Topic > Implementation of social protection programs in an effort to improve people's living standards

In most African countries, governments implement social protection programs to improve people's well-being. However, international non-governmental organizations and development partners help governments reach substantial numbers of people. Some of the common welfare programs in these countries include the provision of basic needs such as unconditional and conditional cash transfers, food aid, and school feeding programs. Additionally, some governments have established programs that improve productivity and price control of basic goods; however, some countries have elaborate welfare programs aimed at vulnerable groups, particularly young children, the elderly and HIV/AIDS patients. According to Niño-Zarazúa, Barrientos, Hickey, and Hulme (2012), some countries such as Kenya have registered NGOs that operate financial and microfinance institutions that provide loans at affordable interest rates. In essence, these financial services help members of these groups to set up small businesses that would improve people's living standards. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Government of Namibia manages the Basic Income Subsidy Pilot Project which started in 2009 in Otjivero. The community project was started to support the local community after the dismissal of most workers from agricultural work. Although commercial farmers living in places around the settlement schemes believe that the schemes are breeding grounds for criminals. Residents say the project has improved their quality of life. Essentially, before the program was established, many people had nowhere to reside as they had lost their jobs and had no other avenues to find work. However, the settlement offers them a small piece of land to practice subsistence farming to support their lives (Haarmann, n.d.). Additionally, program members share experiences with other communities to encourage them to initiate similar projects because they generate substantial benefits. The government should embrace the positive effects of the program because it has achieved promising results despite opposition to the program from surrounding commercial farmers. According to Omilola and Kaniki (2014), Namibia's welfare programs are divided into three categories which are “a tax-funded social grant system, a state-managed contributory component and a privately managed pension system for people formally employed in the private sector” (p. 13). The government supports social benefits such as the Old Age Pension (OAP) for all Namibians over the age of sixty-five. Likewise, the government supports physically disabled people over the age of sixteen. However, the public doctor must ensure that the person is physically disabled, temporarily or permanently. Furthermore, the State administers family allowances that cover a maximum of three children per family. Such subsidies are essential because inadequate access to fundamental rights has negative effects on infant mortality rates. In particular, Namibia enjoys an effective economic management policy and political stability which has helped the country combat unemployment and reduce poverty in the country. Although the government spends indiscriminately on social programs, these have not helped create new job opportunities. The leadership must address the challenges inherited from the apartheid system which led to extremeseconomic and social inequalities. Importantly, the country faces both short- and long-term challenges as it depends on an unstable ecosystem. In 2014, the nation recorded gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.5 percent, lower than the 5.1 percent recorded in 2013. However, the economy's growth is higher than the expected 4.3 percent. Furthermore, foreign direct investment in the mining sector has increased in the country, contributing a lot to the economic growth of the country. Namibia has improved fiscal stimulus and lowered interest rates, attracting numerous foreign direct investments to boost household consumption, the construction industry and commercial services. As of July 2015, the country's inflation rate fell to 3.3% from 6.1% in June 2014. However, unemployment in Namibia remains high at levels of 28%, meaning it has not changed since 1990, when the country gained independence. The country has programs to address the challenges many people face, such as basic education and health services. Furthermore, the government wants to improve drinking water. In essence, the constitution and leadership policies address issues of gender inequality. The leadership encourages equality in girls' education. For example, in 2012, more female than male students were enrolled in primary schools across the country (Mokomane, 2013). Ideally, promoting gender equality in access to basic education aims to alleviate poverty among women; the leadership believes that women form the backbone of the country's economy, as such; as more women became educated, the chances of more children going to school would increase. In healthcare, the government reduced maternal deaths to about 130 per 100,000 births or 81 deaths in 2013. Meanwhile, fertility rates stood at 52 per 1,000 adolescents in 2013. Women have made tremendous improvements over time ; subsequently, in 2013 56% of women in the population were actively employed compared to 65% of men in the same year (Devereux, 2013). Similarly, 49% of the female population was employed, while 85% of men and women were in vulnerable jobs. Furthermore, 27% of women are involved in the agricultural sector compared to 28% of men in the same sector (World Bank, 2015). Data shows that leadership enforces gender equality by providing equal education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for both men and women. As such, women are not dependent on men because they can access job opportunities that support their lifestyle. Although international labor organizations recognize that Namibia has a high unemployment rate of 28%, the majority of people work in the informal sector which is not considered an employment sector. As a result, these people are perceived as unemployed despite earning from informal jobs. Namibia offers a wide range of informal employment opportunities for semi-skilled workers (Unicef.org, 2015). Most people living in rural areas practice subsistence agriculture which provides them with an adequate supply of food and additional amounts to sell to meet household needs. Small-scale manufacturing, mining, construction, informal services such as transportation, and informal trade employ over fifty percent of the country's population (World Bank, 2015). However, small-scale trade, both within the country and across borders, represents the largest share of the country's population outside of formal employment. Apparently, the government-controlled pension scheme for.