Opportunities and Challenges in Financing Social Protection in Africa

Background

Under its Aspiration 1, the AU Agenda 2063 pursues the goals of “A high standard of living, quality of life and well-being for all citizens”, through the priorities of affordable social security and protection for all; increase incomes and provide decent jobs for working age; healthy and well-nourished citizens, and affordable and sustainable access to quality basic necessities of life among others.

These priorities constitute the key pillars of social protection as promoted by the AU Social Policy Framework (2008), which recognizes that social protection should be a state obligation, alongside the global agenda of the UN Social Protection Floor to which AU Member States have subscribed.

One of the main characteristics of the social protection interventions in Africa is its weak governance capacity with the lack of effective coordination among the actors. This affects the planning activities as well as the financing strategies. In its endeavor to facilitate the necessary coordination and collaboration, the AUC has convened a Technical Working Group with the UN Agencies working in social protection, based in Addis Ababa. The Working Group is considering to establish a Social Protection Inter Agency Board (SPIAC-B) for Africa.

In order to enhance this agenda, a high-level event on financing social protection will discuss strategies for achieving the targets of the Agenda 2063 and the SDGs on social protection and social security among others.

The event is open to all delegates. Date 3^rd April 2016, Time: 16:00-18:00, CR5

For more information on this event; please contact: STRIJDOMJ@africa-union.org