Tripartite workshop participants analyse social protection gaps in Nepal

The SP&PFM Programme in Nepal conducted a workshop on 7 November to discuss the findings from its forthcoming report Expanding Social Protection for All in Nepal: An Analysis of Protection Gaps. The report provides an in-depth assessment of the country’s social protection programmes and the social protection coverage gaps. The approximately 40 workshop participants included government officers from the National Planning Commission, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education, as well as representatives of the international development partners and employers’ and workers’ organizations.

The ILO highlighted that 32.9 per cent of Nepalis had access to at least one social protection benefit in 2020–21. And while this reflects progress, more than 20 million others remain without any access to social security. Honourable Ram Kumar Phuyal, a member of the National Planning Commission who chaired the workshop, stressed the importance of “extending social protection for all [as] a key step to recognizing the vision of [Nepal’s] Constitution.” HE Nona Deprez, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Nepal, made the opening remarks.

In addition to addressing coverage gaps, the discussion also covered the adequacy of benefits and the expenditures of social security programmes in Nepal in terms of the need for a robust and financially sustainable social protection system. The participants also highlighted the need for the expansion of social protection initiatives for working-age persons and an integrated social protection mechanism for programmes, including the need for coordination between non-contributory and contributory mechanisms. The workshop concluded positively, emphasising the opportunity to grow and expand the social protection system in Nepal.

The full report will be published soon and will be followed by a study of the financing gaps for social protection extension in Nepal as well as the potential pathways to increase the fiscal space and ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.

Read more about the SP&PFM in Nepal: here