News GESS

Consensus on the importance of the SPF and the willingness to support and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences across the global South

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation have sponsored a high-level special event on South-South cooperation on the Social Protection Floor Initiative which took place Tuesday the 2nd of February 2010. There was an emerging consensus on the importance of a social protection floor for national development processes. Countries of the South have the experience and examples to take the lead on exchanging knowledge in support of building national social protection floors. South-South cooperation efforts related to social protection - including the identification of successful experiences in one country and its adaptation and application in another one - will be very important in the development of national social protection floors.

1ère Réunion latino-américaine du Réseau international Education et Solidarité - mercredi 12 mai 2010, Buenos Aires, Argentine

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Le RES (Réseau Education et Solidarité) a été fondé à Paris le 15 mai 2009 dans le but de renforcer les liens entre les différents acteurs de l’économie sociale solidaire.
Le RES a confié l’organisation de cette réunion à l’AFECyM (Asociación Federal Educadores en Cooperativismo y Mutualismo).

Objectifs

Renforcer l’impact des activités d’encadrement et d’enseignement du RES autour des mutuelles et des coopératives en favorisant la création et la consolidation des liens entre les différents acteurs du secteur.
Développer l’utilisation de la plate-forme d’apprentissage en ligne du RES afin qu’elle serve de véritable passerelle d’échange d’expériences. La plate-forme d’apprentissage en ligne du RES, activée en juin 2009, est un outil de communication disponible en plusieurs langues.
Créer et développer un espace de mise en relation des universités proposant des formations de premier et deuxième cycle en économie solidaire.
Promouvoir les liens entre les acteurs de l’économie sociale solidaire pour la protection sociale et renforcer l’éducation.

Destinataires/Public cible
Membres de la RES ayant signé le formulaire d’intention d’adhésion lors de la réunion de Paris, représentants des mutuelles, coopératives et organisations oeuvrant dans le domaine de l’économie sociale solidaire et qui souhaitent se joindre au RES, organismes responsables de la formation des cadres des acteurs du secteur, en particulier les universités proposant des formations en économie de la gestion solidaire et les organismes officiels compétents.

Programme

Intégration internationale – nouveaux scénarios
Outils de gestion dans l’utilisation des ressources en santé
Education et formation – échange de connaissances
Le rôle des mutuelles en temps de crise
Les acteurs de l’économie sociale solidaire
Responsabilité sociale et mondialisation
Marketing – stratégies innovantes

Plus d'info (en espagnol)

SOCIAL SECURITY TRAINING 2010

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to inform you that a new edition of the “Workshop on Social Health Insurance” will be held at the International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin, Italy, from 8 to 19 March 2010.

The course is intended for executives, managers, planners, financial officers and other professionals responsible for health care and health insurance schemes, both in the public and private sector. Although it is intended primarily to address the needs of practitioners, persons in research functions within health systems can also benefit from participation in this workshop.

For the description of the training programme, please click here. The workshop is offered for a duration of two weeks at the cost of EUR 3,250 – not including travel (see details in the flyer).

Applications to attend the course should be supported by a nomination letter from the sponsoring/funding institution, indicating how the candidate will be financed. Applications should arrive not later than 1 February 2010.

We would also like to bring to your attention three additional training workshops that will be delivered during 2010 and may interest you:

1) Workshop on Social security financing (A902499), 15-26 March

2) Workshop on Pension Schemes (A902505), 13 September – 1 October

3) Strategies for the Extension of Social Protection (A902508) 4-15 October.

Further details on these workshops will be provided on request.

The Turin Centre training calendar for 2010 is now available on our website www.itcilo.org

We look forward to the participation of your organization in our training programme.

With best regards,

on behalf of Ms. Ginette Forgues, Manager, Social Protection Programme

High-level special event on South-South cooperation on the Social Protection Floor Initiative - February 2010

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

In conjunction with the 48th Session of the Commission for Social Development, it is a pleasure to inform that the Special Unit for South South Cooperation, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization are sponsoring a high-level special event on South-South cooperation on the Social Protection Floor Initiative. The event will take place on 2 February 2010 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Conference Room 8 (formerly conference room 10) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

More info...

CIPS News 01, October 2009

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The Information Centre on Social Protection (CIPS) is a website that provides information in Portuguese on social protection (www.cipsocial.org). CIPS purpose is to respond to the knowledge needs of the Portuguese Speaking Countries and to make available information on their social protection realities. The CIPS News was created to serve this last purpose. Every two months it will provide you with information about relevant social protection news and events in those countries. Below you will find the first issue of CIPS News.

You can subscribe to CIPS News by sending an email to lucas@ilo.org.

Download the CIPS News October 2009!

Quatrain News December 2009

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Quatrain News sums up the activities carried out in 2009 and consolidates the results achieved for the duration of the programme 2007-2009. These results are proof of the dedication and the countless efforts of our associates and participants. Through this issue we would like to thank them for their invaluable contribution.

The ILO's Training Centre in Turin (ITCILO) has issued its 2010 catalogue

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO's Training Centre in Turin (ITCILO) has issued its 2010 catalogue of standard courses, which can be consulted at http://www.itcilo.org/courses (PDF version) and at http://www.itcilo.org/calendar. The catalogue covers a wide range of topics related to the Decent Work Agenda.

Upcoming courses related to Social Security:

Social health insurance, from 8 to 19 March
Social security financing, from 15 to 26 March

For an overview of Social Security courses in 2010 click here.

To obtain hard copies of the catalogue please contact communications@itcilo.org

China's efforts to create more jobs pay off

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

China has created over 10.3 million jobs in 2009, well above the target set in March this year, Yin said. The urban unemployment rate would likely stand at 4.3 percent by the end of 2009.

This success in times of financial and economic crisis can be attributed, amongst other things, to the government's measures taken in response to the crisis, including subsidies paid to 1.6 million enterprises for their social security contributions as well as allowing for a delayed payment of their (lowered) social security contributions for a period of up to 6 months.

Summary from the Chinese Government’s Official Web Portal, 19 December 2009

China: Rural citizens over the age of 60 enjoy universal pension

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

In a press conference held by the State Council in August 2009, Hu Xiaoyi, vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (DHRSS) announced that a trial plan for the new rural pension system would be implemented across China by October 2009.

Farmers over the age of 60 will receive a monthly endowment of varying amounts according to certain areas’ income standards. Rural citizens over 16, who are not students and do not participate in the basic pension plans for urban workers, can take part in the new insurance scheme, according to the DHRSS.

The new rural pension system is different from the old system in mainly two aspects:

Different funding sources. The new system is contributed by farmers, collective benefits and government subsidy, while the previous one is only by farmers themselves.

Different payment structures. The pension payment of new system comprises two different parts: basic pension, which is fully provided by the government, and the personal pension account, which is paid by farmers. In the old system, the pension is all contributed by farmers themselves.

G-News 5 (pdf)

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Issue number 5 of the Social Security Extension and Microinsurance Newsletter in pdf format is now available.

In this issue:

Topics related to the global crisis and social security schemes
New features in GESS
News about the extension of social security worldwide
Training
Conferences
New resources in the online library

Download it!

International Council on Social Welfare supports the Social Protection Floor

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In a news brief on the "Impact of the global financial crisis on social integration", the International Council on Social Welfare has expressed its support for the UN CEB Social Protection Floor Initiative. For further information visit www.icsw.org.

Resources on Climate Change and Ageing by HelpAge International

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

HelpAge International has published a paper and produced an interesting website on ageing and climate change.

The Manual for Social Protection Floor joint UN country operations is now available online

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Visit the section on the UN Social Protection Floor Initiative (SPF)

Now available : Fact sheet on the SPF!

A 'Manual and strategic framework for joint UN country operations' (Version 01) for the Social Protection Floor Initiative has been jointly produced by participating UN agencies and development partners and is now available online.

Fotos of the project activities

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

For a brilliant foto-documentation of project activities in Dangme West click here.

Activities are being roled out in the district

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

As of mid-October, activities for awareness-raising and the compilation of a list of potential beneficiaries are being roled out.

Community clusters have been formed in the 4 area councils selected for implementation in Dangme West (the four poorest out of the seven area councils). They have identified focal persons for the project in all communities and held 4 sensitization workshops for these focal persons (1 in each area council).

Furthermore, they have already conducted trainings for the health staff and the LEAP field officers that conduct the surveys with potential beneficiaries. They will also conduct about 40 community awareness meetings (roughly 10 in each area council). These have been finalized in Osuwe and Asutsuare, where the first 6 days of surveys have already taken place.

Arab Employment Forum, 19-21 October in Beirut

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Forum addresses the broad challenges and opportunities posed by the financial and economic crisis, providing a platform for senior policy-makers and high-level representatives of workers and employers from across the Arab region.

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/arpro/beirut/aef/index.htm

Potentials and challenges of Health Microinsurance schemes - discussed in "Alternatives Internationales" No.44 Sept. 2009

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A series of articles in the September 2009 issue of the Journal “Alternatives Internationales” (No. 44, p. 67-74) discusses the role that micro-insurance approaches can play to improve Social Health Protection. The articles provide clear arguments and examples from various countries illustrating the challenge of providing social health protection to poor people in the informal sector under resource constraints. The articles particularly discuss the potential contribution of micro-insurance schemes to help square the circle of running a financially sustainable scheme that provides a benefit package reflecting the needs of the population at affordable contribution rates and reaching a significant part of the population, especially the most poor and vulnerable.

Click here for a summary of the articles

Click here to purchase the articles from Alternatives Internationales (in French)

Active labour market policies protect public health in times of crises

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A study on 25 EU countries published in The Lancet recently presents evidence that in times of economic and financial crisis, as unemployment rates rise and people suffer economic hardship, suicide and homocide rates also increase. A rise of 3% in unemployment rates is accompanied by a 4.5% increase in suicides and a 28% increase in deaths from alcohol abuse in the population younger than age 65, indicating the mental distress among workers and families.

The study finds that effects differ from country to country in corellation with different levels of social protection spending. Countries with active labour market policies that invest in job retention, job creation and help unemployed people quickly enter new jobs were unlikely to see mortality rates increase. The study concludes that these active labour programs protect public health during recession better than many other options currently considered by governments such as hospitalization programs or pensions adjustments.

Source: "The public health effect of Economic Crisis and Alternative Policy Responses in Europe: an Empirical Analysis", The Lancet, Volume 374, Issue 9686, Pages 315 - 323, 25 July 2009

Towards a universal social protection floor - Course, from April 12 to 23 2010, Turin, Italy (in French)

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The International Training Centre of the ILO, in close collaboration with the Social Security Department of the ILO and other agencies of the UN System involved in the social protection floor initiative, will be holding its annual two-week course on "Extension of social protection: towards a universal social protection floor", in French, 12-23 April 2010 in Turin, Italy.

This year, the course will look at the horizontal and vertical dimensions from which a country can tackle the extension of protection coverage to its population. The horizontal dimension will cover the adoption of a social protection floor aiming at providing a universal minimum set of social protection benefits at country level, so that the poor and the most vulnerable populations are covered. The vertical dimension will address the improvements/safeguard of minimum benefit entitlements in the formal and formalising sectors. Guided discussions will cover important elements such as finincing, examples of successful initiatives, differents mechanisms, fiscal and institutional conditions.

Registration must be sent to socpro@itcilo.org by March 12, 2010 with nomination form and institutional letter.

• For further information, please download the flyer in French
• Download the nomination form

Tripartite meeting of experts on social security, ILO (September 2009)

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The documents of the "Tripartite meeting of experts on strategies for the extension of social security coverage" organized by the ILO Social Security Department, in Geneva, 2-4 September 2009 are available on line in GESS.

Workshop: "Promoting the Hemispheric Agenda of Decent Work: Expanding the coverage of social protection in Latin America"

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

From the 16^th to 18^th of September, the workshop: “Promoting the Hemispheric Agenda of Decent Work: Expanding the coverage of social protection in Latin America”, will be held in Brazil, organized by the Secretary of Social Policies under the Ministry of Social Affairs of Brazil, the Brazilian Development Agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Labour Office, with support from EUROsocial of the European Union.

The event, which will be attended by senior representatives of institutions related to social protection, from Latin America, will be the continuation of the Latin American regional meeting of the International Labour Office, celebrated in Brazil in 2006. In Brazil the Hemispheric Agenda of Decent Work was presented with strategic objectives to promote fundamental standards and principles of work, creating better opportunities for women and men to have decent work and decent wages, improve the coverage and efficiency of social protection for all and to strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

The Hemispheric Agenda provides several goals for 2015, among which is an increase of 20% in social protection in Latin America. In 2007, the Ministry of Social Affairs of Brazil and the International Labour Organization signed a memorandum of intentions expressing the Brazilian government’s commitment in this area.

The workshop is held in the context of the memorandum of intentions, taking into consideration the cooperation program South-South, with the participation of the Brazilian government, the International Labour Organization and EUROsocial of the European Union. The aim is to discuss ways of collaborating, in order to accelerate the achievement of the goal of 20% extension of social protection coverage in Latin America until 2015 and progress in defining the agenda of the cooperation program South-South.

The Global jobs pact adopted at the 98th meeting of the ILO conference in June 2009, makes reference to Decent work. The pact promotes the extension of employment and social protection , at the center of strategies and policies to overcome the economic crisis.

Newsletter: Social Security Policy Matters

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A new issue of the ILO Social Security Department's Newsletter is available online. The newsletter gives information of the origin of the Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All in 2001 and also different articles can be found such as:

Investing in social justice and economic development
Social Health Protection
Setting Social Security Standards in a global society
Can low income countries afford basic social security?

Séminaire de formation : gestion de l'assurance maladie par les mutuelles et caisses de solidarité

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

La Société Ivoirienne de Gestion d'Expertise et de Management (SIGEM), en collaboration avec le Secrétariat Permanent de l'Assurance Maladie au Burkina Faso, organise du 13 au 15 octobre 2009 à Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso, un séminaire de formation sur la gestion de l'assurance maladie par les mutuelles et caisses de solidarité.

Ce séminaire sera suivi d'une conférence publique sur l'assurance maladie à Ouagadougou (BF) le 16 octobre 2009.

Pour plus d'information, cliquez sur le lien suivant :

www.sigemci.net/index.php

Training: a tool that favours knowledge and experience sharing to extend social protection coverage. Example from Peru's and costa Rica's coffee producers

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Article and testimony from the Director General of EsSalud (Peru), Mr Javier Rosas, available in the ILO International Training Centre website.

Training course: "Financing and Governance of Social Security Institutions: Responses to the Financial Crisis", Colombia, 18-28 August 2009

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

QUATRAIN-AMERICAS, the ILO International Training Centre and the EUROsociAL programme in collaboration with IABD, OECD and CISS organise a training course on “Financing and Governance of Social Security Institutions: Responses to the Financial Crisis”, from 18 to 28 August 2009 in Cartagena, Colombia. The course has 30 participants from 25 institutions of 15 countries .

Detailed information (in Spanish) available on the website: www.eurosocialsalud.eu

China: Rural citizens over the age of 60 enjoy universal pension

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The new rural pension system is different from the old system in mainly two aspects:

Different funding sources. The new system is contributed by farmers, collective benefits and government subsidy, while the previous one is only by farmers themselves.

2008 China GDP, GNP and net income per capita

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Taking consideration of price factor, China's GDP per capita in 2008 was 32.4 times of that in 1952 and the GNP per capita over 3000 U.S. dollars. According to the standards set by the World Bank, China has been classified as a middle-income country, out of the rank of low-income countries. In 2008, the disposable income per capita of urban residents increased to more than 15,000 Yuan, the net income per capita of rural residents in reached 4761 Yuan. By the end of 2008, the saving deposits of urban and rural residents of 2.18 billion, up to 16,000 Yuan per capita Yuan.

Source: http://news.cctv.com/china/20090812/100415.shtml

I Congreso Nacional de Juventud Mutualista

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

News available in the Spanish interface.

China: Medical care reimbursement as high as 6 times of local average wage

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The State Council of China recently announced the "Planning on five key points of medical and health system reforms in year 2009", pointing out the maximum medical care reimbursement for the urban workers, urban residents and farmers should be increased to 6 times of the local average wage or earning.

The State Council required the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security to be responsible for the implementation of subsidy (80 Yuan per capita each year) for urban residents and farmers.

The "Planning" targeted to increase health insurance reimbursement rate by 5% for urban workers, urban residents and farmers for 50% of overall medical planning regions; to carry out co-ordination pilots for health insurance reimbursement in 30% of overall medical planning regions; to enhance New Rural Cooperative Medical System nationwide.

China targeted at 90% coverage rate of basic medical insurance in 3 years

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

In August 2009, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and Ministry of Finance of China jointly issued the "Guiding Opinion on Further Strengthening Fund Management of the Basic Medical Insurance", which sets up the following targets:

to extend coverage of health insurance and increase the collection for health insurance fund
to reach the goal of 90% coverage of basic medical insurance of the population in 3 years
to improve reimbursement of medical expenses for hospital treatments according to the policy
to gradually increase the maximum payment limits for co-ordinating the fund
to solve the basic medical insurance issues of the retirees and employees of the bankruptcy state-owned enterprises and enterprises with financial difficulties.

UN response to the crisis: The international community has committed to advocate for and support the development of a social protection floor (April 4-5, 2009 - Paris).

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Social security benefits and public health services act as social, health and economic stabilizers. This is particularly important during the time of the current global economic, financial and food crisis.

In response to the need for social protection in times of crisis and thereafter, the international community has committed to advocate for and support the development of a social protection floor on April 4-5, 2009 in Paris. As the definition transcends the mandate of any individual UN agency, a coherent system-wide approach has been established.

A social protection floor could consist of two main elements:

Services: geographical and financial access to essential public services (such as water and sanitation, health, and education); and
Transfers: a basic set of essential social transfers, in cash and in kind, paid to the poor and vulnerable to provide a minimum income security and access to essential services, including health care.

La Mutuelle de Santé des Agents de PALMAFRIQUE devient Mutuelle Sociale des Agents de PALMAFRIQUE

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:00:00 GMT

News available in the French interface.

Regulation for Mutual Benefit Organizations adopted by the WAEMU

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Council of Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) adopted new regulations for mutual benefit organizations within the WAEMU in its ordinary session in Dakar on 26 June 2009.

The main goal is to implement a uniform, transparent and effective regulatory framework ensuring promotion of mutual benefit organizations (including mutual health organizations) in the WAEMU area.

In addition, the regulations will make it possible to streamline creation, organization and running of this kind of entities and ensure rational risk management, through facilitating access to basic social services for the population of the WAEMU member states.

