Actions in Social Security

  • Coordination between the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and NGOs providing social assistance to veterans and their families

    Eastern Europe Ukraine
    Start activities
    18-07-2022
    End activities
    30-09-2022
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional capacity building, Policy development
    Code
    2022-13
    Description
    The Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine reached out to SOCIEUX+ to assist in increasing their scope of action to incorporate coordination with NGOs providing social assistance to war veterans and their families. A fully at distance action translated into two activities led by Lithuanian expertise, aiming at showcasing existing initiatives and mechanism of social assistance provided to veterans and their families, as well as a proposition of a coordination mechanism with NGOs and Civil Society Organizations providing social assistance to war veterans. The MoVA of Ukraine had as a result of this technical assistance, a proposal for regulations to create council of Veterans as well as requirements for the development of a program for the socialization and employment enhancement of veterans.

  • Capacity building for the SSR on governance on administrative operations

    South-East Asia Cambodia
    Start activities
    24-07-2023
    End activities
    27-10-2023
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Economy and Finances
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional capacity building
    Code
    2023-12
    Description
    Previous partner of SOCIEUX+, the Social Security Regulator (SSR) of Cambodia identified the technical knowledge, guidelines and expertise necessary to effectively fulfill its supervisory role of the National Social Security Fund. SOCIEUX+ stepped in to provide support by enhancing the operational and administrative capacities of the SSR staff. Romanian, Finnish, and Slovakian expertise worked with the SSR on establishing principles and modalities for effective supervision of administrative operations within the social security scheme’s management.

  • Definition of a national social security policy

    WESTERN AFRICA Côte d'Ivoire
    Start activities
    15/03/2019
    End activities
    03/12/2019
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Employment and Social Protection [Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Protection Sociale] (MEPS)
    Type of Assistance
    Policy development
    Code
    2019-11
    Description
    The partner institution (MEPS) has now available a roadmap for developing a consistent and modern social security strategy. This relates to three main dimensions of social security reforms that were undertaken by experts from France in the course of three distinct activities: strengthening the governance of the social security system; including in the system’s coverage new populations to be entitled with social security benefits, including new users with peculiar socio-economic characteristics; strengthening of skills available among staffs of social security institutions and organizations.

  • Assessing viability of microfinance for creating opportunities for social protection coverage of atypical workers

    South America Peru
    Start activities
    25-02-2019
    End activities
    12-06-2020
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion [Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo]
    Type of Assistance
    Code
    2019-01
    Description
    This technical cooperation action has allowed to deepen the Partner’s understanding of the possibilities (and the difficulties) linked to the promotion of micro-insurance for providing essential coverage to uninsured workers. A specific target population has been indicated by the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion of Peru as main target group: the dockers of the agricultural market of La Vitoria, in the outskirts of Lima. Experts’ teams – from France, Italy and Spain - have met and discussed with the representatives of the dockers and their unions, in order to explore whether the option of a micro-insurance that meet basic-coverage needs with regards to pensions and the risk of running into working-related sickness or accidents, could represent a suitable option for the workers. Experts also met with private micro-finance organizations in order to explore the actual micro-insurance plan that could be proposed to the dockers.

  • Analysis of the pension legislative framework and strategic guidance

    Central Asia Tajikistan
    Start activities
    16/08/2016
    End activities
    28/03/2017
    Partner Institution
    Gency for Social Insurance and Pensions (ASIP)
    Type of Assistance
    Legislative & regulatory framework development
    Code
    2016-04
    Description
    An assessment report of the existing pension legal framework has been elaborated by experts from Bulgaria and Latvia identifying gaps, risks and challenges, and formulating specific mitigation strategies and measures. The experts also prepared a compendium of requirements for the implementation of the legal framework, taking into account the administrative functions needed to operationalize the system. Following this, experts from Latvia and Lithuania produced a functional assessment and reviewed the business processes and workflows of the Agency for Social Insurance and Pensions (ASIP) of Tajikistan in view of their adequacy in terms of human and material resources, technical competencies and tools, corporate organization and workflows. In particular, experts reviewed the current methodologies, formulas and processes used by ASIP for the calculation of pension benefits.

