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Main Content: Social protection: research

Dona Fernanda, 83, lives in La Paz, Bolivia. ©Emmeline Skinner/HelpAge International

Dona Fernanda, 83, lives in La Paz, Bolivia. She never went to school or learnt to read but spent her childhood working. Now she collects rubbish in the streets. She works all day, every day, picking up paper and plastic. For every kilo of rubbish she collects, she gets paid US$0.05.

Academic research institutions, policy makers and donor agencies are increasingly aware of the need for social protection mechanisms to reach the poorest people who remain untouched by current poverty-reduction programmes.

Evidence from countries implementing non-contributory social pension schemes such as Brazil, Namibia and South Africa, shows that:

pension income is shared with the older people's families
pension spending supports children's health and education
social development funds that target older people support the poorest households and communities.

Research reports

In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Government of Zanzibar, HelpAge International undertook a study to develop policy recommendations on the health of older people.

Older men and women in Zanzibar live with non-communicable diseases and are unaware of the risk factors that could lead to chronic illness. Communities, and older people within them, are not well informed about the often multiple and inter-related health issues that affect them. Without a secure income, the majority of older people cannot afford treatment.

This study calls for the national health budget and related policies to acknowledge the need for health services which are sensitive to older people’s needs.