DCI-ASIE/2014/350-601
EU-China
Social
Protection Reform Project
Task
Force on Project Technical Coherence and Synergies
PROJECT
MEMORABILIA
(September
2019)
CONTENTS
1.1
Who is Who (EU, Consortium, Main stakeholders)
1.2
Opening and Closing ceremonies
1.3
The Grant application form
1.7
Project mid-term, final evaluations
1.9
Assigned goals and expected results
2.3
Project coordination meetings
2.6
Meetings with member States
2.10.1
The Task Force (ToR, Plan of action)
2.10.7
Comparison across recommendations
3.1.1
Who is Who (Counterparts, Coordinator, Project Team, NDRC,
Secretariat)
3.1.4
Audience of Project results
3.1.7
List of countries visited
3.1.8.0
The 2016 High Level Event
3.1.8.1
Policy recommendations
3.1.8.2
Assessment and other reports
3.1.8.3
Workshops and other meetings
3.1.8.4
Dialogue and Study visits
3.1.8.5
Overseas Training activities
3.1.
9 National partners
(MoHRSS, ACFTU, CASS, Renmin etc.)
3.1.10
Memoranda of Understanding
3.2.1
Who is Who (Counterparts, Coordinator, Project Team, MoF,
Secretariat)
3.2.4
Audience of Project results
3.2.7
List of countries visited
3.2.8.0
The 2018 Special Event on Ageing
3.2.8.1
Policy recommendations
3.2.8.2
Assessment and other reports
3.2.8.3
Workshops and other meetings
3.2.10
Memoranda of Understanding
3.3.1
Who is Who (Counterparts, Coordinator, Project Team, MOCA,
Secretariat)
3.3.4
Audience of Project results
3.3.7
List of countries visited
3.3.8.0
The 2015 High Level Event
3.3.8.1
Policy recommendations
3.3.8.2
Assessment and other reports
3.3.8.3
Workshops and other meetings
3.3.8.4
Dialogue and Study visits
3.3.10
Memoranda of Understanding
The
EU-China Social Protection reform project was to assist the Chinese
central Government in its efforts to further develop social equity
throughout its society, by contributing to a more inclusive and
harmonised social protection system nationwide. Specifically, and as
provided for in the Commission-approved China MIP 2011-13 (ref. Part
III, 3.1.2), the SPRP project was to enhance the institutional
capacity and policy effectiveness of the leading National Development
and Reform Commission (NDRC) and to strengthen coordination of policy
making among government agencies (Component 1). It cooperated with the
Chinese Ministry of Finance (MoF) to establish an appropriate
management and supervision mechanisms for fiscal support (Component
2). It assisted the Chinese Ministry for Civil Affairs (MoCA) in
upgrading the legal framework regulating social security delivery and
policy enforcement for social assistance (Component 3).
This
project was conducted between 17 November 2014 and 16 November 2019 .
Of an initial duration of 4 years, it was extended by one year within
the originally allocated budget of 7 million euros for technical
cooperation (EU budget. Counterparts input estimated at 1 million
euros). It is a successor
of the EU-China Social security reform cooperation project - Europe
Aid/125029/C/SER/CN conducted between November 2006 and May 2011.
Action
fiche of the EU-China Social protection reform project
The
overall scope of the SPRP project is to further develop social equity
and inclusiveness of economic development throughout Chinese society.
The
project is implemented by a Consortium of 10 public and semi-public
institutions, representing 7 European Union Member States. The
Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale INPS was designated by the
Consortium as its Leader and ensures the overall management and
supervision of the project.
For
each of the three Components, one of the Consortium Members was
designated as Component Coordinator, in charge of implementing the
activities for each Component and reporting to the Project Leader. The
Component 1 Coordination has been assigned to the French Partner,
Expertise France, which legal entity was previously named ADECRI. The
Component 2 Coordination has been designated to the Italian Partner,
INPS, after the first year of the project when it was assigned to
Formez. The Component 3 Coordination has been assigned to the Polish
Partner, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, which legal
entity was previously named Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
Each
component is coordinated on the field by a Resident Expert, one of
them being also Team Leader. Resident experts work on a daily basis
with the local support staff, as well as with European and Chinese
experts mobilized to implement the project activities.
1.1
Who
is Who (EU, Consortium, Main stakeholders)
Project
implementation was jointly monitored by the EU
Delegation
in China and the Chinese Ministry
of Commerce MOFCOM.
The
responsibility for the project was incumbent upon a consortium
consisting of:
Istituto
Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS); Italy
Società
Italiana di Servizi per la Previdenza Integrativa (SISPI SPA);
Italy
Federal
Public Services Social Security (FPS Social Security); Belgium
Ministry
of Family, Labour and Social Policy (MRPiPS); Poland
Ministry
of Labour, Family, Social Protection and Elderly (MoLFSPE);
Romania
Ministry
of Employment and Social Security (MEySS); Spain
International
and Iberoamerican Foundation for Administration and Public
Policies (FIIAPP); Spain
Agence
Française d'Expertise Technique Internationale (AFETI -
Expertise France); France
Ministry
of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA); Czech Republic
Scuola
Nazionale dellAmministrazione (SNA); Italy
The
project core Chinese partners were:
The
National
Development
and Reform Commission (NDRC P.R. China)
The
Ministry
of
Finance (MoF P.R. China)
The
Ministry
of
Civil Affairs (MoCA P.R. China)
Other
Main Chinese Stakeholders were:
The
Ministry
of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS)
The
National
Health Commission (NHC)
The
China
Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC)
The
All-China
Women s Federation (ACWF)
The
All-China
Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU)
The
Legislative
Affairs Office of the State Council (LAO)
1.2
Opening
and Closing ceremonies
The
project opening ceremony was held in Beijing on 15 September 2015 on
the occasion of the 2015 EU-China High Level Forum on Social
Protection Reform Challenges for Legal Framework of Social Assistance.
The
project closing ceremony was held in Beijing on 20 September 2019.
