ILO constituents shape the future of the Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All

Panellists and participants gather for the 2025 meeting of the Global Tripartite Advisory Committee (GTAC). From left to right: Aurélie Klein (ILO), Peter van de Rooij (ILO), Shahra Razavi (ILO), Valérie Schmitt (ILO), Karuna Pal (ILO).

GENEVA (ILO News) – On 29 October 2025, the Global Tripartite Advisory Committee (GTAC), a key tripartite body guiding the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All (SPF Flagship Programme), assessed progress and impact achieved so far under the second phase (2021-2025), and discussed the development of the third phase as well as resource mobilization challenges and opportunities. As a tripartite body, the GTAC plays a central role in the governance of the SPF Flagship Programme. It includes government representatives from development partners and priority countries, together with representatives from the Employers’ and Workers’ Groups.

Ms Shahra Razavi, Director of the Universal Social Protection Department, and Mr Peter van de Rooij, Director of the Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation Department, opened the meeting, highlighting the global recognition of social protection as a key priority for combating poverty, reducing inequalities and facilitating just transitions as well as the importance of continued efforts and partnerships to achieve universal social protection.

Ms Valérie Schmitt, Deputy Director of the Universal Social Protection Department and Head of the SPF Flagship Programme, as well as other members of the SPF Flagship Programme, shared insights on the results and impact achieved, good practices from countries and regions, and the partnerships forged during the second phase (2021–2025). The SPF Flapship Programme has already exceeded its targets, supporting 50 countries in achieving 149 key institutional changes, including new laws, development of schemes, or better monitoring and financing systems for social protection, and extending social protection coverage to nearly 56 million people across partner countries.

Building on these achievements, the meeting focused on shaping the strategy for Phase III (2026–2030), drawing lessons from its current Phase and several consultations with development partners, governments, social partners and ILO experts. The forthcoming strategy, to be finalized by early 2026, focuses on building and strengthening inclusive social protection systems that cover all branches of social security and extend coverage to priority groups such as informal economy workers, refugees, and migrants. At the same time, it also seeks to leverage social protection to support just transitions —driving formalization, greener and more resilient economies, digital transformation, crisis recovery, and responses to demographic change. As drivers for reaching these objectives, the framework emphasizes sustainable financing and policy coherence, promoting domestic resource mobilization, private-sector engagement, and evidence-based advocacy to expand social protection investment. The session concluded with an update on resource mobilization efforts, outlining progress made and remaining funding gaps.

Ms Valérie Schmitt

Deputy Director, Universal Social Protection Department, Head of the SPF Flagship Programme, International Labour Office

“We propose an adjusted framework for the third phase of the Programme which reflects both the importance of strong social protection systems to reach universal coverage as well as the system’s key role in supporting other policy objectives.”

GTAC members were invited to provide inputs and comments on the results of the second phase and priority focus for the third phase. Some of their key inputs are reflected below.

Ms Evelyn Astor

Director of Economic and Social Policy Department, ITUC

“The promotion of Convention No. 102 and other relevant social security instruments, as well as the implementation of Recommendation No. 202, should continue to be an essential feature in the next phase of the Flagship Programme.”
Mr Yasuo Ariga

Director, International Labour and Cooperation Office, International Affairs Division, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan

“Japan has great interest in the issue of platform workers. In order to establish appropriate social protection floors for platform workers, extension of social protection to the informal workers is crucial."
Ms Alba Riobó

Policy Officer, Social Inclusion and Protection, Health and Demography, Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA), European Commission

“We have value in providing additional instruments to support (the SPF Flagship Programme), with the innovative financing mechanisms in the framework of Global Gateway."
Mr Herryman Moono

Director, Research and Strategic Planning, National Health Insurance Management Authority, Zambia

“What we have greatly benefited from is the capacity building aspect. Building the capacity within the National Health Insurance Authority and with the capacity-built evidence generated, we were able to develop new and innovative partnerships."
Mr Gama Anom Yogotomo

Chairperson of the Social Security Committee, Department of Employment Affairs (APINDO), The Employers’ Association of Indonesia

"To align with the ILO Flagship approach, countries should extend coverage to informal workers, improve adequacy and rights, modernize schemes, ensure sustainable financing, strengthen data systems, and reinforce laws and social dialogue."

ILO launched the SPF Flagship Programme in 2016. The strategy for the second phase of the Flagship Programme (2021–2025), launched in 2021, identifies 50 priority countries, 16 thematic areas and strategic partnerships as the focus. For more information, see the web page and annual reports.