UN agency impressed with Nam BIG

THE Basic Income Grant (Big) Coalition has received yet more encouragement – the United Nations Commission for Social Development last week recognised the idea as a good model for alleviating poverty and empowering the poor.

In February, BIG Coalition leader in Namibia, Bishop Zephania Kameeta, addressed the UN Commission on the benefits of the proposed N$100 grant to citizens. Now, in a summary report on that meeting, the UN praises the idea for a BIG as well as similar projects that have been implemented across the world.”There are several good practices relating to full employment and decent work.A recent proposal for a basic income grant for all had emerged as a good practice model for alleviating poverty and for empowering the poor to improve their livelihoods.Under the proposal, a monthly grant would be issued to each citizen up to pensionable age,” the UN chairperson’s report states.The UN report also had praise for the Bolsa Familia (family fund) currently being implemented in Brazil and Mexico.When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year advised Government against the Basic Income Grant, it proposed that Namibia could instead look into implementing a programme similar to the Bolsa Familia.In terms of the Bolsa Familia, a cash benefit is provided to poor families on condition that children are enrolled in school and families regularly use the public healthcare system.Payment of this grant is for example suspended if a child misses more than 15 per cent of class days, or if the child fails a grade twice.Payment is also preferably made to female heads of households, as they are reportedly more likely to spend the money on their children.The Bolsa Familia, the UN report notes, currently provides support for 11 million low-income families, “and has the long-run goal of poverty reduction through increasing human capital among poor families”.The BIG Coalition is currently raising funds in order to start a pilot phase of the programme, which they say will prove its practicality.Coalition spokesperson Dr Dirk Haarmann last week described the UN’s comments as “another important step towards the (realisation of) the BIG.”Now, in a summary report on that meeting, the UN praises the idea for a BIG as well as similar projects that have been implemented across the world.”There are several good practices relating to full employment and decent work.A recent proposal for a basic income grant for all had emerged as a good practice model for alleviating poverty and for empowering the poor to improve their livelihoods.Under the proposal, a monthly grant would be issued to each citizen up to pensionable age,” the UN chairperson’s report states.The UN report also had praise for the Bolsa Familia (family fund) currently being implemented in Brazil and Mexico.When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year advised Government against the Basic Income Grant, it proposed that Namibia could instead look into implementing a programme similar to the Bolsa Familia.In terms of the Bolsa Familia, a cash benefit is provided to poor families on condition that children are enrolled in school and families regularly use the public healthcare system.Payment of this grant is for example suspended if a child misses more than 15 per cent of class days, or if the child fails a grade twice.Payment is also preferably made to female heads of households, as they are reportedly more likely to spend the money on their children.The Bolsa Familia, the UN report notes, currently provides support for 11 million low-income families, “and has the long-run goal of poverty reduction through increasing human capital among poor families”.The BIG Coalition is currently raising funds in order to start a pilot phase of the programme, which they say will prove its practicality.Coalition spokesperson Dr Dirk Haarmann last week described the UN’s comments as “another important step towards the (realisation of) the BIG.”