1.3
The
Grant application form
The
final project
Grant
application form was submitted to the European
Commission in October 2014. It consists of a main text describing the
situation in the area of social protection reform of China, and the
means envisaged to address the corresponding challenges, supplemented
by standard
annexes. A
revised
version was submitted by the Consortium in July
2018 to substantiate the request for extension of project activities
into the year 2019.
Brochures
presenting the project and its activities were published and
disseminated in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The
project advisory committee PAC - see
below - is the body advising the EUD and MOFCOM
in their project monitoring functions. On the occasion of each PAC
meeting, the Consortium produced an Aide-memoire summing up activities
conducted to date, and proposals for future activities. The PAC
meeting amended and endorsed the Aide-memoire, which thus became the
main project governance instrument.
Aide
Mémoire 2018
Aide Mémoire 2019
Pursuant
to the EU rules governing technical cooperation projects, the
Consortium had to produce Interim reports to evidence progress made
towards meeting its objectives as embodied in relevant indicators,
through its programme of activities.
1.7
Project
mid-term, final evaluations
Pursuant
to EU rules concerning technical cooperation projects, a mid-term
evaluation was conducted in April 2017. The Project final evaluation
is scheduled to take place in late 2019.
The
project logical framework details the indicators used to monitor the
achievement of desired project results. The original Logical framework
was amended during project implementation to take into account the
evolving overall situation in the field of social protection reform
and recommendations from the mid-term evaluation mission. Amendments
were upheld during PAC meetings.
1.9
Assigned goals and expected results
The
project is to pursue the following assigned goals and to achieve the
corresponding results:
Assigned
goals
|
Component
1 |
Consolidation
of institutional capacity for social protection policy
development and reforms in collaboration with the National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). |
|
Component
2 |
Enhancing
of institutional capacity for financial management and
supervision concerning social security funds in collaboration
with the Ministry of Finance (MoF). |
|
Component
3 |
Improving
of legal framework and policy for social assistance in
collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MoCA). |
Expected
Results
|
Horizontal |
|
|
R1 |
The
mechanism for EU-China high level policy dialogue on social
protection reform is established and partnerships with the
Specialized Public Bodies of EU Member States and the National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of
Finance (MoF) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MoCA) on
social protection have been set up and they are active. |
|
Component
1 |
|
|
R2 |
Under
the leadership of the NDRC, coordination of policy making
among government agencies in areas related to social
protection reform is strengthened. |
|
R3 |
The
capacity of the NDRC in policy development and implementation,
notably establishing and enforcing a national policy
evaluation technique in the area of social protection, is
enhanced. |
|
R4 |
National
policy framework for a full coverage of old-age insurance
system throughout China is consolidated by strengthening the
interface of various schemes, pension funding pooling, old-age
insurance scheme for civil servants/the employee of public
agencies and the existing multi-layer pension system. |
|
R5 |
Reform
efforts in response to urbanization trends, in particular the
harmonization and integration of the various basic social
protection systems for different groups of beneficiaries, the
portability of social insurances and better suited assistance
schemes. |
|
Component
2 |
|
|
R6 |
The
capacity of the MoF in management and supervision of fiscal
support to social security is consolidated by the
establishment of a unified statistic index system and the
development of an appropriate performance assessment model. |
|
R7 |
National
actuarial analysis model of old-age insurance is developed by
the MoF and the skills and knowledge of provincial
administrators in risk control of fiscal support to basic
pension fund are upgraded. |
|
R8 |
Reform
efforts of the MoF in the management of social insurance
funds, focusing on fiscal support budgeting, accounting
system, investment techniques and adjustment mechanisms for
pension benefits are strengthened. |
|
Component
3 |
|
|
R9 |
The
capacity of the MoCA for promulgating and enforcing the Social
Assistance Law and the regulations on rural and urban minimum
standards of living are strengthened; the skills of local
officials in policy transmission and implementation are
upgraded. |
|
R10 |
The
legal frameworks on a) formulation of unified standards for
the estimation and calculation of social assistance benefits,
b) recognition of social assistance target groups and c)
identification of low-income families are consolidated. |
|
R11 |
Efforts
of the MoCA in improved care for poor rural people and
disabled people are strengthened, and public information and
transparency of social assistance policies are raised at
provincial level. |
Horizontal
activities are directly connected with the achievement of the project
overall objective and, more generally, they are essential for ensuring
the coordination, the harmonization and the effective accomplishment
of the component-based results.
From
its second year of functioning, the Project structure reflected a
clear segregation between component based and horizontal activities.
While overall coordination remained with INPS, Italy, coordination for
individual Components relied on the services provided by two
Secretariats, Expertise France for components 1 and 3, SISPI Italy for
Component 2 (and Horizontal).
The
project IMC Internal Management Committee headed by the project leader
is composed of representatives from all members of the consortium. It
takes managerial decisions related to project operation. While
component based activities are entrusted to component secretariats
(see below, Chapter 3), horizontal activities are since the second
year of the project entrusted to SISPI, which joined the consortium as
an entity affiliated to INPS. A Project office has been established in
Beijing since the inception of activities. Rules of Procedures adopted
by the IMC govern the management of project operations.
The
overall supervision and support on project implementation and the
coordination among key Chinese stakeholders of the three project
components are ensured by a Project Advisory Committee (PAC).
The
PAC is co-chaired by a representative of the MoFCOM (Ministry of
Commerce) of the People Republic of China and a representative of the
EU Delegation in Beijing. Members of the PAC include representatives
of each Chinese partner institution NDRC, MOF, and MOCA - and
representatives of other relevant Chinese Government agencies (MOHRSS,
ACWF, ACFTU, LOSC, CPDRC). The representatives of the implementing
Consortium will be invited to participate as observers. The team of EU
Resident experts and Team Leader, skilled on technical aspects of the
main themes of the project, will attend the PAC meeting and act as
Secretariat. The PAC tasks include reviewing past project activities,
and approving, subject to amendments, future programmes of activities.
The
PAC met on the following occasions:
-
Third
meeting 24 February 2017
-
Fourth
meeting
6 February 2018
2.3
Project
coordination meetings
On
Project coordination meetings, representatives of the 3 components
meet with EU / project representatives to exchange views on their
respective experiences and ensure overall project coherence for future
activities.
