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Strategy and policy
Reforms and Investments

Support to Improve Poverty Diagnostic and Social Policies Monitoring in Croatia

Supporting reforms to strengthen labour markets and social protection systems

Funding Programme
Year
  • 2022

Support to Improve Poverty Diagnostic and Social Policies Monitoring in Croatia

In Croatia, the data infrastructure used to track poverty and social exclusion indicators and to monitor the implementation progress of social policy programs is weak. The household survey used for monitoring at-risk-of poverty and social exclusion (AROPE) is represented at NUTS2 level which includes only 4 regions as of 2021. Such survey therefore does not allow for poverty diagnostic at a more disaggregated level, such as NUTS3 level. 

Therefore, the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy requests technical assistance to develop: a methodology for a poverty and social exclusion monitoring system to track poverty and social exclusion indicators at sub-national level, a list of stakeholders, a proposal of bilateral/trilateral legal agreements between the MLPSFSP and relevant agencies, an institutional and administrative set up of an implementation unit, standardized protocols, and guidelines for data analysis and reporting; and a methodology for a social policies monitoring system to track the implementation progress of five national strategic plans with a focus on stakeholder engagements.

Context

Describe the background of the project and its link to EU policy priorities (Green and Digital Transformation, Recovery and Resilience Facility, etc). Which problems/challenges needed addressing? Any challenges encountered? 

The Europe 2030 strategy, endorsed by Croatia, aims to reduce the number of people living at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Achieving that goal requires a focus on policies and programs that promote equity and inclusive growth, which in turn needs evidence-based diagnostic of poverty and social exclusion that covers vulnerable and marginalized population groups at sub-national level. Meeting the strategy will furthermore require an effective monitoring system to track progress, and to feed into course correction as needed. The diagnostic can serve to enable the design and implementation of a strategic policy framework that includes measures to tackle challenges in line with the three categories of the active inclusion strategy recommended by the EC: adequate income support, inclusive labor markets, access to enable services such as housing, healthcare, social care, and education.

Support delivered

Part I. Development of a methodology for poverty and social exclusion database system

Activity 1.1. Assessment of the current administrative data sources that can be used to track poverty and social exclusion indicators

Activity 1.2. Development of a proposed methodology for a system to track poverty and social exclusion indicators

Activity 1.3: Stakeholder workshops and study tour

Part II. Development of a methodology for social policies monitoring system with a focus on stakeholder engagements

Activity 2.1: Assessment of the current social policy monitoring system and mapping of relevant stakeholders

Activity 2.2. Development of a proposed methodology for a national social policy monitoring system with proposed protocols for stakeholder engagements

Activity 2.3: Stakeholder workshops

Results achieved

  • A report that maps relevant administrative databases that can be used to track poverty and social exclusion, identifies stakeholders who possess these data sources, reviews legal requirements for data sharing,  assesses quality, coverage, and representativeness of individual data sources, and assesses strengths and weaknesses of the current data infrastructure in terms of the interoperability and comparability.
  • Recommendations of a proposed methodology for poverty and social exclusion monitoring system, a list of stakeholders, a proposal of bilateral/trilateral agreements between the MLPSFSP and relevant bodies/agencies, institutional and administrative set up of an implementation unit, and protocols and guidelines for data analysis and reporting.
  • 2 workshops in Zagreb with materials (agenda, presentations, and other supporting materials)
  • 1 study tour: 3-4 days (agenda, presentations, and other supporting materials).
  • An assessment of the existing monitoring system to track implementation progress of national strategic plans, including a mapping of stakeholders, determination of challenges and engagement gaps.
  • Recommendations of a methodology for a national social policy monitoring system that includes recommendations on a database of output and result indicators that track implementation progress of the five national strategic plans, with recommendations for new action plans for the selection of indicators; an instrument to collect indicators from principle implementation agencies; reporting requirements; stakeholder engagement plan; and an organizational set-up of an implementation unit.
  • 2 workshops in Zagreb with materials (agenda, presentations, and other supporting materials) 

Useful links

More about the project

You can read the documents related to the project here: