The GCSPF delivered a statement in the Informal consultation with relevant stakeholders in preparation of the zero draft of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) that was held on Friday, March 1st, 2024.
This round of informal consultation is a contribution to the elaboration of the zero draft of the GDC which will be annexed to the Pact for the Future. The Pact will be adopted at the Summit of the Future to be held at the UNHQ, in New York, 22-23 September 2024. Read more
Joint Statement "Towards Universal Social Protection"
Join us to sign the Joint Statement developed by co-organizers of the workshop series on Towards Universal Social Protection, held in Kathmandu on 17 February 2024 during the World Social Forum 2024.
Please share this statement with your networks and friends so they can sign on as well! Read more
Hybrid Event: Bridging gaps for Children's Rights and Inclusive Social Protection
Date: Tuesday 12th March / Time: 08:30 – 10:00 CET
Location: CAGI, Route de Ferney 106, 1202 Geneva
This side-event, co-organized by Child Identity Protection, Hope and Homes for Children, Lumos, and Make Mothers Matter, will contribute to the discussion of inclusive social protection systems as an essential mechanism for realising children’s rights, especially those facing higher poverty and exclusion, and provide concrete examples of solutions. Online registration - Read more
The role of ODA in delivering social protection in Kenya
This report by Development Initiatives provides background on the role of Official development assistance (ODA) in delivering social assistance in Kenya. Using three case study programmes, it examines aid disbursement trends, programme impacts and key lessons.
The report finds that between 2012 and 2021, just 1.3% of ODA disbursed to Kenya went to the social protection sector. Over this time, financing to social assistance programmes continued its trend of shifting from ODA to domestic financing. Read more
Does Social Protection Cause Informality?
A Critical Review of the Literature on the Relationship between Social Protection, Formal and Informal Employment
Several influential international organizations, academic studies and reports claim that social protection is an important driver of informality. This paper published by WIEGO critically reviews the available evidence. On the whole, the literature does not support strong claims about the effect of social protection programmes on labour markets. Read more
Second World Summit for Social Development 2025
On 26 February 2024, in its resolution 78/L.39, the UN General Assembly decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025 under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development”.
The Second World Summit for Social Development would address the gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action and its implementation and give momentum towards implementing the 2030 Agenda. The General Assembly requested that the President of the General Assembly appoint two co-facilitators, one from a developing country and one from a developed country, to facilitate the intergovernmental preparatory process leading up to the Summit consisting of its modalities and outcome. The outcome should be a short and concise political declaration adopted by consensus, should have a social development approach, and should give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Read more
Social protection as a pathway to sustaining peace
This working paper by FAO discusses how social protection can sustain peace efforts by understanding peace not as an outcome but, rather, as an ongoing process. The paper argues that the contributions that social protection can make to peace can be divided between two overlapping scenarios: “working in conflict” and “working on conflict”. While the former refers to efforts aimed at offsetting the impacts of conflict, the latter relates to interventions that intend to deliberately address its underlying drivers.
The working paper also recognizes that social protection interventions in a conflict-affected context can potentially be harmful and fuel social tensions in the absence of adequate consideration of local power dynamics. It therefore calls for social protection strategies and programmes to be conflict-sensitive – beyond the “do no harm” – to make explicit contributions to peace. Read more
The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) continues participating in the preparatory process of the Summit of the Future. The GCSPF delivered a statement in the Informal consultation with relevant stakeholders in preparation of the zero draft of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) that was held on Friday, March 1st, 2024.
This round of informal consultation is a contribution to the elaboration of the zero draft of the GDC which will be annexed to the Pact for the Future. The Pact will be adopted at the Summit of the Future to be held at the UNHQ, in New York, 22-23 September 2024.
Global Digital Compact - Stakeholders Informal Consultation 1 March, 10 am EST
Statement on behalf of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors - GCSPF
The role of digital technologies and legal identityin accessing social protection and other public services
Thank you very much. I have the pleasure to speak on behalf of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF). The GCSPF represents more than 120 CSOs worldwide that are committed to realising the right to social security for all which we believe to be a core enabler of SDG achievement.