Two
project coordination meetings were held in Beijing, in 2016 and 2017
respectively. In December 2017, a coordination meeting was held in
Rome gathering component representatives and consortium members to
prepare for possible project extension.
1st
Coordination meeting, 11 July 2016
2nd
Coordination meeting, 12 January 2017
Rome
Coordination meeting, 1 December 2017
The
bilingual project website is accessible publicly, at the address http://www.euchinasprp.eu
. Originally designed by SISPI in collaboration with the project
office in Beijing, its responsibility was subsequently transferred to
China where the website is hosted and updated by flow.asia
digital agency
As
Secretariat in charge of project horizontal activities, SISPI takes
care of ensuring that project visibility actions meet agreed upon
standards and quality requirements (badges, banners, stationary,
accessories, website, publications ...)
2.6
Meetings
with member States
Three
meetings were arranged in Beijing to ensure that Member States
representatives are adequately briefed by Resident experts on project
development and goals.
Those
meetings were held on 23 June 2015, 8 June 2017 and 9 February 2018.
The briefing meeting in June
2017 was held jointly by the EUD, the project
team and the Chinese stakeholders.
The
project issued 4
Newsletters that supplemented Component-based
quarterly publications. The Project Newsletters were posted on the
project website and circulated on the occasion of major project
events.
The
Project office was established in Beijing in February 2015. Headed by
the Team leader, also Resident expert for component 2, it was composed
of an Office manager (only for the year 2015), a
financial/administrative assistant, one interpreter and 3 part-time
component assistants (from 2016 onwards). The assistant for component
2 also acted as a part-time assistant to the team leader.
The
Project office covers all demands common to all three components of
the project, it interacts directly with the Project leader office, and
the secretariat for horizontal activities.
List
of
Project Office members
The
Gantt Chart was the format adopted to show the Project overall work
plan. The Gantt was revised annually, and its updated version included
in the relevant Aide-Memoire. For component-based activities, the
Gantt distinguishes between the project 3 phases (identification
phase, analysis phase and follow up phase).
During
its meeting on 6 February 2018, the Project Advisory Committee
expressed the desire that project activities be better coordinated
among components, so as to ensure internal coherence and identify the
potential for synergies. The Project leader therefore decided to
establish within the project office in Beijing a Task Force on
Technical Coherence and Synergies, which took effect on 20 April 2018
after being approved by the EUD. The Task Force contributes to Result
R1 of the project
intervention logic, with the following
indicator attached: A Task Force to ensure coherence and synergies in
project intervention is established, which contributes to enhancing
the level of policy dialogue on social protection reform between the
EU and China.
2.10.1
The
Task Force (ToR, Plan of action)
The task force terms of reference were approved in March 2018. Its initial Plan of action covered 8 items, namely to ensure:
-
that the Project provides appropriate responses to the main problems
and needs of the Chinese social protection system identified in the
Grant application form;
-
that it addresses the recognized cross-cutting issues;
-
that activities conducted under one Component benefit to and from
inputs by other interested components (cross-fertilization);
-
that respective findings and recommendations of the project components
on similar or connected issues be reviewed to ascertain their internal
coherence;
-
that analytical works and publications are produced on issues
considered of relevance for project coherence and quest for synergies;
-
that the compilation, analysis and publication of statistical and
other data and materials supporting project coherence and synergies
are performed;
-
that appropriate
action and activities to promote overall coherence and synergies are proposed
and implemented; and,
-
that compatible formats are used for similar outputs from the various
components (including Technical notes).
The
Grant
application form had identified (pp.
7 & 8) seven areas for problems and needs encountered by
the Chinese social protection system through its development process.
The three components have evidenced, for each of these problem areas,
the response provided through their respective programmes of
activities.
The
Grant
application form identified (page 9) four cross
cutting issues that permeate the various aspects of social protection
reform in China. Those are gender equality concerns; issues related to
disability; good governance; and, human rights issues. They were
addressed through a variety of project works, and a technical
note dealing specifically with disability issues.
Addressing
cross-cutting
issues
Most
of the project assessment and other research reports come with
bibliographical lists and references that could prove to be quite
useful for future works and researchers. At the suggestion of the team
leader, the Task Force therefore decided to explore the possibility to
compile those bibliographical references into one single electronic
publication, to be made accessible to all interested parties.
The
Task Force considered that the pilot publication on statistics
produced by the team leader in 2017 was quite useful for both Chinese
and foreign researchers. The Task Force then welcomed the publication
of a draft statistical bulletin of the project dealing with the Belt
and Road initiative.
Bulletin
0 - Economic growth and demographic trends - a province
perspective
The
Belt and Road Initiative
(first draft)
As
initially requested by the EU Delegation in Beijing, the idea of
producing technical notes is to provide a clear, simple message about
the most topical issues under discussion (relevance for China and EU
experience). They do not necessarily address primarily Chinese
readership but people from other Asian countries or indeed other
Regions where the social protection process is still lagging behind.
Technical
Notes produced by Component 1
Technical
Notes produced by Component 3
2.10.7
Comparison
across recommendations
Some
similar issues were dealt with, albeit from different angles, under
more than one component of the project. It was therefore considered as
appropriate to monitor the recommendations emerging from those various
approaches of similar topics, to ensure that they do not contradict
each other, and indeed are compatible if not mutually supportive.
Comparison among component recommendations:
Component
1 / Component 2 / Component 3
The
overall ambition of the SPRP project is to help further develop social
equity and inclusiveness of economic development throughout the
Chinese society. To better describe the specific objectives both
problems/needs and cross cutting issues have been analysed in order to
define the three different Components of the SPRP project. For each
Component specific Chinese government entities have also been
identified. The three Components and their assigned missions are as
follows:
Component
1-
Consolidation of institutional capacity for social protection policy
development and reforms in collaboration with the National Development
and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's comprehensive
policy making agency with ministerial status, responsible for
strategic overview of the national social and economic development.
Component
2
- Enhancing institutional capacity for financial management and
supervision concerning social security funds in collaboration with the
Ministry of Finance (MoF), responsible for China's economic and public
finance policy, the central government's annual budget and for public
finance legislations.
