The primary aim of this policy dialogue was to raise greater awareness amongst parliamentarians in the SADC region on the benefits of social transfers in the fight against poverty, thereby making them proponents of this policy option. The dialogue was also expected to provide a forum for parliamentarians from across the region to share their views and experiences on this issue.

Two important perceptions underlie this dialogue, namely that:

Poverty is not solely a symptom of a lack of development but, more importantly, it is an obstacle to economic, social and political progress. As such, direct measures to reduce poverty will themselves foster development.
The poor are an economic asset rather than a social burden and direct public expenditure on the poor, when properly designed and implemented, is a long-term investment and not simply a valueless disbursement.
Specific objectives of the policy dialogue:

Broaden awareness and understanding amongst parliamentarians of social transfers and their role in addressing chronic poverty;

Afford parliamentarians an opportunity to share and interrogate social transfers as a viable poverty alleviation strategy;
Demystify and present research and evidence-based proof of the viability of social transfers in countries where they are implemented;
Foster a sense of cooperation and sharing amongst parliamentarians on social transfers;
Allow Members of Parliament to commit themselves to promoting social transfers as a strategy to fighting poverty and vulnerability and propose a national and regional plan of action.

Agenda
Aide Memoire
Participants List
Communiqué

Presentations:

1. Keynote address: What is Social Protection and why does Africa need it? – Dr Stephen Devereux, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex
2. Dimensions of poverty – Josee Koch, RHVP
3. An introduction to social transfers – John Rook, RHVP
4. A developmental response to global crisis – Dr Michael Samson, Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI)
5. Evidence for the impact of social transfers in southern Africa – Dr Stephen Devereux, IDS
6. Panel discussion: Integrating social transfers into regional policies and strategy frameworks – led by Paul Msoma, RHVP
7. Addressing key misconceptions to social transfers – Dr Blessings Chinsinga, University of Malawi
8. A Basic Income Grant in Namibia: Tackling poverty and inequality through a universalism Basic Income Grant – Uhuru Dempers, Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition
9. Evaluating scaling-up options – John Rook, RHVP
10. Issues in the delivery of social transfers – Nicholas Freeland, RHVP
11. Discussion: The roles of parliamentarians – led by Paul Msoma, RHVP