The lack of legal and digital identity is one important reason why about one billion people in the world have no access to social protection and other public services[1],[2]. Many more people do not have access either, because digital access is not tailored to their needs and circumstances. Governments often see digitalization as a means to cut costs rather than to extend coverage.
Based on participatory dialogues with people living in poverty, our Global Coalition and its members have formulated four recommendations[3] for improving digital access to public services.
One. The right to digital connection and digital identity. Affordable access to internet and digital support should be provided to everyone, and in particular in rural areas. (Websites and interfaces should be easy to use).
Two. When people are not able to digitally access public services, the right to a physical human reception should be ensured (so that human contact is always present in administrative processes).
Three. (To the extent possible,) Right holders to public services should meaningfully participate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital policies.
Four. A variety of accountability mechanisms should be built in. (such as observation and legal tools as well as permanent watchdogs in order to) These mechanisms would detect human rights violations, such as with regard to privacy and exclusion from public services. (Digital policies must be evaluated in terms of their impact on the poorest 10% of society)
[3] Statement submitted by International Movement ATD Fourth World, non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, Commission for Social Development, Fifty-ninth Session, 8-17 February 2021 (E/CN.5/2021/NGO/1)
Child poverty is one of the world’s greatest challenges to the realisation of the SDGs and children’s rights, including the right to survival, learning and protection. In 2022, 330 million children lived in extreme poverty, with children comprising more than half of the world’s 1.1 billion people experiencing multidimensional poverty.
Through the SDGs, world leaders committed to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, including by putting in place social protection floors (SPFs) by 2030 and guaranteeing access to quality essential health care for all and basic income security for children, persons with disabilities, older persons and the unemployed.
While governments have made some progress in building inclusive social protection systems, children are frequently left the furthest behind. For instance, in 2021, more than 73 percent of girls and boys worldwide did not receive any child or family cash benefits at all, leaving them particularly vulnerable and at risk to the irreversible and long-lasting impacts of poverty, stunting and wasting, inadequate access to health and education services on human capability development.
To promote awareness and use of Universal Child Benefits (UCBs) as an effective means to reduce child poverty and support child development, the International Labour Organization (ILO), Save the Children and UNICEF launched a new tool, the Global Child Benefits Tracker during the CSocD62 in New York. As indicated by the recent report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report to the Human Rights Council, UCBs are one of the most inclusive, effective and fairest approaches to reach those furthest behind.
The aim of this tool is to provide a dedicated knowledge management platform to foster progressive and evidence-based dialogue, drawing on best practice, on the need for and feasibility of greater investment in child-sensitive social protection.
Speakers and Panelists
Opening Remarks: Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York
Keynote Speaker: Philip Alston, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Moderated Discussion
Jane Kitili, Director Social Protection, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Kenya
H.E. Ambassador Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg
H.E. Ambassador Enkhbold Vorshilov, Permanent Representative of Mongolia
Moderated by Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York
David Lambert Tumwesigye, Global Policy & Advocacy Lead, Child Poverty, Save the Children International
Closing Remarks
Natalia Winder Rossi, Global Director of Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF
This event was organised by Save the Children International, UNICEF and ILO and co-sponsored by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg and USP2030.
The CSocD62 took place from 5 to 14 February 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The priority theme of the CSocD62 focused on "Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication". The emerging issue focused on "The Influence of Digital Transformation on Inclusive Growth and Development: A Path to Realizing Social Justice".
Download the concept note here. Further information is available here and at the UN's website.
The GCSPF delivered a written statement at the 62nd session of the Commission for Social Development 2024 which priority theme is “Fostering Social Development and Social Justice through Social Policies to accelerate Progress on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication”. Read more
The side event will be held on February 14, 2024 at 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm EST at Conference Room 11, UNHQ, New York. The event will be held during the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62).