Each member state should establish an administrative body for mutual benefit organizations, a national registry for such entities and a national guarantee fund aimed at ensuring the rights of the members of mutual benefit organizations.

Source: Press release of the ordinary session of the UEMOA Council of Ministers, Dakar, 26 June 2009.

Nicaragua's Red de Protección Social: Country study

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Nicaragua's Red de Protección Social. An exemplary but short-lived conditional cash transfer programme, Country study, C. Moore, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, 2008

It investigates the history and eventual conclusion of Nicaragua's conditional cash transfer programme, the Red de Protección Social. Specific features of the programme, in both its first and second phase, are described thoroughly to provide readers with an appropriate understanding and appreciation of the details. It discusses the elements that contributed to the programme's successes and eventual discontinuation.

See the resource in GESS

Health and social protection: Experiencies from Cambodia, China and Lao PDR

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Health and social protection: Experiencies from Cambodia, China and Lao PDR, B. Meessen, X. Pei, B. Criel and G. Bloom, eds, 2008.

This book addresses the challenge of applying social protection concepts to health. It explores the challenges of managing pro-poor health system development in the context of these countries' transition to a market economy.

See the resource in GESS

The healthcare system in Colombia: The new mandatory healthcare plan (POS) will address diseases and medical treatment to meet the needs of the population

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Until a few months ago the Government was considering a mandatory healthcare plan (POS) structured by pathology. This idea gave rise to a conciliation of viewpoints leading to a hybrid model. The changes to the system are known from conversations with experts who participated in the “16^th International Pharmaceutical Forum" organized by the Colombian Business Association’s (ANDI) Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry, which ends this Friday.

The idea of restructuring the POS system was confirmed by the Deputy Technical Minister of Social Protection, Carlos Jorge Rodríguez.

Last year, the Constitutional Court’s decision 760 gave the Government a mandate to design a new POS to replace the two former systems. This decision requires the government to clarify the rights contained in the POS of the contributory and subsidized healthcare schemes, as well as to update them.

Under Law No. 100 the systems should have been unfied by 2001. However, “for various reasons this goal was delayed”, said the Director of Demand Management in the Ministry of Social Protection, Leonardo Cubillos.

The President of ACEMI (union of health promotion enterprises), Juan Manuel Diaz-Granados, affirmed that “before the mandatory plans can be updated (including introducing new procedures, materials and medicines and removing obsolete goods) it is necessary to clarify the system”.

According to him, “there is a frenzied tendency to supplementing the POS by throwing in extra services (telemedicine, air ambulance, domestic violence) that are not financed by the UPC (the premium that the health system allows the health promotion enterprises for each of their affiliates)". He also declared that “fundamental human rights sentences require the provision of services that are not included in the POS and therefore not funded, leading the health promotion enterprises to obtain funds from “FOSYGA” (solidarity and guarantee fund).

The former president of the Constitutional Court, José Gregorio Hernández, said that “Decision 760 is not irreversible, and in the future the Court could review, ratify or change it, because it does not have the force of res judicata."

He also said that the decision has not produced the results expected by the judges, adding that now that the Court has six new judges, it has the opportunity to take decision 760 to the chamber for consideration.

At the same time, ha added that "the Government should bring to congress a national statutory bill of health, nationally discussed". in addition, he asid that "decision 760 should not been considered as a constitutional rule, because it was not issued by the court nor is it the result of constitutional contro. " He clarified that the rule was issued by a court, which reviewed the protection of fundamental human rights.

Social pensions: Thai PM guarantees older people's right

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has declared social pensions a basic human right and says he will seek ways to expand the country's current pension system to deliver income security for all older people.

More information

A new baby!!

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Little Andréa was born last 11 June. Her parents, Simone Rosa & Jan van Damne (former STEP and CODEV colleagues) are happy to share the news with us : )

Training course: Social Transfers

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A two-week course on designing and implementing social transfer programmes will be held in Thailand in October 2009.

More information

Livelihoods: the right to Decent Work

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Older people have a right to earn a livelihood through decent work, but many work in low-paid jobs that are strenuous and detrimental to their health. Find out about older people and work in a new section of our website.

Read our new report Working for life: making decent work and pensions a reality for older people

Zimbabwe: older people lose life savings

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Older people in Zimbabwe have lost their life savings after the country's new Unity Government suspended the use of the Zimbabwean dollar. Kate Holt visited older people living in care homes to hear how the economic collapse has affected them.

More information

Mali's National Assembly Votes for Mandatory Health Insurance

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On Thursday 11 June, the National Assembly of Mali passed two laws concerning the country’s mandatory health insurance scheme (AMO) and the creation of a national health insurance fund.

The background for implementing this coverage mechanism is a wish to reinforce the national social protection system. Current social protection plans are notoriously flawed, especially with respect to social health protection.

The aim of the health insurance institution is to serve as a substitute for direct payment of premiums by the users as well as to make risk pooling possible and increase creditworthy demand for care, and the beneficiaries will therefore have better access to healthcare.

Around 16.3% of the population (1.95 million persons) will be covered by the AMO, which will have a yearly budget of 22.4 billion CFA Francs funded by the premiums.

Source: L’ESSOR No. 16463, 15 June 2009, http://www.essor.gov.ml

Read the article (in French)

Ratification of Convention No. 102 by Brazil

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Convention No.102 concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security, 1952, has been ratified by Brazil. H. E. José Barroso Pimentel, Minister of State of Social Security of Brazil deposited the ratification instruments on June 15, 2009. The ratification instruments indicate that all nine Parts of the Convention have been ratified.

Primary healthcare reform in the Americas

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

La renovación de la atención primaria en las Américas: Redes Integradas de Servicios de Salud. Conceptos, opciones de política y hoja de ruta para su implementación en las Américas, HSS, PAHO, WHO, 2008

The weak performance of the world’s health systems is increasingly being questioned, and the need to tackle the problem of fragmented health services is therefore increasingly pressing. Experience shows that excessive fragmentation of health services generates difficulties in access to services, lower quality of services, irrational and inefficient use of the available resources, unnecessary increase in production costs and low population satisfaction with the services provided.

Moreover, an aging population, chronic diseases, the challenge of managing co-morbidity and the users’ higher expectations require more systematic and comprehensive solutions to be able to respond more adequately to the population’s needs.

This document presents the Pan American Health Organization and the WHO’s initiative for Integrated Health Service Networks (RISS) and their contribution to improved health services.

See the document (in Spanish)

Providing (micro)insurance to low-income population in Venezuela

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Zurich Venezuela: Providing insurance to Venezuela's low-income population, Zurich Venezuela Group, 2008

This case study shows the impact of the Zurich Venezuela Group's activities with microinsurance in the country. The microinsurance products include life insurance, car and home insurance aimed especially at microenterpreneurs, the majority of which work in the informal economy.

Download the study

Everything you always wanted to know about GESS but didn't dare to ask

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

This short text describes the aims of the GESS platform, gives an overview of the various services and opportunities for exchanging knowledge that the different sections provide and shows how to sign up as a member of the platform.

Download the document

New features on GESS!

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The GESS thematic pages have been enhanced with two new sections with specific information on legislation and statistical data for the subject in question. For instance, for the subject of health you can find international and national legal texts relating to coverage, as well as statistics on healthcare coverage worldwide or at the national level for some countries. For more information, see this news item about the theme page legislation and statistics sections.

Also, in the latest G-News issue, No. 5, there is a short presentation of the features that GESS currently offers for sharing and managing knowledge. For more information, see the news item "Everything you always wanted to know about GESS but didn't dare to ask" in the E-Events section and download the document.

Crises and social security schemes

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Since April 2009 a working group of young interns and collaborators from the ILO Social Security Department has been following the impact of the crisis on social security systems and national responses to the challenges posed.

After initial research on more than 60 countries, the working group focused on detailed reports for 13 countries, namely Brazil, Chine, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, the UK, South Africa and the USA. The focus of the research was on the development of contributors and beneficiaries of social security systems, and measures taken in the field of social security as part of the stimulus packages. This sheds some light on the share of crisis relief efforts that are channelled through social security systems as opposed to other measures, and on the extension of existing schemes to cover more people or increase the benefit levels.

Although the impact on countries varies greatly, some preliminary conclusions can be drawn, e.g. that the extension of existing schemes is far more likely than the establishment of new social security systems in times of crisis.

A publication of the country reports and of the trends observed on these countries is planned to be made available on GESS.

MORE INFORMATION:

See the thematic page "Response to the crisis" in GESS
Download the document Pensions & the financial crisis

New!! Legislation and Statistics boxes under the thematic pages

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

GESS’s thematic pages now include two additional boxes: Statistics and Legislation.

For instance, under >> LEgislation. on the « Social Health Protection » page you will find the principal health-related conventions as well as examples of national legislation aiming to extend access to healthcare. Under >> STATISTICS. you will find a number of links to statistical documents, graphics and reports providing an overview of the level of healthcare coverage in the world.

Do not hesitate to help us enhancing these two new boxes by sending the responsible person of the thematic page examples of law texts and statistical data concerning a country that you know!

Coverage Extension to Independent and Self-Emplyed Workers in Honduras

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS) has approved the regulations for the special scheme and progressive affiliation of independent and self-employed workers. With this landmark law, the IHSS has repaid a 50-year old debt, as this group has been without social protection due to the lack of a law including it in the country’s social security system.

To a great extent, this achievement is the result of the good practices learned through courses held by the ILO in strategies for extending social protection to self-employed workers, persons working at home and migrant workers and in social security policy development and management in Latin America.

The number of independent and self-employed workers is increasing, with figures from the 2008 ILO Labour Overview showing that out of every 10 new jobs, 8 are in the informal sector. Independent and self-employed workers currently constitute 52% of the Honduran workforce, i.e., more than 1,516,290 persons, according to INE data from 2008. This renders it urgent to expand IHSS coverage to historically unprotected groups.

More information

Third ACYM plenary meeting, 31/10/09, Cartagena

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Do not forget to reserve this date!

On the site you will soon find all the details concerning the annual meeting of ACYM, which will take place at Cartagena (Colombia) on Saturday 31 October from 1 pm to 4 pm.

4th Congress - 25 years of Mutualism in Chaco

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On 12 June 2009, the fourth Congress - 25 years of mutualism in Chaco - was organized in Resistencia in Argentina's Chaco province by the Chaco Federation of Mutuals (FECHAMU), with support from the Argentine Confederation of Mutuals (CAM) and the Argentine National Institute for Associativism and Social Economy (INAES).

More information

OIBESCOOP newsletter

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Ibero American Observatory for Employment and Social-based and Co-operative Economy (OIBESCOOP) has issued its newsletter Boletín de Actualidad OIBESCOOP.

If you wish to receive the newsletter by e-mail, please subscribe through the website www.oibescoop.org, where you will also find all the online news.

The ILO promotes Convention No. 169 in Paraguay

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Paraguay (ILO News). Forced labour and implementation of Convention No. 169 in Paraguay were the main subjects of a series of events that took place recently in Paraguay to promote detailed knowledge of this Convention and the main implications of applying it in the country. On 12 May the seminar “Forced labour and Convention No. 169: implementation for members of parliament” was held in the National Congress bicameral hall. It was organized by the Network against all Forms of Discrimination, with support from the ILO, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Members of parliament from the various parties were present at the event, which had the following main goals: promote knowledge of the resolutions of Convention No. 169 and experiences from applying it in other countries in the region and explore the possibility to create a parliamentary action plan that would contribute to carrying out popular consultations prior to considering bills that would affect the country’s indigenous peoples.

On the following day, 13 May, a seminar on this subject was held in Chaco, for the first time in Paraguay’s history. The Minister of Justice and Labour, Humberto Blasco, and the Deputy Minister of Labour, Raúl Mongelós attended the meeting, as well as two experts from the ILO, Guillermo Pérez, International Expert at the ILO Subregional Office for the South Cone of Latin America and Christian Ramos, expert in international standards at the ILO office in Brasilia, and the Paraguayan Director of Labour, Filemón del Valle. It should be highlighted that indigenous leaders and representatives of the private and public sectors and civil society were also present, and took part in the discussions of the subject.

In the seminar, the report on forced labour published recently by the ILO was discussed, and specific actions taken by the Government in response to the ILO’s observations were pointed out. The actions include creating a national programme for indigenous peoples and establishing a commission on basic work rights and prevention of forced labour, which received ILO support in its establishment.

Finally, on 14 May, a seminar organized by the ILO and the Paraguayan national commission on basic rights and forced labour took place in Asunción, focusing on the recently published ILO report “The cost of coercion” and analysis of the experiences of Brazil in order to design a project plan. Among the participants of the seminar were the Paraguayan Minister of Justice and Labour, Humberto Blasco, Guillermo Pérez, international expert at the ILO Subregional Office for the South Cone of Latin America and Luis Machado, the ILO official in charge of the project on forced labour in Brazil.

Source: ILO Subregional Office for the South Cone of Latin America.

ICMIF Development Newsletter "Prosper" Issue 5 Available Online

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The fifth issue of the ICMIF Development Newsletter "Prosper" is now available on-line.

In this issue, it recognizes the 30th anniversary of CIC Kenya and it reports on the first support project of the ICMIF Disaster Relief Network (DRN) to victims of flooding in Bihar, India. The cover page highlights the ongoing collaboration between Etiqa and the national cooperative apex body in Malaysia to provide microtakaful to low income sectors.

Comments and contributions for the next issue are always welcome.

Upcoming: AMA's new website

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

ALIANZA DEL MUTUALISMO DE AMÉRICA (AMA) will have a website soon: www.amamutualidades.org

FAMSA invited to RECM workshop

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The President of the Argentine Federation of Health Mutuals (FAMSA) and Vice-President of the American Mutualism Alliance (AMA), Dr. José Ma. Garriga, took part as an observer at a meeting of the Mercosur forum for education in management of social and solidarity-based economy processes (EMFESS) held on 16 April in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The ACYM network, represented by Ms. Brenda Rial, was also present.

Among the aims of the forum, where interesting experiences of cooperatives were put forward, is to train decision-makers (especially women and young persons), with a regional focus. At this stage, successful experiences are drawn upon, with reflection on ongoing processes and an aim to stimulate generation of networks in order to provide them with adequate management tools. The ongoing project will last for 18 months, but the plan is to guarantee its continuity by involving all the participants in a “permanent Mercosur training programme”.

The involvement of mutual enterprises provides a concrete opportunity to work at the regional level with proposals adapted to the region’s needs and potential, which could well be channelled through these social economy entities.

RECM's Newsletter "Mercosur Cooperativo - Boletín Digital Nº 24"

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A new issue of the RECM's newsletter is available online. Among some relevant studies, you can consult the following ones:

Link to the newsletter

Mercosur Forum for Training in Management of Social and Solidarity-Based Economy Processes

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

This project, which began formally on 1 March, is part of the RECM/CEFIR (Mercosur Specialized Organization for Cooperatives/Training Centre for Regional Integration) agreement. It will be carried out by RECM and financed by the AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation). The CEPES (Spanish Business Confederation for Social Economy), ICA-Americas (International Co-operative Alliance-Americas) and the AVINA Foundation will act as institutional partners.

Train decision-makers with a regional focus
Learn from successful experiences (at least one per country)
Reflect on failures
Stimulate generation of networks
Provide adequate management tools

Initially, the project will last 18 months, but the plan is to guarantee its continuity by committing all the participants to organizing a permanent Mercosur training programme.

More information.

Statute for Mercosur Cooperatives

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On 28 April 2009 the Mercosur (Southern Common Market) Parliament voted unanimously in favour of the Mercosur Cooperative Statute Bill.

This was announced by MP Mabel Müller, President of the Commission on Work, Employment Policy, Social Security and Social Economy. It was highlighted that this is the first bill proposed by the Mercosur Parliament, and that a Special Commission was therefore created in each country to monitor its incorporation in national legislation. The Commission included the Mercosur Specialized Organization for Cooperatives (RECM), as well as representatives of each country.

More information

2nd International Forum: "Crisis Response: Social and Solidarity-Based Economy"

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On 18 March 2009 the second International Forum “Crisis Response: Social and Solidarity-Based Economy” was organized by the Mexican Chamber of Deputies Commission for Promotion of Cooperativism and Social Economy and the Senate Economic Commission, in cooperation with the Mexican Solidarity Enterprise Council (CMEES), Social Union of Mexican Business Owners (USEM) and Ibero-American Social Economy Foundation (FUNDIBES).

Experts from Spain, France, Costa Rica, the Mexican Parliament, the Mercosur Specialized Organization, the Government of Brazil and the Uruguayan Parliament held presentations, along with members of parliaments, academics, members of the Mexican Government and experts from the social and solidarity-based economy private sector.

The Forum was divided in four panels, and its main goal was to evaluate the impact of social economy as a crisis response, as well as to improve the conditions for consideration of adequate public policies and an adequate legal framework for promotion of social and solidarity-based economy in Mexico, in compliance with article 25 of the country’s constitution.

More information

New! GESS is interviewing social security experts and specialists, so that they can share their knowledge and experience in extending social security to the excluded populations in various countries in the world

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The first interview to be published online is with John Woodall, who is a Senior Social Security Specialist with the Social Security Department (SEC/SOC) at the International Labour Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

John has extensive experience in providing support to pension reform in Africa and Asia. In this interview he explains the advantages of transforming provident funds into defined benefit schemes. He also gives a detailed description of past and ongoing SEC/SOC technical cooperation activities in Sri Lanka in the field of social security.

See the interview with John Woodall

The second interview is with Alejandro Bonilla, who is Manager of the ILO Social Security Department's Education, Training and Capacity Building (ETCB) Group.

Alejandro describes the actuarial evaluation of Panama's pension scheme, from which interesting lessons can still be drawn although it took place several years ago. They includ the experience that any technical project in the field of social security is useless unless there is a national consensus on implementing it. A participative process that includes all policy makers, technical stakeholders and employers' and workers' representatives is therefore a key factor for success, as is communication about the project towards a general public.

See the interview with Alejandro Bonilla

CALL for PAPERS - Pro MHI Africa: Handbook of Micro Health Insurance in Africa

Wed, 27 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Pro MHI Africa is an international university network consisting of an international team of researchers from four universities in Botswana, Germany, Ghana and Malawi aiming at analyzing the efficiency and sustainability of Micro Health Insurance in Africa.

Please find here the official call for papers for the Pro MHI Africa handbook of Micro Health Insurance in Africa.