  • Support in the implementation of a health financing reform and introduction of mandatory health insurance

    Eastern Europe Azerbaijan
    Start activities
    11-04-2016
    End activities
    24-11-2017
    Partner Institution
    State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance (under the Cabinet of Ministers)
    Type of Assistance
    Legislative & regulatory framework development
    Code
    2015-23
    Description
    Peer-to-peer exchanges involving experts from Croatia, Estonia, France, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom supported the State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance (SAMHI) of Azerbaijan in setting the stage for the introduction of a mandatory health insurance scheme. First, experts advised on the national policy paper “Concept for Health Financing Reform and Introduction of Mandatory Health Insurance” and the Action Plan for its implementation, with a particular attention to the development of indicators for performance assessment of healthcare providers. A study-visit to Estonia allowed Azeris officials to witness how mandatory health insurance was introduced in a country transitioned from a former Soviet model. The final action’s deliverable was a roadmap detailing the concrete steps for the reform of the health system based on mandatory health insurance.

  • Support to the International Forum on health coverage in the CIPRES area

    Western Africa Togo
    Start activities
    03/03/2019
    End activities
    03/05/2019
    Partner Institution
    Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale (CIPRES)
    Type of Assistance
    Code
    2018-32
    Description
    The Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale (CIPRES) is a long-standing partner of SOCIEUX+. It gathers social security entities from 18 countries, mainly from Francophone Africa. In this circumstance the CIPRES Secretariat requested SOCIEUX+ to mobilize two public experts to share their country experiences and models on the occasion of the annual Forum on health coverage in the CIPRES area. Experts from France and Luxembourg have covered the following themes: an intervention of the financing of universal health coverage and good practices on the governance of organizations running health insurance schemes. The Forum took place in Lomé (Togo) in March 2019.

  • 2nd International Forum on Pensions in the CIPRES zone

    Western Africa Togo
    Start activities
    22-10-2018
    End activities
    27-10-2018
    Partner Institution
    Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale (CIPRES)
    Type of Assistance
    Regional events (awareness raising)
    Code
    2018-25
    Description
    The Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale (CIPRES) is a long-standing SOCIEUX+ partner. It gathers social security entities from 18 countries, mainly from Francophone Africa. In this circumstance the CIPRES’ Secretariat requested SOCIEUX+ to mobilize public expertise to share EU country experiences and models on the occasion of the annual Forum on pension systems in the CIPRES area. A single expert from Lithuania took part to the Forum and delivered a presentation entitled: "Towards new models of pension system: European Union recommendations and comparative analysis".

  • Audit of the existing sectors and job descriptions at the CPPF

    Western Africa Gabon
    Start activities
    14/03/2019
    End activities
    26/07/2019
    Partner Institution
    Pension and Family Benefits Fund for State Agents [Caisse des Pensions et des Prestations Familiales des Agents de l'Etat] (CPPF)
    Type of Assistance
    Organisational capacity building
    Code
    2019-04
    Description
    The Pension and Family Benefits Fund for State Agents (CPPF) of Gabon requested SOCIEUX+ support on organizational matters. In particular, CPPF wished to review and eventually improve its actual human resources management system. In the course of two activities, French experts have accompanied the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of HR management at CPPF and put forward proposals and recommendations for improvement, mainly concerning the recruitment process, the (re)formulation job descriptions and the reorganization of functional and hierarchical responsibilities and workflows.

