GCSPF e-Newsletter #102 | April 2024 Edition

Statement on the court case in South Africa around the Social Relief of Distress Grant
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #PayTheGrants (#PTG) filed their replying affidavit in the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant court case. The legal action is an attempt to rectify the unfair and irrational systems of administration for the SRD grant, which have served to exclude up to 50% of the people (around 8 million) who are living in food poverty with no other access to social assistance, and who should qualify for the SRD. Read more

Social protection programmes have the potential to create lasting improvements in older women’s lives, contributing to a fairer and more inclusive world.
This is the main finding from the policy report ‘Advancing Gender Equality through Social Protection in an Ageing World’ by HelpAge International, which offers suggestions on how to move towards social protection programmes that, when correctly applied, can be transformative. Read more

Last April Ashif Shaikh (from People’s Courage International, PCI) gave a TED talk to highlight the role of social protection to build resilience for the internal migrants and informal workers more broadly – to domestic economies and the need to ensure adequate safety nets for them and how climate change is increasing migration and vulnerability.
In the talk, Ashif Shaikh shared the idea behind MRC, the mission, and how we aim to work with government, industry, and civil society to support those who build our world. Watch the talk or listen to the audio version on this Spotify link.

The 2024 International Annual SASPEN Conference themed "Community-Based Social Protection: Inclusion, Challenges, and Prospects" will be held in Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa from 20 to 22 November 2024.
SASPEN invites abstract submissions and the deadline is 16 June 2024. Read more

COL'OR – Camminiamo Oltre L'ORizzonte (Walking Beyond the Horizon) -- is an Italian NGO founded in 2002 which aims to support comprehensive human development through international cooperation projects, fully respecting the beneficiaries’ needs and sensitivity, as well as the sustainability of the ecosystems in which it operates. The organization promotes fair and multidimensional development through inclusive and innovative projects strengthening social protection systems and social safety nets in the countries of intervention.
Contact information: Lisa Grandi Read more

PCI is a USA-based not-for-profit organization. PCI works across South and South East Asia for: Safe migration and worker protection, Prevention of violence against women and children, Building resilience in the not-for-profit organizations in the region.
PCI is working on the extension of social protection to informal economy workers and migrant workers in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Contact information: Ashif Shaikh Read more

MMM is an international NGO which was created in 1947 at the UNESCO in Paris. MMM was among the first INGO accredited to the UN in 1949 and they have General Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC. MMM is also active at the ILO, participating every year in the International Labour Conference, and MMM was invited to join the Global Coalition on Social Justice.
MMM Mission is to make mothers’ voices heard at the international level, to defend and advance their rights, and empower them. Based on their lived-experience, MMM raises awareness among decision-makers of the educational, social, economic and cultural impact of mothers, as well as the injustices they suffer. MMM aim is to change society's view and influence laws, policies and practices in their favour, so that they are fully recognised and supported in their various roles.
Contact information: Valerie Bichelmeier Read more

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

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

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

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

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 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 form Read 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 form Read 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

Webinar Follow-up and new report. This webinar challenges the standard argument that “universal social security is simply not affordable in poor countries”. It is argued that it is financially feasible to introduce universal old age pensions, as well as child and disability benefits, in low- and middle-income countries. Further, it is shown that 52 such countries already have introduced at least one of these benefits, in total 88 universal benefits.
If you missed the live session, you can access the slide presentation and the webinar's recording, as well as the  reports presented during the webinar:
1. An affordable and feasible pathway to universal security (July 2023)
2. Taking stock of progress: A compilation of universal or benefit-tested social security programmes in low- and middle-income countries (Feb 2024)

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 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

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 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 56^th 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

Lessons from the diverse experiences of global health, agriculture and climate funds
Based on the study “A global fund for social protection. Lessons from the diverse experiences of global health, agriculture and climate funds” produced by a team of researchers and published by the ILO, this webinar presented experiences of setting up global funds across the health, climate and agriculture sectors and the lessons to be learnt from them that can guide further thinking about the implementation of a prospective global fund for social protection.
Discussion focused on institutional governance arrangements of existing global funds carefully selected for their diversity in terms of origins, longevity, aims and institutional structures, and what they tell us about critical governance issues that need to be carefully navigated in the design and institutionalization of a global fund for social protection. Watch the webinar's recording

