IPC-IG researchers present a benchmarking on social protection systems to Tunisian authorities

By IPC-IG
Photo: Juan Ordonez / Unsplash

Researchers from the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) presented a benchmarking of social protection systems targeting fishers and artisanal fisheries around the world to authorities of the Centre de Recherches et d'Etudes Sociales (CRES) from Tunisia and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The presentation took place on 19 October 2022, during one of the recurrent meetings between the three organisations that have been collaborating in the project "Informing the redesign of social protection programmes in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector".  

The Government of Tunisia has proposed several mechanisms to extend existing social security programmes to protect fisherfolk, but even though some progress has been made, gaps still remain. The IPC-IG, FAO and CRES are collaborating on this project to develop pathways to reform the social protection system, aiming to better extend social protection to artisanal fishers.

To that end, a benchmarking has analysed social protection initiatives targeting artisanal fishers in Argentina, India, Brazil, Morocco, Bangladesh, and Egypt, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, to compare the different systems. 

In addition to the work being developed in Tunisia, the project also aims at analysing social protection measures targeting fisherfolk in Brazil and Paraguay. The idea is to generate evidence on adequate compensation during closed seasons.

Regarding the Tunisian component of the project, the IPC-IG will conduct a performance evaluation of the existing system, as well as a feasibility study featuring implementation proposals. There has been progress regarding the Brazil and Paraguay project components within the international review of programmes that integrate social and environmental components for artisanal fisherfolk; the profile analysis of the fisherfolk who benefit from the programme; and in the analysis of the coverage of existing programmes. 

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