This dissertation evaluates public expenditure on the social protection policy framework, with a particular focus on the Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) in Bangladesh. This policy framework was developed by the government for individual, household, and community welfare. This framework has been executed since the country's independence in 1971. Food For Work (FFW) was initially implemented to address food deficiencies and alleviate hunger in 1974. Gradually, social protection programs have been expanded within this social protection policy framework in response to contextual factors and vulnerability. Currently, the government has employed 145 programs under the SSNPs framework. It follows several distinct development objectives. These objectives include promoting educational participation, improving healthcare, creating employment opportunities, increasing productivity, reducing poverty, protecting vulnerable communities, empowering individuals and women, advancing social inclusion, fostering social justice, and supporting state-building efforts. Nonetheless, the primary goals of this program are to alleviate poverty, expand human capital, and protect vulnerable communities.
This study uses a mixed-methods research design to evaluate public spending on the SSNPs and its long-term effect on the country's social protection outcomes. Of the 140 programs within the SSNP policy framework, the study selects only 19. The selection criteria prioritize the largest budget allocation, followed by the highest number of beneficiaries, a lifecycle-based approach, sectoral coverage, mode of intervention, and a functional approach. The study also confirms the range of data period as 2010-2025. Therefore, this data range has been set on the availability, robustness, rigor, validity, reliability, and credibility. Moreover, the quantitative approach explores data to identify expenditure trends, budgetary allocation, beneficiaries, and coverage. Furthermore, this approach evaluates these SSNPs following the OECD criteria, including Relevance, Effectiveness, and Impact, reflecting fiscal and development priorities, sectoral distribution, and life-cycle risk mitigation. The qualitative module also assesses the Sustainability of the OECD, considering fiscal and institutional capacity.
The findings reveal that the benchmark for social expenditure is 12% of the national budget and 1.8% of GDP over the last 15 years. Particularly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these figures were more than 18% and 3%, respectively. This protection policy also serves as a development tool for poverty alleviation, human capital development, and the protection of vulnerable populations. It diversifies across education, poverty, health, employment, nutrition, social and economic inclusion, community development, market intervention, natural disasters, and other social and economic shocks. It also mitigates risks and shocks by using a life-cycle approach, likely to cover stages from pregnancy and early childhood to old age. The country’s social protection policy primarily addresses the informal sector, including old-age and household poverty. It further focuses on people with disabilities, orphans, widows, the destitute, and deserted women. Therefore, cash transfers and food security programs are the primary tools of intervention within this SSNP policy framework.
The findings also present that this protection policy is closely connected with the country's national plan, social policy, and fiscal priorities, which are directly addressed by the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) 2015, the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) 2013, the Perspective Plan of Bangladesh (2021-2041), and the 8th Five-Year Plan (2020-2025). It further emphasizes poverty alleviation and the protection of vulnerable groups as key objectives of this policy. It measures success in stabilizing household consumption, improving food security, and providing income support to vulnerable communities. It also reduces the risks and shocks associated with pregnancy and early childhood, school-age, youth, working-age, and old age. Additionally, it helps reduce poverty and income inequality, promotes social inclusion, and enhances human capital development.
| Date of Award | 2026 |
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| Original language | American English |
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| Awarding Institution | - HBKU College of Public Policy
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