15 Sep 2024: In collaboration with Khazanah Research Institute, this Ilmu Hasanah session explored the vital role of cash transfers in promoting social protection and economic growth. The dialogue was anchored in discovering how to develop comprehensive systems that uphold dignity of communities and foster long-term equity.
Throughout the session, key learnings revolved on:
- The importance of accuracy in targeting, the adequacy of benefits, and the need for efficient implementation and monitoring.
- Valuable lessons from the management of assistance during the recent crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters, reinforcing the necessity for a resilient social protection system that not only addresses immediate needs but builds long-term equity and dignity for all.
- The pivotal role of technology-driven welfare distribution, robust monitoring and evaluation
- The importance of long-term capacity-building initiatives to ensure the system’s sustainability.
A key theme from today’s discussion is the vital role of public-private partnerships in strengthening our social protection framework. By combining the strengths, expertise, and resources of both sectors, we can design and implement more effective and sustainable solutions that are more inclusive, and which uplift communities and ensure no one is left behind.
Thank you to all panelists for the valuable sharing!
- Siti Adibah Abdul Rahman, Ketua Pengarah Kanan, Bahagian Dasar & Hubungan Antarabangsa, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM)
- Shafinaz Suhaimi, Senior Manager, MyKasih Foundation
- Puteri Marjan Megat Muzafar, Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute
- Hasbe Zuraiha, Senior Manager, Community Development, Advocacy, Yayasan Hasanah
Moderated by Anna Teoh, Senior Manager, Knowledge, Monitoring, Learning, Evaluation & Knowledge, Yayasan Hasanah
The Cash Transfer Landscape in Malaysia
The cash transfer landscape in Malaysia consists of a variety of programmes undertaken by the public sector, the private sector, and the third sector (Civil Society Organisations, CSOs). In this edition of Discussion Paper published by Khazanah Research Institute in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah, it suggests the need for a clear definition of the roles of the public sector, the private sector, and the third sector (CSOs) to optimise collaborative efforts and encourage a wider coverage of social protection.
This paper also identifies several areas for improvement in the administration of cash transfers:
- The programmes’ monitoring, evaluation, and reporting should focus on outcomes, which extend beyond expenditure and coverage figures. It should include an assessment of the wellbeing of recipients or at the very least, the tracking of basic outcome indicators such as income, consumption, education, and health. It is also important for programmes in Malaysia to be monitored and evaluated within the socio-cultural context.
- In the case of poverty-targeted programmes, the eligibility assessment can be enhanced by considering demographic and geographic characteristics. Using a uniform national threshold may overlook the diverse living conditions experienced by households. Assessments should consider regional variations to better address the needs of prospective beneficiaries.
- A programmes’ graduation or exit strategy should be sustainable where a comprehensive social protection strategy (e.g. skills training) must be in place to ensure beneficiaries are equipped with income-generating capabilities and are not left worse off upon exit of the programme.