Component
3
- Improving legal framework and policy for social assistance in
collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MoCA), responsible
for policy development in the area of social assistance and the
operation of the social assistance/welfare system
Component
One was in charge of pursuing 4 of the 11 results
assigned to the project. Its activities focused on three main areas:
inserting social protection in the overall national context (five-year
plans, monitoring and evaluation, income redistribution, governance
considerations); contributing to the pension reform; monitoring the
interaction between employment promotion and social protection
policies.
Activities
conducted in-country and abroad consisted mainly of research,
training, policy dialogue and development of pilot schemes at the
decentralised level.
3.1.1
Who is Who in
Component One
The
main Chinese stakeholder for Component One activities is the
Department of Employment,Income Distribution and Consumption within
NDRC. The NDRC Centre for International Cooperation ICC is in charge
of practical operations within China.
On behalf of the Consortium, Expertise France acts as
co-ordinator. The Component secretariat is also handled by Expertise
France.
The
project team in Beijing consisted of a Resident Expert, a component
assistant and 2 main Chinese experts in charge of, respectively,
Research and Operations.
3.1.2
Results
pursued
Component
1 was in charge of pursuing project results R.2 to R.5. It did so
focusing on the main related challenges affecting the Chinese social
protection system, for which it formulated a number of policy
recommendations, drawing inspiration from in-depth national analysis
of the situation and relevant European experience.
The
project component 1 produced two reports summarising the overall
situation concerning the pension system in China and its need for
reform, which were the main focus of its activities. The first report
(2015) presented a global picture, while the second one (2017)
insisted on the specificities of the system.
Baseline
data of the Chinese pension system
Some
striking features of the Chinese pension system
3.1.4
Audience of Project results
The
realm of Component 1 project beneficiaries includes beyond the main
Chinese stakeholder, the National Development and Reform Commission, a
wide array of ministerial bodies and nation-wide NGOs. The final
beneficiaries are indeed workers and employers of China, as well as
generally speaking the Chinese people themselves.
Audience
of Project results (Component 1)
Under
each of the Results
assigned to the project, the Grant application form foresaw that a
list of topics would be explored, that were deemed to concur best to
the pursuance of said results. The list was to be revised and adjusted
to better reflect the priorities of the Government and the evolution
in the prevailing economic and social context. As far as Component One
was concerned, the initial list of 18 topics was amended on a yearly
basis, to cover all relevant aspects of reform in social protection
policy and employment promotion.
C1
Activities facilitated contact between Chinese and European Experts on
more than 180 opportunities. This involved some 160 EU experts (37%
female, 63% male) from 17 countries and 6 international organizations.
High
level Chinese specialists involved in C1 project activities numbered
40, contributing to national researches conducted on 16 technical
topics.
3.1.7
List of countries visited
Overseas
activities conducted under Component One programme of Activities
included High-Level training (4), Policy dialogue (3), International
Workshops (3 , one more was organized in China), Study visits (4) and
pilot Provincial contacts (2).
Summary
of works conducted by respective components was included in
half-yearly Component
reports and submitted to the EU as evidence of
tasks accomplished under yearly Interim
reports.
Furthermore,
overviews of activities conducted were
produced every year, accessible to a more general public.
3.1.8.0
The 2016 High Level Event
HLE
The
project Grant
Application Form provided for the organization of
high profile international Conferences in order to set up the conditions for activating and cultivating a close cooperation
with all the actors of the SPRP project (Result R.1). Such
events were expected to be organized yearly from 2015. The HLE
assigned to Component 1 took place in Beijing on 28 and 29 September
2016. It gathered over
a hundred participants, at parity between Chinese and European
specialists coming from 11 countries and international organizations,
to exchange over the Perspectives of Employment Policy and Social
Security Reform in China and in Europe between 2016 and 2020. This
period corresponds to that of the Chinese XIIIth five-year Plan, and
to the horizon chosen for the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart,
sustainable and inclusive growth. In total, some 20 communications
were made by renowned Chinese and European experts and decision-makers
over five sessions co-chaired by high level Chinese and European
personalities.
The
proceedings of the 2016 HLE were published in three-volume
publications in English and in Chinese.
Volume
3 - European country profiles
3.1.8.1
Policy recommendations
One
of the major aims of the Project was to draft selective
recommendations for future reform proposals in the realm of social
protection, for the consideration of competent Government organs, and
primarily of the respective project partners.
Policy
recommendations emanating from works conducted under Component One
programmes of activities were first discussed under ad hoc internal
project fora (panel discussions and workshops)
and subsequently identified under yearly volumes (in English and
Chinese languages). They were publicly accessible from the Project
website to render continued broad discussion possible in all
interested circles. In 2018, a specific proposal on the structure of
the pension system for urban employees was elaborated by the EU C1
Resident expert, submitted to peer review and presented during
national meetings.
In addition to yearly summaries, a compendium of C1 reform proposals was also produced, articulated not chronologically, but according to the themes covered -Main principles; Social security protection and Employment promotion; Sustainability issues; and, Evaluation process.
COMPENDIUM
OF C1 REFORM PROPOSALS
2015
Reform
Proposals - THE PENSION SYSTEM
2016
Reform
Proposals - PENSION SYSTEM (SUSTAINABILITY)
2017
Reform
Proposals - PENSION SYSTEM (RELEVANCE AND SOCIAL EFFICIENCY)
2018 Reform Proposals - UPHOLDING SOCIETAL CHANGES THROUGH SOCIAL PROTECTION REFORM
3.1.8.2
Assessment and other reports
Research
work conducted under the framework of Component One programmes of
activities materialized in Assessment reports produced by Chinese
Experts on envisaged
topics, backed by reports on European situation
in corresponding sector, the latter being either compendia of best
practices, comparative studies or national reports. Over the existence
of the project, a golden thread framed the choice of topics for any
given year, as follows:
2015
- Fundamentals of Pension schemes
2016
- Sustainability of a Reformed pension scheme
2017
- Relevance and Efficiency of a Reformed pension system
2018 - The Role of Social protection in Upholding Societal changes
2019 - Planning for
Social security and Employment promotion
3.1.8.3
Workshops and other meetings
Findings
from research works were discussed first so-called panel discussion
meetings, in fact peer reviews where researchers (Chinese and some
European) could submit their preliminary findings to NDRC, the project
office and EUD representatives and International workshops where
refined conclusions and recommendations were submitted to a broader
audience, including representatives from most relevant international
organizations. The 2016
High Level Event is to be considered as a
particularly important International Workshop. Other smaller events
also happened, like round table discussions or seminars.