This event is organised by Save the Children International, UNICEF and ILO and co-sponsored by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg and USP2030.
Link to participate online: https://unvc.webex.com/unvc/j.php?MTID=m2a0c225f02eac227c16428d745da85be / Webinar number: 2343 658 0587 / Webinar password: CSocD62_14Feb#24 Read more
The conference will draw on research from a multi-year participatory project carried out by the International Movement ATD Fourth World, in collaboration with Oxford University. Their approach combines knowledge from action, academic research, and the life experiences of those who face poverty, to provide new insights about the multidimensional nature of poverty and the IDEEP tool that transforms the findings of this research into action. Experts from the World Bank and the IMF, as well as academic researchers and practitioners, will provide comments and contribute their own perspectives. Conference participants will discuss how to make further progress in poverty measurement, policy, training, and action.
Date: February 15, 2024 / Time: 9:00 am – 5 pm (eastern time zone USA) / Where: World Bank HQ, Washington, D.C. and online Registration formRead more
Hybrid Workshop at the WSF2024. The workshop starts with a thematic panel discussion then follows up with more specific discussions to highlight the social protection gap and to promote the voice of workers, trade unions, NGOs and activists around the world demanding for universal, comprehensive, inclusive and just social protection.
February 17th. The link for registration for online participation: https://bit.ly/UniversalSocialProtection-WSF2024. Interpretation in English - Nepali, Hindi, Bangali, Thai and Bahasa. Read more
The virtual side event will be held on February 21, 2024 (Wednesday), from 16.30 – 17.45 Bangkok time (GMT+7) during the 11th Asia Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD). The side event will discuss the scope of Universal Social Protection Floors to address poverty, hunger, inequality and adapt to climate change. Registration formRead more
WIEGO's Policy Brief No 31 explores the experiences of self-employed workers with Article 40 of Thailand’s Social Security Fund on the basis of focus group discussions with home-based workers, street vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok.
Most participants reported the compensation for lack of income when sick or injured as their primary motivation in joining SSF Article 40. This was the most common benefit claimed, and the respondents made it clear how relevant the benefit is for self-employed workers. Ensuring income security in older age also was regarded as important. Read more
The 2nd Euro-Mediterranean Conference took place on January in Amman, with participants discussing the launch of the Euro-Med Agenda by the end of this year to address the underlying causes of discrimination against people with disabilities and set the preconditions for more inclusive policy responses.
According to the First Situational Assessment of the Social and Economic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, people with disabilities are among the most marginalised in the region, an issue that is often aggravated by factors including unemployment, weak social protection mechanisms, gender inequality and the impacts of climate change. Up to 90% of people with disabilities are unemployed, a phenomenon that disproportionately affects women. Read more
The ILO report reveals a complex global employment scenario. It forecasts a slight increase in global unemployment in 2024, signalling emerging labour market challenges. The report highlights disparities between high and low-income countries, noting higher unemployment and poverty rates in lower-income nations. It also points out that a significant portion of the global workforce remains in informal employment.
Key concerns include worsening income inequality and the impact of inflation on real incomes, especially in G20 countries. The report underscores the need for policy interventions focused on social justice to ensure a fair and sustainable global economic recovery. Read more
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).
The side event “The transformative potential of expanding the coverage of child benefits to eliminate child poverty” will be held on February 14, 2024 at 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm EST at Conference Room 11, UNHQ, New York. The event will be held during the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62).
Child poverty is one of the world’s greatest challenges to the realisation of the SDGs and children’s rights, including the right to survival, learning and protection. In 2022, 330 million children lived in extreme poverty, with children comprising more than half of the world’s 1.1 billion people experiencing multidimensional poverty.
Through the SDGs, world leaders committed to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, including by putting in place social protection floors (SPFs) by 2030 and guaranteeing access to quality essential health care for all and basic income security for children, persons with disabilities, older persons and the unemployed.
