Social protection: Africa's hope for achieving the sustainable development goals
Launch of the regional strategy for accelerating social protection coverage in Africa
The International Labour Organization convened a two-day high-level event on Extending Social Protection Coverage in Africa from 17% to 40% by 2025. This online event took place on 16 and 17 November 2021 and featured a number of inspirational speeches and panel discussions. The speakers’ list included, amongst the others: His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations, Dr. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization.
Why a Regional Strategy for accelerating Social Protection in Africa?
Despite the importance given to social protection policies, social protection coverage remains limited in the Continent. Most recent ILO estimates show that Africa has the lowest social protection coverage in the world: 17% of the total population compared with the global average of 47%. COVID-19 response measures, mostly provided through social assistance, had limited impact on workers in the informal economy, who are the most affected by the pandemic.
The crisis, however, presents an opportunity to build back better and to accelerate social protection coverage across the continent. In light of the above, the ILO Regional Office for Africa has developed a Regional Strategy to support constituents’ initiatives aimed towards universal social protection at the national level.
The Strategy is aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s Common Agenda Report - especially the renewed social contract between governments and their people and within societies that includes a new era of universal social protection.
The launch of this regional strategy and its implementation programme coincide with the release, in September 2021, of the Africa Social Protection Companion Report of the World Social Protection Report 2020-2022.
What are the objectives?
The meeting, organized by the ILO in close collaboration with the African Union Commission, will be held exclusively online and will be structured over two days:
Day 1 (duration: 2 hours)
Who attended?
This continental strategic meeting will bring together high-level officials from the following institutions:
Anyone interested in this topic can follow the event online by registering at this link. The participation will grant access to a dedicated digital platform featuring specific information, documents, video recordings and more.
Watch event day 1
Why a Regional Strategy for accelerating Social Protection in Africa?
Despite the importance given to social protection policies, social protection coverage remains limited in the Continent. Most recent ILO estimates show that Africa has the lowest social protection coverage in the world: 17% of the total population compared with the global average of 47%. COVID-19 response measures, mostly provided through social assistance, had limited impact on workers in the informal economy, who are the most affected by the pandemic.
The crisis, however, presents an opportunity to build back better and to accelerate social protection coverage across the continent. In light of the above, the ILO Regional Office for Africa has developed a Regional Strategy to support constituents’ initiatives aimed towards universal social protection at the national level.
The Strategy is aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s Common Agenda Report - especially the renewed social contract between governments and their people and within societies that includes a new era of universal social protection.
The launch of this regional strategy and its implementation programme coincide with the release, in September 2021, of the Africa Social Protection Companion Report of the World Social Protection Report 2020-2022.
What are the objectives?
- Official inauguration of the Regional Strategy for Accelerating Social Protection Coverage in Africa and its implementation programme;
- Regional launch of the World Social Protection Report and Companion Report for Africa;
- Discussions on financing the extension of social protection in Africa to build back-better towards Agenda 2030
The meeting, organized by the ILO in close collaboration with the African Union Commission, will be held exclusively online and will be structured over two days:
Day 1 (duration: 2 hours)
- Session 1: Presentation of the main findings and policy orientations of the World Social Protection Report 2020-2021 and the Regional strategy for Accelerating Social Protection Coverage in Africa 2021-2025
- Session 2: High-level panel: Towards 40 percent social protection coverage in Africa
- Session 1: Financing Social protection to building back-better towards Agenda 2030 Presentation of two countries cases on financing social protection
- Session 2: Development Partners’ Roundtable (panel): Funding the Strategy for acceleration of social protection coverage in Africa
Who attended?
This continental strategic meeting will bring together high-level officials from the following institutions:
- High-level representatives from UN organizations (UNECA, UNDESA, UNDCO, UNDP, WHO, FAO, UNICEF)
- Representatives from the African Union Commission– AU Commission and AU Organs
- Representatives from Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
- Representatives from Governments (Ministries in charge of social security and Finance)
- Representatives of workers and employers’ organizations at Continental and national level
- Representatives from social security institutions and social security associations 2
- Development partners working on social protection in Africa (EU Delegations, EC, ICMPD, SIDA, UK Aid, Irish Aid, SDC,FES, GIZ, AfDB, World Bank, IMF and SPIAC-B)
- Civil society organizations, research and academia Click here to discover the ILO Social Protection Global Technical Team and country profile.
Anyone interested in this topic can follow the event online by registering at this link. The participation will grant access to a dedicated digital platform featuring specific information, documents, video recordings and more.