National Progress Achieved in the Social Development Agenda: Part 2

Social Policy Section
Social Development Division, United Nations ESCAP

Review of National Progress Achieved in the Implementation of

the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the ESCAP

Region, in the Context of the Programme of Action

of the World Summit for Social Development

MEETING PAPER NO 2, PART 2 OF 3

II. PROGRAMME MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TOWARDS ATTAINING THE GOALS AND TARGETS IN THE AGENDA FOR ACTION

This section highlights some of the specific social development programmmes implemented in the Asian and Pacific region within the framework of the Agenda for Action. Most of the information is culled from reports provided for the regional and national workshops organized by ESCAP relating to implementation of the Agenda (see para. 2 above). The approaches and specific programmes implemented differ according to the national circumstances, as illustrated in the following examples.

A. Measures related to poverty alleviation

The strategy for the eradication of hard-core poverty in Bangladesh focuses on social mobilization to bring the poor into the mainstream of development through specific resource interventions and by building a support network. The strategy includes the development of labour-intensive agriculture, small and medium-scale industries, promotion of labour-intensive exports and harmonization of these initiatives with structural adjustment policies.

The comprehensive national programme for social development for 1996-2000 in China has corresponding targets and policies. There is a division of responsibilities between the central and local governments. The eighth poverty alleviation programme aims to meet the basic needs for food and clothing for 80 million poor people through income-generating activities using local resources. Programmes include the development of plantations, fisheries, food processing, labour-intensive enterprises, preferential taxes, and provision of land for horticulture and cash crops.

The presidential instruction programme on poverty alleviation in Indonesia galvanizes the efforts of all government agencies, communities and enterprises to implement poverty alleviation initiatives and facilitate the development of low-income villages. Its approaches are integration, mutual cooperation, self-reliance and decentralization. Its objectives are to create and enhance productive employment and provide financial assistance to poor families.

The current eighth five-year plan of Nepal has the goal of raising 1.4 million poor people to non-poor status through the following strategies: (a) improving identification of the poor; (b) establishing self-targeted and targeted programmes for the poor; (c) improving the access of the poor to means of production; (d) awarding contracts for simple construction works; (e) enacting legal provisions to eliminate social ills; (f) developing legal provisions to prevent the exploitation of the poor; (g) initiating dialogues with foreign governments and agencies for the employment of Nepalese manpower in foreign countries; (h) creating employment opportunities in non-agricultural sectors; (i) considering the environmental impact when designing programmes; and (j) making institutional arrangements for poverty alleviation programmes.

The Social Reform Agenda in the Philippines synchronizes programmes for target families and communities. This policy includes meeting the people's "basic minimum needs" and "basic reform commitments". The basic reform commitments include asset reform, development of productive resources, increasing access to economic opportunities, institution-building and effective participation in governance. The Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty devised a national strategy to fight poverty using the minimum basic needs approach in consultation with local governments and NGOs. The Presidential Council for Countryside Development is mandated to identify and address the problems of areas that have lagged behind in terms of economic growth. Under a project on the comprehensive integrated delivery of social services, communities are encouraged to identify their minimum basic needs and formulate their own development plans.

The eighth national economic and social development plan of Thailand focuses primarily on human development. The plan aims at agricultural restructuring, economic decentralization, improved distribution of social services, the creation of new economic zones, community development and improved natural resource management. In Viet Nam, the national programme on poverty alleviation targets rural mountainous areas and minority groups.

B. Measures related to employment expansion

Recognizing that unemployment, underemployment and disguised unemployment contribute directly to poverty, employment expansion has been a considerable focus. Targets have been set for intensive job creation into the year 2000 and beyond in some countries and areas. For example, by 2000, China plans to create 60 million new jobs; rural surplus labour of 50 million will be transferred to township enterprises and non-agricultural sectors. The eighth five-year plan of India aims to achieve near full employment by creating 97 million jobs by 2002. In those countries with large youth unemployment, such as Fiji and India, special attention is being paid to policies and programmes to help young people to identify, obtain and develop livelihood skills for both wage and self-employment.

The comprehensive employment strategy programme in the Philippines will provide support for small farmers to increase productivity and off-farm employment and for the informal sector, and programmes to improve working conditions in factories. To meet the rapid increase in the demand for skilled and semi-skilled labour in Thailand, the seventh plan emphasizes non-formal education, such as lifelong continuing education and opportunities for skills upgrading through on-the-job training.

Taking into account the role of women in poverty alleviation and as income-earners, many countries including India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka have targeted employment programmes for women. Among other aspects, these programmes assist women to organize self-help groups to pursue income-generating activities, and promote wage employment through rural industries such as garment-making. Key features of such programmes are the provision of skills and training in livelihood management, seed money and credit. Labour laws, and the provision of child care centres for women workers were reported for India. In the Philippines, a long-term plan defining gender and development has been formulated. Issues relating to equal employment opportunity, women in the informal sector and female migrant labour are being addressed.

C. Measures related to social integration

Ethnocultural integration within countries is a main challenge to social integration within the region. In India, decentralization has been increased to accommodate the demands of ethnic, language and religious groups. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, proposals are under way to devolve power to a set of provinces to satisfy similar demands for increased decentralization.

Large socio-economic disparities persist in some countries; certain locations remain in acute need of health care, adequate water supply and sanitation, education and shelter. Efforts have been made to address these disparities, particularly to equalize opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. For example, in the Philippines and other countries and areas where the population is ageing, increased attention has been paid to programmes for older persons, including senior citizens' centres, and places where the elderly can develop their own economic and health programmes; a national plan of action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 is reported to address the needs of disabled Filipinos.

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