Madagascar

Updating social benefits

The most common complaint made by those insured by the National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale – CNaPS) relates to the amount of social benefits granted: the amount of several benefits has been set as a standard amount such that any changes require the legal texts to be amended. Moreover, the conditions for obtaining old age insurance benefits no longer reflect today’s context, given the state of the labour market following the successive crises experienced by the country.

Establishment of a research unit within the National Social Insurance Fund

The National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse nationale de prévoyance sociale – CNaPS) of Madagascar has created a think tank devoted to social security. This innovative initiative aims at remedying the inadequacy of academic research on the subject and its inability to influence public policy. The goal is to provide high-quality services to a large number of beneficiaries.

Raising awareness of social security in Catholic schools

The National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse nationale de prévoyance sociale – CNaPS) is continuing its efforts to extend social security coverage in Madagascar. An initiative to expand awareness raising activities has become a laudable strategy in terms of its achievements. In 2014 it launched a programme for Catholic school leaders that promotes and raises awareness on the provisions of social security and of their responsibilities regarding such rights.

Partnership with the State Treasury for the payment of benefits

The National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse nationale de prévoyance sociale – CNaPS) is the public institution managing the various branches (family benefits, work injuries, and occupational disease, pensions) of social protection for employees in Madagascar. It also manages the collection of contributions, and hence needs nationwide geographical presence. The priority accorded to maintaining the level of coverage and adjusting it to the needs of its members is a daily challenge for the CNaPS.

Implementation strategy for extending coverage to producers

In Madagascar, a large proportion of the population lacks access to social protection, especially rural producers. For more than a decade, government policy and legislation have foreseen the extension of social security coverage to the entire working population. However, only the scheme for salaried employees is in existence to provide such generalized social security coverage.

Social protection education from an early age

The Malagasy population's unfamiliarity with the social security concept partly explains the low rate of social security coverage (10%). Despite efforts to publicize and raise awareness, the situation remains somewhat static. To remedy this, an education program on the right to social services was implemented in February 2014 through the introduction of Junior Clubs which bring children together. They will act as information vectors through fun and festive activities and will instill a social service culture in their families and society in general.

Proximity through a mobile office

In order to be closer to its policyholders, the National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse nationale de prévoyance sociale (CNPS)) of Madagascar has increased its number of agencies at a regional level. However, the isolation of some areas limits its efforts to improve service quality and the effectiveness of social protection. A special proximity policy was adopted to remedy this situation. A mobile office was set up to get closer to the target population and insured people in particular, and to adapt the services offered to the needs of people living in less accessible areas.