Case study F: The challenges of moving towards universal social protection in Bolivia

Decisive elements of the vision of universal social protection are coverage for all people and all risks, rights-based access at any moment over the life course, and the provision of an adequate level of protection able to prevent poverty. Gaps worldwide are still large, and it is necessary to push reality progressively closer to this vision. With ILO Recommendation 202 (2012) on social protection floors governments and social partners from 187 countries committed to prioritize horizontal extension of essential guarantees: minimum income security over the life course and access to essential health care for all. They also agreed to then proceed further to a vertical extension of social protection to cover additional risks and provide higher levels of protection in a comprehensive and coherent system. This case study discusses whether Bolivia is moving towards this ambitious vision. A brief glance at the historical development of the Bolivian welfare state will disclose the enormous challenges that hinder progress towards a universal social protection system. Against this background the case study gives an overview of the major social protection reform efforts implemented between 2000 and 2019. It then addresses two key questions, namely if these reforms were able to achieve universal social protection floor coverage and whether the reform efforts envision a comprehensive and coherent social protection system that contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society.