3.1.8.4
Dialogue and Study visits
One
of the important goals of the EU-China SPRP being to facilitate
interaction and mutual understanding among European and Chinese
decision makers in the areas of employment and social protection,
Component One yearly programme of activities included Dialogue and
Study visits organised abroad for NDRC high-level officials at the
central level. Those focused on themes related to the topics under
review for any given year, the choice of host countries also being
specific to the said topics. As part of the programme of activities
for Pilot
sites ad hoc Dialogue and study visits abroad
were included under 2016 and 2018 programmes of activities.
2015 Dialogue and Study Visit (Migrant Workers)
2016
Provincial Dialogue and Study Visits (Managerial issues)
2016
Dialogue and Study Visit (Employment and Social security)
2017
Dialogue
and Study Visit (Income Redistribution)
2018
Dialogue and Study Visit (Active labour market policies)
2019 Provincial Dialogue and Study Visit (Social security statistics)
2019 Dialogue and Study visit (Multitier Social Security Protection)
2019 Second Dialogue and Study visit (Planning for Employment and Social protection)
3.1.8.5
Overseas Training activities
Yearly
programmes of activities of Component One all included high-level
training organised overseas for some 20 to 25 NDRC cadres, from
central or provincial levels. Each training was conducted over two
weeks time in one country, around one of the topics selected for
review in that given year. Sessions were a mixed of class-room and
on-the-spot training, with theoretical courses delivered by
experienced experts from both the host country and other European
countries. Training materials were compiled and published in English
and Chinese language, from dissemination by NDRC and use in its own
internal capacity-building activities. Participants in overseas
training activities showed a high level of satisfaction for these
exercises, as per the evaluation systematically conducted at the end
of the activities.
2015
Training in France (Paris and Lyon) on Multitier pension systems
2016
Training in Spain (Madrid and Valladolid) on Demographic Ageing
2017
Training in Germany (Mainz and Berlin) on Evaluation of Social
protection
2018
Training in Italy (Rome and Milan) on Effects of and Trends in
Income Redistribution Policy
The
Grant application form provided that, during the inception phase, the
Consortium will identify pilot sites if requested by the Chinese
stakeholders. Concerning C1 component, pilot sites were identified and
endorsed by the PAC meeting with the following specific attributes.
Ageing
Shanghai
Rural-Urban
Integration
Sichuan province, cities of Luzhou and
Zigong
Migrant
Workers
Guangdong province, city of Huizhou
;
Sichuan
Province
Activities
involving Pilot sites were manifold. Conducted since September 2015, Field
visits allowed the EUD, the project team, NDRC
and consortium members to get better acquainted with the reality and
expectations of concerned local authorities. Representatives of pilot
regions were whenever feasible and appropriate invited to take part in
activities organised in Beijing - in particular the High
Level Event of 2016;
a training
course on portability of migrant workers' pension
rights was organised for senior officials from Guangdong and Sichuan
Province; also in 2016 a specific dialogue
and
study visit for Guangdong and Sichuan delegation
was organised to France and the Czech Republic around Social security
managerial issues, with particular reference to migrant workers. A
visit for Guangdong delegates on Social
security governance was organised to France and Spain in June
2019.
In March 2017, a joint Consortium / NDRC / Project team mission was further organised in Shanghai and Guangdong Province to identify the possibilities to respond to most present needs from local authorities according to the Project means of action and fields of competence. Expertise France acted as secretariat for this mission. The identified areas for cooperation were not limited to project duration but paved the way for extended bilateral cooperation. Within project life, bilateral activities were designed and sponsored by Component One for implementation in Guangdong Province, concerning both the use of statistical tool for improving governance in social security (Provincial level), and the design of a social protection awareness-raising programme at the local level.
In December 2018 a joint technical mission to Guangdong province (Guangzhou and Huizhou cities) fielded a team of 4 European experts to discuss social security governance and social protection awareness raising issues.
Guangdong December 2018 mission
In June 2019, an end-of-project Round table meeting was organised in Tianjin for representatives from Pilot site and form other provinces participating in project events to exchange over their respective experiences in social protection.
Component
one published one newsletter for the all year 2015, followed by
quarterly bilingual issues. Component 1 Newsletters were printed and
mailed quarterly. Electronic version was dispatched to some 200
addressees in China and abroad. The Newsletters were also accessible
from the project website.
While the products of Component One activities were systematically posted on the Project website whenever available in both English and Chinese languages, the Component team and its partners from NDRC still felt it important to physically publish and dispatch on a regular basis the results of their most important works. The Component notably published yearly volumes of its Assessment reports, which are a compilation of topical researches on social security and employment policies. NDRC also produced printed volumes reproducing training materials used on the occasion of yearly overseas training.
Towards the end of the Project, NDRC and the Project secretariat compiled
all relevant materials produced in Chinese under three volumes -
assessment reports; European monographs; reports from overseas
activities.
Component
1 of the project entertained privileged relations with a number of
entities and individuals interested in project works. The component
has developed working relations with several international
organizations based in Beijing, such as the ILO, the World Bank, the
UNDP, the British Council, and the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation FES.
Visiting European Experts and the Resident Expert for Component 1 have
taken part in a number of meetings organized by institutions outside
the project where they contributed technical papers and made the
project works under Component One known by other interested circles.
Outside
events with Component One participation
3.1.10
Memoranda of Understanding
Under its Result R.3 related to NDRC capacity building in policy development, the project Component One was notably to ensure that Memoranda of understanding or equivalent instruments (be) discussed and concluded between NDRC and European partners, to use as a basis for continued cooperation in social protection. Under project activities, limited support was therefore provided to the negotiation of such instruments with Spain, France and the European Commission, through facilitating high level high level bilateral contacts between NDRC and its institutional competent partners.
