SAFETY NETS WORK: DURING CRISIS AND PROSPERITY
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                                   CHAIR’S SUMMING UP

                            Meeting of the Committee of the Whole

                                           April 5, 2012

        Executive Directors welcomed the document entitled Safety Nets Work: During Crisis
and Prosperity (SecM2012-0145) and appreciated the Bank's commitment to extending and
improving safety nets, especially in the poorest countries. They recognized that the document
builds on the Bank’s new Social Protection and Labor Strategy and the Independent Evaluations
Group’s recent Social Safety Nets evaluation.
        Directors underscored that well-designed, gender-sensitive and fiscally-sustainable safety
nets can improve resilience to economic shocks and provide opportunities for growth. They
noted the challenges of developing both affordable and effective safety nets, while taking into
account country context, including the political environment and institutional capacity, especially
in low-income countries and fragile and conflict-affected states.
        Directors urged the Bank to provide technical support and funding to improve data
collection to avoid leakages, to improve targeting and ensure proper monitoring. They
acknowledged the important role the Bank plays in advancing policy dialogue, contributing to
social policy agendas and furthering development community efforts, including the private sector
and NGOs.
        Directors encouraged better linkages between safety nets and overall social protection
programs, and the need to build and manage harmonized safety net programs, reduce their
fragmentation and expand their pro-poor focus. They also queried as to measures to scale-up
catalytic investments, post-graduation jobs promotion and exit strategies, staffing and resources
available to support implementation and the role ICT could play in making safety nets more
efficient. Directors noted the importance of facilitating knowledge sharing through lessons
learned from middle income counties and South-South exchange.

        Executive Directors looked forward to the guidance of the Governors in the Development
Committee discussion to reflect on developing and improving safety net programs.



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 This summary is not an approved record.