Kenya delegation explores China’s advances in social security service delivery and digital transformation

Bangkok (ILO News) – A delegation from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Kenya, with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), has completed a study visit to China to learn about the country’s advances in social-security service delivery and digital transformation.

The visit, supported by the ILO/China Project “Extending Social Protection Coverage to Workers in the Informal Economy in Lao PDR and Kenya and Leveraging Digital Transformation: through South-South Cooperation”, took place from 24 to 28 November 2025 in the Chinese cities of Changsha and Chongqing.

The delegation explored China’s approaches to social security management, service delivery, digitalisation and public communication through field trips and exchanges with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS) and the local administrations.

Zhai Yanli, Director-General of the Social Insurance Administration of MoHRSS, shared China’s experience and recent innovations in developing the world’s largest social security system. He noted that China has expanded coverage, strengthened its policy framework, and improved service quality in recent years. Pilot programmes on occupational injury protection for workers in new forms of employment were highlighted as an area of ongoing progress.

“People in China now enjoy a more reliable, more adequate, and more people-centered social security system,” said Zhai Yanli, “Given China’s large population, social security services must be highly efficient to meet public needs.”

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Ding Xingfa, Director of the Hunan Provincial Social Insurance Service Center, highlighted: “With the introduction of AI-powered customer service, intelligent eligibility verification, and more accessible, smarter, simplified and cross-regional social insurance services, Hunan province has built an integrated information system covering pension, work injury, and unemployment insurance. These efforts also complement the nationwide social insurance enrolment campaign.”

During a visit to a manufacturing enterprise in Changsha, the delegation also observed the city’s approach for preventing work injury.

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In Chongqing, the Social Security Development Exhibition Hall provided an overview of the city’s progress in social protection, while the Western Human Resources and Social Security Data Lab demonstrated integrated data resources management, real-time monitoring of social security service halls and AI applications, including an AI planning model.

Delegates then visited service centers at township and community levels to learn about efforts to expand social insurance coverage and enhance service access in rural areas. “We continue to encourage all eligible individuals to participate in social insurance in a high-quality manner,” said Xu Xiaoyan, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Social Insurance Administration.

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Reflecting on the visit, Millicent Akinyi Awiti, General Manager of NSSF and Head of the Kenyan Delegation, highlighted several key takeaways. “We were particularly interested in the application of digital technologies. The Data Lab’s centralized and efficient display of social insurance data and service resources was impressive. The service halls, enterprises, call centers, banks, and rural offices demonstrated how social insurance services are delivered efficiently to both urban and rural residents. The use of “Bao Brother” and “Bao Sister” in public communication, along with twice-monthly livestream, was also very inspiring. The lessons we have learned here will help Kenya strengthen its social security system and improve effectiveness and efficiency.”

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© MOHRSS

“China has extensive experience in building the world’s largest social security system, and many countries can benefit from its good practices,” said Rubén Vicente Andrés, Social Protection Programme Manager at ILO Beijing. “Through cooperation with the ILO, we hope to share these experiences with more countries across the Global South”.

“This visit provides a valuable opportunity for in-depth mutual learning between China and Kenya within the framework of the ILO–China Partnership Programme on Social Protection,” added Qin Jingyi, Social Protection officer at ILO Bangkok. “It vividly demonstrates the practical value of South-South Cooperation in advancing social protection.”

For further information please contact:

Qin Jingyi
South-South Cooperation Programme Officer
ILO/China Social Protection Project
Email: [email protected]