It is widely recognized that demographic changes that were once perceived as impacting only the more advanced countries (i.e. trends towards lower rates of fertility and mortality) have now become a significant challenge for social security institutions in all regions, and the region of West Africa is no exception.

In this region, an emerging demographic trend is towards a higher number of older people, which is coupled with the labour market trend towards lower numbers of workers in the formal economy (but not a lower number of individuals of working-age i.e. those aged 15-64). In the absence of sufficient income from other sources, decreasing social security system dependency ratios (the ratio of active contributors to current pensioners) may threaten the financial equilibrium of contributory programmes.

The rise of chronic non-communicable disease in all regions of the world, alongside the “disease burden” of communicable disease that is most commonly associated with developing regions, underlines a need to adapt health-care planning and provision. Next to other factors including changing family structures and patterns of migration, these trends are exacerbating the vulnerability and dependency of the elderly, but also create new policy needs and priorities for all generations. The purpose of this seminar will be to examine ways in which social security institutions in West Africa may respond to the challenges of demographic change while ensuring their financially sustainability.

This seminar is mainly intended for staff of social security organizations in West Africa directly involved in demographic and actuarial activities.

Practical information

Please note that this seminar is open to ISSA member organizations from West Africa and invited participants only. For further information and registration please consult the ISSA Extranet.

Website of the ISSA Liaison Office for West Africa >>