A MoU focusing on the consequences of population ageing for social
protection and employment was signed on 29 November 2018 between NDRC
and the Spanish Ministry for Labour, Migration and Social security. An
exchange of letters between NDRC and the European Commission (DG
Employment and Social Affairs) established since 2018 the principle and
broad modalities of continued bilateral cooperation. Discussion on
possible future bilateral cooperation started being held early in 2019
between NDRC and representatives of the French Ministry in charge of
Employment.
As
already mentioned, the proposed Cooperation
programme with pilot sites elaborated by
Expertise France also represented an instrument for continued
cooperation, beyond project life.
3.2 Component Two
Component
Two was in charge of pursuing 3 of the 11 results
assigned to the project. Its activities focused on three main areas:
financial management and supervision of central and local social
security system; top-level design ability in the basic pension
insurance; and management of social insurance funds.
Activities conducted in-country and abroad consisted mainly of research,
training and policy dialogue activities.
3.2.1 Who is Who (Counterparts, Coordinator, Project Team, MoF, Secretariat)
The
main Chinese stakeholder for Component Two activities is the Department
of Social Security within the MoF. On behalf of the Consortium, the
Italian Institute of Social Protection acts as coordinator. The
Component secretariat is handled by Italia Previdenza SISPI S.p.A.,
wholly subsidiary of INPS.
The project team in Beijing consisted of a Resident Expert, a component
assistant and a main Chinese expert in charge of research (2015-2017).
Who is Who in Component Two
3.2.2 Results pursued
Component
2 was in charge of pursuing project results R.6 to R.8. It did so
focusing of the main related challenges affecting the China social
protection system, for which it formulated a number of policy
recommendations, drawing inspiration from in-depth national analysis
of the situation and relevant European experience.
Component 2 Results
pursued
Diagnosis & Baseline Data
3.2.4 Audience of Project results
Among
the target groups, five are expected to be concerned with project
results at all levels of their respective structure, namely high level
officials, managers and staff.
The Ministry of Finance- MoF is the main stakeholder and beneficiary
for Component 2 of the project as it plays a key role in financing
social protection. The Department of Social Security is responsible
for the central social security budgets and sectional budgets of
Ministry of Human resources and Social security (MoHRSS), Ministry of
Civil Affairs (MoCA) and the National Health and Family Planning
Commission (NHFPC); budget auditing of national social insurance
funds; allocation of social assistance fund and the relevant financial
policies as well as the fiscal expenditures of social security,
employment and medical care. Beyond MoF, C2 beneficiaries include a
wide array of ministerial bodies and social organizations. The final
beneficiaries are unemployed, workers, employers, and elderly of
China, as well as the general public.
Audience of Project results
(Component 2)
Under each of the Results
assigned to the project, the Grant application form foresaw that a
list of topics would be explored, that were deemed to concur best to
the pursuance of said results. The list was to be revised and
adjusted to better reflect the priorities of the Government and the
evolution in the prevailing economic and social context. For C2, the
list of 10 topics was amended on a yearly basis, to cover the
aspects of reform in social protection policy relevant to the
Ministry of Finance.
C2 activities
facilitated
contact between Chinese and European Experts on 130 opportunities.
This involved 106 EU experts from 8 countries.
High level Chinese specialists
involved in C2 project activities numbered 11, contributing to
national researches conducted on 10 technical topics.
3.2.7 List of countries visited
Overseas activities conducted
under Component Two programme of Activities included three overseas
Training courses.
Summary of works conducted by respective components was included in half-yearly Component reports and submitted to the EU as evidence of tasks accomplished under yearly Interim reports.
Further, yearly Summaries
of works were produced in an easy to read format.
3.2.8.0 The 2018 Special Event on Ageing
The
project Grant Application Form provided for the organization of high
profile international Conferences in order to set up the conditions
for activating and cultivating a close cooperation with all the actors
of the SPRP project (Result R.1). Such events were expected to be
organized yearly from 2015. On this regard, C2 in September 2018
organized the Conference Population Ageing in China: Impact and Policy
Scenarios. The conference was organized on the occasion of the 2018
International Day of Older Persons, which is commemorated annually on
1st October, to highlight the important role that older persons play
in society and raise awareness of the issues and challenges of ageing,
which are common both to China and Europe.
Mr. Chris Wood, Minister and Deputy Head of Delegation of the European
Union to China, Mr. Dang Junwu, Deputy Director of the China Center
for Scientific Research on Ageing, and Prof. Michele Bruni, Team
Leader of the EU-China SPRP opened the conference. Over 60
participants attended the event, representing Chinese government
agencies - National Development Reform Commission, Ministry of
Finance, Ministry of Civil affairs, China Social Insurance
Association, China Population and Development Research Center -, as
well a civil society, international organizations, EU member state
embassies and academia. Among the speakers, renowned experts such as
Prof. Zheng Bingwen (CASS), Mr. Wang Dewen (World Bank), Prof. Asghar
Zaidi (Seoul National University, London School of Economics) and many
others discussed a series of topics and research results obtained by
the EU-China SPRP, including: evaluations of the ageing process and
its economic impact; the sustainability of the Chinese pension system
and the role of the enterprise annuity funds in creating a
multi-pillar system; how to improve elderly care services and
education and vocational training implications created by the fast
expansion of the long-term care system.
The Conference also produced a set of policy suggestions that
attracted the attention of institutions and media present at the
event.
Conference
Report Population Ageing in China: Impact and Policy Scenarios
3.2.8.1 Policy recommendations
One of the major aims of the
Project was to draft selective recommendations for future reform
proposals in the realm of social protection, for the consideration
of competent Government organs, and primarily of the respective
project partners.
Component two contributed to the
elaboration of a set of policy recommendations on all the topics
attributed to C2. The policy suggestions were presented and
discussed with MoF and experts, in ad hoc internal and external
project meetings. They were publicly available on the project
website.