For further information on the project and current project activities please visit the website:

www.microhealthinsurance-africa.org

Microinsurance Innovation Facility, STEP and Microinsurance Network have launched a survey to identify the current claims models in health microinsurance schemes. Preliminary results

Tue, 26 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

As part of the current study conducted on Third Party Payment (TPP) mechanism in health microinsurance schemes (HMI) in developing countries, the objective of this short survey was to contribute to the mapping of existing claims models in health microinsurance schemes as well as to identify potential candidates for in-depth case studies to illustrate lessons learned related to the design and management of TPP mechanism in HMI.

The survey was addressed to practitioners and has been launched through the several health microinsurance networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America related to the ILO's Microinsurance Innovation Facility, the ILO's STEP programme and the Microinsurance Network's working group on health insurance.

After data cleaning, the answers of 79 health microinsurance schemes have been analysed. 57% of the respondents are located in Africa, 36% in Asia and few of them in Latin America. As expected, preliminary results show that most of the health microinsurance schemes (58%) have set up a third party payment mechanism (cashless claim model) in order to alleviate financial barriers for insured when they need to access health care services. Nearly 23% did not develop a third party payment mechanism and are directly reimbursing the insured patients. The remaining 19% have adopted a mixed claim model with both reimbursement to the insured and payment to the health providers (TPP) depending on the health services covered and on the contracted health providers.

Complete findings from this short survey will be detailed in the study report that will also present different options for TPP, lessons learnt and solutions developed by practitioners in schemes with TPP with regards to: contracting, provider payment mechanism, quality of care monitoring, claim management procedures, etc.

This article gives the working group the opportunity to thank all practitioners who have answered the survey on TPP.

34th CAM Ordinary Congress

Wed, 20 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On 29 April the 34^th Ordinary Congress of the Argentine Confederation of Mutuality (CAM) was held in Buenos Aires, with representatives from all the country’s federations that are members of the confederation. Also, the INAES President, Dr. Patricio Griffin, addressed the participants.

Dr. Griffin stated that the mutual and cooperative movement, i.e., the solidarity-based economy movement, is necessary for the country’s viability, as human relations need to be built on the idea of solidarity, without which it is difficult to build a country.

He also asserted that mutual organizations play an important part in financing, through the microcredit programme that the CAM pioneered. The programme reaches every corner of the country and the most marginalized sectors, and provides financing opportunities to small enterprises that would not otherwise be established.

More info on the CAM website

China issued 2008 annual statistical report on Social Security Development

Wed, 20 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On May 19, Department of Human Resources and Social Security and National Bureau of Statistics of China issued jointly "2008 Annual Statistical official Report on Human Resources and Social Security Development".

The report showed that in 2008 there were 5.12 million farmers received pensions, an increase of 0.2 million people over the previous year. A total of 5.68 billion yuan (about 0.83 billion USD) was paid out as pension, an increase of 42% over year 2007. Till the end of 2008, 55,950,000 people participated in the rural pension insurance scheme, increased by 4,240,000 compared to year 2007. Year-end rural pension fund balance was 49.9 billion yuan (about 7.3 billion USD); 1201 counties in 27 provinces has carried out social security projects for the farmers whose land has been acquired by government, of whom 13,240,000 had been covered by the basic living support system or pension insurance system.

Till end 2008, 218,910,000 workers joined urban basic pension insurance, an increase of 17.54 million, among which 165.87 million were current workers and 53.04 million were retirees, an increase of 14.04 million and 3.5 million respectively. 24,160,000 migrant rural workers were protected by basic pension insurance, an increase of 5,700,000. The benefices of basic pension insurance for retirees of enterprises had been raised and paid out on time and in full. Besides, 33,000 enterprises had established pension schemes to cover a total of 10,380,000 employees and the enterprise pension funds accumulated 191.1 billion yuan (about 27.9 billion USD) by the end of 2008.

China Life Insurance Company Limited continues to expand rural micro life insurance pilot project

Wed, 20 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On May 12, 2009, China Life Insurance Company announced that it would continue to expand rural micro life insurance pilot project this year. The goal is to cover more than 6 million low-income people in rural area and to collect premiums over 100 million Yuan (about 14.7 million USD). Meanwhile, 9 provinces such as Hebei and Inner Mongolia will be added, making the coverage of the pilot projects to a total of 18 provinces in China.
China Life Insurance Co., Ltd is the first company formally launching the rural micro life insurance project, following the permission of China Insurance Regulatory Commission on the issue of rural micro-insurance pilot program in 2008. In August 2008, it started in Guangxi, Hubei and 7 other provinces with a series of rural micro life insurance schemes, catering to different local needs and environments. The schemes, which are targeted at the specific risks, such as illness, disability and death among low-income farmers, have the main features of low premium, simple process and appropriate level of protection. The sales models of the schemes, basically " integrated insurance of the whole village," "joint cooperation" and "small group insurance", has received considerable popularity among rural citizens.
Till the end of 2008, the schemes in the first 9 pilot provinces had covered 2.38 million peasants with more than 1.25 million insurance contracts and 41.64 million Yuan insurance premium gathered in total.

Rural micro life insurance schemes not only benefit the rural low-income people and raise their awareness on the necessity of life insurance, but also allow the commercial insurance corporations to entry a new market and to expand brand influence.

The 3rd Asian Conference on Microinsurance will be held in July at Bejing

Tue, 19 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Following the success of the last two conferences in Philippines and India, the 3rd Asian Conference on Microinsurance, which will be held at Beijing, China during 22 and 23 July 2009, will focus on the theme of “Micro insurance as an Attractive Growth Strategy in the Changing Economic Landscape”.

As China is the most populous country in the world now with its 1.3 billion people, the conference aims to look at challenges and opportunities in the important role that microinsurance plays in China, and across Asia as well. Whilst China's remarkable economic growth in recent years has helped millions of Chinese out of poverty, the challenges still remain massive to ensure that risks are covered. The Chinese government is therefore focusing on developping micro insurance and micro finance. In 2007 alone, China invested more than 2.7 billion Yuan in subsidies for such a development in rural areas, making China a very relevant venue for this year's conference.

This year's theme "Microinsurance as an Attractive Growth Strategy in the Changing Economic Landscape" will look at how Asia as a whole has embraced microinsurance and how the various markets are pushing microinsurance - the programme will look at policy reforms, key challenges, and how to support microinsurance in the current challenging financial landscape. Aside from looking at underwriting and claims issues, the programme is designed to evaluate key successful strategies, initiatives in product innovation, marketing microinsurance and distribution channels as well as looking at microinsurance as a growth strategy for the insurance industry, and to look for opportunities amidst the current changing economic landscape.

The event will bring together experts including representatives from international organisations, NGOs, development-aid agencies, insurance and reinsurance companies, academics, policymakers and regulators. Opportunities abound in the world of micro insurance - there is a dire need to heighten the awareness of micro insurance in helping to fill the needs of the masses in rural populations and the insurance industry plays a massive and significant role.

Key Topics of the conference

Business Aspects of Microinsurance
Evaluating the Business Proposition of Microinsurance
Marketing of Microinsurance
The Path Ahead – Sectoral Focus on Microinsurance
Innovation in Microinsurance Products
Special Focus on Microinsurance Initiatives in China
Panel on Microinsurance Initiatives & Success Stories
Case Studies

Community-Based Health Insurance in Rwanda

Tue, 19 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Rwandan Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) is a community-based health mutual. Its main goal is to improve the population’s health through better access to healthcare coverage and an improved financial situation for healthcare facilities.

The mutual is run by its members, who are in charge of the various administrative aspects such as definition of the service packets, affiliation, premiums and payment of providers and health-related awareness-raising and information to the population.

See the CBHI website

See the profile of Rwanda on GESS (in French)

10 years serving the African Mutual Health Organizations

Mon, 18 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

This brochure presents the work the Concertation network has carried out with health mutuals in Africa over a ten-year period (1998-2008).

La Concertation was inititally created to provide actors of mutuals with a space for sharing their knowledge and experiences, in order to support the development of the mutualist movement. Currently, the network links more than 150 member organizations (local, regional, national and international), is active in more than 14 French-speaking African countries and its website has over 1,300 users from all over the world.

Health and social protection: experiences from Cambodia, China and Lao PDR

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The POVILL project was designed to both contribute to ongoing efforts to design policy responses to the challenge of sickness-related poverty and contribute to efforts to develop a systematic understanding of healthpoverty linkages and the role of government initiatives in helping households cope.This book focus on the case of Cambodia, China and Lao PDR and brings together the thinking behind the POVILL approach and presents some preliminary findings with the aim of opening discussions with policy makers and health policy researchers. This marks the beginning of a consortium strategy for contributing to policy processes, which will intensify in 2009.

Download the document from ITG Press
Download the document from Povill

Costing of basic social protection benefits for Nepal 2007-2034

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Nepal. Technical note. Affordable and not an Illusion. Costing of basic social protection benefits for Nepal 2007-2034, ILO, Social Security Department, 2009

This study presents an estimate on the feasibility of providing a set of basic social protection interventions in Nepal with an emphasis on child related benefits. The preparation of the report stemmed from UNICEF Nepal's interest in proposals to strengthen the provision of cash transfers. The aim of the proposal is to determine the cost of a set of social security measures that could be made available to the population of Nepal with a view to providing some economic and social stability to the population in the wake of a return to peace.

Download the study

Social Security for All. Investing in social justice and economic development

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Social Security for All. Investing in social justice and economic development, BIT, Département de la Sécurité Sociale, 2009

This paper sets out the policy vision of the ILO that underpins its activities in the context of the Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All. The objective of this policy briefing is to contribute to the global debate between social security stakeholders, researchers, practitioners and decision-makers as to how to provide a meaningful form of social security to the majority of the world's population and to ensure that the human right to social security can be made a reality in the shortest possible time.

Download the ressource (Forthcoming French and Spanish versions)

Chinese government granted 6.284 billion USD to insure retirees of the bankruptcy state-owned enterprises

Tue, 12 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The executive meeting of China State Council on May 6th made the decision to solve the health care insurance issues for retirees of the shutdown or bankruptcy state-owned enterprises.

Before end of 2009, all the retirees of the bankruptcy state owned enterprises are to be covered by the basic urban worker medical insurance system. For the uninsured retirees of bankruptcy collective-owned enterprises and enterprises with financial difficulties, the government will also take measures to solve their health insurance problems. The central government will provide 42.9 billion Yuan (about 6.284 billion USD) for this project and it also requires the implementations and additional funds from local governments.

It was pointed out that to the decision is crucial in deepening China Health Care Reform and in promoting basic medical insurance system for urban citizens. Also it helps to expand domestic demand, stimulate consumption and improve people's life in the current international financial crisis.

Creation of ACYM reference network in Argentina

Mon, 11 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Under the direction of the ILO, the Red de Referentes (reference network) for the ACYM (cooperatives and mutuals in the Americas) and GESS (Global Extension of Social Security) platforms was established in Argentina.

A workshop was held on May 8 with this aim, in the new Federada Salud offices in Buenos Aires, to provide training in the new IT tool and facilitate registering users who would be in charge of information exchange between social economy organizations in Argentina and the rest of Latin America.

The host was the FAMSA President, Dr. José M. Garriga, and the workshop was coordinated by Victoria Giroud-Castiella from Geneva, Switzerland, STEP information specialist, and Brenda Rial from Montevideo, Uruguay, coordinator for ACYM in South America.

The participants were officials and directors from FAMSA (Argentine federation of health mutuals), FAESS (Argentine federation of health solidarity entities). Río Uruguay Seguros Coop. Ltda, AAC/MIS (association of insurance cooperatives and mutuals in the Americas), the Rosario association of lawyers and IAIES-CIRIEC (Argentine institute for social economic research and international centre for research in and information on political, social and cooperative economy).

During the workshop all the participants worked online, connected to the GESS and ACYM platforms, adequate receiving training to be able to put it into practice subsequently.

At the end of the workshop, Dr. Garriga expressed his gratitude to the ILO for having selected Argentina as the seat for the project, which aims to extend social protection coverage worldwide, through action by cooperatives and mutuals.

7th Gestarsalud Congress, 29-31/10/09, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The 7th Gestarsalud Congress, entitled “La Salud, un Derecho. Colombia y el Mundo” (Health as a Right in Colombia and the World) will take place on 29, 30 and 31 October 2009 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

The general aim of the Congress is to reflect on Colombia’s social security model as a tool to ensure the basic right to health based on existing experience throughout the world, with the following specific goals:

Identifying Colombia’s and other countries’ commitment and experiences with respect to the health of their population seen as a right, a good or a service;
Identifying the advances and challenges Colombia faces under the T-760/08 ruling;
Revising the role of social economy in ensuring the right to healthcare access.

Crisis | Monthly data on unemployment benefit recipients

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Crisis | Monthly data on unemployment benefit recipients
Graph and data on the latest trends | | Pdf File Latest update 14/01/2010
This file will be updated regularly and uploaded on this website.

Experience on Abhaya Hastham shared by Indian government at recent World Bank Seminar

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Recently in a seminar held by the South Asia Agriculture and Rural Development Unit, and the Insurance for the Poor Program in the Financial and Private Sector Development of the World Bank, Andhra Pradesh (India) government shared its experience on co-contributory pensions for the poor in the unorganized sector, which is the world's largest co-contributory pension scheme for the poor in the unorganized sector.

The newly enacted program, called Abhaya Hastham, is a Co-Contributory Pension Scheme for women above the age group of 18, and it is targeted towards women belonging to the self-help groups in the state. The scheme envisages contribution at the rate of 1 rupee per day or Rs360 (US$7.5) per year by SHG women and government's co-contribution is capped at Rs360 (or US$7.5) per member per year, and it expects to enroll more than 6 million SHG Women members by December 2009.

Concertation Forum 2009

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

La Concertation organises its Fifth Forum in Yaoundé, CAMEROUN from September 28 to October 2, 2009 at the "Palais des Congrès". The theme of the forum will be : 10 years of Mutual Health Insurance in Africa: realities, trends and challenges. Questions related to Mutual Health Insurance and Health Insurance, Mutual Health Insurance and access to health care, Mutual Health Insurance and the conditions of its development will be addressed in order to identify the tools and the best practices for a long term development of Mutual Health Insurance.
More information

Peru towards universal health insurance

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Resource on non-contributory pensions in Peru

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Envejecimiento con Dignidad: Pensiones no contributivas para reducir la pobreza en el Perú, F. Clark, W. Mendoza De Souza, F. Durán Valverde, G. Picado Chacón, E. Morón, M. Rostagno, F. Arnillas Lafert, C. Sánchez Reyes; Caritas Peru, UNFPA, HelpAge International, MCLCP and ILO, 2009

In view of the failure of contributory social security programmes to provide protection, non-contributory pensions represent the only hope of securing a minimum economic support for millions of elderly persons. Nevertheless, Peru has not yet managed to establish a non-contributory pension scheme.
In order to deal with this problem, the present publication presents five articles written by experts with different training and experience, all pertaining to the debate about the fiscal viability and utility of non-contributory pensions in the family economy, as well as in poverty reduction.

The book was presented at a special event in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Auditorium on April 21 by the Coordination Table for the Fight Against Poverty (Mesa de Concertación de Lucha contra la Pobreza (MCLCP)) and the organizations that participated in its creation: the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Labour Organization (ILO), Caritas Peru and HelpAge International. The text was commented upon by a panel made up of the Minister of Women and Social Development, Carmen Vildoso, the Minister of Labour and Social Assistance, Jorge Villasante, the Ombudsman, Beatriz Merino and the former Minister of Economy and Finance, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Former government officials, important Peruvians and more than 150 guests also attended.

Consult the book in GESS

Implementation Plan of China Health Care System Reform (2009-2011)

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

In April 2009, five programs on deepening the China Health Care System Reform are issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council with input of about 124 billion U.S. dollars from year 2009 to 2011.

· Accelerate the establishment of the basic medical security system.

· Preliminarily set up the national essential medicines system.

· Improve the grass-roots health care services system.

· Gradually press ahead with the equalization of basic public health services.

· Push forward pilot projects for public hospital reform.

Find out more: Implementation Plan for the Recent Priorities of the Health Care System Reform (2009-2011)

Chinese central government unveils opinions on deepening health care system reform

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The CPC Central Comittee and the State Council of China put out the opinions on deepening the health care system reform following the 17th CPC National Congress, with the goal of rasing the health level and providing basic health care service to every Chinese people.

The opinions include 5 parts:

· Fully recognizing the importance, urgency and arduousness of deepening the health care system reform

· The guidelines, basic principles and overall goal of deepening the health care system reform

· Improving four major health care systems and establishing the basic health care system covering urban and rural residents

· Improving institutional mechanism, ensuring effective and well regulated operations of the health care system

· Concentrating on five key reform projects and striving to achieve remarkable results in the near future

New programme "Access to Insurance Initiative" (A2II)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

ILO/STEP has recently joined a new programme called "Access to Insurance Initiative" (A2II) together with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and Microinsurance Network.

The A2II is made up of several partners (international organizations, the French federation of mutuals, insurance companies, foundations and development agencies). Its main goal is to develop and implement guidelines for insurance market regulations and supervision, in order to improve the access of the poorest people to this market. A2II will also facilitate sharing of knowledge, experiences and information about the role of regulations and supervision in improving access to insurance. A document on regulation and supervision of mutuals and micro-insurance in emerging countries is currently being drafted.

Find out more:

Training - Scaling Micro Insurance in Developing Countries. April 20-26, 2009. Chennai, India.

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Center for Insurance and Risk Management (CIRM) and the Institute of Financial Management and Research (IFMR), in collaboration with the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvenia, offers a classroom based customized training program that provides rigorous pricing models for data-source markets to assist risk carriers from developing countries in designing fair contracts. In order to insure massification of micro-insurance, the ability to write sound contracts is critical! Tuition : $2800
More info
Application form

4th Rulescoop Congress and 3rd Cooperativism, Associationism and Solidarity-Based Economy Days

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The University of the Republic (Uruguay) activities office’s (SCEAM) unit for cooperative studies was selected to organize the 4^th Congress of the Rulescoop network, which consists of Latin American and European universities and aims to further understanding of cooperativism and associationism and their complexities and identify areas that function poorly in order to change these.

This coincides with the unit’s regional promotion of the 3^rd Cooperativism and Associationism Days, which are seen as preparation for the Ibero-American University Extension Congress in October 2009.

Both events will take place in Montevideo, from 9 to 11 September 2009, and there has been a call for papers. The plan is to discuss and understand the concrete instruments available based on the organizational experiences of cooperatives, identify the levels and possibilities to achieve autonomy in a strongly heteronomous society, reflect on challenges and possibilities, problems and potential in the various national contexts as well as their interrelations and interdependence.

