Can Targeted Assistance Help the Very Poor?
Policymakers often struggle to promote improvements in the well-being of the poorest individuals and families. The challenges are many. People living in extreme poverty frequently have multiple needs that require a range of services. They also may...
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| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2012
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/01/15444120/can-targeted-assistance-help-very-poor http://hdl.handle.net/10986/10457 |
| Summary: | Policymakers often struggle to promote
improvements in the well-being of the poorest individuals
and families. The challenges are many. People living in
extreme poverty frequently have multiple needs that require
a range of services. They also may face special
psychological and social challenges that can make it
difficult for them to connect with and benefit from social
assistance programs. Governments that want to assist this
most vulnerable group need to engage the participants,
deliver the mix of services that works best for each family,
and know what incentives help people successfully utilize
available programs. At the World Bank, committed to helping
countries eradicate extreme poverty and alleviate hunger,
the first of the eight United Nations Millennium Development
Goals. To help policymakers and development experts design
programs that successfully address the range of problems
that keep people poor, the World Bank supported an
evaluation of Chile's targeted extreme poverty
reduction program, Chile Solidario. The program, which twins
regular visits from social workers with a reorganization of
programs to increase access, make them more relevant to the
needs of poor households, and better meet demand, has
resulted in increased take-up of subsidies for the indigent.
It also has raised enrollment in housing and employment
programs, among other services. |
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