=GESS – Global Extension of Social=
Social security a basic human right and is essential to society's well-being . Today, only one in five people in the world has adequate social security coverage. Although the other four also need it they must somehow manage without it. Governments, as well as employers' and workers' organizations agree that "policies and initiatives that bring social security to those who are not covered by existing systems" (See Relevance) should be considered as being an absolute priority.

There are different possibilities when it comes to extending social security (implementing social insurance systems, microinsurance, universal benefits, etc.). It is essential to know the different branches of social security (health care, old-age, etc.) and to understand the different organization structures of social security (See Overview).

However, simply comparing these different social security systems is not enough: each country has to define a national strategy for the extension of social security, including the roles and linkages between various institutions and mechanisms. In order to achieve this, the social security department of the ILO has introduced the ASSAP (Adapted Social Security strategy and Action Plan) concept.

GESS allows us to specify the ASSAP concept and proposes different instruments to set up the ASSAP.

Amongst these instruments, GESS offers resources (methods, guides, software), training services and technical assistance, a survey of experiences in the extension of social security over the world and ongoing innovations. GESS users will permanently supply and update this range of instruments. The GESS platform is firmly centered on its users. Not only does it constantly evolve according to their needs, concerns, and projects, but it is also based on their ideas and contributions. More than a mere system for feedback, all of the services offered by GESS encourage users to participate, collaborate, and innovate, thereby bringing the platform to life by taking it into their own hands.

GESS also allows us to identify knowledge gaps which require urgent examination. GESS can then offer research subjects and experiments to researchers, system managers and policy makers.

In light of this GESS puts workspaces at the user’s disposal, which can be used to collaborate with others on a project (setting up a social security system, research, designing online training sessions and producing training material, etc.). These workspaces have two functions: disseminating recent information about initiatives on the extension of social security, and to facilitating collaboration between different actors on a project.

GESS users include all of the actors involved in the extension of social security: policy makers, technical teams from ministries of employment, health, social protection or finance, as well as technical cooperation projects, social security funds, managers of mutual health organizations, cooperatives, NGOs or civil society organizations, social partners, donors, trainers, researchers, etc.