Important dates:

Deadline for acceptance of abstracts: 30/04/09
Reply to authors: 20/05/09
Submission of full texts: 31/07/09

Download the brochure (in Spanish)

AIM and ILO took part in an important meeting on "The Financing of Health Systems and Health Risk Coverage in Developing Countries," organized by the European Commission

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Association international de la mutualité (AIM) and the International Labour Office (ILO) took part in an important meeting organized by the European Commission on 23-24 March 2009 on the theme "The Financing of Health Systems and Health Risk Coverage in Developing Countries." At this meeting, AIM took a position on the role of the mutual benefit society in universal health protection systems. More info

The ILO/Brazil Multi-annual Partnership Agreement 2009 - 2011 signed

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil has signed a new Partnership Agreement with the ILO for the promotion of South-South cooperation in Latin America and African countries.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil and the ILO signed The week of 20 March 2009, represented by the Director-General of the ILO and by the Ambassador Nazareth Farani , the Partnership Complementary Agreement for the promotion of South-South cooperation, which through a triangular mechanism ( ILO- Government of Brazil- Partner Developing Countries) will provide support to the achievement of Decent Work outcomes in Latin America and African countries. This represents a complementary adjustment to the 1987 Cooperation Agreement between Brazil and African and Latin American countries.

The Complementary agreement includes some features such as sharing of technical cooperation between developing countries on the field of Decent Work promotion, through inter-institutional agreements, such as the programmes led by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Social Security, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affair, with their counterparts in other Latin American and African countries. These activities will be done in close cooperation with workers and employers organisations.

Link to the Partnership Agreement (english version / portuguese version)
Link to the press release

Two events about the Bolsa Família programme took place on 18 and 19 March, in the framework of the 304th Session of the ILO's Governing Body

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

"Bolsa Família Programme: Context, concept, impacts and links with employment policies", Session of the Committee on Employment and Social Policy, Wednesday 18 March, 10:30-13:00, ILO Governing Body room. See the flyer

"Linking Social Protection and Employment Policies in the Decent Work Agenda: the case of Bolsa Família", Thursday 19 March, 9:30-11:00Room VII - Level R3 South. See the flyer

Bill on Social Security for Unorganized Sector Workers Passed in India

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

New Delhi. On 18 December, the Lok Sabha, one of the two chambers of the Indian Parliament, passed the "Unorganized Sector Workers' Social Security Bill," which aims at building a social security system for unorganized workers. The Bill had already been passed by the Rajya Sabha, the other chamber of the Parliament.

Video of professor Joseph Stiglitz addressing ILO's Governing Body. Part of his speech on social security in the context of economic crisis, March 12 2009, Geneva

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In this part of his speech, professor Stiglitz explains how social security can be an automatic stabilizer for the economy, limiting negative effects in time of crisis:

Click here to watch the full speech

Read profesor Stiglitz's article "The global crisis, social protection and jobs", in the International Labour Review, Vol. 148 (2009), No. 1-2

Is universal coverage within reach? Health protection project in Sierra Leone

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In spring 2008, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) of Sierra Leone requested ILO technical assistance for the introduction of a social health insurance scheme. NASSIT had previously conducted a social security needs survey that identified health care as an urgent priority of the population, especially of the poor. As a result, the government is strongly committed to improve the currently poor health status of the population through the development of a health protection scheme covering the whole population. This is an important step for Sierra Leone's post-war recovery after the devastating civil war between 1991 and 2002.

In response to the request by NASSIT, the ILO review is currently under way: Preliminary assessment of health insurance options for Sierra Leone. An assessment mission was carried out in September 2008 with a view to identify health-financing options for the population. The mission particularly analysed social health protection needs in rural areas and considered the situation of informal economy workers who form 92 % of the working population. The findings are presented in a draft project report proposing to set up a national health protection scheme along the following lines:

The proposed national health insurance scheme would capitalize on the success of NASSIT as a highly appreciated pension scheme through co-branding and be called NASHI (National Social Health Insurance). NASHI should be an independent organization working closely together with NASSIT to exploit economies of scale e.g. for registration, issuing of membership cards, complaints processing etc. This solution would also allow the new organization to benefit from the expertise and know-how of NASSIT staff.

User fees for health services would be abolished in order to allow everyone to access health care for free at the point of delivery for a clearly defined limited benefit package. To address the interrelation of health costs and poverty, the proposed benefit package includes health services that could cause catastrophic expenditure to households and push people into poverty. Different sources would finance the benefit package:

Formal economy workers would contribute 2 % of their salary and employers would add another 4 %.
The very poor, representing approx. 34 % of the population, as well as (expecting) mothers would be exempted from contributions
All other adults would pay a lump sum of 10.000 Leone per year.
Funds for public and curative health care that local councils currently receive from the Ministry of Finance should be redirected to the financing of the new scheme.
2 % of the 15 % of GST / VAT
Earmarked taxes on mobile phone use, tobacco and alcohol consumption

Through this particular combination of resources, the achievement of universal coverage and affordable health care could come into reach for Sierra Leone's people. Primary health care would be provided on a capitation base and limited secondary health care on a fee-for-service base. Public health care as well as tertiary health care will remain responsibilities of the Ministry of Health and not be included in the benefit package. As formal sector employees are going to contribute considerably more to the scheme than others, they will receive a gold member card. This will allow them to skip the planned referral system and access specialized services directly.

The government is eager to move forward and implement the scheme. As a next step, a high-level multi-stakeholder conference will take place early February 2009 to present the report and discuss further steps with stakeholders. It is currently foreseen to start the scheme in selected districts which will be identified through a feasibility study to take place early 2009.

7th Regional Community Health Finance Association Conference, 19th-24th April 2009 in Uganda

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Community Health Financing Association for Eastern Africa is a Regional Non-governmental organization established to facilitate exchange of knowledge, information and experiences in community health financing as a strategy for improving access to quality health care for the low-income population.

The 7th Regional CHF conference took place from 19th-24th, April 2009 in Uganda. The Conference brought together members Associations, and practitioners of CHF and health from all over the world and it aimed at meeting a number of objectives including:

To reflect and share on the developments regarding the issues and actions generated in the previous conferences
To share further knowledge and experiences regarding good practices for possible learning and replication
To share about the current trends and changes in the operating environment and brainstorm on the appropriate coping mechanisms.

More info

Atelier sur les retours d'expérience en matière de mise en place de systèmes nationaux d'assurance maladie en Afrique subsaharienne, Abidjan, 10-12 décembre 2008

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On December 10, 11 and 12, a workshop on "experiences drawn from implementing national health insurance systems in Sub-Saharan Africa" was organized jointly by the Ivorian Ministry of Family, Woman and Social Affairs, the ILO STEP programme and the cabinet: STR@TEC-ARC. The workshop brought together social and technical partners from the Congo, Gabon, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso. The main goal was for the Ivorian party to draw inspiration from the other countries' experiences, in order to formulate new ideas concerning the new framework for the Ivorian Universal Health Insurance project.

28/11/2008: Congo INSS website launching

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On 28 November 2008 the official website of the National Social Security Institute of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was launched. The address is http://inss.cd/

Installation officielle des membres du comité de pilotage du système national d'assurance maladie

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Le jeudi 12 mars a eu lieu, à Ouagadou au Burkina Faso, la cérémonie d'installation des membres du comité de pilotage du projet de mise en place d'un système national d'assurance maladie. Cette cérémonie était présidée par Monsieur Jérôme BOUGOUMA, Ministre du Travail et de la Sécurité sociale, en présence de représentants de l'Etat, des partenaires sociaux, et des partenaires techniques et financiers. Cette cérémonie a été suivi d'un atelier (12 et 13 mars 2009)de présentation et de validation du schéma d'assurance maladie avec l'appui du programme STEP du BIT.

Issue 4 of QUATRAIN-NEWS is available on line

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Issue number 4 of QUATRAIN-NOTICIAS has just been released. This is the newsletter of the ILO training programme on quantitative methods applied to social protection in the Americas. It is jointly produced by the Social Security Department (Geneva), the International Training Centre (Turin) and the ILO Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean (Lima).

See the page of QUATRAIN-AMERICAS

Beijing becomes the first region to develop two old-age pension schemes applied equally to both urban and rural residents

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

At the end of 2007, the Beijing Municipal Government introduced two new pension schemes: the New Rural Pensions and the Old-age Pensions for the Elderly Residents without any pension on their own (a sort of social pension). One year later, a total of 1.1 million rural people, accounting for 84 percent of the target population, were insured under the first, whilst the second provided fully government-sponsored social pension to all those beyond the prescribed ages but with no pension entitlement to any social insurance pension schemes. Together with other efforts, the year 2008 sets a new record for the number of people insured under the state pension schemes: 10.22 million in total.
However, it was found that there were still two groups of people, though relatively small, left outside the pension system:
* a)working-age urban residents with no regular income and no old-age insurance, the number of whom is estimated at about 100 000;
* b)female residents above working-age (51-59 years for the urban women and 56-59 for the rurals), also numbering around 100 000.

To address this exclusion issue, the Beijing Municipal Government decided to modify the current old-age pension system on 1 January 2009, in order to:
* a) convert the New Rural Pensions into an Old-age Pension Scheme for both Urban and Rural Residents and thus provide coverage for all women aged 55 and below and all men aged 60 and below in those two excluded groups;
* b) extend the Old-Age Pensions for the Elderly Residents to the rest of them in the two excluded groups, i.e., the female residents aged between 56 and 59.

These innovative policies have had two important implications:
* a) the statutory old-age pension system of the Beijing Municipality has been fully established institutionally, so that all local inhabitants aged 16 and above (students excluded) should be protected against old-age contingency by one of the four schemes;
* b) two of the four schemes, i.e., that for elderly urban and rural residents with no pensions and that for working-age urban and rural residents, are applied to all qualified people regardless of their urban or rural status, which helps to sway the deep-rooted barrier between the rural and urban.

Source: 记者代丽丽: 北京率先实现城乡居民养老保险一体化,2009年01月05日北京晚报 http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-01/05/content_10606511.htm

Lancement de la mutuelle sociale de Kombissiri

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

La mutuelle sociale de Kombissiri a officiellement débuté ses activités le 07 mars 2009 lors d'une cérémonie présidée par le Haut Commissaire de la Province du Basega.

Health Micro-Insurance in Africa

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The project "Pro MHI Africa" supports health micro-insurance units in three African countries and develops training material for students and micro-insurance staff. On the basis of scientific outcomes, a university network (Botswana, Germany, Ghana and Malawi) prepares a relevant curriculum for students who will become policy makers for the expanding (micro-)insurance markets. The project is funded by the European Union Edulink programme .

Please visit the MHI website for further information and the latest findings.

News from GESTARSALUD's website

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Several news items on social protection and on the evolution of the social security system in Colombia are available on the Gestarsalud website.

The Impact of Law No. 100 in Colombia

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

15 years after the approval of Law No. 11 in Colombia in 1993, it is time to assess its impact on the lives and health of the people of Colombia. Detractors say that the law gave way to a brutal capitalism in the health field, with large intermediary companies, closing down of many public hospitals, worsened health conditions and weakened public health, and ruining of doctors. Some of these complaints may be warranted, but in general they lack objectivity and scientific evidence. Objective analysis shows positive results, although some failures exist. Law No. 100 is the product of two somewhat contradictory political and legal phenomena, just like the Constitution of 1991 and the opening of the market, with clear tendencies against privatization.

Statistics show that over the past 15 years, the population's health has been improving, owing not exclusively to insurance but to several factors. It would not be fair to ignore that today 35 million people have health insurance and over 40 million have access to health services through affiliation with one of the two schemes, being linked to or protected by a special scheme. There is no doubt that equality has increased, as illustrated by Colombia's first place in the World Health Report in this aspect. Today, there are more than 40 competing insurance companies, all under regulations and control and more than 15 000 healthcare providers, including approximately 1000 registered and certified hospitals and clinics, and employing around 500 000 people, of which 40 000 are general doctors and specialists.

Economically, the health sector is one of Colombia's most important ones, with a 20 trillion pesos annual budget. The international academic world and international experts consider Colombia's health system as one of the world's most advanced and efficient, although it is acknowledged that it contains weaknesses and is not perfect.

Shutting down the General System for Social Health Insurance (SGSSS), as some have suggested, would be foolish and impardonable, as this would mean a return to all the failures that existed at the time Law No. 100 came into effect. It is necessary to improve and evolve continually, correct failures and anomalies, finding the ultimate productivity and efficiency, guarantee quality, attain coverage for the entire population regardless of the financial situation of the users, speeding up payments, avoid crime against social security and control the entire operation. All of this is possible without introducing new laws and with a minimum of regulation.

Article from La República

Improving Mongolian Social Health Insurance through social dialogue

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Since 2006, the ILO has been active in addressing the challenges facing the Mongolian social health insurance system. Due to the unique situation in Mongolia, where benefits from the social health insurance system have been curtailed due to a lack of collaboration and coordination among key stakeholders, the ILO has focused on creating social dialogue in the field of social health insurance. In Mongolia, poorly coordinated health and public sector management laws and regulations create barriers rather than promoting social health insurance development. These challenges can be defined as decreasing coverage of social health insurance, inadequately defined health insurance services and benefit packages, unmet needs and expectations of the insured regarding quality of health insurance services and the like.

Working together with the GTZ, WHO and ADB on strengthening the coordination between various stakeholders in Mongolia, the ILO initiated a business meeting of the GTZ-ILO-WHO Consortium on Social Health Protection in 2006 in Copenhagen with the aim of strengthening social health insurance in Mongolia by increasing political support and commitment for implementing social health insurance reforms, strengthening national capacity and developing an inter-sector collaborative mechanism involving key stakeholders. The ILO-GTZ-WHO-ADB collaboration in Mongolia resulted in four workshops to delineate the reforms needed to improve the social health insurance system there. In the conference which followed the workshops, entitled "Strengthening the Capacity and Multi-Sector Collaboration to Improve Social Health Insurance in Mongolia" and held in Ulan Bator on 28 and 29 April, 2008, the ILO provided insight on "Global experiences with health insurance" and "Multi-sector collaboration and consensus-building for Mongolian health insurance reform".

As a result of discussions held between various ministries, the above-mentioned international organizations and other stakeholders the Minister of Social Welfare and Labour stressed the urgency and importance of reforming the SHI and requested ILO support on strengthening the sustainability of the Health Insurance Fund with a view to improving quality of health services and customer satisfaction, reviewing the management and institutional structure of the SHI, and improving the health management information system. In addition, the State Secretary of the MoSWL requested assistance from the ILO on building capacity regarding the administration and management of Social Health Insurance, developing a communication strategy on the principles, functioning and reform of Social Health Insurance, increasing awareness about Social Health Insurance among the public, reaching an agreement on a common understanding of reform issues, achieving consensus on a reform proposal addressing the above issues, and introducing reforms on a pilot basis for 3 years through a consensus building approach.

The above requests, which were built upon the ILO's work in Mongolia, resulted in a project on social health insurance.

Extension of social security to BPL workers. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana Planning Situation

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Within the framework of the new Minimum Social Security Programme targeting unorganized workers, the Government of India released the guidelines to the implementation of a new health insurance scheme called Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), encouraging various State Governments to implement it. The scheme targets in its first phase workers living below the poverty line and their families - about 300 million people. Responding positively, almost all State Governments in India are now committed to be part of this Central Government sponsored initiative, and 11 States have started preparing for the implementation process. By January 2009 more than 1.5 million people had already been enrolled.

Read the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana Planning Situation
Read an analysis of the first enrolment phase of RSBY in the State of Haryana
Visit the RSBY website

Catalogue of courses of the ILO's training Centre (2009)

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO's training Centre in Turin has issued its 2009 catalogue of standard courses. The Centre provides training that furthers the ILO's pursuit of decent work for all. The courses are open to candidates with grants or with their own sources of funding. The candidates should apply directly to the Centre for registration.

See the catalogue of courses for 2009

See the calendar for 2009

Resolution adopted at the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly: ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This resolution calls for the implementation of the Declaration and requests the UN System organizations, including the international financial institutions, to mainstream the goal of decent work in their policies, programmes and activities through promotion of an integrated approach.

Ratification of Convention No. 102 by Bulgaria

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Convention No. 102 concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security, 1952, was ratified by Bulgaria on July 14, 2008. Bulgaria has accepted parts II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII and X.

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On December 10, 2008 the 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human rights was commemorated and the UN launched a new annual campaign for "Dignity and Justice for all of us".

Proposal for reforming the Chinese health system approved and CNY 850 billion to be invested

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Both the "Opinions on deepening the health system reform" and the "Implementation plan for deepening the health system reform over 2009-2011" were reviewed and approved by the State Council on 21 January 2009. Five objectives have been set out:

- All of the population, urban and rural, will have been legally covered by the basic health protection system by 2011;

- 90% of the targeting groups of the population will have actually participated in the rural health insurance schemes and in the health insurance for urban inactive persons with no other health insurance by 2011;

- The level of fiscal subsidies will have been raised, by 2010, to CNY 120 per person per year for all people insured under either the rural health insurance schemes or the health insurance for urban inactive persons with no other health insurance;

- All basic medicaments will have been included in the list of reimbursable medicaments by 2011;

- Starting from 2009, uniformed health dossier will be established nationwide for each insured person;

- The Government will have invested a total of CNY 850 billion in health.

Source: "国务院通过医改方案 3年内预计投入8500亿元". 2009年01月21日, 新华网 http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-01/21/content_10698250.htm

MIGSEC project on « Extending Social Security for Migrant Workers in Africa »(2008-2010)

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Migrant workers are often prevented from obtaining coverage by social security schemes. They risk the loss of entitlement to social security benefits in their country of origin due to their absence, and may at the same time encounter restrictive conditions under the social security system of the host country.

An important means to overcome these disadvantages is the establishment of bilateral or multilateral social security agreements. Their objective is to coordinate two or more national social security schemes in cases where migrant workers have worked in at least two countries.

The promotion of such bilateral or multilateral social security agreements is the main objective of the MIGSEC project being implemented from 2008 to 2010. The project is financially supported by the German government and is implemented by the ILO Regional Office in Africa in close cooperation with the ILO Migration Programme and the Social Security Department in Geneva.

More information

Rwanda: launch of a reform of social security

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Rwandan Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning released documents finalising a project on "Rationalising delivery of social security benefits services to be delivered under one institution" in December 2008. Under the existing social security system in Rwanda the management was fragmented with pension and occupational risks branches being administered by the Social Security Fund of Rwanda and medical insurance being managed under La Rwandaise d'Assurance Maladie (RAMA) and Military Medical Insurance (MMI). The project is to merge social security institutions and to gather all the social security protection provisions under the administration of one single national body to be called Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), in order to improve governance and efficiency and to reduce public expenditure.

