IPC-IG supports a Study Tour of an Iranian Delegation to Brazil organised by UNICEF, ABC and Ministry of Citizenship

In addition to supporting the organisation of the mission, the Centre also delivered a presentation on the transition between Brazilian Cash Transfer Programmes (from Bolsa Família to Auxílio Brasil).  

 

Last week, from 27 June to 1 July 2022, a delegation of the Iranian Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund—Iran Country Office (UNICEF Iran) was in Brazil to learn more about the Brazilian social protection system, focusing on non-contributory schemes as well as social protection services provided to populations on the move. The idea is that learning from the Brazilian experience will enable Iran to enhance its national social protection system.  

The mission was organised by UNICEF Brazil Country Office and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Citizenship. The International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) supported the study tour in the context of the project Technical Support on social protection to UNICEF MENARO, which includes support to UNICEF Iran in their work with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare (MCLSW) to strengthen the country’s social protection system.  

During the mission, the delegation watched presentations on the Brazilian Single Registry (Cadastro Único), the cash transfer programme Auxilio Brasil (previously Bolsa Família), as well as services provided to populations on the move from Venezuela through Operação Acolhida.  

In Brasilia, the delegation also visited a Social Assistance Reference Centre (CRAS), a shelter and welcoming centre for people living in the streets (“Centro POP”) and a centre for children and adolescents. In Boa Vista, in the Brazilian state of Roraima, which is where most of the Venezuelan migrants arrive, the delegation visited two shelters for non-indigenous refugees, one for indigenous refugees and the Centre for Interiorisation.  

In Boa Vista, Charlotte Bilo, IPC-IG Research Analyst, presented the project developed by the Centre in partnership with UNICEF Iran over the past two years, which included a series of technical online sessions on social protection design issues as well as the organisation of a webinar on the Iranian social protection system.  

During its last meeting in Brazil, the delegation watched a presentation on the transition from Bolsa Família to Auxílio Brazil, passing through Auxilio Emergencial (the Brazilian social protection response to the COVID-19 pandemic). It was delivered by Rafael Guerreiro Osório, IPC-IG Research Coordinator and Ipea Researcher. He explained the eligibility criteria for the programmes, as well as improvements and remaining challenges, including the importance of an active search mechanism to reach all those eligible for the programme.  

About the participants of the mission 

The delegation was composed of Mr. Ali Mohammad Ghaderi, Head of the State Welfare Organization; Dr. Hamed Forouzan, Advisor to Minister and Head of International Affairs of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare (MCLSW); and Dr. Hadi Mahdavi and Mr. Ali Farnoush, both from the International Department of MCLSW and UNICEF Focal Point in the Ministry. Members of UNICEF Iran who were present in the mission included Mr. Gilles Chevalier, Deputy Representative and Ms. Nazanin Akhgar, Chief of Social Policy. 

Guilherme Dantas, from ABC; Carlos de Sousa Andrade Neto and Yasmin Marques Barros, both from the Brazilian Ministry of Citizenship; Niklas Stephan, and Julia Albino, from UNICEF Brazil; and Charlotte Bilo, from the IPC-IG, also participated in the mission.