Ethiopia

Ethiopia first introduced public-sector pensions and work injury laws in 1963, as part of its social insurance system. In 2003 and 2011 respectively, sickness and maternity laws and private-sector pensions were introduced. Ethiopia introduced a Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), which is its first social assistance programme, in 2005. The programme has three type of transfers: cash; food transfers; and public works. The transfer cash amount is equivalent to 15kg of cereals and 4kg of pulses and is provided monthly. The wage rate used to compute the transfer in cash varies according to the purchasing power in different areas of the country. In 2011, a pilot social assistance programme, named the Tigray Social Cash Transfer Pilot Programme (SCTPP) was introduced to reduce poverty, hunger and starvation in extremely poor and labour-constrained households. The programme’s transfer amount ranges from US$31.41 to US$66.68 per month and reached 3,800 households in 2016. The PSNP does not allow for appeals to be made in the event that applicants are against selection decisions, but the recently introduced SCTPP allows for such appeals. Both programmes are executed by the government with the support of international partners. There is national coordination in place and the SCTPP programme provides access to a social worker.