  • International Seminar: Suficiencia y Sustentabilidad Previsional: los retos de la Seguridad Social

    South America Argentina
    Start activities
    19/02/2018
    End activities
    20/03/2018
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MTEySS)
    Type of Assistance
    International events (awareness raising)
    Code
    2018-01
    Description
    Experts mobilized by SOCIEUX+ contributed to the panel "Reconciling sufficiency and sustainability. Lessons and experiences " through a presentation on the financing of Social Security in France, especially the design, implementation and results of the Generalized Social Contribution (CSG). A report prepared by the expert also addressed other components of Social Protection, including health expenditure, family benefits, compensation for loss of employment and insurance against occupational risks and diseases.

  • Improving technical management tools available to INAM

    Western Africa Togo
    Start activities
    02/04/2018
    End activities
    02/08/2019
    Partner Institution
    National Health Insurance Institute (INAM)
    Type of Assistance
    Organisational management (structures & functions)
    Code
    2017-39
    Description
    The experts’ contribution targeted several dimensions of organizational capacities and tools that are key to allow the Institut National d’Assurance Maladie (INAM) of Togo to efficiently run an extension of health insurance coverage to private sector’s workers and aim to full, universal coverage. Among the matters tackled by mobilized teams of experts from France, Italy, and Romania were contracting capabilities and management of agreements with health care providers, costing of medical procedures, and economic and actuarial analysis. The technical assistance has thus provided very specific, methodological and operational recommendations that aim to enlarge INAM’s set of tools and knowledge necessary to efficiently run health insurance.

  • Support to the Implementation of an Employment Injury Insurance System for Malawi

    Southern Africa Malawi, Republic of
    Start activities
    24-06-2018
    End activities
    29-03-2019
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development
    Type of Assistance
    Individual capacity building (human resources development)
    Code
    2018-02
    Description
    The SOCIEUX+ contribution was mainly directed to uphold the current, joint Government of Malawi – ILO efforts towards the establishment of the Workers Compensation Scheme for Malawi. The Government of Malawi has embarked on the process of establishing a social insurance-based employment injury insurance system through the Workers Compensation Fund. The system is to replace the existing employer-liability system and functions on the basis of risk pooling. This reform entails the development of a system that mandatorily collects appropriate premiums from all employers and provides compensation towards injured workers from a Government-managed fund.

  • Contribution to the National Social Security Policy Round Table in Kenya

    Eastern Africa Kenya
    Start activities
    24/03/2018
    End activities
    19/03/2018
    Partner Institution
    National Social Protection Secretariat
    Type of Assistance
    National events (awareness raising)
    Code
    2018-03
    Description
    The action aimed to contribute to policy dialogue on social security in Kenya. Participation of experts from France in a round table on employment injury insurance, maternity protection and the role of social partners and social dialogue in insurance schemes took place on demand of the National Social Protection Conference on the occasion of a national conference held in Nairobi from 20 to 23 March 2018.

  • Technical assistance for the extension of social protection coverage

    SOUTH AMERICA Peru
    Start activities
    12-02-2018
    End activities
    1-12-2018
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion [Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2017-30
    Description
    The primary outcome of the action has been to position the Directorate for Social Security of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion (MTPE) of Peru in the policy area of extending social protection to atypical workers. The report prepared by the experts from France and Spain was meant to constitute a piece of comparative knowledge to feed the institutional debate. The peer-to-peer dialogue allowed to broaden the horizon of the debate and reflection on the state of social protection of independent workers and workers of small and medium enterprises in Peru, but also to formulate a policy report which puts forward reasonable tools and approaches for advancing social protection in the area of atypical work.

