Informal social protection: a case study of a small island economy

Abstract

The social protection system is well-anchored in the Mauritian economy and is characterised by a generous welfare state. However, there is still a rising need for informal social protection, which are provided through community, religious institutions and non-governmental organisations. The aim of the paper is to analyse the role of non-governmental organisations and religious groups in providing social aid to vulnerable groups in Mauritius. We first undertake focus group discussions with eight cultural and religious institutions and second we use data from a survey carried out with 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to analyse the different social security schemes provided. Our results show that informal social protection is very much present in the Mauritian society and while religious groups in general are more inclined to aid the socially excluded population pertaining to their respective religious belief or community group, while non-governmental organisations tend to help the vulnerable groups in general.