3.2.8.2 Assessment and other reports
The research work conducted
under the framework of Component Two was periodically published in
yearly volumes, including assessment reports made by Chinese Experts
on selected topics, backed by reports on European situation in
corresponding sector.
Further, C2 conducted a special review of the situation in Chongqing on the occasion of a pilot activity held in February 2019
3.2.8.3 Workshops and other meetings
Findings from research works
were discussed first so-called panel discussion meetings, in fact
peer reviews where researchers (Chinese and some European) could
submit their preliminary findings to MoF, the project office and EUD
representatives and workshops where refined conclusions and
recommendations were submitted to a broader audience.
Starting from 2016, the C2
organized in Europe a training course per year for 15 to 18 MoF
central and local officials. Each training was conducted over two
weeks time in one country, around one of the topics selected for
review in that given year. Sessions were a mixed of class-room and
field visits, with theoretical courses delivered by experienced
experts from both the host country and other European countries.
Training materials were compiled and published in English and
Chinese language, from dissemination by MoF and use in its own
internal capacity-building activities. Participants in overseas
training activities showed a high level of satisfaction for these
exercises, as per the evaluation systematically conducted at the end
of the activities.
Component 2 held three training sessions for Ministry of Finance officials:
- in 2016 in Italy (Rome and Florence) on European Practices for a Fair and Sustainable Social Security System. Governance, Long term Strategies and Financial Management;
- in 2017 in France (Paris and Marseille) on Social Security in an Ageing Society: EU Practices Responding to the Demographic Challenge;
- in 2018 in Italy (Rome and Milan) on Financing the social security system in an ageing society: the role of public finance and private supplementary funds.
The power points presented during these sessions are accessible from a global summary table.
Pilot Sites were not originally
contemplated for C2, as the Ministry of Finance focus more attention
on central-level policy analysis and did not request local level
activities. In 2018 C2 in cooperation with MoF agreed to carry out
up to two provincial level studies to deepen the research work at a
local level and learn from new experiences.
Component two published
quarterly bilingual Newsletters. Component 1 Newsletters were
printed and mailed quarterly. Electronic version was dispatched in
China and abroad. The Newsletters were also accessible from the
project website.
More specifically, C2 published yearly volumes of its Assessment reports, which are a compilation of research on a set of topics within social security
Besides MoF, C2 main
stakeholder, Component 2 had constant dialogue and relations with
entities and individuals interested in project works.
The component has actively
participated in a series of meetings and exchanges with several
national and international institutions based in Beijing, such as
the Chinese Academy of Social
Siences; Renmin University; Beijing Normal University; Beijing Women
Federation; China Center for International and Economic Exchanges;
Chinese Academy of Governance; China Population and Development
Research Center; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security;
Italian Embassy; British Embassy; SOAS.
3.2.10
Memoranda of Understanding
C2 has worked to support the
signature of Memoranda of understanding or equivalent instruments
between MoF and European partners, to use as a basis for continued
and sustained cooperation in the area of social protection.
Component Three was in charge of pursuing 3 of the 11 results assigned to the project. Its activities focused on three main areas: Promulgating and enforcing the Social Assistance Law and the regulations on rural and urban minimum standards of living; Developing of legal framework on unified standards for defining social assistance benefits, target groups, low income families; and, Improving care for poor rural people and disabled people as well public information and transparency on social assistance policy.
Activities conducted in-country and abroad consisted mainly of research, technical visits, training, policy dialogue and development of pilot schemes at the city and county level.
3.3.1
Who is Who in Component Three
The main Chinese stakeholder for Component Three activities is the Department of Social Assistance within the MoCA. The Center of Monitoring and Verification for Low Income Families of MoCA under the leadership of Department of Social Assistance is in charge of practical operations within China. On behalf of the Consortium, Ministry of Family, Labour and Social policy of Poland acts as Component 3 coordinator. The Component secretariat is handled by Expertise France.
The project team in Beijing consisted of a Resident Expert, a component assistant and short-term Chinese experts.
3.3.2 Results pursued
Component 3 was in charge of pursuing project results R.9 to R.11. It did so focusing of the main related challenges affecting the China social assistance system, for which it formulated a number of policy recommendations, drawing inspiration from in-depth national analysis of the situation and relevant European experience.
The project component 3 produced two reports summarising the overall situation concerning the pension system in China and its need for reform, which were the main focus of its activities. The first report (2015) presented a global picture, while the second one (2017) insisted on the specificities of the system.
Baseline data on the social assistance system
3.3.4 Audience of Project results
The realm of Component 3 project beneficiaries includes beyond the main Chinese stakeholders, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a wide array of ministerial bodies and nation-wide NGOs. The final beneficiaries are indeed vulnerable groups of China (elderly, disabled, children, women, etc.).
Audience of Project results (Component 3)
Under each of the Results assigned to the project, the Grant application form foresaw that a list of topics would be explored, that were deemed to concur best to the pursuance of said results. The list was to be revised and adjusted to better reflect the priorities of the Government and the evolution in the prevailing economic and social context. As far as Component Three was concerned, the initial list of 18 topics was amended on a yearly basis, to cover all relevant aspects of reform in social protection policy and employment promotion.
C3 Activities facilitated contact between Chinese and European Experts on 140 opportunities. This involved 126 EU experts (1/3 female, 2/3 male) from 7 countries and 6 international organizations the WB, European Social Network, ADB, ect.
High level Chinese specialists involved in C3 project activities numbered 34, contributing to national researches conducted on 11 technical topics.
3.3.7 List of countries visited
Overseas activities conducted under Component three programme of Activities included Policy dialogue -ministerial level visits (3), high level study visits (5) and training (1)
Summary
of works conducted by respective components was included in
half-yearly Component
status reports and submitted to the EU as evidence of
tasks accomplished under yearly Interim
reports.
Further, yearly Summaries
of works were produced in an easy to read format.