While governments have made some progress in building inclusive social protection systems, children are frequently left the furthest behind. For instance, in 2021, more than 73 percent of girls and boys worldwide did not receive any child or family cash benefits at all, leaving them particularly vulnerable and at risk to the irreversible and long-lasting impacts of poverty, stunting and wasting, inadequate access to health and education services on human capability development.
To promote awareness and use of Universal Child Benefits (UCBs) as an effective means to reduce child poverty and support child development, the International Labour Organization (ILO), Save the Children and UNICEF will launch a new tool, the Global Child Benefits Tracker during the CSocD62 in New York. As indicated by the recent report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report to the Human Rights Council, UCBs are one of the most inclusive, effective and fairest approaches to reach those furthest behind.
The aim of this tool is to provide a dedicated knowledge management platform to foster progressive and evidence-based dialogue, drawing on best practice, on the need for and feasibility of greater investment in child-sensitive social protection.
Speakers and Panelists
Opening Remarks: Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York
Keynote Speaker:
Philip Alston, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Moderated Discussion
Jane Kitili, Director Social Protection, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Kenya
H.E. Ambassador Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg
H.E. Ambassador Enkhbold Vorshilov, Permanent Representative of Mongolia
Moderated by Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York
Presentation of the Global Child Benefits Tracker
David Lambert Tumwesigye, Global Policy & Advocacy Lead, Child Poverty, Save the Children International
Questions and Answers
Closing Remarks
Natalia Winder Rossi, Global Director of Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF
This event is organised by Save the Children International, UNICEF and ILO and co-sponsored by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg and USP2030.
The Improving Synergies Between Social Protection and Public Finance Management Programme (SP&PFM) provided medium-term support to multiple countries aiming to strengthen their social protection systems at a national level and ensure sustainable financing.
SP&PFM aimed to support countries in their efforts towards achieving universal social protection coverage. Activities focus on enhancing the design and implementation of social protection systems, ensuring they are gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive and shock-sensitive, as well as improving their financing through strong public finance management.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the urgency of developing more resilient and adaptable systems. In response to the health emergency, partner countries are working to scale up their social protection systems.
Funded by the European Union (EU), this initiative that started in October 2019 and ended in October 2023 was implemented jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF, and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), in collaboration with national partners and EU Delegations in each country.
The SP&PFM Programme was designed to be innovative in many ways. Besides its focus on improved financing and financial monitoring of social protection policy at national level, also improved cooperation between all main stakeholders at the national level was an important aspect of the implementation, knowing that development partners often work in an uncoordinated, even non-complementary way on this issue.
Importantly, it was acknowledged that civil society and its organisations had to be an equal stakeholder in the design, implementation and governance of the programme, hereby acknowledging their stake in the social contract, representing the rights-holders, and to promote a genuine rights-based approach. The GCSPF was entrusted with the task of organising and facilitating civil society participation with regard to the objectives of the programme. As such a complicated task, not only because the focus on PFM was new and at times highly technical, but also because of the complexities around the management of the grant (three ILO subgrantees on behalf of the GCSPF -WSM, HelpAge and Oxfam- acted as coordinating organisations) and the intense engagement of the GCSPF representatives at various levels, topped up by multiple accountability lines. Since, the GCSPF took full ownership of their role in the programme.
In September 2023 members of the GCSPF exchanged and discussed with the GCSPF programme implementers to draw further lessons from this experience, to ask ourselves the relevant questions, to look at the future, for the four country networks and also for the GCSPF as a whole. The four country teams (Cambodia, Nepal, Senegal and Uganda) together with members of the GCSPF gathered for a final workshop that was held in Brussels, so as to maximize the results of this programme. Read more
Experiences from Cambodia, Nepal, Senegal and Uganda
This report highlights the valuable lessons and insights garnered with regards to the network building strategies used by the GCSPF to effectively influence decision makers.