  • Enlarging the scope of the social policy analysis conducted by the Institute of Labour Sciences and Social Affairs (ILSSA)

    SOUTH-EAST ASIA Vietnam, Socialist Republic of
    Start activities
    Feb-18
    End activities
    12/07/2018
    Partner Institution
    Institute for Labour Science and Social Affairs [Viện Khoa Học Lao Động Và Xã Hội]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2017-28
    Description
    The Institute for Labour Science and Social Affairs (ILSSA) of Vietnam has expressed to SOCIEUX+ a particular interest in knowing more about multi-dimensional poverty-measurement approach. The ultimate goal was to increase ILSSA’s role in the support to policy-making. The first activity was conceived as a training involving ILSSA’s researchers in view of increasing knowledge and analytical capacities involved in the analysis of the economic and social context in terms of multi-dimensional poverty. The second activity has allowed to look into the organizational capacity of ILSSA as a public research institution. Experts from Ireland, Italy, and France have participated to the peer-to peer exchanges with ILSSA’s staff.

  • Social Health Protection Reform and Policy

    WESTERN AFRICA Zimbabwe, Republic of
    Start activities
    Jan-18
    End activities
    09/11/2018
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Health and Child Care
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional (Regulatory & Policy)
    Code
    2017-27
    Description
    The Ministry of Health and Childcare of Zimbabwe was committed, through this action, to engage the Cabinet of the President in the process of creating an inter-ministerial committee for national health insurance in collaboration with the other main institutional stakeholders. Experts from France, Germany, and Italy developed together with the partners a roadmap consisting of 9 different steps, including institutional tasks (set-up of an inter-ministerial steering committee, establishment of a statutory body in charge of pooling funds and enrolment of population), and technical ones (costing estimates, enrolment and contribution procedures, legal framework for the implementation of NHI).

  • Social protection coverage in the informal economy

    SOUTH AMERICA Colombia
    Start activities
    17-12-2018
    End activities
    24-11-2018
    Partner Institution
    Institute for Social Economy [Instituto para la Economia Social]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional (Regulatory & Policy)
    Code
    2017-26
    Description
    The main outcome of the technical assistance has been to put high in the local political and institutional agenda the issue of extending social protection coverage to the informal street vendors of Bogota, which are the main target population of the Instituto para la Economia Social (IPES)’s efforts in the area of local socio-economic development. Experts (three different teams coming from France, Italy, and Spain) first of all succeeded to clarify the terms of the debate through a stakeholders’ mapping and a feasibility study in view of the current situation and status of informal street vendors. Thanks to IPES’ proactive role, the missions of experts have become a tool for mobilizing a number of local actors, starting from the Municipality of Bogota and State agencies, all the way to local NGOs, around the idea of ensuring some sort of social support against life’s risks faced by informal street vendors.

  • Support to the “International Forum on Health Coverage in the Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale Area (CIPRES)”

    WESTERN AFRICA Togo
    Start activities
    Aug-17
    End activities
    Aug-17
    Partner Institution
    Inter-African Conference on Social Welfare [Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale]
    Type of Assistance
     International events (awareness raising)
    Code
    2017-19
    Description
    Experts from France and Luxembourg provided two written (paper) and visual (PowerPoint) presentations as background documents for the International Forum on Health Coverage in the CIPRES area, expected to take place in Brazzaville on 4-6 October 2017.

  • Start-up of the National Organisation of State Social Security Institutes and its technical secretariat

    NORTH AMERICA Mexico
    Start activities
    Sep-17
    End activities
    May-18
    Partner Institution
    Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato [Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de Guanajuato]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2017-17
    Description
    The main outcome of this action in partnership with the Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato (ISSEG) was the establishment of the National Platform of State Social Security Institutes, namely the Organización Nacional de Instituciones Estatales de Seguridad Social (ONIESS). Members agreed on a light legal basis and substantiated it by displaying a working process with clear objectives and a one-year action plan. The role of experts from France, Germany and Spain was, beside technical expertise, one of facilitators of the debate among the participating State institutes. They contributed to the work with technical inputs, work methodology, examples from relevant EU and personal experiences, their overall spirit and the motivation to achieve a common goal.