Despite women breaking barriers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations and some overcoming obstacles in leadership roles, the transformation of the gender landscape in the workplace remains somewhat limited. Read more

The Global Policy Watch Team
Considered a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to address inequities in global governance and reset international cooperation, the Summit of the Future (SoTF) will be a cornerstone among a series of high-level UN meetings in 2024. While Member State priorities differ, they have confirmed that the Summit will be held on 22-23 September 2024 and have agreed on the elements and next steps towards the adoption of “a concise, action-oriented outcome document entitled ‘A Pact for the Future’, agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations”.
This Global Policy Watch fact sheet explores the process and negotiations going forward and the different priorities revealed in Member State statements. Read more

By CIVICUS
The annual high-level opening week of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly saw discussion on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making clear that the 17 goals are badly off track. Much of the discussion focused on financing for the goals but didn’t produce a breakthrough. Little attention was paid to the growing repression of civic space that is stopping effective civil society action on the SDGs. National-level exclusion of civil society is reproduced at the UN level, with civil society denied access to the week’s official events and left unable to engage with decision-makers. Read more

Lessons from 100 years of social protection. This webinar organized by ILO brings together some of the authors of the ILO recently published second volume of the compendium 100 years of social protection: The road to universal social protection systems and floors. to discuss the importance of integrating social protection and job creation policies, integrating social protection financing and coordination in order to have a bigger impact on achieving just transitions to formalization, green economies, and decent work in the care economy, among others. The case studies will provide the basis for a further discussion on the possibilities and opportunities of integrating social protection policies for greater impact. The webinar will also serve as an opportunity to present and discuss the Global Accelerator research agenda. Read more
23 November, 2023 - 13:00 GMT +2

'RAISE - Research & Action for Income Security' has as its mission to ensure that everybody has income security. We work towards this through two objectives: job creation and social protection.
RAISE has worked on livelihoods for refugees in Uganda since 2018, but are now in the proces of widening its scope both geographically and thematically.
Part of this is the development of their work on social protection. We recently had our first project in this area approved, which is a collaboration with ISER in Uganda with the title: Popularising the African Charter Protocol on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security as a new advocacy tool in Uganda.
Contact information: Rasmus Schjødt, Programme Director for Social Protection. Read more

The Global People’s Assembly (GPA) 2023 was held on September in New York – at the UN SDG Summit and the UN General Assembly. The GPA brought together people’s representatives together and creates a strong voice at the SDG Summit for the midpoint of Agenda 2030. Read the declaration

IMF Social Spending Floors and the Covid-19 Pandemic
This report by Human Rights Watch analyzes 39 IMF loan programs approved between March 2020, the official start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and March 2023 under three lending facilities that include conditionalities—the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and Stand-By Arrangement (SBA)—to understand how the IMF is approaching the current crisis in practice and to assess the extent to which it aligns with international human rights standards. Read more

Lessons from the diverse experiences of global health, agriculture and climate funds
The ILO published this study that aims to understand the experiences of setting up global funds across the health, climate and agriculture sectors and identify lessons to be learned from them that can guide further thinking about the implementation of a prospective global fund for social protection. This paper examines the idea of a global fund for social protection which has emerged as a potential solution to these structural failings. By drawing on the experiences of seven global funds across the health, climate, and agriculture sectors, the aim of this working paper is to identify key lessons that can guide the possible implementation of a prospective global fund for social protection. Through a careful analysis of the governance structures, norms and standards of these funds, the paper makes certain recommendations to be taken into consideration if a global fund for social protection is to be developed and implemented in the future. Read more

The idea of a global fund for social protection has taken hold over the last decade as a potential solution to structural gaps in the global financial and development architectures.
Based on a study produced by a team of researchers, led by Professor Nicola Yeates at the Open University in the UK, and published by the ILO, this webinar aims to present experiences of setting up global funds across the health, climate and agriculture sectors and the lessons to be learnt from them that can guide further thinking about the implementation of a prospective global fund for social protection.
Webinar 26 October, 2023 - 14:00 - GMT+2 / CEST Read more

A new approach to combating global poverty
The eradication of poverty has traditionally relied on growing the economy, combined with redistribution: GDP growth, in this approach, is essential to the fight against poverty, a condition for financing public services and social policies.
Prof Olivier De Schutter argues that we now need to move beyond this approach, and to expand our toolkit in the fight against poverty.
9 November 2023 - Online on Zoom Read more