With a focus on inclusiveness, effectiveness, and sustainability, these network-building strategies hold significance in the pursuit of lasting impact on the path to social protection floors and universal social protection. The GCSPF seeks to empower these networks to exert influence and maintain their strength beyond the programme's conclusion.
Through the presentation of our findings, our hope is to inspire CSOs
worldwide. We also wish to emphasise the critical message that collaboration is needed not only across borders and between international development partners, but also across different types of CSOs, to overcome divides in strategies, approaches, and ideologies. Read more
The International symposium "Improving synergies between social protection & public finance management" co-hosted by the ILO, UNICEF, the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors, and the European Union brought together more than 200 participants (policymakers, social partners, civil society, and development partners) from 24 countries to discuss innovative practices and strategies for building sustainable and rights-based social protection. The International Symposium took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 27 and 28 June, 2023. Watch the event recording
Read here the June 2023 SP&PFM e-News! This newsletter communicates about ongoing activities and results from the Improving Synergies Between Social Protection and Public Finance Management programme (SP&PFM). SP&PFM is a joint collaboration between the EU, ILO, UNICEF and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), which provides medium and shorter-term support to 24 countries aiming to strengthen their social protection systems and ensure their sustainable financing. Read more
The GCSPF welcomes the initiative to convene a Summit of the Future (SofF). The agenda of the Summit will focus on topics that are of crucial importance for the future of the global community. In December 2023 the GCSPF contributed to the informal consultations with stakeholders and also submitted its inputs for the preparation of the Zero Draft of the SotF. Read more
The GCSPF delivered a written statement at the 62nd session of the Commission for Social Development 2024 which priority theme is “Fostering Social Development and Social Justice through Social Policies to accelerate Progress on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication”. Read more
The gradual introduction of universal social security is feasible – and already happening!
Webinar: 8 February, 2024 - 10:00 GMT
While universal social protection is broadly embraced as a goal or at least “a vision”, most social security programmes in low- and middle-income countries are poverty-targeted rather than universal, especially if they are supported by international development partners. The standard argument that “universal social security is simply not affordable in poor countries” typically overrides all arguments for universality. In this webinar this argument is challenged through the presentation of two new reports by Development Pathways and Act Church of Sweden: An affordable and feasible pathway to universal social security using the principle of universality and Taking stock of progress: a compilation of universal or benefit-tested social security programmes in low- and middle-income countries.
For mor information: Gunnel Axelsson Nycander or Lalchhanhimi Bungsut - Register here - Read more
How is digital technology helping to include informal workers into social protection schemes or how is it creating new barriers for these people to access protection? What are the risks and opportunities? What is the role of informal workers organisations in building more inclusive registration systems? These are some of the questions we will try to answer by looking at some cases of programmes and policies countries are implementing to expand their social protection systems to include informal workers. Listen this Podcast
Twelve organisations collaborated on a joint submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the Human Rights Council Resolution 52/11 on the question of the realisation in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, with a focus on the right to social security. This submission comprises research conducted across 16 countries from 2019 and 2023, highlighting both positive steps but also gaps and challenges towards the enjoyment of the right to social security. The submission concludes with recommendations for the effective implementation of universal social security for all. Read more
The book is a celebration of Michael Cichon's professional life and legacy, which brings together memories, thoughts, messages, pictures and anecdotes that many people from around the world have shared with us in Michael's memory. The book is intended first and foremost for Michael's family, as well as for those who have known Michael, who have contributed to this book, and who cherish his memory and legacy. Read more
The fifth USP2030 Membership Assembly will be held in March 2024 (dates to be announced). In addition to providing updates on progress, new members and working group results, it will provide an opportunity for members to reflect together on how to strengthen the partnership's capacity to engage, include and support Global South actors, including through strategic alignment with the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, based on the USP2030 strategy on engaging the Global South. Read more
The mission of Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana) is to empower communities to harness available local resources (human, materials and financial) of the society for the socio-economic development of their respective communities. Our vision is a Ghana where the governance architecture prioritizes development to the benefit of all citizens. Read more
L’Action Contre les Violations des Droits des Personnes Vulnérables - ACVDP (République Démocratique du Congo) est une organisation non gouvernementale des droits de l’homme reconnue comme Asbl par l’Etat Congolais sous le N°F.92/9945 du Ministère de la Justice, des droits humains et des affaires sociales. Elle est dotée du statut consultatif spécial des Nations Unies ECOSOC et basée à Kinshasa sur l’avenue Mikondo N°3A Quartier Biyela dans la Commune de Kimbanseke. Avec des antennes dans 5 provinces à savoir Nord et Sud Ubangui, Nord et Sud Kivu et Mongala. Read more
In December 2023 the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) submitted its inputs for the preparation of the Zero Draft of the Pact for the Future. The GCSPF’s document is published on the UN’s website. Download pdf document.
Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors - GCSPF
Chapeau
The right to Social Protection for all underpins the vision of the 2030 Agenda, the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the ambition of the Summit of the Future. This right is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in several international human rights conventions.[1] However, four billion people worldwide, over half the global population, still live without adequate social protection.[2] Those denied social protection lack important means of escaping extreme poverty, ensuring sufficient food security for themselves and their families and accessing essential health and other services. Without effective social protection, inequalities within societies and between countries are increased – in particular, women and girls, people with disabilities and older persons are severely disadvantaged.
Therefore, it is right that target 3 of SDG 1 calls for social protection and social protection floors and that they are recognized as essential for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – above all for the "leave no one behind" principle on which the entire Agenda is based.
Social protection floors, which should guarantee basic income and health protection over the life course[3], must be designed for the long term, as they must cover childhood and youth, working life and old age. Social protection must also be in place for future generations as those born today will not be able to lead a dignified life without it. All of this requires a solid financial basis underpinned by political will and inclusive and fairly designed governance structures – not only in the countries themselves, but also at the global level. Thus, social protection is a topic that relates to several chapters of the Pact for the Future, mainly chapters I, IV and V.
We therefore urge, that the Pact for the Future will include a specific commitment in its chapeau to universal social protection and to demonstrable tangible progress on social protection floors by 2030.
Chapter I. Sustainable development and financing for development
Without adequate social protection, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, the fight against poverty, the reduction of inequalities within and between societies, adequate food supply and health care, regular school attendance for children and the elimination of gender discrimination are goals that are inextricably linked to target 1.3 of the 2030 Agenda. Human rights for all are the foundation of the 2030 Agenda and yet the right to social protection is being denied to over half the global population. Some countries have succeeded in generating adequate domestic resources to ensure rights-based and sustainably financed social protection systems for the entire population. Other countries, however, do not yet have sufficient financial resources nor the political will to fully guarantee their population this protection. It is therefore essential and urgent that the international community both calls for universal social protection in all countries and supports the system building, rollout and the financing of social protection floors worldwide. With the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection proposed by the UN Secretary-General[4], global solutions to these problems are currently being sought. But financial and technical support can, and must be, significantly expanded[5], otherwise it will not be possible in many parts of the world to successfully implement social protection floors – the basis for achieving some of the key objectives of the 2030 Agenda.
Chapter II. International peace and security
Social protection plays a fundamental role in the prevention of conflicts when and where poverty and inequality are associated with other root causes of conflict. As countries reconstruct and communities regroup after conflict and disruption social protection is essential to support access to health and education, work and small scale investment. The potential benefit of ensuring the right to social protection for all to reduce and counter marginalization, radicalization, and extremism that fuel conflict should be acknowledged in the Summit conclusions and the language of the Pact.
Chapter III. Science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation
System building to deliver social protection requires up-to-date technology and data accuracy. Advances in this field significantly enhance governmental accountability and can support citizen inclusion in development. They are an important contribution to ensuring that social protection measures can also be expanded to the most vulnerable groups of society. Cooperation between countries and UN agencies on digital innovation for social protection is an exciting development which is supporting the building of robust governmental institutions, essential for SDG achievement.