IHP+Ministerial Review

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On 5 February, the signatories of the Global Compact of the International Health Partnership and related initiatives (IHP+) met in Geneva to review the progress made so far and plan future activities. For more information, see the communiqué.

Co-contributory Pension scheme (MicroPension) in INDIA by State Government of Andhra Pradesh for 12 Million Self Help Groups (SHG) women

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The state Government of Andhra Pradesh (India) has announced a new scheme implemented in February 2009 by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) for over 12 Million SHG women (age group of 18-55 years). The scheme is a statewide co-contributory pension scheme through Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP). In the scheme, a woman contributes INR30 ($0.8) per month and gets an equal contribution from the Government into her Individual Retirement Account (IRA). After attaining retirement age, i.e. 60 years, she gets a pension amount depending upon the amount of savings and duration. It has also been announced by the Chief Minister that each woman will get a minimum monthly pension amount of INR500 ($10.25) through this scheme.

See the profile of India in GESS

Management Development Programme on Data Analytics for Health Research Professionals

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Traning Programme by Sambodhi Research & Communication, February 16-18, 2009 in New Delhi

One of the key features of health research other than clinical research is the large demographic expanse of the research. One of the key skills for health research professionals is therefore that of obtaining quality information and analysis of the procured data to make informed decisions. In view of the huge quantum of data on which appropriate and accurate analyses are to be performed, manual analyses are a big task. Computer assisted data analysis using specialized statistical packages is therefore necessary. Computer assisted data analysis facilitates easy collation and reduces the analysis time so that on-time and accurate information is available for decision-makers.

Developing better understanding of basic concepts of statistics
Providing an overview of the computer assisted data analysis and statistical software
Developing required skills for importing data into SPSS & EPI Info and undertaking data transformation
Enhancing knowledge base and developing skills for selecting and performing appropriate analyses
Augmenting knowledge and skills for interpretation of analyses and presentation in user-friendly formats

Consult the flyer for more information.

World Bank Institute E-learning course on health inputs into Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

From 6 May to 17 June 2009, the World Bank Institute organizes an updated version of its oldest E-learning course, "Health Outcomes and the Poor", on health inputs into Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). The six week course is organized in six modules, and targets (health) professionals involved in the PRSP process, either as authors of PRSPs, or as government advisors. The course has a global scope, and is held in English, exclusively via the World Wide Web, with a participation fee of $500.

The overall course objective is to improve the health of the poor and vulnerable through analytical work that leads to pro-poor policies, actions and expenditures. The operational objectives are to assist PRSP authors in improving the analysis and the policies in the health sector, and PRSP reviewers to advise authors on how to improve the quality of health inputs into PRSPs.

For more information, write the course contact, Jo Hindriks, or see the World Bank Institute website. Click on the "Health Outcomes and the Poor" link for more information and a link to the application form.

Compulsory health insurance: The battle of Sékou Diakité for a scheme

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Mali’s Ministry of Social Development has requested the Technical Union of Mutuality in Mali to conduct a feasibility study for a health mutual for migrant families residing in some twenty villages in the Kayes region. The aim of the study is to evaluate the population’s potential participation in the process of establishing a health mutual. It is possible that the initiative will be extended to other regions. Also, in April, the National Assembly will vote on a bill that will make the country’s health insurance scheme mandatory.

More Information

New Edition of the Euro Pension Bulletin N° 31 - 1/2009

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The last newsletter of the European association of public sector pension institutions is published. In this edition:

Demographic development in Europe at national and regional level (Prof. Herwig Birg, Germany)
Update from Scotland (Ian Clappertan, SPPA - Scotland)
Pension Watch (Tim Pullman, CDC - France)
How does KLP deal with the ongoing financial crisis? (Björn Hamre, KLP Insurance - Norway)
Pensions reform challenges faced by Europe (Dr. Jean J. Pfitzmann, ASIP - Switzerland)

Download the Bulletin

Providing for Health (P4H) Meeting 22-23 January 2009

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Providing for Health (P4H) is an extended cooperation of the GTZ-ILO-WHO Consortium on social health protection and involves the ILO, WHO, WB, GTZ and AFD as key actors. P4H is an initiative that supports countries to strengthen their health systems through social health protection with a particular focus on the poor. A P4H business meeting took place in Geneva 22/23 of January to discuss the operational plan for 2009. For more information on P4H, see the flyer.

Social Health Insurance, Turin, Italy, March 9-20, 2009

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The course covers the design of a policy on social health insurance and the design of a scheme, provision of health care benefits, financing the insurance and community-based health insurance. It is aimed at practitioners such as executives, managers, planners, financial officers and other responsible professionals of health care and health insurance schemes in government and non-government sectors.

Please register February 13, 2009 at the latest. Cost 3,250 euros — some partial fellowships still available.

See the flyer

Contacts: Ginette Forgues, Manager, Social Protection Programme , g.forgues@itcilo.org, +39-011-693-6545; and Irene Nori, Course assistant, Social Protection Programme , i.nori@itcilo.org, +39-011-693-6524.

Belgium continues partnership with ILO to extend social security and promote social dialogue

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On 9 December 2008, the Minister of Development Cooperation of Belgium, Mr. Charles Michel, signed an agreement with the International Labour Office (ILO) for new grants of €6 million and €2.4 respectively to extend social security to vulnerable populations and promote social dialogue in French-speaking Africa. More information

Education and Solidarity Network. International Conference

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Education & Solidarity Network, created by Education International, the Association Internationale de la Mutualité and the Mutuelle générale de l'éducation nationale seeks to strengthen and expand solidarity-based social protection systems with the support of educators worldwide. The Education & Solidarity Network will be presented and launched on the occasion of an international conference to be held on 14 and 15 May 2009 in Paris. The conference will be attended by participants from numerous countries and will allow the organizations to confirm their intention of joining the Network. It is open to all social protection actors and specialists, teachers' trade unions, university networks and all organizations active in the field of solidarity in social protection. For more information and registration, please click here.

ISSA Regional Social Security Forum for Africa

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Regional Social Security Forum for Africa has been held in Kigali, from 18 to 20 November 2008, at the invitation of the Social Security Fund of Rwanda. ISSA website - Forum ISSA

Decree concerning agricultural workers

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The decree concerning the social protection scheme for agricultural workers represents an application of the farming and forestry law of 2004. This law recognizes that these persons have the right to social coverage on the same level as other workers. The decree has several sections, pertaining to (I) its general layout, (II) its application and beneficiaries, (III) the general organization of the scheme, (IV) funding and (V) monitoring.

See the decree (in French)
See the profile of Senegal on GESS

Convention entre ECOLABS et la MSS Bénin

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

ECOLABS et la MSS Bénin ont signé en octobre 2008 une convention de partenariat visant la prise en charge des cotisations des familles au pays par la diapora béninoise vivant en Europe.

The financial crisis affects private pension system in Peru

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The current financial crisis has affected pensions currently offered by the AFP in Peru. Thus, Congress has requested information from the "Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP" and the Ministry of Economy and Finance on the measures it has implemented or will implement to mitigate the negative impact on the pensions of members.

New GESTARSALUD Website

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In June 2008, the Association of Health Insurance Management Companies, "GESTARSALUD" from Colombia announced the launch of its new online website. The website features many interesting resources, as well as links to G-News and Logos; the ACYM Network newsletter. Visit the GESTARSALUD website

Course On The Extension Of Social Security To Self-Employed, Domestic And Migrant Workers: Lima, Peru, 20th-31st October 2008

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This course, which will be given in Spanish, aims at strengthening the ability of participants to make diagnoses and to analyse and implement programmes and policies aimed at extending social security coverage to independent, domestic and migrant workers.

By the end of the course participants should be able to analyse the main statistical indicators relative to qualitative and quantitative coverage of targeted populations, identify strengths and weaknesses in social security systems in order to improve coverage, define programmes and policies for the extension of social security coverage through traditional programmes or more innovative ones (micro-insurance, community based, etc...) and develop networks for the sharing of information and experiences.

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Social security expenditure database

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The social security expenditure database is available online. It is composed of data from international sources:

ILO Cost of Social Security Inquiries
Eurostat (ESSPROS database)
World Bank (World Development Indicators)
International Financial Statistics
World Health Organisation
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (SOCX database)

This database offers of wide range of social security indicators from 1989 to 2005.

Direct link: Social security expenditure database

Argentinean Government announces the take over of the private Retirement and Pension Fund Administrators (AFJP) by the national scheme.

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A project of law has been sent to the Congress and if approved, the AFJP will be replaced by the national pension scheme. Deposits in the funds will be nationalized. This is a consequence of the global financial crisis. The AFJP could only provide voluntary 2nd pillar.

E-Discussion: Reducing Maternal Mortality Through Increased Access To Safe Abortions In India

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In February 2008 participants in the Solution Exchange Maternal and Child Health Community discussion group shared their reflections and experiences on the question of reducing maternal mortality through the improvement of access to safe abortions.

Nozer Sheriar of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies of India (F.O.G.S.I ), Mumbai, expressed her opinion that in spite of having legalized medical termination of pregnancy over 35 years ago, India still grapples with a general lack of awareness of the availability of safe abortion and limited registered facilities distributed unevenly over the subcontinent. For Nozer Sheriar it is this combination that continues to contribute to a high incidence of illegal abortion and an estimated 15,000 abortion-related deaths annually.

Alongside the more concrete issues of service delivery and improving access to contraception, respondents delved into complex socio-cultural and religious subject matter, with numerous respondents insisting on the critical need to dissociate the practice of pre-natal testing from sex selective abortion. Various strategies for awareness-raising were put forward, as many members of the discussion group laid emphasis on the existence of widespread confusion among the population regarding the details of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act as well as modern abortion procedures. Read the discussion summary

The Government of Sri Lanka is considering a new pension scheme for all

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Colombo Daily Mirror reported on 29 November that the government of Sri Lanka was considering the implementation of an old-age pension scheme for all citizens, according to the Minister of Social Services and Welfare of Sri Lanka, Mr. Douglas Devananda. These remarks followed the launch of a HelpAge feasibility study on the introduction of a universal old-age pension in Sri Lanka. The study concluded that such a scheme would be possible and suggested that it could be funded by a surcharge on a tax, such as VAT. Ms V. Jegarajasingam, Secretary the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare, who was present at the meeting, said that she was quite impressed by the scheme, reported the Daily Mirror, and that state welfare was an avenue that the Ministry was "giving serious thought to".

Source: Daily Mirror, Colombo, 29 November 2008

See the page on Sri Lanka

E-discussion on safe motherhood in India

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

As part of the "Safe Motherhood Month" activities in April, Solution Exchange also launched a discussion on the issue of involving elected representatives in the fight to improve maternal health and reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate in India, which stands at around 301 per 100,000 live births (SRS 2006).

This discussion topic was put forward by Medha Gandhi of CEDPA India. While acknowledging that some efforts have been initiated by the government and civil society to reduce the MMR in India, he raised the question, "What can be done to involve our political leaders at the national, state and Panchayat levels to take a lead in working for maternal health?"

Participants discussed a variety of strategies and shared successful experiences on ways of making elected representatives better informed and more accountable on this issue, as well as more involved in dialogue with service providers and community leaders. Many examples were given of successful NGO, community and women's group initiatives and awareness campaigns. One respondent for example highlighted the success of the Social audit method in the Nainital District, which involved joint exercises by PRI members, women's group leaders and NGO staff in checking the quality of services and facilities. Numerous responses highlighted the importance of social recognition as an incentive for improving MMR performance, for example it was suggested that competition should be introduced at the village level with the symbolic target of "No maternal deaths in the village". Read the discussion summary

Health care financing in the context of social security

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

European Parliament, Policy Department, Economic and Social Policy, 2008

In view of increasing cost pressures, this paper aims to provide guidance to national EU policy-makers faced with the challenge of reconciling financial sustainability of health systems with the safeguarding of the key underlying values of these health systems; namely universal coverage, solidarity in financing, equity, efficiency and quality of care.

The paper provides an overview of the current state of health care financing in the European Union,identifying broad trends and evolutions that have occurred since the 1990s. An annex to the paper offers descriptive summaries of healthcare financing in each of the EU member states.

The first part of this paper seeks to clarify the nature of the sustainability problem, laying emphasis on the distinction between economic and fiscal sustainability. The second and third parts provide analysis of a variety of current financing arrangements in terms of both their ability to fulfil health financing functions and in terms of their commitment to the "policy goals" or key values considered vital to uphold health systems as developed by the WHO. Identifying the different stages of the healthcare financing process; from the initial collection of funds to pooling to the purchasing of health services and finally coverage of the population, this paper highlights the variables affecting key values at each stage. On the basis of this analysis, it is argued in this paper that public financing of healthcare is superior to private financing on three accounts: in terms of sustainability, contribution to the value of equity and in terms of efficiency. The fourth and final part of the paper provides general policy recommendations drawn from the conclusions of the analysis. Access the paper via GIMI

Prevention of Addiction and the Use of Psycho-Active Drugs in the Workplace. Possibilities for Co-operation between France and Russia. 9-10 April 2008, Moscow

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This high-level conference; jointly organised by the French Embassy in Moscow, the French consultancy group KADRIS and the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development, focused on the potential for international co-operation in view of the escalation of the problems of drug and alcohol addiction and the use of psychoactive drugs in the workplace.

International experts, (including those from WHO, ILO, the European Commission), French and Russian institutions (Ministries, trade unions, associations) and private companies from the two countries shared knowledge and experiences in order to identify concrete areas for action to inhibit substance abuse, both at the level of the workplace and through governmental health policy and legislation.

From the point of view of employers, substance abuse has a major impact on attendance, performance, quality of work, productivity and safety; with alcohol consumption responsible for 15-30% of accidents at work. At the national level there is a strong financial incentive for targeting these issues; a report by American experts in the field has indicated that each dollar invested in the fight against alcoholism produces a seven dollar return.

Christian Jacquier, Coordinator of the STEP Programme representing the ILO at the conference, emphasised the importance of establishing a clear, non-discriminatory approach in the workplace through dialogue between employers and workers; an approach combining educational prevention and reduction campaigns as well as the discreet handling of existing cases. He highlighted the widespread nature of this largely taboo issue, which does not just cover extreme cases of alcoholism and drug addiction but also what is referred to as ¿social consumption¿. Irina Sinelina, Project Coordinator at ILO Moscow, for her part drew attention to the work of the SOLVE programme, which aims to introduce a psychosocial module in workplace policy, covering HIV-AIDS, stress and violence as well as alcohol and drug abuse.

In terms of international action Mr. Jacquier stressed the need to forge consensus; indicating the potential role of international norms for example the ILO Convention no. 187 on Occupational Safety and Health, as well as the continued importance of research and exchanges of knowledge and experience (pilot schemes etc.) between specialists and employers at the international level, for example through online databases and the development of collaborative tools.

GESS Training workshop in Turin

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A training course to take place in September 2008 is organized by the ILO social security department in order to train the members of the department in using the GESS platform.

Interregional Tripartite Meeting on the Future of Social Security in Arab States. Conference documents (in English and Arabic) are available on the conference website

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Interregional Tripartite Meeting on the Future of Social Security in Arab States (Amman, 6-8 May 2008) provided a forum for representatives of Governments, employers and workers to review and assess the current state of social security in the Middle East and North Africa, and to reflect on strategies aiming at extending social security coverage and strengthening social security. The meeting was organized jointly by the International Labour Organization, through its Department of Social Security (Geneva), Regional Office for Arab States (Beirut),and Regional Office for Africa (Addis Ababa) and the Arab Labour Organization. The meeting concretized the recommendations of the ILO Asian and African Regional Meetings (in 2006 and 2007) on social security and provided orientation for the action of the International Labour Office in the framework of its Global Campaign for the extension of social security till 2015. The ILO conclusions of the meeting acknowledge the progress that has been achieved in the past, and call for increased efforts to further improve the design and governance of social security schemes, and to develop effective policies to extend social security coverage to the population including a minimum set of social security guarantees to the population.

You can find links to social security institutions in each country profile of the Region [here].

New Resource online: Performance Indicators for Micro-insurance

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

John Wipf and Denis Garand, 2008

This handbook provides some principles and key indicators for the evaluation of microinsurance performance irrespective of the approach of the scheme (e.g. social-protection or market-based).

Chapter 1 contains definitions, formulas, descriptions and interpretations of the indicators;
Chapter 2 focuses on some of the specific considerations to be taken into account when evaluating performance for certain products and for the partner-agent model;
Chapter 3 introduces the subject of benchmarking;
Chapter 4 explores the topic of social performance.

The handbook, together with a factsheet in the form of an Excel workbook consisting of financial statements adapted for microinsurance practitioners, makes up the toolkit, "Performance Indicators for Microinsurance". Both tools complement each other and are designed to be used together. The handbook complements the factsheet by assisting the reader with the interpretation of the obtained results.

Spanish and French versions of the handbook will be available soon.

MORE INFO:

New Deal for People in the Global Crisis: ILO, UN DESA, UNICEF and HelpAge unite to propose a Global New Deal to deliver worldwide social protection and tackle the effects of today's financial crisis.

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ALL
1 December 2008, 5:15-7:00 pm, Venue: Doha - Dukhan/Sheraton

Michael Cichon during his presentation (source : thepeninsulaqatar.com)

Speakers:
Michael Cichon, Director, Social Security Department, ILO
Isabel Ortiz, Senior Policy Advisor, UN DESA
Silvia Stefanoni, Director, HelpAge International
Gaspar Fajth, Chief UNICEF

In this time of crisis, ILO, UN DESA, UNICEF and HelpAge unite to propose a Global New Deal to deliver worldwide social protection through basic old ageand disability pensions, child benefits, employment programs, and provision of social services.

The Global New Deal, named after the Roosevelt policies following the 1929 crash, also builds on previous studies about the positive impact a basic floor of social security benefits can have in reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Should the international community commit to providing financial support to the Global New Deal, this initiative could help tackle the effects of today's financial crisis.

More info:see flyer

Seminar: "Social Security Education: International Experience", Santiago de Chile, 20 November 2008.

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Chile's Social Security Department organizes a seminar called "Social Security Education: International Experience" ("Educación Previsional: La Experiencia Internacional"). The aim of the initiative is to spur debate on social policies concerning social security education and thereby contribute to developing a national policy for the subject. The seminar is aimed at business owners, workers, politicians and media, as well as representatives of student bodies and academic institutions. More information...

