The determinants of equity in the implementation of the National Social Assistance Policy

Abstract

This article identifies and debates the factors that favor equity in the assistance of the Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities (Povos e Comunidades Tradicionais – PCTs) by the National Social Assistance Policy (Política Nacional de Assistência Social – PNAS). A quantitative methodology is employed, of the explanatory and observational kind, which operationalization happened through logistical regression. In these, equity was assessed based on the existence of specific strategies of assistance for this public in the Social Assistance Reference Centers (Centros de Referência de Assistência Social – CRAS). The explanatory factors originate from case studies on the topic and public policies implementation literature. The sample was from 2,084 cases of a total of 2,501 CRAS which assisted PCTs situated in their areas of coverage during the year of 2019. The data mobilized were obtained from open databases, with emphasis on the Census of the Unified Social Assistance System (Censo do Sistema Único de Assistência Social – Censo do SUAS). As a result, it is argued that the most important factors for the equitable implementation are directly related to tackling invisibility of PCTs in the CRAS, especially through management tools of implementation induction and the provision of resources aligned with this objective.

Keywords:
implementation; Social Assistance; Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities; equity; cultural difference