets and consumption of goods and services is being considered. The forms were put to the test during a pilot project in 2008 when 100 urban and 100 rural households were assessed. The Household Assessment Form will be used as the standard form for collecting information on new applicants in the future.
The Social Protection Component of the GPSTA Project comes to an end in October 2010, when the Management Information System the main database will come into use or ‘go live’.
While on public assistance, they should always endeavour to better themselves and improve on their livelihood, thereby becoming lesser and lesser dependent on public assistance.