United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Discussion Papers

The Study proposes the priority, financially sustainable social cash transfers/benefits amendments to the Law on Social and Child Protection. It is entirely based on the real evidence-based data and simulations generated through Social Welfare Information System (SWIS) – e-Social Card, and it offers an overview of social transfers, and it covers the following major issues: Who are the citizens in social (financial) need who are not eligible for family allowance due to rigorous legal requirements? By analysis of the rejected applications (non-eligible) it determines so-called exclusion error from the social protection system. Those are citizens who consider themselves to be in social need and apply for the cash transfer (means-tested) but are rejected based on the legally set restrictive eligibility criteria (assets, income). The last resort work-unable beneficiaries’ caseload was also analysed for the first time. The Study provides multiple cash transfers analysis, analysis of the financial (means-tested) situation of personal disability allowance beneficiaries and trends of one-off cash assistance as of an indicator of the crises impact.

The present third edition of the Social Impact of COVID-19 Household Survey is articulated across and covers eight key dimensions: 1) Impact on physical and mental health of people, 2) Access to Services, 3) Economic situation, 4) Household coping strategies to meet basic needs in crisis, 5) Education and transition to online learning, 6) Relationships and well-being, 7) Public perception of the response to the crisis, and 8) Internet usage, e-commerce and digital services. The Survey is people-centred, and it is focused throughout on people’s wellbeing. As such, it detects the emerging vulnerabilities, strengths and coping mechanisms of people. It also captures the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on social interactions and records changes in gender relations due to shifting power dynamics within households. Data in this Survey show that the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still felt and are compounded by the recent rise in food and energy prices. Data strongly suggest that these combined and cumulative effects are sending strong shockwaves across Bosnia and Herzegovina, causing increased poverty and food deprivation and worsening inequalities. Furthermore, mental health of the population continues to be severely affected. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected both the economic and social situation across all age groups. Data show a continued and drastic impact of the crisis on those who are either already disadvantaged, at risk or more vulnerable, such as people living below the poverty line, families with children, single parents, Roma, internally displaced people, minority returnees and LGBTI community. The crisis also negatively and disproportionately affected people with disabilities and the elderly, who are, as a result, increasingly struggling in conducting their routine activities. The severity of the impact leads to feelings of inequality, including gender inequality, discrimination, and isolation. Data show that the pandemic also triggered major shifts in the way people think, socialize, communicate and live. Of particular concern are the effects of the crisis on basic social services such as health, including mental health, and access to quality education.

This contributing paper intends to start a wider dialogue within the UN and beyond about how to better operationalize people-centered security (PCS) in the field. It will explore the challenges of implementing a PCS approach in line with the SDG-16 and explain subsidiary concepts that have grown out of PCS thinking. The paper will outline the obstacles to the realization of PCS programming and present thoughts on how to overcome them.

The publication studies the current trends and practices in the protection of integrity and whistleblowing in the public service, as well as key attitudes and perceptions of public servants about issues of integrity and ethics. The study is based on a combined methodology of desk research and qualitative as well as quantitative surveys. Information has been collected from 219 public institutions and 242 civil servants.The research has been conducted by the Institute of Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British Government. Key findings: - The legislation does not oblige public institutions to develop codes of ethics and practical tools (explanatory manual) for their implementation - Most public institutions stated that they had not adopted an integrity policy document, a code of ethics and practical tools for their implementation. - Most of the public institutions (87 agencies) clarified that they do not have internal channels for whistleblowing. 80 agencies abstained from answering the question, while 52 public agencies confirmed the functioning of internal disclosure channels. - 53% of respondents express a positive attitude towards the whistleblowing mechanism. - A large proportion of the surveyed public servants positively assess the environment of integrity in their organization.

The current scenario of increased food and energy prices and the possibility that it will persist or worsen throughout the year because of the war in Ukraine threatens household welfare in Moldova. Under the food and energy inflation levels recorded in February 2022 (23% and 29.4% increase in prices, respectively), the number of people living in poverty could increase by about 250,000 people. Under a more extreme scenario equivalent to twice those levels of inflation, the increase in the number of poor people could reach up to 550,000.

The May 2021 hostilities were the fourth round of offensive by Israel on the Gaza Strip, following the 2008, 2012, and 2014 hostilities. It resulted in devastating consequences, taking the lives of 261 Palestinians, including 67 children and 41 women. It led to a considerable destruction of residential and commercial buildings, as well as damages of schools, health facilities, water and power networks, roads, and public buildings, which in turn disrupted the provision of vital basic services. UNDP led the design and implementation of a detailed infrastructure damage assessment from June to August 2021 in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MoPWH) as well as line ministries, municipalities, the Palestinian Contractors Union (PCU), UNRWA, UNMAS, and in consultation with UN agencies, the cluster coordinators, and civil society actors. The primary purpose of the assessment was to identify real damages resulting from the May 2021 hostilities, to inform rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery interventions. It provides an estimate of two types of costs: a) reconstruction / rehabilitation to the state it was before the destruction / damages (Building Back as was – BBaw), and b) reconstruction / rehabilitation incorporating the principles of Building Forward Better.

The report represents a comprehensive research of financing practices and the outlook of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Republic of Moldova. The research involves mapping the financing instruments used, identifying current barriers and success factors, and assessing current practical gaps. The study presents policy and programmatic recommendations to enhance access to finance and to identify opportunities and entry points for UNDP intervention with the purpose of filling the funding gap created by the COVID-19 crisis and nurturing sustainability and further development and growth of MSMEs.

This comprehensive report is prepared by the Parliament of Georgia to examine laws and policies adopted in 2017-2021 to promote women’s political and economic participation, eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence, and ensure the protection of women’s rights in the labour market and the healthcare and civil sectors. Its analytical insights and recommendations serve to inform gender-sensitive policy and law-making. The research draws on a similar study conducted in 2018 to capture legislative and policy gaps across a range of fields. The research is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the frameworks of the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality funded by the Government of Sweden, the Government of the United Kingdom, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the East-West Management Institute (EWMI).

The book “When Juncture Meets Structure: Vignettes on Development and the COVID-19 Crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean” is based on the “Graph for Thought” series, and brings together 30 data-driven vignettes to tell the story of structural development challenges in the LAC region and how this is changing in the wake of the pandemic.