  • Strengthening social protection conventions for Peruvian migrant workers

    SOUTH AMERICA Peru
    Start activities
    22-01-2018
    End activities
    23-11-2018
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion [Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional (Regulatory & Policy)
    Code
    2017-12
    Description
    The outcome of the action relates to the development of individual capacities of staff of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion (MTPE) of Peru with regards to the conduct of bilateral negotiations for the establishment of social security conventions. It has regarded several dimensions of bilateral conventions, from the legal and technical spheres, up to the negotiations techniques and the follow-up of the implementation of the convention. In particular, the Partner wanted to get detailed information on social security systems in countries – such us Germany and Belgium – with which bilateral negotiations were ongoing. The Partner’s relevant staff has proactively interacted with experts, thus generating a peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge, and received detailed information and data on the two distinct social security systems.

  • Strengthening the Management of financial reserves of the Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers of Campeche

    NORTH AMERICA Mexico
    Start activities
    nov-17
    End activities
    nov-17
    Partner Institution
    Institute of Security and Social Services for Workers of the State of Campeche [Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado de Campeche]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional (Regulatory & Policy)
    Code
    2016-15
    Description
    The Action contributed to achieve two significant results: first, to overview the state of the art of the financial reserves available to the Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado de Campeche (ISSSTECAM) and to critically overview the management arrangements in view of their sustainability; secondly, to draft a text of Law of reform of the State Law on social security and pensions, which was later on presented to and approved by the State Parliament. In the course of three activities, the Partner’s staff worked closely with public experts from France and Spain.

  • Social Insurance: assistance in the development of the State agents pension system

    Western Africa Gabon
    Start activities
    may-17
    End activities
    aug-17
    Partner Institution
    Pensions and Family Benefits Fund of State Agents [Caisse des Pensions et des Prestations Familiales des Agents de l'Etat]
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2016-07
    Description
    This action results from 5 distinct requests by the Caisse des Pensions et des Prestations Familiales des Agents de l'Etat (CPPF). The action's technical products - an assessment report on the organizational strategy of CPPF; recommendations on the development of social marketing and communication policy; recommendations for a revised IT architecture; a roadmap in view of the development of a new insurance branch, namely a complementary pension scheme – were all intended to contribute to the strengthening of the organizational capacities of the young CPPF. Teams of experts with different profiles and country origin (France, Morocco, the Netherlands) have exchanged with the Partner’s teams in the course of four activities.

  • Support to Universal Pension Scheme

    Southern Africa Tanzania, United Republic of
    Start activities
    may-2015
    End activities
    feb-2017
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Empowerment, Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children (MoESWYWC)
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2014-26
    Description
    The action was instrumental to present to the Ministry of Empowerment, Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children of Zanzibar a relevant European experience in establishing and managing Universal Social Pensions. Experts from Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain provided technical advice on what is affordable for Zanzibar in relation to its policy, fiscal, and demographic environment. They particularly focused on the information management system needed to deploy a social pensions scheme. They helped to draft an implementation plan, then supported the development of a project proposal and the technical specifications needed to develop a management information system.

  • Support for the set up of universal health insurance

    Western Africa Togo
    Start activities
    oct-2015
    End activities
    sep-2016
    Partner Institution
    Institut National d’Assurance Maladie (INAM)
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2015-09
    Description
    Experts mobilized from France and Lebanon delivered an analysis of Togo’s Institut National d’Assurance Maladie (INAM)’s institutional organization and capacities. The assessment focused on the challenges faced by INAM in view of the extension of health coverage, clarified the institutional responsibilities, while identifying issues requiring further technical assistance to INAM, such as the preparation of a strategic plan, the enhancement of internal capacities in the field of “risk management,” and the development of a management information system. The first two topics were then addressed by experts through peer-to-peer exchanges with the relevant INAM’s executives and staff, presenting models and good practices applicable to INAM’s context and needs.

