New ISSA: From vision to action

1. New ISSA:From vision to action Hans-Horst Konkolewsky Secretary General

2. Why a “New ISSA” • Member institutions face difficult challenges and pressure for change • Needs of populations change • Majority of world’s population without adequate or any social security coverage • Social security is under pressure in view of changes in labour markets, demographic structures and globalization • The ISSA must also change to: • Provide a clear value added to members by assisting them to face these challenges and by better promoting social security at the international level • Use modern means of communication efficiently and transparently

3. New ISSA – from vision to action • My election on 15 September 2005 based on visions for a New ISSA • Collection of evidence to propose actions to implement these visions • Evidence-based formulation of proposals for future programme orientations and improvements to programme of activities • Wide ranging consultation process with Bureau members and membership at large on proposals • Formulation of the New ISSA Programme & Budget 2008-2010 based on dialogue with membership

4. Evidence for action Collecting the evidence base to propose actions to implement New ISSA: November 2005 to April 2006 (1) Dialogue with members: member survey (2) Review of current activities (3) Analysis of manage-ment and other reports

5. From evidence to proposals for action • Strategic objectives: what we would like to achieve • Programme priorities: what we would like to focus on • New ISSA proposals for action: how we would like to achieve the strategic objectives

6. Strategic objectives – evidence from all member organizations Aim: Define what ISSA should achieve and deliver for its members Evidence: Survey ranking of ISSA’s role by member organizations: • Information provider – research and analysis • Information provider – good practice • Information provider – social security schemes in other countries • A Platform to meet experts to discuss specific social security issues • A regional/subregional platform to meet • A champion of social security at the international level • A platform to meet experts from international organizations • A platform to meet experts from other regions

7. Strategic objectives - evidence from your sub-region Aim: Better define what ISSA should achieve and deliver for its members according to their specific sub-regional needs Evidence: Survey ranking of ISSA’s role by member organizations in English-speaking Africa • Training provider – specialized fields (actuarial, statistical, IT etc.) • A regional / sub-regional platform to meet with representatives within the region / sub-region • Information provider – policy advice • Training provider – middle and senior staff • Information provider – concrete guidance on administration of schemes

8. Strategic objectives - evidence from your sub-region • Information provider – research and analysis on social security issues • Technical support provider – facilitating the provision of expert advice between member institutions to achieve greater administrative efficiency • Technical support provider – facilitating the provision of expert advice between member institutions to improve / extend social security system • A platform to meet with representatives of other international organizations • Information provider – social security schemes in other countries

9. Proposed ISSA Strategic Objectives • Strengthen knowledge collection, analysis and transfer targeted at the diverse needs of members • Strengthen ISSA’s capacity to provide relevant platforms for members • Promote social security at the international level

10. Programme priorities - evidence Aim: Define what social security challenges the ISSA should focus on Evidence: Survey ranking of challenges that members face • Planning/implementing social security reform • Need for greater administrative and operational efficiency • Demographic evolution • Labour market situation

11. Programme priorities – evidence from your sub-region Survey ranking of challenges that members face in English-speaking Africa: • Need to extend social security coverage • Need for greater administrative and operational efficiency • Improving the adequacy of the level of benefits provided by your scheme • Planning/implementing social security reform

12. Proposed Priorities for Programme 2008-2010 • Achieving greater administrative and operational efficiency • Support in planning / implementing social security reform • Addressing the demographic evolution • Extension of social security coverage

13. Programme Priorities: Global vision – regional impact • Member survey shows a number of challenges which constitute a basis for a global framework for action • Global framework to be implemented through regional focus: • Needs and priorities differ to a certain extent between regions (e.g. coverage, labour market situation) • The meaning of needs and priorities may also differ: tackling efficiency questions in one region may require different focus/means than in other regions • Dialogue with regions/sub-regions on their specific needs and priorities

14. New ISSA proposals for action

15. Improve the knowledge base Objective and added value: Establishing the ISSA as the global portal for the social security knowledge and information that members need Means of action: • The establishment of a social security observatory providing key information, indicators, good practice solutions and anticipating change • A global web portal for social security information and knowledge