Chapter IV. Youth and future generations
All countries are ageing, with life expectancy on the rise in the over 70’s age group, especially in the countries of the global south. Social protection protects all people from the cradle to the grave and ensures that older people can support their dependent family members and thatyoung people can develop their future prospects in a safe social and economically stable environment, essential to counter the noxious effects of poverty on child development. This is why target 1.3 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (“Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”) must be achieved. This applies a fortiori to future generations. Sustainable social protection will enable improved life conditions and create pathways to equitable life chances; future generations will not be able to enjoy decent lives unless adequate social protection is sustainably guaranteed for them. It is also important that the educational and employment rights of the youth related to social protection are guaranteed.
Chapter V. Transforming global governance
Global governance structures must be designed in such a way that all states – regardless of their economic and financial strength – can influence multilateral decisions on an equal basis. If international funds are set up to deal with global problems (e.g., in the areas of climate protection, health and food security or social protection), contributors and recipients must have equal rights in the decision-making process.[6] It is also important that the affected civilian population is adequately represented in these processes.
Building age and gender inclusive social protection systems should engage national populations and be a participatory process, which demonstrates good governance and robust national institutions. Putting in place financial and technical cooperation for universal social protection will demonstrate global commitment to inclusive, participatory and knowledge sharing processes from the local level to those at national, regional, and global levels.
International tax reform is needed globally to address lost revenues that must be recaptured for domestic government expenditure and international funds. We urge member countries to advance towards a UN Convention on Taxes that allows to fight tax evasion and illicit financial flows and thus generate the domestic resources indispensable for social protection.
Notes:
[1] Article 9 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Art. 5e iv International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; Art. 11, para 1e Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Art. 26 Convention on the Rights of the Child; Art. 27 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; Art. 28 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
[6] If the Global Public Investment (GPI) approach is used, according to which all states involved in a financing mechanism pay contributions into the fund based on a fair share calculation (https://globalpublicinvestment.org/), an equal distribution between the groups of net contributors and net recipients must be ensured during voting.
The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) demands the use of climate funding to invest into social protection system building, as this will facilitate more sustainable and transformative support than humanitarian aid and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure alone. Read more
The GCSPF welcomes the decision to establish a Loss and Damage Fund. It is an important step towards climate justice. Estimates by scientists projecting climate damages ranging from $290 to $580 billion by 2030 and surpassing one trillion dollars by 2050 underscore the urgency of such measures.
Member organizations of the GCSPF collectively advocate for strategic utilization of financial resources from this Fund. A central concern is to specifically allocate fund resources for the establishment and fortification of rights-based Social Protection Systems. These systems play a pivotal role in mitigating the catastrophic consequences of climate change and adequately cushioning individual damages and losses, while contributing to increase resilience and improve adaptation. Read more
Join our Webinar on 25 January 2024: Pathways to Building Universal Social Protection Floors
The gradual introduction of universal social security is feasible – and already happening! Save the date for Webinar on 25 January hosted by Socialprotection.org
While universal social protection is broadly embraced as a goal or at least “a vision”, most social security programmes in low- and middle-income countries are poverty-targeted rather than universal, especially if they are supported by international development partners. The standard argument that “universal social security is simply not affordable in poor countries” typically overrides all arguments for universality. In this webinar this argument is challenged through the presentation of two new reports by Development Pathways and Act Church of Sweden: An affordable and feasible pathway to universal social security using the principle of universality and Taking stock of progress: a compilation of universal or benefit-tested social security programmes in low- and middle-income countries.
For mor information: Gunnel Axelsson Nycander or Lalchhanhimi Bungsut
In this podcast we explore the challenges of financing social protection in a changing world of work. What are the possible paths, strategies and innovations countries are undertaking to include informal workers? What about digital platforms: is there room to improve social protection for these workers?