DOMÉSTICOS: Para ter proteção previdenciária é preciso contribuir mensalmente

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Tão importante quanto o emprego, a contribuição para a Previdência Social garante ao trabalhador doméstico a renda para o momento em que não puder trabalhar, seja por doença, invalidez ou idade. Para ter direito aos benefícios previdenciários, basta estar inscrito no Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) e manter as contribuições em dia. É considerado empregado doméstico aquele que trabalha na residência de uma família, que não exerce atividade lucrativa, inclui além do doméstico, a governanta, o cozinheiro, o copeiro, a babá, o enfermeiro, o jardineiro, o motorista particular e o caseiro, entre outros. O diarista nessas ocupações não é considerado empregado doméstico. Inscrição ¿ Para fazer a inscrição do empregado doméstico na Previdência Social, e obter o Número de Inscrição do Trabalhador (NIT), basta telefonar para a Central 135 ou acessar a página na internet (www.previdencia.gov.br), no item serviços. É preciso o número da identidade ou da certidão de nascimento ou casamento, a Carteira de Trabalho e o CPF. O empregador deve pagar todo mês, em qualquer banco, a Guia da Previdência Social (GPS), utilizada para recolhimento da contribuição feita em nome da empregada. Os benefícios devem ser solicitados nas agências da Previdência Social, mas antes é preciso marcar data e hora pelo telefone 135. O salário-maternidade, a pensão por morte e o auxílio-doença podem ser solicitados também pela internet (www.previdencia.gov.br). Para isso, o empregado doméstico deve apresentar alguns documentos específicos para cada tipo de benefício, além da carteira de identidade ou certidão de nascimento ou casamento, carteira de trabalho, título de eleitor, CPF, PIS/Pasep/NIT. Para saber os documentos para cada tipo de benefício, ligue também para 135 ou acesse o site. A ligação é gratuita, se feita de um telefone fixo ou público, e custa o preço de uma ligação local, se feita de celular.Direitos - Para ter direito aos benefícios, além da inscrição no INSS, em alguns casos é preciso um número mínimo de contribuições mensais, chamado período de carência. O auxílio-doença e a aposentadoria por invalidez, por exemplo, exigem carência mínima de 12 contribuições. Não há carência para o pagamento de pensão por morte e auxílio-reclusão, serviço social, reabilitação profissional, salário maternidade, auxílio-doença e aposentadoria por invalidez nos casos de acidentes de qualquer natureza, ou se for acometido da lista de doenças previstas pelo Ministério da Saúde e pelo Ministério da Previdência Social (Portaria Interministerial 2.998/01). No entanto, também é preciso alertar que se o trabalhador perder a condição de segurado (deixar de contribuir), deverá ter no mínimo quatro meses de contribuição para recuperá-la. O empregado doméstico perde a qualidade de segurado após 12 meses sem contribuir, se tiver até 120 contribuições mensais (dez anos). Esse prazo é prorrogado por mais 12 meses se o empregado doméstico tiver mais de 120 contribuições, sem ter perdido a qualidade de segurado. O período de carência é contado a partir do pagamento da primeira contribuição sem atraso, não sendo consideradas para este fim as contribuições recolhidas com atraso. Aposentadoria -Para ter direito à aposentadoria por idade ou por tempo de contribuição, o empregado doméstico também deve ter um mínimo de 180 contribuições mensais (15 anos), no caso dos inscritos a partir de 25 de julho de 1991. Para inscritos antes dessa data, é preciso observar a tabela progressiva, que acrescenta seis meses de contribuição a cada ano. Em 2008, a carência é de 162 contribuições (13,5 anos). É possível, também, se aposentar por tempo de contribuição proporcional. Para esse tipo, o segurado deverá verificar o tempo de serviço que faltava em 16 de dezembro de 1998 para completar 30 anos de contribuição (homem) e 25 anos (mulher). A esse tempo é preciso adicionar 40%, mas para ter direito é preciso ter no mínimo 53 anos (homem) e 48 anos (mulher). Para a aposentadoria integral é necessário comprovar 35 anos de contribuição (homem) e 30 anos (mulher), sem limite de idade. Benefícios - Além das aposentadorias por idade e tempo de contribuição, o empregado doméstico têm direito à aposentadoria por invalidez, quando a perícia médica do INSS considera o empregado total e definitivamente incapaz para o trabalho, seja por doença ou acidente de qualquer natureza; auxílio-doença, se o empregado ficar doente ou sofrer acidente de qualquer natureza; salário maternidade para o período que ficar afastada do trabalho, com duração de 120 dias; auxílio reclusão, pago à família do empregado doméstico que, por qualquer razão, for preso; e pensão por morte, pago ao dependente (marido, mulher, companheiro ou filho não emancipado, menor de 21 anos, pai e mãe, ou irmão não emancipado, menor de 21 anos, nessa ordem). No caso do empregado doméstico, o auxílio-doença envolve também acidentes, mesmo os ocorridos fora do ambiente de trabalho. Informações para a ImprensaMarcos Nunes

Tanzanian Social Fund pilot of conditional cash transfers: experimenting on poorest people?

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO/DfID project in Tanzania has received documents describing a Community-Based Conditional Cash Transfer Pilot being implemented through Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF). The project, as described in these documents - aims to reach the most vulnerable elderly and children, such as those living in child-headed households, orphans and chronically ill children, the very poor or the very sick elderly without a caregiver. In 80 villages, households meeting these eligibility criteria are now being identified, registered and their data input into a database. 40 villages will be randomly selected from the 80 villages, as what is called "treatment" villages and then eligible households will start to be paid benefits early 2009. The payments will continue only if the beneficiaries meet additional behavioural conditions which are linked to school attendance for school-age children and to visits to health facilities for small children and elderly in order to get vaccination or medical examination and advice. Those who are eligible will however receive these benefits for maximum 20 months as the project foresees neither rolling out the scheme nationally nor continuation at least for those who will have acquired benefit entitlements during the pilot.

The eligible poorest households in the other 40 villages will not be given any benefits as they are unlucky to live in a "control" group of villages. How they manage to survive in comparison to those getting benefits will be closely monitored for the purposes of a scientifically designed project's evaluation exercise.

This raises serious ethical concerns. We know from other African pilot cash transfer schemes targeted at the most vulnerable that the majority of beneficiaries identified by communities as the most vulnerable have been surviving before the start of the pilot by begging for food in the neighbourhood. Experimenting on such extremely poor and vulnerable individuals in order just to prove scientifically what is intuitively obvious for everybody - that even small amounts of cash dramatically changes lives of these people - is not acceptable.

I hope, however, that the actual implementation of the project will follow a different path. The benefits should be paid to everybody meeting eligibility criteria in all covered villages. Effectiveness of conditionality can be tested in the following way: households in "treatment" villages receive a supplement to their benefits if they meet the conditionality and only basic benefit if they don't, while to those eligible living in "control villages", no conditionality is applied and they all receive the basic benefit. Basic benefit should be at least at the level foreseen now, that is 100% of the food poverty line for eligible elderly and 50% for eligible children. At the same time, the national debate and supporting analytical work should start to aim at designing, legislating and implementing a national social cash transfer's programme or a set of programmes aimed at various groups. Also, the organizers of the pilot commit themselves to continuing financing and delivering the benefits beyond the planned project's duration to all beneficiaries who became entitled during the duration of the project as long as they are meeting the eligibility conditions.

Any social protection scheme creates an obligation towards the beneficiaries. Even under pilot schemes this obligation should be honoured and interests of the beneficiaries have to be protected. Conditions stated above have thus to be met in case of any pilot, also the one implemented in Tanzania.

Krzystzof Hagemejer

See Tanzania page in GESS

Social security: a key tool for fighting poverty in Africa

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Social security plays a key role in development in Africa, the Rwandan Prime Minister, B. Makuza, declared at the opening of the first regional forum for social security in Africa, organized by ISSA (18 – 20 November 2008 in Kigali, Rwanda). The purpose of this African forum was to prepare the global forum on social security in South Africa in 2010.

An ILO team of social security experts led by the Director of the subregional office in Yaoundé took part in the work.
The ILO experts reiterated the Office’s vision for social security based on its New Consensus as well as the support that the Office can provide in this respect.
For some years the Social Security Department has been developing the necessary tools for providing social security, especially the SPER (Social Protection Expenditure and Performance Reviews). Studies carried out by the Social Security Department have shown that it is possible to extend social security to the entire population and ensure a basic service package in most developing countries, including several African countries. In Africa, the ILO has implemented strategies and methods for extending social security through several technical cooperation projects (particularly STEP). According to ILO, the factor that determines whether a national social protection policy will be successful is the will to give social security priority as a tool for fighting poverty, as the example of Rwanda shows (read the article here).

The African constituents have reaffirmed the essential role of social security in ensuring “a more socially integrated and economically productive development”, and have called for stronger political commitment in order to guarantee social protection for a larger part of the population.

Platform For Health Insurance For The Poor (HIP)

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Platform for Health Insurance for the Poor (HIP) aims to bring together expertise in health care and health insurance in developing countries, both through the platform itself and through regular meetings.

The idea of launching a Dutch health insurance platform arose during a workshop on health insurance in developing countries organised by Cordaid, ICCO, Plan Netherlands and the Dutch governmental Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) in June 2006. Those present noted that health insurance is emerging in middle-income countries as an instrument to improve access to quality health services for those who traditionally have no access to such services. Besides which, the Netherlands has a large network of experts and organisations that wish to explore the field of health insurance.

The platform was set up in order to collect and promote knowledge, innovations and experience on a voluntary basis and to organise both formal and informal gatherings and seminars on the subject. The Platform encourages its members to actively contribute to developing and spreading knowledge in the field of health insurance by sharing findings from research and practices.

MORE INFO:

Visit the HIP website
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Setting social security standards in a global society

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

An analysis of the present state and practice and of future options for global social security standard setting at the International Labour Organisation

In its new series Social Security Policy Briefings, the Social Security Department has just issued a technical paper that outlines and analyses the present situation regarding the ILO Social Security Conventions and the current "Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All", as well as identifying different options for improving the present situation. The paper delineates the possible contribution of the ILO Conventions and Recommendations to the Campaign.

This document is the result of a consultative process and reflects inputs and comments from the academic world and from ILO constituents. Access the paper via GESS

Addressing lack of access to health care through community based financing in Yemen

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

UEMOA: Ministers in charge of social insurance recommend adoption of social insurance regulation project

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On 7 November, 2008, the West African economic and monetary union (UEMOA) member states’ Ministers in charge of social insurance met in the UEMOA Council of Ministers room.

At the end of the meeting, the Ministers recommended to the UEMOA Statutory Council of Ministers that they adopt the regulation project concerning regulation of social insurance within the UEMOA.

In addition, they advised the member states to:

put in place an administrative body for social insurance and a National Guarantee Fund and mobilize material, human and financial resources necessary for them to function;
put in place programmes to reinforce social insurance capacity;
develop a extension policy document as well as an action plan.

ILO introduces new social security training programme

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The International Labour Organization, in collaboration with the Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies (UWI) - Mona campus, hosted a four-day training programme on Actuarial Methods and Social Security Financing for non-specialists on 1-4 December 2008, at the Mona School of Business, UWI.

The programme is part of the ILO's new training initiatives - QUATRAIN - AMERICAS, which was launched by the Social Security Department of the ILO (Geneva) in cooperation with the International Training Centre of the ILO based in Turin, Italy, to strengthen the capacity of governments, employers and trade unionists, in the fields of actuarial methods and the financing of social protection.

The training programme will provide basic knowledge and management tools needed for managing social security schemes. It is being organized in response to requests from the region for enhanced knowledge and expertise in quantitative techniques related to social security schemes. Programme participants will include technical staff of various ministries as well as representatives of National Insurance Schemes, and of employers' and workers' organizations from across the Caribbean region.

Using a highly participatory approach, the programme covers topics such as: international trends in social security financing; basic actuarial and financial elements of social security financing; basic elements of modelling of pension schemes and health care schemes; financial governance of social security; and social security investments.

The training will be delivered by international and regional experts from the International Labour Office, Geneva; the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS) based in Mexico; the Occupational Safety and Health Commission (CSST) based in Quebec, Canada, and an ILO external collaborator from the Dominican Republic.

QUATRAIN - AMERICAS was designed to equip constituents so that they could work towards achieving the Decent Work Agenda in the Americas (2006-2015), which has, as one of goals, to strengthen and extend the coverage of social protection schemes.

What's new on GIMI and GESS?

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A "user's module" has been created on the GIMI and GESS platforms. It aims to make it easier for users to communicate with each other... and make themselves known to others.

When users log in to their Personal Space, a mini personalised home page comes up.

By clicking on Show/Edit my profile , users can add personal information (pictures, a few sentences describing themselves so that other users can look up profiles) and edit their profiles when and as they wish.

Users now have access to the List of users, as well as each other's profiles and can know who is connected at any given time. A search option allows users to look up other users according to specific criteria.

Come and update your profile now!

MORE INFO:

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Employees' Provident Fund, the ILO proposes a "basic social security floor" for Sri Lanka: 11th September 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Employees Provident Fund; a contributory old-age benefit scheme for Sri Lanka's private sector workers established in 1958, reached the milestone of its 50th Anniversary in 2008. A celebration was held in Colombo on 11th September, addressed by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister of Labour, the President of the Trade Union Federation and the President of the Ceylon Employers' Federation. The Director General of the ILO Juan Somavia gave his congratulations by video and Michael Cichon, Director of the Social Security Department of the ILO, made a presentation on the present and future role of social security in Sri Lanka.

The EPF constitutes perhaps the most important old-age benefit scheme in Sri Lanka, both in terms of persons covered and of assets. On the occasion of the scheme's 50th anniversary, the Minister of Labour announced a number of proposals for the amendment of the EPF including administrative enhancements; the introduction of a national identity number and online balance checks, as well as various benefit modifications. Possibilities for extending coverage to the self-employed and for increasing the representation of employers and workers in the management of the scheme were also raised. More info

The anniversary also provided the occasion for Michael Cichon to present the findings of the ILO's diagnostic review of Sri Lanka's social security system. The ILO put forward its proposal for an approach to social security provision centred on the guarantee of a "basic social security package" for all citizens/ residents. The concept of the "basic social security package", recently developed by the ILO's Social Security Department is based on a framework of four essential social security guarantees: access to basic health benefits, income security for children with the aim of facilitating access to basic education and health, targeted income support for the poor and unemployed and basic pensions to provide income security for people in old age, those with disabilities and survivors. In essence this framework is applicable in any country, with suitable adaptations to fit national circumstances, and the ILO's research indicates that it is fiscally affordable in low-income countries.

See the study Can low-income countries afford basic social security?

While noting that Sri Lanka has one of the most developed social security systems in the region, the ILO has identified key areas for the extension of coverage in its Advisory Report which also includes a detailed simulation exercise to assess the affordability of achieving a basic package of social security benefits. A PowerPoint Presentation summarising the ILO's findings is also available.

See the profile of Sri Lanka in GESS

Cost of illness: Evidence from a study in five resource-poor locations in India

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

David M. Dror , Olga van Putten-Rademaker and Ruth Koren. InIndian Journal of Medical Research, April 2008

Background & Objectives: In India, health services are funded largely through out-of-pocket spending (OOPS). The objective of this article is to provide data on the cost of an illness episode and parameters affecting cost.

Methods: The data was obtained through a household survey carried out in 2005 in five locations among resource-poor persons in rural or slum India. The analysis is based on self-reported illness episodes and their costs. The study is based on 3,531 households (representing 17,323 persons) and 4,316 illness episodes.

Results: The median cost of one illness episode was INR 340. When costs were calculated as percentage of monthly income per person, the median value was 73% of that monthly income, and could reach as much as 780% among the 10% most exposed households. The estimated median per-capita cost of illness was 6% of annual per-capita income. The ratio of direct costs to indirect costs was 67:30. The cost of illness was lower among females in all age groups, due to lower indirect costs. 61% of total illnesses, costing 37.4% of total OOPS, were due to acute illnesses; chronic diseases represented 17.7% of illnesses but 32% of costs. Our study shows that hospitalizations were the single most costly component on average, yet they accounted for only 11% of the total on an aggregated basis, compared to drugs that accounted for 49% of total aggregated costs. Locations differ from each other in terms of the absolute cost of care, in terms of the distribution of items composing the total cost of care, and in supply.

Interpretation & Conclusion: Interventions to reduce the cost of illness should be context-specific, as there is no one-size-fits-all model to establish the cost of healthcare for the entire sub-continent. Aggregated expenses, rather than only hospitalizations, can cause catastrophic consequences of illness. Download the paper from Microinsurance Academy

Addressing lack of access to health care through community based financing in Yemen

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Sana'a, Yemen - Started in 2005, ILOs work on social health protection in Yemen focused on exploring ways to extend social health protection. To this extent, after a mission to Yemen in 2005 the project was kick-started with a pre-feasibility study to examine how social health protection and access to health services can be improved for the poor. The aim, in particular, was to examine whether community-financing mechanisms might help to improve access to health care. Lack of access to health care exists in Yemen for the following main reasons:

high cost of health care (especially high direct costs);
lack of availability of medicines;
maternal and child health care especially require attention (due to issues of gendered access to health care, where women choose to forsake health care in order not to inconvenience anyone);
low quality of health services.

In addition to this, like many low- and middle-income countries, the majority of the population in Yemen faces the problem of an access deficit. While 85% of its population resides in the rural area, the majority of the available health care is situated in the urban areas. Significantly, while the ratio of qualified health personnel to the population has been rising in recent years, inadequate staffing of health facilities is also an important concern.

ILOs activities in Yemen have looked at extending social health protection in the face of these challenges, with the idea of addressing the financial barriers in particular through implementing community based financing initially. ILOs above activities regarding extending social health protection in Yemen suggest that conditions are in place for effective community financing. Community financing is a building block towards enhanced social protection in health. Alongside the strengthening of the current tax-financed public health service, commercial health insurance, Social health insurance and Community financing provide opportunities to increase access to care and financial protection. Community financing is especially useful to target population groups active in the informal economy. These groups are typically amongst the poorer segments of the population.

The core conditions for community financing are in place in Yemen, at least when the analysis is applied at the national level. However, there is wide variance in local-level factors such as the quality of available care, the degree to which local communities are closely-knit and households' financial resources for health. This indicates that the feasibility of community financing schemes can only be locally confirmed. Undoubtedly there will be some localities where community financing is not an element of a solution towards greater access to health care and financial protection.There's but one way to know if community financing in Yemen has a great potential in financing health care and providing social protection: that is to implement the approach in a pilot and then on a wider scale through a nation-wide programme. Pilots in different areas should be documented and learning organised so that practitioners as well as policy makers can draw lessons to increase the effectiveness of extending social health protection in the future.