16. Ensure impact of ISSA activities Objective and added value: Develop sound knowledge transfer to ensure maximum accessibility for members to ISSA’s knowledge, efficient communication with members and promotion of social security on behalf of members. Means of action: • Training programmes targeted at needs and priorities of member institutions • New ISSA publications policy including shorter and topical publications available in more languages and published electronically (paper publications for member institutions if needed) • An improved communication and promotion programme • The establishment and development of an Extranet

17. Facilitate Member Support Objective and added value: Provide a service exclusively for member institutions to respond to their requests for technical information and support Means of action: • Establish a clearinghouse in the Secretariat to channel requests to where knowledge exists • Strengthen targeted support for individual member institutions upon request: National consultations, in-house training activities, twinning activities…

18. Develop a partnership approach Objective and added value: Establish and maintain close relations with bodies dealing with social security at the international level Means of action: • Strengthening relations with the ILO, WHO, World Bank etc. • Developing a global social security partnership • Connecting social security to worldwide goals and programmes

19. Strengthen Technical Commissions Objective and added value: Facilitate and expand the networks that allow members to exchange on specific technical issues and to provide information, in particular on good practice Means of action: • A strengthened network structure for Technical Commissions • An integrated work planning • Ad-hoc strategic Technical Commissions focusing on cross-cutting strategic themes • A strong regional component in Technical Commissions to ensure worldwide participation

20. Strengthen response to regional diversity Objective and added value: Upgrade the regional dimension in programme formulation and delivery. This means ensuring that activities are tailored at the specific needs of members in different regions and sub-regions, and facilitating regional networks for exchange on topics of common interest. Means of action: • Regional programmes to be established in close dialogue with member institutions • Regionally targeted means of action • A strengthened regional network structure

21. Strengthened regional networks • Strong regional networks important for strengthening regional/sub-regional activities • Regional networks to be animated by sub-regional offices • Proposed framework for sub-regional offices: • Member institutions host for a certain period (minimum 3 years) and provide necessary staff and other resources • An advisory board is established to assist in defining the regional priorities in the light of overall ISSA strategic objectives and programme priorities • A workplan in line with the defined regional priorities is established in collaboration with the ISSA Secretariat • Activities: projects (e.g. good practice), training, dissemination of information, supporting ISSA promotion action etc.

22. Strengthened regional networks • Role of the ISSA Secretariat: • Assist in definition of workplan • Support in facilitating communication in the networks (e.g. Extranet) • Provision of support for concrete actions (e.g. speakers for training activities or seminars, sharing good practice from other regions) • Ensure that sub-regional activities are linked to worldwide ISSA activities

23. Implications of proposed actions

24. New ISSA - for members! • Added value of New ISSA for members: • Regional and Technical Networks: the fostering of networks open to interested members to ensure an inclusive ISSA • Extranet: Facilitating the establishment and work of these networks as well as improving the communication with and amongst member organisations • Regional programmes and actions: activities that respond to the specific needs and priorities of member institutions in the various regions/sub-regions • Social Security Observatory: ISSA as a one-stop-shop for social security information and good practice knowledge worldwide

25. New ISSA - for members! • Added value of New ISSA for members: • Technical information service: ISSA as a facilitator to locate existing knowledge and channel this to member institutions upon request • New publications: Short, topical and user-friendly publications and new products in more languages • New communication products: e-mail news, campaigns, promotion of social security etc.

26. Members – for New ISSA! • New ISSA depends on strong input from member institutions to its activities: • Provision of information • Technical support for other member institutions • Support for information campaigns • Support for sub-regional networks • Coordinate/support a Technical Commission • Strengthen ISSA’s infrastructure: secondment of staff for strategic ISSA projects • Promising results of member survey!

27. Members – for New ISSA!English-speaking Africa • Provision of technical support to other members – Yes: 88% • Contributions to strengthen ISSA infrastructure (e.g. secondments) – Yes: 88% • Contributions to regional/sub-regional programmes (e.g. training) – Yes: 96% • Contributions to support specific ISSA activities (e.g. information campaign) – Yes: 88% • Sharing information with others – Yes: 100%

28. Dialogue on your sub-region • Given the proposed overall ISSA objectives and programme priorities, what specific priorities should be pursued in your sub-region? • What means of action would be most suitable to tackle these priorities? • How can active sub-regional networks be established and managed in your sub-region?