The official virtual Side Event “Advocating Universal Social Protection (USP) Floors for Asian Countries” will be held on February 21, 2024 (Wednesday), from 16.30 – 17.45 Bangkok time (GMT+7).
The 11th Asia Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD) will be organized from 20-23 February under the theme: “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: The effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions in Asia and the Pacific” at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Globally, the number of the extreme poor stands at 860 million. Over 820 million people goes hungry every day.
SDG 1.3 and other SDGs and targets mention social protection, but the SDG framework itself is being derailed as a consequence lack of commitment on the part of governments.
In Asia and pacific 930 million workers out of a total of the 1.3 billion informal economy workers (68%) are in vulnerable sectors. Female workers experience gender-based discrimination, receiving less pay than men and spending more time on unpaid care work.
The impact of climate change becomes more and more visible. More and more people are affected by natural disasters from Pakistan over Bangladesh to the Philippines. The people have also had to contend with inflation on food and energy. International debt among some low- and middle-income countries are limiting their investment in social protection. At the country level there are some social protection mechanisms covering the people of various ages, but even where there is good coverage, there are implementation gaps.
The side event will discuss the scope of Universal Social Protection Floors to address poverty, hunger, inequality and adapt to climate change.
This session is organized by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and co-organized by Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (India); NGO Federation of Nepal (Nepal); Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement - PRRM (Philippines); Noakhali Rural Development Society (Bangladesh); Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (Sri Lanka); Pakistan Development Alliance (Pakistan); Coordination Committee of Cambodia (Cambodia); Sanayee Development Organisation (Afghanistan); ONE Singapore (Singapore); Africa Japan Forum (Japan); Asia Dalit Rights Forum; Global Forum on DWD and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF).
Link to register in the Virtual Side Event: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvcO-gqjIrGNZXd7-g4s6DIQWJmLAdbc6g
Download the concept note here.
Over 200 civil society organizations and trade unions unite to call for a Global Fund for Social Protection to protect the most vulnerable during COVID-19 and beyond.
The programme Improving Synergies Between Social Protection and Public Finance Management provides medium-term support to multiple countries aiming to strengthen their social protection systems at a national level and ensure sustainable financing. The programme aims to support countries in their efforts towards achieving universal social protection coverage.