To discuss these and other issues we invited two guests: Sarah Cook and Ruth Castel-Branco. Listen this Podcast
In a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen social security rights in Nepal, the International Network for Social Protection Rights (INSP!R) Nepal, organized a pivotal dialogue session on 15 Mangsir, 2080 at Kathmandu to mark a social protection week/day 2080. Aimed of this program was to discuss on the roles of stakeholders in advancing social security programs. This program was managed and organized by Social Protection Civil Society Network, convening key figures at the forefront of the nation's social protection landscape. Read more
Civil society research documents clear harms from privatisation and fiscal consolidation on public services and human rights, as Bank and Fund push for their deepening. Read more
By Barry Herman, Social Justice in global Development
Four years have passed since the IMF adopted a new Strategy for Engagement on Social Spending that was meant to increase the support that IMF gives to national policies on social protection, health and education. The Fund interprets this as instructing its staff to focus on the adequacy, efficiency and sustainability of social programs when they can affect macroeconomic conditions in member countries.
One way to assess how the new strategy is being implemented is to look for changes in IMF advice and the policy requirements for IMF loans. Results so far have not been encouraging, although it is still early. Another way is to examine the guidance that IMF gives its staff when they go on country missions. The IMF has published two interim guidance papers that give insight into the strengths and weaknesses of IMF thinking on how to implement its strategy. Read more
Poverty and discrimination in Serbia’s welfare state
The publication by Amnesty International shows that introducing technology in social protection systems is often portrayed as a way to improve people’s access to services and increase efficiency. Yet, as the example of the Social Card registry in Serbia shows, introducing automation into an already inadequate social security landscape without first addressing existing flaws and structural discrimination will exacerbate and entrench these issues and further undermine people’s right to social security. Since its introduction, the Social Card registry in Serbia has resulted in possibly thousands of the most marginalised people losing vital social assistance. Without proper safeguards in place, people from marginalized communities, such as Roma and people with disabilities, were disproportionally affected. Read more
The Human Rights Council resolution 52/11 on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a practical information note compiling best practices on social protection with regard to human rights, that builds on existing initiatives carried out by the Office’s field presences, including in coordination with United Nations country teams and in partnership with the International Labour Organization.
The purpose of the call is to prepare a practical information note compiling best practices on social protection with regard to human rights and a panel discussion the challenges and good practices to strengthen the fulfilment of the right to social security and for building, financing and implementing public policies and quality public services as key tools for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Deadline: 29 December 2023 Read more
How can we separate the eradication of poverty from the pursuit of economic growth that is destroying the environment and increasing inequalities
This question will lie at the heart of my next report to the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council (June 2024), on the role of economic growth in the fight against poverty. In my report I intend to explore “post-growth” approaches to poverty eradication that move beyond GDP, and consider how human rights can guide the search for alternative development pathways as the world prepares the post-2030 Agenda.
To enrich the report the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights is seeking written input from governments, civil society organizations, academics, international organizations, activists, corporations and others. Deadline: 15 January 2024 Read more
Labour inclusion as a key axis of inclusive social development
This edition of the Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean published by CEPAL addresses the challenges of labour inclusion as a key axis for inclusive social development. Despite a recovery in social indicators in 2022 (reduction of poverty and inequality, recovery of employment), the region faces a double trap of low growth and high levels of poverty and inequality. Labour inclusion is key to combating poverty, reducing informality and inequality and moving towards inclusive social development. Gender gaps in labour market inclusion are driven by the unequal distribution of the burden of care work, which is largely borne by women. In the case of migrants, overqualification and discrimination also affect their labour market inclusion. The efforts made by countries in terms of investment in labour policies, which on average amount to 0.34% of GDP, are insufficient. What is needed is a shift from labour market access to labour market inclusion, ensuring access to quality employment, income above the minimum wage and to social protection, particularly for women and young people. Read more
Civil Society Call for a Global Fund for Social Protection
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.
This initiative is implemented jointly by the ILO, Unicef, and the GCSPF.