3.3.8.0 The 2015 High Level Event
The project Grant Application Form provided for the organization of high profile international Conferences in order to set up the conditions for activating and cultivating a close cooperation with all the actors of the SPRP project (Result R.1). Such events were expected to be organized yearly from 2015. The HLE assigned to Component 3 took place in Beijing on 15 and 16 September 2015. It gathered over a hundred twenty participants, including 4 EU MS ministerial level and 2 ministerial level from China as well the Ambassador of the EU in China. Among participants (speakers and panelist) were Chinese and European specialists coming from 11 countries and international organizations, to exchange over legal framework of social assistance (benefits and services) and in Europe. Some 30 communications were made by renowned Chinese (12) and European (15) experts and decision-makers over five sessions co-chaired by high level Chinese and European personalities.
The proceedings of the 2015 HLE were published in Conference report volume publications in English and in Chinese.
3.3.8.1 Policy recommendations
One of the major aims of the Project was to draft selective recommendations for future reform proposals in the realm of social protection, for the consideration of competent Government organs, and primarily of the respective project partners.
Policy recommendations emanating from works conducted under Component three programmes of activities were first discussed in panel discussions and within workshops and subsequently identified under yearly volumes (in English and Chinese languages). They were publicly accessible from the Project website to render continued broad discussion possible in all interested circles
3.3.8.2 Assessment and other reports
Research work conducted under the framework of Component Three programmes of activities materialized in Assessment reports produced by Chinese Experts on envisaged topics, backed by reports on European situation in corresponding sector. The latter being either compendia of best practices, comparative studies and policy recommendations. Over the existence of the project, a golden thread framed the choice of topics for any given year, as follows:
3.3.8.3 Workshops and other meetings
Findings from research works were discussed first so-called panel discussion and workshops meetings, in fact peer reviews where researchers (Chinese and some European) could submit their preliminary findings to MoCA, the project office and EUD representatives and where refined conclusions and recommendations were submitted to a broader audience. The 2015 High Level Event is to be considered as a particularly important International Workshop.
3.3.8.4 Dialogue and Study visits
One of the important goals of the EU-China SPRP being to facilitate interaction and mutual understanding among European and Chinese decision makers in the areas of employment and social protection, Component Three yearly programme of activities included Dialogue and Study visits organised abroad for MoCA high-level officials from the central and provincial level. Those focused on themes related to the topics under review for any given year, the choice of host countries also being specific to the said topics. As part of the programme of activities for Pilot sites were included under 2018 programmes of activities.
2016
Ministerial visit to Poland & Spain, April 2016
2017
Ministerial
visit to Italy, May 2017
2018
Study visit on social assistance legal framework; overall resources social assistance benefits : targeting and development of social services, Lithuania & Sweden, May 27th -June 3rd, 2018
Ministerial
visit to Poland & Belgium, December 2018
Component Three activities included high-level training organised overseas for some 15 MoCA cadres, from central or provincial levels. Training was conducted within two weeks time in one country, around few topics selected for review. Sessions were a mixed of class-room and on-the-spot training, with theoretical courses delivered by experienced experts from both the host country and other European countries. Training materials were compiled and published in English and Chinese language. Participants in overseas training activities showed a high level of satisfaction for these exercises, as per the evaluation systematically conducted at the end of the activities. In 2018, an ad hoc training on standards in the social assistance benefits and social services was held in Beijing for MoCA and other Government representatives from Component Three pilot sites.
The Grant application form provided that, during the inception phase, the Consortium will identify pilot sites if requested by the Chinese stakeholders. Concerning C3 component, pilot sites were identified and endorsed by the PAC meeting with the following specific attributes.
· Component 3 Pilot - Rural Comprehensive Reforms - On-demand Assistance Pilot Venue Work Program of Da'an City, Jilin Province
· Component 3 Pilot - Comprehensive Reforms Targeted Social Assistance Integration Work Program for Dachuan Pilot Area, Dachuan District, Sichuan Province
· Component 3 Pilot - Comprehensive Reforms on Social Assistance - Simplifying Administration and Delegating Powers, Exercising Fair Supervision, and Improving Service Efficiency Pilot Venue Work Program of Xincheng District, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
· Component 3 Pilot - Comprehensive Reforms on Massive Assistance - Helping the Weak Pilot Venue Work Program of Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province
Activities involving Pilot sites were manifold. Conducted since March 2018, Field visits allowed the EUD, the project team, MoCA and consortium members to get better acquainted with the reality and expectations of concerned local authorities. Representatives of pilot regions were whenever feasible and appropriate invited to take part in activities organised in Beijing - in particular the kick off meeting, workshops, training sessions, and panel discussions; an exchange session was organised in Hohhot Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Dachuan in Sichuan Province.
In September 2018 a joint technical mission to Hohhot fielded a team of 4 European experts to discuss social assistance benefits and services scheme including governance and non-public actors as social services providers.
Starting from 2016 Component three published quarterly bilingual Newsletter. Component 3 Newsletters were printed and mailed quarterly. Electronic version was dispatched to some 200 addressees in China and abroad. The Newsletters were also accessible from the project website.
While the products of Component Three activities were systematically posted on the Project website whenever available in both English and Chinese languages, the Component team and its partners from MoCA still felt it important to physically publish and dispatch on a regular basis the results of their most important works. The Component notably published yearly volumes of its research topics Volumes, which are a compilation of topical researches on social assistance system.
Component 3 of the project entertained privileged relations with entities and individuals interested in project works, outside the circle of MoCA. The component has developed working relations with several international organizations based in Beijing, such as the the World Bank, the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation FES, ADB, BWF. Visiting European Experts and the Resident Expert for Component 3 have taken part in a number of meetings organized by institutions outside the project where they contributed technical papers and made the project works under Component Three known by other interested circles.
Outside events with Component Three participation
3.3.10 Memoranda of Understanding
Under its Result R.1 related to MoCA capacity building in policy development, the project Component Three was notably to ensure that Memoranda of understanding or equivalent instruments (be) discussed and concluded between MoCA and European partners, to use as a basis for continued cooperation in social assistance. Under project activities, limited support was therefore provided to the negotiation of such instruments with Poland, Italy and Belgium, through facilitating high level high level (ministerial) bilateral contacts between MoCA and its institutional competent partners.
A
MoU focusing on the social assistance legal framework was signed on
4th December 2018 between MoCA and the Polish Ministry
for Family, Labour and Social Policy.