New ISSA:From vision to action

Hans-Horst Konkolewsky

Secretary General

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Strategic objectives – evidence from all member organizationsAim: Define what ISSA should achieve and deliver for its members

Evidence: Survey ranking of ISSA’s role by member organizations:

1. Information provider – research and analysis2. Information provider – good practice3. Information provider – social security schemes in other countries4. A Platform to meet experts to discuss specific social security

issues5. A regional/subregional platform to meet6. A champion of social security at the international level7. A platform to meet experts from international organizations8. A platform to meet experts from other regions

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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

1. Training provider – specialized fields (actuarial, statistical, IT etc.)2. A regional / sub-regional platform to meet with representatives

within the region / sub-region3. Information provider – policy advice4. Training provider – middle and senior staff5. Information provider – concrete guidance on administration of

schemes

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Strategic objectives - evidence from your sub-region

6. Information provider – research and analysis on social security issues

7. Technical support provider – facilitating the provision of expert advice between member institutions to achieve greater administrative efficiency

8. Technical support provider – facilitating the provision of expert advice between member institutions to improve / extend social security system

9. A platform to meet with representatives of other international organizations

10. Information provider – social security schemes in other countries

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Proposed ISSA Strategic Objectives

1. Strengthen knowledge collection, analysis and transfer targeted at the diverse needs of members

2. Strengthen ISSA’s capacity to provide relevant platforms for members

3. Promote social security at the international level

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Programme priorities - evidence

Aim: Define what social security challenges the ISSAshould focus on

Evidence: Survey ranking of challenges that members face

1. Planning/implementing social security reform2. Need for greater administrative and operational

efficiency3. Demographic evolution4. Labour market situation

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Programme priorities – evidence from your sub-region

Survey ranking of challenges that members face

in English-speaking Africa:

1. Need to extend social security coverage

2. Need for greater administrative and operational efficiency

3. Improving the adequacy of the level of benefits provided by your scheme

4. Planning/implementing social security reform

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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

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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

New ISSA proposals for action

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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

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Ensure impact of ISSA activitiesObjective 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

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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…

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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Implications of proposed actions

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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

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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.

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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!

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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%

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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?