From pledge to practice: Mobilizing resources to finance social protection coverage extension in a challenging context

Recording

Overview

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection (USP2030) will convene a side event during the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain (30 June- 3 July 2025).

The FfD4 outcome document encourages countries to integrate financing of social protection systems and policies, including floors and policies in line with ILO recommendations and intergovernmentally agreed standards, into their country-led plans and strategies. For example, the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), provides core principles and minimum benchmarks for building social protection systems, while the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), provides guidance on how universal social protection can be achieved.

The side event will demonstrate the different options that countries have for creating fiscal space to extend social protection coverage by at least 2 percentage points per year in line with paragraph 27i of the FfD4 outcome document. Special attention will be devoted to the urgency of building universal social protection systems on the basis of social solidarity and collective financing, in the context of difficult macroeconomic conditions, high levels of informality and persistent social exclusion. By ensuring access to healthcare and income security, social protection prevents, or at least alleviates, poverty and reduces vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion, while supporting economic development.

Objective

This side event will shed light on what has worked to ensure an increase in social protection effective coverage by at least 2 percentage points per year, as measured by SDG indicator 1.3.1, as well as to provide adequate social protection benefits.

Specific objectives include:

• Showcase the different options that countries have for safeguarding social protection expenditure and creating fiscal space to extend social protection coverage and enhance its adequacy.
• Share country commitments to operationalize the extension of social protection, including through the adoption of legislation, the development or strengthening of national social protection strategies and schemes, and other concrete policy measures.
• Foster dialogue among national policymakers, social partners and other key stakeholders, highlighting the pivotal role of social protection as a cornerstone of equitable and sustainable development.

Agenda

Moderator: Shahra Razavi, Director, Universal Social Protection Department, ILO

Introduction

• Mónica Colomer, Ambassador on Special Mission for Development Financing, Spain
• Umberto Cattaneo, Public Finance Specialist, Universal Social Protection Department, ILO

Perspectives of Member States

• Alicia Buenrostro Massieu, Alternate Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Mexico
• Débora Freire Cardoso, Undersecretary on Fiscal Policy of the Ministry of Finance, Brazil

Discussion

• Daniela Gabor, Professor of Economics, SOAS, University of London.

Perspective of social partners

• Julius Cainglet, Vice President of the Federation of Free Workers(FFW) Philippines and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
• Amadou Sako, Adviser for Africa, International Organisation of Employers (IOE)

Discussion

Concept note and further information