ministry of social affairs & public housing republic of suriname ‘workshop puente in the...
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Ministry of Social Affairs & Public Housing
Republic of Suriname
‘Workshop Puente in the Caribbean: Program launching’St. Lucia, 27 – 29 May 2009
Representatives MSAPH: Marsiane Partowidjojo & Saskia Donk
Suriname:1.Location: north-east coast of South
America, bordered by Guyana in the west, French Guyana in the east and Brazil in the south.
Coastal area
Interior
Surface: 163.820 km2
Language: Dutch
Population: ± 500.000 (mixture of diverse ethnic, cultural and religious groups)
Demographics: geographical characteristics: urban, rural & interior (10 districts, 62 subdistricts)
National ContextGovernment: Parliamentary democracy
Political context:Executive power: President of the Republic of
Suriname, together with the Vice President & Council of Ministers (Government of Suriname). The Government is advised by the Council of State.
Legislative power: National Assembly & Government.
Judicial power: President & Vice President of the Court of Justice, its members & deputy members, the Procurator General, other members of the prosecution office & other judicial officers.
Regional governments
Urban, rural & interior:Each district: District Commissioner (head of district)
Interior:Population: Maroons & Indigenous communities, headed by its own community leaders acknowledged by the Government (Granmans)
Economic Context
National budget: taxes, non-taxes revenues & donor financing (grants)
Main export products: export of gold, bauxite, crude oil, rice & bananas, shrimp & fish, lumber
Social Context
Poverty rate in main districts (70% of total population):
Paramaribo: 27%Wanica: 27%Nickerie: 36%
Social Ministries
Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing
Ministry of HealthMinistry of Education
Ministry of Labor
Social Protection PolicyLargest Social Protection Programs
executed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing (MSAPH)
Target groups: indigent people, people with disabilities, senior citizens, children & youth
Social assistancecash-transfersGoodsServices
Material services TargetingFinancial Assistance Poor householdsMedical assistance card Poor & near-poor households (free medical provision)Child allowance Households not receiving child
allowance from their employers
Old age pension Citizens ≥ 60 yrs of ageSubsidies to social institutions Social institutionsSchool supplies Poor households with children
(uniforms, educational tools) visiting primary schools
Directorate of Social Affairs
Immaterial services TargetingDaycare centers Working mothers w/children
betw. 0-6yrs of age Food for kids Children in daycareCenter for the elderly Poor & near-poor senior
citizens (≥60yrs)
Center for boys w/behavioral problems Boys (8-16yrs) with behavioral
problemsCare for persons with a disability People with disabilities & care
takers of people w/disabilitiesYouth care Youth (0-24yrs) with social
problemsElderly care Indigent senior citizens
(≥60yrs)Community Development Communities in needGeneral Social Work People & families in needFamily coaching Indigent single mothersChild Help Line Children, youth, adolescent up
to 25yrs
Directorate of Housing
Policy within the Multi Annual Housing Program:Primarily establishes facilities to stimulate public-private
partnerships to improve the nations’ quantity and quality of houses and provides through various house
building programs that all income categories, especially its indigent communities can have stabile housing.
Service/programs Targeting
Surface development company All households
Social Housing Low income households
Low Income Shelter Program Low/moderate income
households
Low Middle Income Shelter Program Low middle income
households
Project Tout Lui Faut (Chinese Gov’t) Low income households
Urban Development Project Richelieu All income categories
Project Tout Lui Faut Social Housing Low income households
Project District Coronie Social Housing Low income households
Pilot Urban Development Project Richelieu
1. in public-private partnership, individuals will be able to build, rent and buy houses within this project
2. project will include public facilities like schools, health facilities, administrative offices, small industries etc.
Low Income Shelter ProgramProgram in execution since April 2003Includes a public-private partnership:
financial institutionsNgo’s + Cbo’s have a role in project preparation and
execution
Main objective: improve housing conditions of low -and moderate- income households in all districtsSubsidies largely for housing rehabilitation, expansion
and construction of new houses
Also includes public-private partnership. Launch in April 2009. Targets income groups in need of proper housing, that cannot benefit from services for low and middle income groups, such as the Low Income Shelter Program and the 7% Housing Facility. Program enables construction, renovation or expansion of houses through a 6% credit facility.
Low Middle Income Shelter Program
Ministry of Education
School bursaries: Cash grant for indigent high school and college students to finish high school and complete a university education.
Students from indigent households
Project for Teenage Mothers: Counselling and training project to finish school education.
Teenage mothers between the age of 11 – 22.
SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING
School feeding project for primary schools: distribution of lunch meals to schoolchildren.
Schoolchildren of indigent Household visiting primary schools
Subsidy school transportation: transportation for schoolchildren from remote areas to visit schools.
Schoolchildren from indigent households & remote areas
Ministry of Labor
Foundation for Labor Mobilization & Development: Central training center concentrated on vocational training in order to create employment
School drop outs (≥ 16yrs)
Stichting Productieve Werkeenheden: Training center concentrated on specific skills for managing small businesses.
Small business
SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING
Ministry of Health
Regional Health Center: Primary and secundary medical care
Medical Card beneficiaries of MSAPHImmunization program:
vaccination of infants and schoolchildren
All infants and schoolchildren
SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING
HIV/Aids testing & medication: free of charge testing for HIV/Aids
Every citizen
Ministry of Regional Development
Foundation Fund for the Development of the Interior (Dutch finances): 1. Stimulation of productive activities and activities aiming to improve the living conditions of the community 2. Organizational, technical and institutional strengthening of the government and Ngo’s who have a direct or indirect supporting role
Communities of indigenous people
SOCIAL SERVICES TARGETING
Other measuresAdditional measures taken to support vulnerable
groups in society:NCCR: national disaster team: e.g.
coordinative aid in floods occurred in the interior
ant-plagues which destroy crops of indigenous communities
Subsidies for small farmersSubsidies for the rice industrySubsidies for public transportation
Strengths & weaknesses
Strengths:1. Large portfolio of social
services targeting a diverse group of indigent individuals and families.
2. Accessible social services.
3. Public-private partnerships.
Weaknesses:1. Poor targeting
mechanisms2. Fragmentation of social
programs3. Weak infrastructure &
capacity4. Lack of legislation on
most of the social programs
5. Poor exit strategies