  • Follow up support to the reform of the pension system in Mexico

    NORTH AMERICA Mexico
    Start activities
    Feb-16
    End activities
    May-17
    Partner Institution
    Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato (ISSEG)
    Type of Assistance
    Policy development
    Code
    2015-24
    Description
    In response to a request of from the Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato (ISSEG), this action started the process of constitution of a national platform of social security State Institutes, with the objective of setting up a framework for cooperation and information-sharing among State Institutes. Spanish experts supported ISSEG in finalizing a declaration for the creation of a National Pension forum, to be delivered to the 16th edition of the National Social Security Conference. Experts also advised ISSEG and other State Institutes on the specific stages required for establishing a National coordination body, including the elaboration of the constituent documents and the legal framework of a national platform (which will become the Organización Nacional de los Institutos Estatales de Seguridad Social - ONIESS).

  • Support finalising and implementing MoSD strategy

    Middle East and Gulf Countries Jordan
    Start activities
    abr-2016
    End activities
    oct-2016
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Social Development (MoSD)
    Type of Assistance
    Policy development
    Code
    2015-25
    Description
    The specific objective was to support the development of the MoSD Strategy for 2016-2020 and the related Action Plan, and to share best practice from the EU in strategic planning for social protection policy.

  • Support to the extension of social protection in Cambodia

    South-East Asia Cambodia
    Start activities
    oct-2016
    End activities
    nov-2016
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Economy and Finances
    Type of Assistance
    Organisational management (structures & functions)
    Code
    2016-02
    Description
    An initial fact-finding mission aimed at narrowing down the areas of support drawn from the request submitted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia (MEF). Following activities resulted in a general mapping and assessment of the country’s social protection framework, which allowed to identify gaps and areas of improvement in coverage. Finally, a training on pension systems for MEF officials allowed EU experts to present different pension systems and how they are governed and regulated by line ministries. The actions, which mainly consisted in knowledge transfer and resulted in enhanced regulatory capacities for relevant personnel, saw the involvement of EU public experts from France, Germany, and Lithuania.

  • Support to revise the SP Strategy of the MoSD in Jordan

    Middle East and Gulf Countries Jordan
    Start activities
    aug-2015
    End activities
    dec-2015
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Social Development
    Type of Assistance
    Policy development
    Code
    2015-11
    Description
    The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) is responsible for the provision of social services to a wide range of beneficiaries, including young people and children, families and people living with disabilities. These services are provided at a local level though social service directorates and offices. The strategic objective of the MoSD is to contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated social policy in Jordan. Social protection is delivered through four major public programmes: a social insurance programme; a public programme for the civil service and military (phasing out); a social assistance programme; and, an assistance programme for Palestinian Refugees (delivered through the UN Relief and Works Agency). There was a need to strengthen and rationalise programmes so that they better serve the most vulnerable. Moreover, addressing needs of the Syrian refugee crisis, and its impact on the country, remains a major challenge for the Government. Jordan had recently drafted a Poverty Reduction Strategy (2013-2020) and the Response Plan for the Syria Crisis. In this context the MoSD engaged in a more strategic planning approach to rationalise and strengthen existing programmes, and the needed capacities to do so. Over a period of several months, experts mobilised by SOCIEUX work with the peers on the elaboration of a draft Strategic Plan 2016-2021 for the MoSD entitled “Together – Tackling Disadvantage: Realising the potential of all our citizens and building sustainable communities”. Moreover, the experts submitted a roadmap for a communication strategy for the dissemination and endorsement of the Strategic Plan as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework for its implementation titled Business Performance.

