Abstract:
Botswana has an extensive social protection system aimed at improving the welfare of
poor and vulnerable groups. We evaluate the targeting effectiveness of 15 social transfer
programs using targeting performance indicators and Benefit Incidence Analysis (BIA),
and the 2015/16 Botswana Multi-Topic Household Survey data. Results on targeting
performance indicators reveal that, except for one, programs have low coverage (high
under-coverage) and low targeting effectiveness of the poor; hence, high leakages to the
non-poor. BIA results indicate that most social assistance and asset transfer programs, and
a public works program are progressive and pro-poor. However, while programs aimed
at building human capital through financing tertiary education are also progressive, they
are not pro-poor, suggesting inequality in access to higher education. Since education is
one of the pathways out of poverty, this may contribute to intergenerational transmission
of poverty. Further, means-tested programs do not necessarily target the poor better
than programs employing categorical and self-selected targeting mechanisms. This
may partly be because eligibility criteria may not be strictly enforced during selection of
beneficiaries for major means-tested programs, such as the Destitute Persons Program.
Therefore, reforms are required to improve the targeting effectiveness of the programs
and to minimize leakages to the non-poor.
Description:
The series comprises of papers which reflect work in progress, which may be of interest
to researchers and policy makers, or of a public education character. Working papers
may already have been published elsewhere or may appear in other publications.
