Summary

Research Report: Describes how affected APEC economies and the international community responded to address the threats to children emerging from the crisis, particularly through the design and implementation of social safety nets.

Description

This report is based on a survey carried out in Indonesia, the Philippines
and Thailand on the impact of the Asia crisis on children. It reports how
affected APEC economies and the international community responded to address
the threats to children emerging from the crisis, particularly through the
design and implementation of social safety nets.

Generally, the report found that the threats of the Asia crisis to the
development of children were promptly recognised and were less severe than
originally expected. In spite of significant pressures arising from the
crisis, the response by governments, local communities and families, as well as
the international community, was quick and made an important contribution to
mitigating the threats to children. Families and communities showed great
resilience in dealing with the effects of the crisis.

The informal sector also played a key role in absorbing workers laid-off
from the formal sector.

Governments, with the support of the international community, provided a
safety net through the protection of programs that supply services to families
and children.

The report discusses concerns regarding the sustainability of both public
and family support services without sustained economic recovery, particularly
in light of government expenditure heavily supported by international loans,
potentially limiting their future capacity to provide social safety nets.

The report appraises and draws lessons from the various approaches to social
safety nets in the countries studied. The authors point to some useful
mechanisms such as the forging of partnerships between governments and
development stakeholders, and provide recommendations, such as decentralisation
and devolution of service delivery, for achieving sustainable social safety net
systems.

Impact of the Asia crisis on children: Issues for social safety nets [PDF 398kb]

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