  • Training on the pension systems and a capacity development needs assessment

    EASTERN AFRICA Burundi
    Start activities
    jun-2014
    End activities
    jun-2014
    Partner Institution
    National Pensions and Occupational Risks Office
    Type of Assistance
    Individual capacity building (human resources development)
    Code
    2014-02
    Description
    The National Office for Pensions and Occupational Risk (ONPR) for civil servants, magistrates and judicial personnel implements contributory pensions, vocational hazards and associated benefit social insurance in Burundi since 2010. The ONPR faced challenges of efficiently managing increasing expansion of the scheme including at organisational level. To address these challenges, experts mobilised by SOCIEUX+ worked with their peers on the elaboration of an internal management strategy, the establishment of monitoring and control procedures, and the improvement of quality assurance mechanisms. The staff of ONPR, and other stake holding institutions in the area of pension, was to be trained key concepts of social protection to widen their understanding of the functioning of pension systems. Further, the intervention assessed and formulated recommendation on how to best respond to identified needs of the partner institutions for the efficient and effective management of the pension scheme.

  • Supporting contributory pensions coverage extension, investment management and administration

    NORTH AMERICA Mexico
    Start activities
    End activities
    aug-2014
    Partner Institution
    Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato [Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de Guanajuato]
    Type of Assistance
    Organisational capacity building
    Code
    2014-04
    Description
    The Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato (ISSEG) is responsible for providing insurance benefits to the formal sector [public employees and civil servants] in the Mexican State of Guanajuato. The amounts of pensions originally guaranteed by the ISSEG were pre-defined as a percentage of the affiliate’s wage at time of compliance of retirement criteria. The underlying solidarity fund is financed by contributions of workers and employers, as well as the returns generated by investments. Due to the challenges in funding the existing system, the ISSEG was considering reforms to set benefits on actual historical contributions. Mobilised experts contributed in building capacities of the ISSEG for planned reforms by addressing issues with their peers in policy definition and administrative requirement definition by sharing EU Member States and common experience in making pension schemes affordable in the face of changing economic, policy and demographic environments. In particular, they transferred understanding on legal, actuarial and financial implications of the implementation of the proposed reforms.

  • Supporting vocational rehabilitation of persons living with disabilities

    Eastern Europe Moldova, Republic of
    Start activities
    feb-2015
    End activities
    feb-2015
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Familiy
    Type of Assistance
    Individual capacity building (human resources development)
    Code
    2014-13
    Description
    The Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family (MLSPF) is the national authority having overall responsibility for the development, promotion and implementation of social protection for people with disabilities. MLSPF plays a directing role in implementing the Social Inclusion Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (2010-2013) approved by law in 2010. Among one of the first steps taken by the Ministry for the implementation of the Strategy was the plan for the creation of a small department in charge of services for vocational rehabilitation of persons with severe disabilities within the Republican Experimental Prosthetic, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Centre (CREPOR). Knowledge from the provision of such services in the EU and focusing on the practical organisation and implementation of these by the CREPOR. A study visit to in Ireland was organised for senior staff of various Moldovan institutions in charge of rehabilitation services. Within a second activity, a general training needs assessment of the newly created vocational rehabilitation department was conducted with the support of a EU peers. This was the occasion to identify the needs and challenges in the provision of such services and the specific training needs of the CREPOR.

  • Support to non – and contributory pensions

    NORTH AMERICA Mexico
    Start activities
    jun-2015
    End activities
    nov-2015
    Partner Institution
    Institute of Social Security of the State of Guanajuato [Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de Guanajuato]
    Type of Assistance
    Policy development
    Code
    2014-25
    Description
    Follow-up from action 2014-04 This action built on these achievements of the first action with the ISSEG, and allowed European experts and their Mexican peers to formulate practical recommendations for the coordinated development at federal level of state pension funds. Exchanges addressed in particular legal, actuarial and administrative aspects. ISSEG’s experience and leadership was first presented to two Mexican States pension funds, which was a significant step to boost state-level coordination and cooperation. The final action’s activity was a National Inter-State Pensions Conference which brought together all state funds of Mexico. The first conclusion reached by consensus during the conference was the need to work towards establishing a new framework law, which contains general principles aimed at guaranteeing a "decent" and coordinated pension system for all Mexicans and which is disassociated from salaries.

