Strategic partnerships and ICT solutions in extending social security coverage in Africa
By ISSA
Through strategic partnerships and modern information and communications (ICT) solutions, member institutions of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) are strengthening the scope, extent, and adequacy of social security coverage.
Across Africa, the quasi totality of countries has social security schemes and/or programmes theoretically covering most of the population. The policy discourse on extending social security coverage during the last decades culminates in the enactment of new legislation to expand the scope of coverage and reforms on existing schemes to include initially precluded population groups such as informal and own account workers to participate voluntarily under mandatory social security programmes.
However, the effective extension of coverage remains a perennial challenge due to the disconnection between programme design and the socio-economic realities of the most vulnerable clusters of society. In a predominantly informal and agrarian economy setting, working age population groups lack both the locus standi and financial capability to actively participate in mandatory contributory social insurance programmes. Coupled with less than adequate investment in social assistance and essential and universal health care programmes, Africa remains the continent with the lowest effective social security coverage rates across the globe.
Source: ISSA
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