Social Protection Virtual Campus Launched At The ILC: 9 June 2008, ILO, Geneva, Switzerland

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Based on advanced technology in the field of distance learning, the Virtual Campus was launched on the 9th June during the 97th Session of the International Labour Conference. This electronic platform represents a portal giving access to training offered by the International Training Centre in Turin and QUATRAIN AMERICAS. The Virtual Campus is multilingual and is integrated with the other specialised platforms of the Social Security Department.

The Social Protection Virtual Campus is a portal for the creation and dissemination of interdisciplinary knowledge. Its objective is to develop both institutional capacities and the competence of individuals in order to improve the effectiveness and the extent of coverage of social protection systems. This is achieved by means of distance learning, technical co-operation, exchange of information and experience and the formation of networks of contacts and knowledge.

Professionals from social protection institutions, representatives of employers and workers, academics, researchers, students, NGO professionals and other interested parties are invited to share this ongoing learning and communication workspace

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"Basic pensions and child support are effective means of getting ..." states Juan Somavia, Director-General, ILO.

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

"Basic pensions and child support are effective means of getting vital cash into the poorest communities and together with basic health care schemes have a direct impact on poverty, preventing ..." More information ...

Experiencia con la OIT/curso

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Regreso a mi Pais con la satisfaccion de haber participado en el curso que ha brindado la OIT sobre Estrategias para la Extension de la Proteccion Social para Trabajadores Autonomos y Migrantes. El Tema es tan importante que nos comprometemos a divulgarlo mediante escritos en columnas de opinion en los medios escritos de mi pais, de tal manera de coadyuvar la concienciacion sobre la tematica en los momentos en que Panama se presta a la promocion de una Ley sobre el sistema unico de prestacion de salud el cual tiene resistencia de algunos actores sociales que forman opinion en mi Pais.

ILO Asia-Pacific Regional High Level Meeting On Socially-Inclusive Strategies To Extend Social Security Coverage: 19-20 May 2008, New Delhi, India

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This High Level Regional Meeting brought together representatives of Governments, Workers and Employers with the aim of reviewing the range of strategies pursued by the 21 participant countries in view of achieving the ILO "Asian Decent Work Decade" objectives launched in 2006. The meeting provided a platform for delegates to share experiences regarding ways of extending social security coverage and dealing with emerging challenges; helping them to identify good practices and foster consensus on ways to proceed. Given the strong emphasis on practical experiences, a large number of technical papers presenting country-specific case studies were produced and disseminated in conjunction with the Regional Meeting; the list of documents can be accessed via the ILO website and the papers can be downloaded via the GIMI and GESS Resources sections.

Over the course of the meeting it was stressed that the State must play a central role in ensuring that economic growth is accompanied by measures to promote equity, and in involving employers and workers in the dialogue on social security. In particular the question of reaching out to the informal sector was addressed and due attention was given to the specific social security needs of women. The ILO notably introduced the concept of a "Social Floor", encompassing a set of four basic social security benefits.

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Grants for microinsurance in the Philippines (Asian Development Bank)

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $1 million grant for the Philippines, intended for a project called Developing Microinsurance and another $9.41 million worth of technical assistance grants for 11 projects in the Philippines last year.

More information

New CLASS Membership Form- Sign Up!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Community Led Association for Social Security (India) has launched a new membership form. CLASS membership is open to all community-based organisations, institutions and individuals who are committed to the CLASS mission of establishing community-led social security systems in India with the aim of providing the unorganised sector and other disadvantaged communities with valuable, transparent and inclusive social security risk management solutions.

Membership is divided into three different categories to reflect different types of engagement: Core membership, Individual Associate membership and Institutional membership. Each core member organisation has voting rights and can send two representatives to the Board of CLASS at the national level. See the CLASS homepage from which you can access the membership form

ILO Social Security Department stresses the importance of ILO Standards in times of economic distress and calls for ratification of Convention 102

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On the occasion of the welcoming address of the International Social Security Association Bureau on 15 October, Michael Cichon, Director of the ILO Social Security Department, launches a major request to support ratification of Convention 102. The ILO sees Convention 102 as one of the central safeguard of benefit levels of contributors and tax payers against the fall-outs for financial meltdowns of major long-term economic recession. The benefit levels required by Convention 102 should be used by ILO member states as social guarantees, that can even underpin pension schemes in times of economic distress.

Brasil e Alemanha assinam acordo previdenciário em 2009

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Da Redação (Brasilia) ¿ Os governos do Brasil e da Alemanha podem assinar, até o final de 2009, um acordo bilateral de previdência social que permitirá a contagem de tempo de contribuição aos regimes previdenciários, dos dois países, para obtenção de benefícios, como aposentadoria por idade e invalidez, pensão por morte, auxílio-doença, salário maternidade e seguro acidente de trabalho. A previsão foi feita nesta segunda-feira (27), pelo ministro da Previdência Social, José Pimentel, e pelo vice-ministro do Trabalho e Assuntos Sociais alemão, Klaus Brandner, após audiência em Brasília. O encontro marcou a abertura da segunda rodada de negociação entre os dois países, que vai ocorrer até sexta-feira, em Brasília. As discussões foram iniciadas em julho deste ano, em Berlim, pelo secretário de Políticas de Previdência Social, Helmut Schwarzer, e resultaram na assinatura de um protocolo de intenções. Os dois ministros afirmaram que a similaridade entre as regras dos dois sistemas previdenciários facilitará a definição de regras que atendam tanto aos alemães, que vivem no Brasil, quanto os brasileiros, que residem naquele país. O ministro José Pimentel destacou o grande interesse do Brasil em estabelecer um acordo previdenciário com a Alemanha e apresentou à delegação alemã as principais características do sistema previdenciário brasileiro. Klaus Brandner, por sua vez, disse estar sensibilizado com o empenho do governo brasileiro em formular os termos do acordo. Ele destacou que esse tipo de política é uma importante medida que todos os países do mundo devem adotar para atender às novas demandas sociais geradas pelo processo de globalização. Durante o encontro, os dois ministros falaram ainda da importância de ocuparem cargos no Executivo de seus países e, ao mesmo tempo, pertencerem ao parlamento ¿ ambos são deputados federais -, destacando que esse vínculo facilita a aprovação de leis que beneficiam muito a população. O ministro José Pimentel ressaltou que essa dupla representatividade resulta num diálogo ainda melhor entre os dois poderes. Ele afirmou que a ratificação dos acordos internacionais pelo Legislativo ¿ exigência legal para que as regras entrem em vigor -, por exemplo, torna-se ainda mais rápida, se o ministro é oriundo do Congresso Nacional. Nas reuniões dos próximos dias, os representantes do governo alemão irão apresentar, aos técnicos do Ministério da Previdência Social, detalhes do sistema previdenciário alemão. Na seqüência, os dois grupos irão iniciar a discussão sobre as regras que poderão ser incorporadas ao acordo. A base do debate será o protocolo de intenções assinado na Alemanha, em julho. Segundo o secretário Helmut Schwarzer, a assinatura de um acordo com a Alemanha representa a retomada, por parte daquele país, da política de convênios com países da América Latina. Também vai sinalizar positivamente para outros países da Europa que queiram estabelecer parcerias com o Brasil, destacou Schwarzer. Segundo levantamento do Ministério da Previdência Social, cerca de 46 mil brasileiros vivem atualmente na Alemanha, enquanto cerca de 27 mil alemães estão radicados no Brasil.

Courses On The Extension Of Social Protection: Dakar, Senegal and Turin, Italy, November 2008

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Two courses on the extension of social security coverage to excluded populations will be held in Turin, Italy from the 3rd-14th of November 2008 (in English) and Dakar, Senegal from the 17th-28th November 2008 (in French).

The courses will focus on the latest strategies developed across the world for the extension of coverage of statutory social protection systems and the development of innovative schemes. The basic social security floor advocated by the ILO, which aims to provide at least a minimum level of coverage to every citizen of a country will be presented. Another key theme that will be addressed is how to forge linkages between decentralised community schemes and other forms of social protection.

The courses objective is to strengthen the capacities of actors working on the extension of social protection coverage to informal economy workers and their families and other groups excluded from formal systems. The courses are targeted at political decision-makers working in ministries concerned with social protection, leaders and managers of organisations involved in the promotion and organisation of social protection, representatives of employers and workers as well as those of international organisations.

The courses have been organised by the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, in close collaboration with the ILO Social Security Department in Geneva; in particular its STEP Programme, as well as the sub-regional offices of the ILO in Yaoundé and Dakar.

For the course to be held in Turin: the participation fee, due in advance and excluding international travel, is 3155 Euros.

For the course to be held in Dakar: the participation fee, due in advance and excluding international travel, is 3100 Euros.

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Contact Ms Miriam Boudraa

1st round of GRANTS for RESEARCH on MICROINSURANCE

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Microinsurance Innovation Facility and the European Development Research Network (EUDN) invite academic researchers to submit proposals for research that will contribute new knowledge to support microinsurance development in developing countries.

The research proposals should follow guidelines, and should be sent to microinsurance@fundp.ac.be by 29th January 2009 at 12pm (noon) Central European Time.

New fiscal investment plan of CNY4000 billion (US$588 billion) for 2008-2010

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Facing the currently unfolding global economic crisis, the Chinese Government decided, on 5 November 2008, to inject a total of CNY4,000 billion (US$588 billion) over a period of the next two years (until 2010) to stimulate domestic demand and promote economic growth. It is about 78.4% of the overall general revenues and 16.2% of GDP generated in 2007. Some economists projected that it would spur the economy to grow 2 per cent more, securing an 8.5% growth for 2009.

This sum will be distributed to ten areas, but the detailed distribution plan has not been released for the moment. At any rate, social security, in general, will be part of the plan. Consistently, Mr. Zhang, Vice Premier, said at the Third China Social Security Forum held in Beijing on 7 November 2008, only two days after making the above-mentioned decision, that more fiscal resources will be allocated to social security, especially to basic pension and basic health insurance for urban residents and to rural social security.

For more information, see news.xinhuanet.com. 新华网北京11月9日电国务院总理温家宝5日主持召开国务院常务会议，研究部署进一步扩大内需促进经济平稳较快增长的措施。

See the profile of China in GESS

Intellecap's Microfinance Insights Magazine Volume 5 : Focus On Microinsurance

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

"Mitigating risks for the poor" in Focus on Microinsurance", Microfinance Insights, Vol. 5, December 2007, Intellecap

"Microfinance Insights" devotes this volume to Microinsurance. The magazine contains articles by worldwide experts, gathered at the Third Annual Microinsurance Conference held in Mumbai, India (see G-News N° 3).

Recognizing the role of insurance as a tool in improving the protection of low-income persons against contingencies and as a field of innovation, this volume highlights strategies that would make microinsurance more efficient for beneficiaries and commercially viable for insurers.

In this vein, Michael J. McCord states in an interview that there are three major challenges for the microinsurance sector to develop products that really respond to the needs of clients, to enhance delivery channels and to demystify microinsurance through the education of the population. He also suggests that the partner-agent model is the most promising option for scaling up microinsurance activities.

The question of distribution is also widely discussed in this volume.

In the field of innovations and best practices, the role of intermediaries between insurers and clients, MFIs, community-based organizations, mutual benefit societies and private insurers are analysed in different articles. Regulation and capacity building of intermediary institutions are mentioned as being two major factors of progress to address the vulnerability of the poor to risks.Finally, "Microfinance Insights" dedicates an article to the handbook entitled "Microinsurance Performance Indicators", in which authors develop several indicators to measure the financial performance of programmes aimed at delivering insurance to the poor.

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MGEN, IE and AIM LAUNCH an Education and Solidarity Network

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Three organisations concerned with the development, coordination and strengthening of solidarity-based social protection systems; IE (Education International), AIM (International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies) and MGEN (Mutual of National Education, France), are preparing the launch of an Education and Solidarity Network.

The rationale of the Network lies in the recognition of educational professionals as key agents in the promotion of solidarity-based social protection systems worldwide; whether operating among teaching professionals or extended to the population at large.

Focusing on social protection models that are based on the essential values of solidarity, non-profit motives and democratic management, the activities of the Education and Solidarity Network will include the development and sharing of tools, expertise and best practices, as well as the launching of targeted training programmes.

The partner organisations bring together their collective strength in their respective fields: acting as a worldwide federation of trade unions, Education International represents 30 million workers in the teaching profession in 171 countries, while AIM brings together 41 national federations of mutual associations and in turn MGEN is a forerunning mutual health organisation in France, covering 3.3 million educational professionals and their dependents. The three partners behind the Network will provide financial and technical aid to projects and the ILO-STEP Programme will bring its vast technical knowledge and experience to the Network in a supporting role.

The Education and Solidarity Network website is available in English, French and Spanish. A series of awareness-raising meetings will be held worldwide thanks to AIM, IE and ILO-STEP in order to identify and inform prospective members. The Network launch will take place at an International Conference on the 14th and 15th May 2009 in Paris.

See the ESN website

ILO applauds India's effort to increase social security coverage

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

At the Asia-Pacific Regional High-Level meeting on strategies to extend social security coverage organized by the ILO which took place on the 19th and 20th May in New Delhi, the ILO praised India's efforts to extend social security coverage through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the recent launching of various insurance schemes targeting the poorest segments of the population. These include for instance the health insurance scheme "Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana" (RSBY) which targets below poverty line workers in the informal sector and their families and aims to cover 300 million people in five years.

New Resource online: Extension of Social Security to BPL Workers. Rashtrya Swasthya Bima Yojana Planning Situation

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Extension of Social Security - Discussion Paper Series, 2006-2015 Asian Decent Work Decade, ILO Sub-regional Office for South Asia, 2008

Within the framework of the new Minimal Social Security Programme targeting unorganized workers, the Government of India released the guidelines to the implementation of a new health insurance scheme called Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), encouraging various State Governments to implement it. The scheme targets in its first phase workers living below the poverty line and their families - about 300 million people. Responding positively, almost all State Governments in India are now committed to be part of this Central Government sponsored initiative, and 11 States have started preparing for the implementation process. This discussion paper, prepared under the Communities-Led Association for Social Security (CLASS) initiative, provides an overview of the main features of the health insurance scheme and its operational mechanisms, assesses its development potential in the various States and reviews the main opportunities and challenges faced by the scheme; especially in relation to efficient partnership arrangements, which may be seen as a key element for the successful implementation of any health insurance scheme targeting the poor.

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New Resource online. Health Insurance In Low-Income Countries: Where Is The Evidence That It Works?

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Joint NGO Briefing Paper: Oxfam International, Action for Global Health, Médecins du Monde, Save the Children UK, Plan, Global Health Advocates, Act Up Paris, 2008

This joint NGO briefing paper provides a critical analysis of different forms of health insurance as mechanisms for the financing and provision of healthcare coverage to people living in poverty.

In view of the current debates on the role of health insurance as a key means of financing healthcare in low-income countries, this paper urgesfor caution on the part of donors and governments; arguing that if a government fails to implement the necessary accompanying measures and to mobilise adequate resources, health insurance mechanisms may even have an adverse effect on the equity and efficiency of healthcare schemes.

This paper suggests that the current practice of assessing insurance schemes in terms of the advantages they bring to their particular membership fails to account for their impact on entire populations, and in particular on people living in poverty who cannot afford prepayments. A revision of evaluation criteria is needed, with greater attention being paid to ¿vertical equity' i.e. differential access according to people's different needs in recognition of the existence of vulnerable groups. Insurance schemes should be measured in terms of their contribution to the ultimate end of providing universal access to quality healthcare. The forms of health insurance discussed in this paper are: Private Health Insurance (PHI), Private for-profit Micro Health insurance, Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) and Social Health Insurance (SHI). Examining each form of health insurance against the revised criteria in turn, this paper seeks to present what are considered to be the practical challenges confronting each mechanism, giving evidence drawn from case studies of low-income countries (and to a lesser extent those of higher-income countries) in each instance. The third part of this paper discusses the importance of national commitment to public spending on health and the crucial need for global solidarity. Access the NGO paper via GIMI

Is A Social Security Floor Affordable? 15 May 2008, ILO, Geneva, Switzerland

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In his presentation at the 26th Decent Work Forum, organized by the ILO's Policy Integration Department, Michael Cichon - Director of the ILO's Social Security Department- stressed that social security is not only a human right but also a social and economic necessity. Based on the study "Can low-income countries afford basic social security?", which involved a simulation exercise undertaken in 12 countries, he also asserted that basic social security for all is fiscally affordable in low-income countries.

Within this framework, the ILO proposes a set of guarantees as a "social security floor":

All residents have access to basic/essential health care benefits through pluralistic delivery mechanisms, with the State accepting general responsibility for ensuring the adequacy of the delivery system and its financing;
All children enjoy a level of income security at least at the poverty level through various family/child benefits aimed at facilitating access to nutrition, education and care;
Some targeted income support is provided to the poor and the unemployed in the active age group;
All elderly residents and those with disabilities enjoy income security at least at the poverty level through pensions for old age, disability and survivors.

The implementation of this set of guarantees is conditional on the efforts of the low-income countries themselves in conjunction with international donor support. The strategy expounded in this study is based on the premise that if the countries in question increase the level of domestic expenditure allocated to social protection (rather than maintaining current levels of allocation), they will progressively be able to finance 100% of the package themselves in the long run.

Moreover, the experience of various countries demonstrates that a variety of financing strategies are used and that linkages between different actors can be a key element in this process.

It is important to mobilize populations' ability and willingness to pay, but on a broader scale, strategies at national and international levels can be implemented as well:

governments can increase the amount of resources allocated to social protection;
efforts can be made in favour of national solidarity; through cross subsidies from social taxes, supplementary taxes (for example on hydrocarbons, the national lottery, etc.);
action can be taken to promote international solidarity; through global funds, innovative financing such as taxes on flight tickets, global social trust, migrants' transfers to their families, etc.

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Shanghai: Improving access to health care through rationalizing the distribution of health institutions

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

To materilize the goal of Health care for all, it requires not only adequate financing provisions like health insurance, but also adequate services at people's disposal.