  • Building capactiy of the UTM to enable the management of universal health insurance coverage

    Western Africa Mali
    Start activities
    oct-2015
    End activities
    jun-2016
    Partner Institution
    Technical Unition of Mutual Health Insurance [Union Technique de la Mutualité] (UTM)
    Type of Assistance
    Institutional Strengthening
    Code
    2015-14
    Description
    The Technical Union of Malian Mutual Insurers (UTM) is one of three functioning bodies responsible for health insurance coverage. The UTM functions as an umbrella organisation for about 30 (of 164) voluntary mutual health insurance schemes. The UTM supports the creation, development and technical supervision of schemes and the management of a common health insurance platform for all its members. The National Strategy to Extend the Coverage of Mutual Health Insurers was adopted in 2011 to improve the accessibility to healthcare of populations in the rural and informal sectors. It is backed by a 10-year Health and Social Development Plan for 2014-2023, which aims at increasing insurance coverage to 20% of the target population and, in the long-term, universal health coverage. In this context, UTM began to redefine its strategies to improve its capacity and political position in the perspective of shouldering responsibility in achieving universal health coverage. At an operational level, it produced an internal organisation reform plan for 2014-2016. Organisation and individual capacity building was essential to enable the implementation of this plan. Experts mobilised by SOCIEUX worked with the UTM staff on outlining scenarios for strategic options and organisational structure. To do this, they started by assessing the existing institutional strategy and corporate capacities. An outline of the needed structures and competences followed. A first draft of a guideline to develop the UTM’s Strategic Development Plan resulted from this work, which set preliminary core objectives, mission, vision and main working axes for the UTM.

  • Enhance the effectiveness and coordination of social protection in Ghana

    Western Africa Ghana
    Start activities
    sep-2015
    End activities
    sep-2015
    Partner Institution
    Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
    Type of Assistance
    Organisational management (structures & functions)
    Code
    2015-18
    Description
    Follow-up action from 2014-12. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), has a core mandate and leading role in the planning, implementation and coordination of social protection policies in Ghana. In particular, the Ministry’s Directorate for Policy, Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation is responsible for assessing the progress in implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS). An updated 2012 NSPS aimed at bringing the multitude of social protection programmes under a common umbrella. However, the NSPS 2012 had not been approved as from June 2014 when the MGCSP approached SOCIEUX. As part of the initial work in action 2014-12, experts mobilised by SOCIEUX worked with their peers on a review of the first draft of the Policy. The Policy was officially launched by the Government in June 2016, aiming at aimed at “delivering a well-coordinated and inter-sectoral social protection system that would enable people to live in dignity”.

  • Support to the organisation of a pension forum

    Western Africa Togo
    Start activities
    jul-2016
    End activities
    jul-2016
    Partner Institution
    Inter-African Conference on Social Welfare [Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale]
    Type of Assistance
    Organisational management (structures & functions)
    Code
    2015-20
    Description
    The Inter-African Conference for Social Welfare (CIPRES) is a regional organisation of fifteen Western and Central African countries created by the Ministries in charge of finances and social affairs in 1993. It formulates common management guidelines for social protection institutions. It also conducts studies, formulates harmonisation proposals on legislations, and facilitates training of managerial and technical staff at the regional level. As part of its thematic responabilities, the CIPRES also responds to the needs of its members for innovative and coherent mechanisms for reforms which will guarantee financial sustainability of pensions. For this purpose, CIPRES decided to organise a a regional pension forum to discuss the future of pensions systems, and to initiate a reflection and an exchange about best possible solutions for mitigating financial risks. European experts mobilised by SOCIEUX participated in the three-day Forum on Pensions for the CIPRES Region, which took place in Abidjan, Cameroon, end of July 2016. They were speakers on European best practices, and participated as resource persons in the debates of the panels on financing of pension systems and policies for the placement of reserve funds, and on perspectives of pension funds for the civil service/public sector, and factors for their viability.