RETURN TO THE EXPERTISE MEETING ON OCTOBER 21, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic, which has been raging for more than 18 months, has had profound and multiple consequences on populations, their health, their activities and their incomes, underlining the importance for countries to have a social protection system in all its dimensions: health coverage, financial aid for businesses, employee assistance schemes...Today, 55%[1] of the world's population has no access to any form of social protection, even though the international community has recognized this as a fundamental human right.

Covering different realities and organizations in different countries, and mobilizing a wide range of players - from public institutions to businesses to civil society - social protection is not only a means of providing support in the face of life's hazards (loss of employment, illness, dependency, disability), it is also a powerful tool for redistributing national wealth, helping to reduce poverty and strengthen social cohesion and stability. In addition, social protection is a major tool for the resilience of economies and populations in the face of shocks and crises, whether economic, health-related or climatic. In all these respects, it is a tool for harmonious economic and social development.

By 2030, there will be 8.5 billion people on the planet: how can we guarantee a decent life for everyone and provide solutions to the various risks and crises that lie ahead? How can international cooperation support its partners in the design and implementation of social protection systems adapted to their context and resources? Finally, how can we guarantee the effectiveness of these models and their sustainability, particularly in financial terms?

[1] according to the International Labour Organization (ILO)

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