The Government of Shanghai Municipality has taken a series of measures to address the supply of health services. It should note that Shanghai is the largest and oldest city in China in terms of population, the number of which amounted to almost 19 million (2008) while the proportion of the inhabitants aged 60 and over exceeded 20 percent (2007) in comparison with the national average of 11 percent (2007). The extent of need for health care is therefore considerably large. To ensure that every resident, regardless of where he / she lives in Shanghai, has quality health services disposable within a reasonable distance, the Government of Shanghai has been implementing a project called "Health services available within 1560". "15" referres to 15 minutes and "60" to 60 minutes. Having made 15 years' efforts in developing the urban community health services, the distribution of 232 community health centres and 686 community health points over the urban area of Shanghai is now able to guarantee that within 15 minutes' walking distance, an inhabitant can get primary care from one of these community health centre or point. Meanwhile, the establishment of 1760 village health points ensures each village possesses one health point. Health care quality is the other side of the coin of the "1560" project. To provide those living in the suburbs of Shanghai with specilised health care within 60 minutes of driving, the Municipal Governmant plans to set up a total of 9 specialised hospital with around 600 beds each in 9 suburb disctricts /counties over a period of five years (2009-2014).

Senegal: Social Protection Expenditure And Performance Review Now Available

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Senegal. Social Protection Expenditure and Performance Review (SPER), a report prepared by Pascal Annycke, ILO, 2008.

New resource now available in the GIMI and GESS libraries. This eight-chapter report based on national and international sources as well as the ILO Social Security Inquiry for 2003 and 2004, analyses Senegal's current social security systems. The report, which is organised according to the different branches of social security, examines the different schemes' expenditures and the level of benefits paid, evaluates the rate of coverage for each type of risk covered and analyses projects designed to extend social security coverage. See the report (in French)

Training Programme On Social Protection For The Americas

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO's new training programme on quantitative methods applied to social protection (QUATRAIN AMERICAS) presents in its newsletter No. 2 (June) its agenda of activities for 2008 that will be undertaken in close collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO, in Turin. Courses, seminars and workshops are taught via distance learning or through direct participation.

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See the QUATRAIN newsletter

Micro Insurance Academy (MIA) & Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) Join Hands To Promote Cooperative-Based Micro Health Insurance

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In May of this year, the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and the Micro Insurance Academy (MIA) conducted a Promoter Training exercise as part of an exciting new project to bring micro health insurance to poor communities in and around Warangal City, Andhra Pradesh, India. This event took place as the result of an earlier MIA-facilitated Initiation Workshop in which CDF and a number of self-help groups/cooperatives which it supports, agreed to add health insurance to their existing mutual life insurance offerings available since 2000.

With training and promotional materials provided by the MIA, CDF is now equipped to roll out its customized Swakrushi Cooperative Based Health Insurance Scheme (SCOBHIS), which in turn will extend micro health insurance to over 500,000 poor persons across 300 villages in the districts of Warangal, Karimnagar, and Medak. CDF and the MIA anticipate that this collaboration will continue over the next few years as the number of individuals insured under the SCOBHIS scheme increases.

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The Municipal Council of Kribi, Cameroon, gets involved in the promotion of mutual health organisations

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The executive of the Municipal Council of Kribi, Cameroon, concerned by the welfare of the people and by the difficulties they experience in getting access to healthcare; and under the strong recommendation of the Deputy Mayor of Kribi 1 Massaka (Dr. Mbvoula Joël Aristide), decided to set up a mutual health organisation in order to facilitate access to healthcare for people of all different social backgrounds living in the community.

Aware that a degree of sensitivity would be required to carry out this social project, the municipal council entrusted the NGO ASSA with the task of carrying out feasibility studies and providing technical support to help set up the MHO.

The feasibility study showed that the user rate of the health services in the town of Kribi was very low (13%). The critical lack of equipment was driving the people of Kribi to seek treatment in the hospitals of neighbouring towns, like Edéa, Douala or Yaoundé. The level of self-treatment was very high. Health services were only being used as a second or third resort.

Thanks to the feasibility report, a group of Kribi nationals living abroad took up the cause and offered a whole set of medical equipment for the Radiology Department of the Kribi district hospital.

The official opening ceremony of the Kribi community mutual health organisation took place on the 11th April 2008 under the patronage of the Prefect of the Océan Department of Cameroon and in the presence of every administrative, health, religious and traditional official of Kribi.

With regards to the treatment of members, the MHO has signed agreements with four health providers (two public, one faith-based and one private).

The mutual health initiative will help the people of Kribi to gain access to healthcare because it allows for third-party payment and will undoubtedly contribute to increasing user rates of health services.

Universalisation of health care

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The health system in Peru composed by the scheme of Essalud, the public health scheme and the integral social security insurance will be unified by the end of 2008

The World Bank creates the "Insurance for the Poor" program

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The "Insurance for the Poor" (IfP) Program has been recently established within the Financial and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency of the World Bank. The Program follows a market enhancement approach, recognizing that market failures can create sub-optimal wealth allocation and that private sector coordination is not always effective.

The World Bank already supports a wide range of insurance initiatives that directly benefit the target group (the poor), for example, expanding life insurance provision in rural India, piloting health savings accounts with catastrophic health insurance in Uganda, etc. Other such initiatives operate at the country level and indirectly help the poor; such as promoting sovereign catastrophe insurance in the Caribbean and supporting legislation to extend insurance coverage to the poor in Cambodia.

More info:

ILO Releases The Social Protection Expenditure And Performance Review (SPER) for Zambia: 4th July 2008, Lusaka, Zambia

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Social Protection Expenditure and Performance Review (SPER) and Social Budget (SB) Report and Executive Summary are products of the first year of work of the ILO/DFID-funded project in Zambia: "ILO Global Campaign for Social Protection and Coverage for All as a Means to Reducing Poverty in Africa and Asia". The "SPER" is one of the key tools of the ILO's Social Security Department for assessing social protection systems and for providing an overview of these systems for the country in question.

The main finding is that neither existing contributory (social insurance) nor non-contributory (social assistance) social security provisions are adequate in terms of the numbers of the population covered, the scope of coverage and the adequacy of benefits/ payments received. This in a context in which half of the population is extremely poor, living below the poverty line, and almost two-thirds are living below the basic needs poverty line and thus moderately poor or worse. Preliminary analysis shows that Zambia could afford a basic package of social protection; universal old age pensions, targeted cash transfers and child benefits. In the longer run this package would cost no more than 1.5% of GDP and would build the foundations of a modern social protection system.

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The Gaya Mutual Health Organisation (Senegal): An Example of Partnership

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The creation of a mutual health organisation in December 2004 was part of a wider community health project; a section of which was devoted to the prevention of malaria, within the general strategy of the NGO Le Partenariat in supporting the health district. The Gaya mutual health organisation benefited from the support of promoters (Promosaf and Le Partenariat) during the creation and development process. The various partners (health district officials, Le Parternatiat, Promusaf etc.) co-operated in view of responding to the high demand of the population for a means of facilitating access to health services.

As well as the technical and financial support of the promoters (Promusaf and Le Partenariat), the partners set up a working capital fund designed to promote agricultural exploitation (tomato and potato crops). One third of the net income from this agricultural exploitation will be set aside for the reinforcement of the solvency margin.

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ADAMS Programme Health Sponsoring

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The idea behind the ADAMS programme's health sponsoring project is to enable the African Diaspora to play a more significant and effective role in improving their relatives' healthcare access.

Paying their families' contributions in advance (a yearly 20 to 40 Euros per person) can avoid the stressful last minute calls and the excessively high transfer fees (Western Union...). Morover, the yearly fee is smaller than the total sums sent over per year and per person, and once the family is protected they are better taken care of (prevention, illnesses are treated in the early stages, follow-ups).

The idea has received positive feedback from those members of the Diaspora who have already been contacted; via community networks, international radios (Africa No1, RFI), restaurants, hair salons and www.parrainagesante.org to name but a few. To date, 25 sponsors have joined the project.

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CNAM Paris: Certificate Of Specialisation In Public Health And Development

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The National Conservatory of Arts and Trades (CNAM) in Paris is offering a 120-hour high-level specialised course on Public Health and Development, chaired by the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner. Designed for those already practising in the field (i.e. doctors, economists, statisticians, public health administrators, specialists in third world development etc.) this cross-disciplinary course comprises a series of 30 lectures given by specialists; all experts in their field, offering both theoretical and practical insight on health, access to healthcare, public health, health insurance and sustainable economic development. The deadline for applications is the 26th September 2008.

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Access the course brochure & inscription info via GIMI

HEALTH PROTECTION NEEDS ASSESMENT SURVEY IN SRI LANKA

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

In Sri Lanka, large parts of the population are left without any kind of protection against social risks. Recognizing that microfinance could be used as an efficient tool to fight poverty, the country has already built over the last few years a unique development experience using various methodologies and approaches to reach poor communities, especially poor women. Many organizations dealing with microfinance activities have already expanded the scope of their interventions to other areas including insurance services. The need for an effective health protection mechanism clearly appears to be a top priority everywhere. The ILO has therefore conducted a health protection needs assessment survey to fully explore the possibility of developing a new innovative microfinance and micro-insurance approach.

Improving Social Protection in Azerbaijan

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Although according to official data the proportion of the population living under the poverty line has decreased from about 50% in 2001 to about 20% in 2007, a lot remains to be done in order to fight poverty.The Programme for social rehabilitation of low income families has been set-up by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population with technical assistance from the European Union's EuropeAid Tacis Programme. This project is implemented by a consortium of three European organizations: Helsinki Consulting Group Ltd. (Finland), Emergences (a French non-profit association), and BBJ Consult AG (Germany). As an initial step, Emergences has arranged for officials to go to France in order to study the European experience in the field of social assistance mechanisms aiming at sustainable poverty reduction. The pilot initiatives including case management practices and close collaboration between public institutions and civil society organizations are tested in selected regions. Today, one may be rather optimistic about the latest developments: in general the financial resources are available in Azerbaijan, even though the coordination of all the social actions will be a major challenge.
Andrei Tretyak, expert in economic and social development emergences

Journées d'études sur le financement des retraites au Maroc

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Les organismes de sécurité sociale du Maroc ont organisé des Journées d'études sur le fi The provisional regulation of the community health administration for the Health Insurance scheme for Urban Residents (HIUR scheme) was made public today by the Ministry of Health. It requires that all community-based health institutes should establish a health file for each resident and household, provide continuous health education, health administration, home-visit services and after-treatment services, and place emphasis on specific groups such as the elderly, women, children, the disabled, low-income, those with chronic and catastrophic diseases.
For more information, see news.xinhuanet.com nancement des retraites, les 25 et 26 février 2008.
Plusieurs experts en provenance de plusieurs institutions marocaines, de l'OIT, de la Banque mondiale , de l'OCDE et des universitaires ont été invités à participer aux échanges.
Cet espace rendra compte des résultats des travaux.

India: Extension of Social Security to BPL Workers - Rashtrya Swasthya Bima Yojana Planning Situation

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The present document, prepared under CLASS initiative, provides an overview of the main features and operational mechanisms of the health insurance scheme that the Indian government will implement. It also assesses its development potential in the various States and reviews the main opportunities and challenges, especially in relation to the efficient partnership arrangements that may be seen as a key element for the successful implementation of any health insurance scheme targeting the poor.

Mission to Bangalore 11, 12, 13 February 2008

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The mission report is now available.

Over 400 million peasants joining China's rural cooperative medical scheme

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Health equity is an issue that worries China's public health policy makers.

The country's spectacular economic growth has been accompanied by a "slow down of improvements in population health and a rise in health inequalities," said Tang Shenglan, health and policy advisor to the WHO in Beijing. This, he said, was due to a rapid increase in health care costs (in a predominantly fee for service system), poor population coverage by health insurance (less than 40% of the urban population are insured), and no medical safety net. Out of pocket payments for health care have risen steadily over the past 25 years and now account for 54% of total health care expenditure. This has put health care beyond the reach of many and impoverished many more. The aim of China's new health reforms, which were launched last week, is to enhance equity and access to health care, particularly for vulnerable groups. Reforms undertaken four years ago to increase the proportion of health costs borne by local governments has already resulted in "over 400 million peasants joining China's rural cooperative medical scheme," Shenglan said. He also pointed to the need for greater emphasis on community based primary health care - a call which many repeated, during the conference.

AMIN INFOSHEET ABOUT MICRO INSURANCE PROGRAMMES IN ASIA

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A whole collection of two page long infosheets about different micro-insurance programmes in Asia has been added to the GIMI library. The briefs on the left of the infosheets describe the schemes - eligibility conditions, benefits, premiums and other key features - as well as their main achievements and the challenges ahead. The fact sheets on the right provide an overview of each scheme (starting date, ownership profile, target group, outreach etc.), operational mechanisms, scope and level of health benefits and activity indicators (number of insured, women's participation, number of surgeries performed etc.) as well as development plans.
Indian schemes:

Andhra Pradesh: Healing Fields Foundation
Gujarat: Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA)
Karnataka: Swayam Krishi Sangam Health Scheme and Yeshasvini Co-operative Farmers Health Scheme
Madhya Pradesh: EHA's Prerana Health Insurance Scheme
Orissa: PREM's Health Micro-Insurance Scheme
Tamil Nadu: Kadamalai Federation Health Insurance Scheme (DHAN Foundation) and Self Help Promotion For Health and Rural Development Insurance Programme

New resource available about Ecuador's social security system

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This paper is a diagnosis of Ecuador's social security system in view of the recent constitutional reforms the country has gone through. It is based on interviews, on field work and observations. More info...

This new GESS homepage offers users a global view of the services at their disposal and fosters dynamic interactions for sharing their knowledge

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Symposium on "Strategic contracting in health systems"

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This symposium was organized from 9 to 11 January in Geneva by WHO's Department of Health Systems Financing. More than 60 experts from 27 countries attended. The symposium provided an opportunity for the presentation and discussion of a large number of examples of cooperation and contracting between the supply of public care and the private sector: subcontracting of certain health services in Morocco, implementation of specific anti-tuberculosis programmes, role of the Church in Ghana, delegation of management of the subsidized health insurance system in Colombia to mutual health organizations, performance contracts in Mali, etc.It tried to find answers to key questions such as: Does contracting lead to privatization and the disengagement of the State? How to prevent regulation (of contractual practices) from being perceived by health actors as a straitjacket that inhibits initiatives?
See the pages about contracting on the WHO's website.

New resource available about Bolivia's social security system

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This paper presents an analysis of Bolivia's social security system, including health insurance issues. Despite recent reforms of the social security system, the country has not met its goals and coverage is still weak compared to the rest of the region. More info...

General Assembly of the UAM

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The next general assembly of the African Union of Mutual Organizations will be held on 25 and 26 June in Rabat, Morocco. You will find in its website useful links, various documents to download and much more.

Education and Solidarity Network. International Conference

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Education & Solidarity Network, created by Education International, the Association Internationale de la Mutualité and the Mutuelle générale de l"éducation nationale seeks to strengthen and expand solidarity-based social protection systems with the support of educators worldwide. The Education & Solidarity Network will be presented and launched on the occasion of an international conference to be held on 14 and 15 May 2009 in Paris. The conference will be attended by participants from numerous countries and will allow the organizations to confirm their intention of joining the Network. It is open to all social protection actors and specialists, teachers' trade unions, university networks and all organizations active in the field of solidarity in social protection. For more information and registration, click here

Belgium continues partnership with ILO to extend social security and promote social dialogue

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:00:00 GMT

On 9 December 2008, the Minister of Development Cooperation of Belgium, Mr. Louis Michel, signed an agreement with the International Labour Office (ILO) for a new grant of 6 million and 2.4 respectively to extend social security to vulnerable populations and promote social dialogue in French-speaking Africa.

Diploma in Strategic Management of Associative Organizations and Social Economy Enterprises

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The programme in Strategic Management of Associative Organizations and Social Economy Enterprises offered by the University of Santiago de Chile’s Centre for Technological Innovation and Transfer (INNOVO), began classes at the end of April.

The programme is aimed at professionals and directors working or in supporting this kind of organizations (cooperatives, corporations, foundations, trade unions, mutuals, NGOs, etc.).

Download the brochure

More information on www.innovo.cl

New developments for the Micro Insurance Academy (MIA)

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

During the last quarter of 2008, the Micro Insurance Academy (MIA) implemented new ambitious projects, aimed at providing community based Micro Health Insurance to more than 100,000 people in three districts of Orissa in India with a new partnership with Madhyam Foundation and AWO International.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation and with another anonymous donor a new system of micro insurance has been introduced for resource-poor communities in Nepal. In this respect, MIA held a workshop with local NGOs on community based micro insurance in Kathmandu (July 14-16, 2008).

The Micro Insurance Academy also participates in a new research in collaboration with the Financial Access Initiative, on health insurance and the quality of health care.

The MIA also provides trainings, it conducted the 2nd Reinsurance School for Micro Insurance Schemes in New Delhi (October 15-17, 2008), with the participation of nearly 50 delegates from around India and from abroad to see presentations on how reinsurance can help protect micro insurance schemes. The next Reinsurance School will be held in October 2009.

The MIA moved into new offices last October:

246, Sant Nagar, East of Kailash
New Delhi - 110 065, India
Phone: +91 11 4174 9101
Fax: +91 11 4174 9102

More info: See the MIA website

Conference report now online

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The report of the Interregional Tripartite Meeting on Social Security in Arab States is now available [here]. The Arabic version will be published soon.

Micro Health Insurance Africa

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:00:00 GMT

The project "Pro MHI Africa" supports micro health insurance units in three African countries and develops training material for students and microinsurance staff. On the basis of scientific outcomes, the university network (Botswana, Germany, Ghana, Malawi) prepares a relevant curriculum for students who will become policy makers for the expanding (micro-) insurance markets. The project is funded by the Edulink programme of the European Union.

Please visit the website for further information and the newest findings: www.microhealthinsurance-africa.org

Microinsurance Conference : 5-7 November 2008 Cartagena, Colombia

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:00:00 GMT

This event is the fourth international Microinsurance Conference jointly hosted by the CGAP [Consultative Group to Assist the Poor] Working Group on Microinsurance and the Munich Re Foundation, supported by Fasecolda, FIDES and the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia. Around 300 experts from around the world will exchange experiences and discuss the challenges of microinsurance. They include representatives from international organisations, NGOs, development-aid agencies, commercial insurance companies and policymakers.

The conference will include plenary panel discussions on key topics addressing an interdisciplinary audience. About twenty parallel working group sessions will deal in depth with different subtopics. Interactive sessions of approximately 90 minutes will make up the key part of the conference, encouraging the discussion of work in progress and facilitating dialogue in small groups on emerging issues.

Field trips will be organized by local organisations to provide an opportunity to learn and understand the practice of microinsurance in a Colombian context.

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