1. Pre-Conference Workshop: The Social Protection Floor Initiative Social Protection in Africa: an overview of the challenges Viviene Taylor University of Cape Town, South Africa

2. Outline of presentation Introduction Challenges in the policy context & the impetus for social protection in Africa The challenges of the social and economic context Existing social protection programme challenges Key challenges in implementing social protection reforms Some conclusions

3. CHALLENGES IN THE POLICY CONTEXT & THE IMPETUS FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION IN AFRICA The Policy Impetus in Africa Social protection as key to social policy

4. THE CHALLENGES OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT Growing population at nearly 1 billion by 2010 Age Distribution: Approximately 41% of the total population are in the age range 0 – 14 years High fertility, maternal and child mortality rates Low life expectancy Malnutrition and childhood deprivation Low attendance of girls in school The disintegration of families and the social fabric because of HIV/AIDS Limited access to services

5. THE CHALLENGES OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT (continued) Low employment, huge under-employment and a large number of informal and rural workers without any social protection coverage. Persistent and deepening poverty Famine, hunger and recurring food crises The lowest productivity growth rates in the world and low GDP growth rates Erosion of subsistence agriculture and traditional livelihoods Children, women and people in rural areas and the informal sector are without basic social protection

6. EXISTING SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME CHALLENGES Contributory Social Protection Non Contributory Social Protection Measures / Social Assistance Targeting and Means Tests

7. KEY CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL PROTECTION REFORMS Formal institutions to address poverty and vulnerability through social protection are essential. The role of the State and its agencies has to be clear and coherent Sustainable methods of financing social protection The role of the private sector, especially that of employers, as well as the role of civil society organisations is critical The expansion of institutional capacity of national and sub regional entities Agreement between governments, the international donor community and related institutions is essential

8. SOME CONCLUSIONS Build broad based national constituencies representing all social partners (workers, NGO’s private sector) to work on a social protection reform agenda Much more engagement across government departments such as labour, social development, finance and related sectors including health and education Internal cross sectoral government engagement as well as external engagement with civil society organisations and social partners.

9. SOME CONCLUSIONS continued Reviewing and revising the official understanding and definition of social protection Development of a collective vision for reform of social protection, I Agree to the values, principles and norms or standards against which strategic objectives can be benchmarked Mobilise resources for social protection Build institutional capacity and provide information and databases

10. THANK YOU