Global experts gather in Kathmandu to explore social protection's role in reducing poverty, building resilience and investing in human capital
KATHMANDU –
The Government of Nepal National Planning Commission, in partnership with UNICEF
and the World Bank, is organizing the second international conference on social
protection in Kathmandu today and tomorrow.
Inaugurated by the Honorable Deputy Prime
Minister and Finance Minister Mr Bishnu Paudel, the conference titled “Resilient
and Inclusive Social Protection: Investing in Human Capital Development” aims
to foster critical dialogue on how social protection can be leveraged to reduce
poverty, build resilience, and invest in the human capital of future
generations.
"This conference comes at a
crucial time as Nepal is investing in its human capital,” said Honorable
Minister Mr Paudel. “We are committed to building a more inclusive social
protection system that serves the needs of all, especially our children and the
future generations.”
Nepal is undergoing rapid economic,
social, and demographic changes, with approximately 20 per cent of the
population still living below the poverty line and significant inequality
remaining a concern. Nepal’s Constitution guarantees the right to social
security for vulnerable groups, but much of its investment in social protection
has focused on the elderly, with limited attention to children and other
vulnerable groups.
The Honorable Vice Chairperson of the
National Planning Commission, Prof. Dr. Shivaraj Adhikari, stated that
"The Government of Nepal, through the Sixteenth Plan, has given high
priority to human capital development, and it is necessary to increase
investment in children for this purpose." He highlighted the fact that
human development is both a means and an end in the context of the country's
development and emphasized that social protection plays a crucial role in
building human capital.
Although the Government of Nepal has
been increasing investment in social protection, the investment made in social
protection has had only a limited impact on reducing poverty, building human
capital, and promoting resilience against shocks and risks that may arise at
various stages of the human life cycle.
“By investing in the early years,
including through universal child grants, we can break intergenerational cycles
of poverty that hold back future generations," said Mr. Sanjay Wijesekera,
Regional Director, UNICEF South Asia. "Through this conference, we are not
only reaffirming our commitment to the children and young people of Nepal, but
we are also challenging ourselves to create a world where every child and young
person, no matter his or her circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive and
contribute to a brighter, more resilient future."
The conference builds on the momentum of
the 2019 International Conference on Social Protection, which promoted policy
debate on strengthening social protection for children and the expansion of the
child grant, establishment of an integrated registry, increased use of the cash
plus approach, investment in productive employment and social security for the
formal and informal sectors. This year’s conference provides a platform to
reflect on key progress in Nepal since 2019 and for knowledge exchange,
learning from best practices, and collaboration towards achieving SDG Target
1.3, which calls for implementing nationally appropriate social protection
systems for all.
“In the face of economic challenges,
global conflicts and climate change, adaptive social protection systems are
more critical than ever,” said Ms Preeti Arora, World Bank Operations Manager
for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “Effective social protection can buffer
vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and children from crises while
enabling them to invest in education, healthcare, and other essential services
that enhance human capital and their productivity.”
The conference brings together senior
representatives from the Government of Nepal, UNICEF, the World Bank, regional
and global social protection experts, and key stakeholders from various
sectors.
Dr Michael Samson, Director, Economic Policy Research Institute, delivered the conference keynote address on ‘Investment in social protection for human capital, inclusion and resilience – Global Perspective.”
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