The global report on recent developments and trends in social security, Dynamic Social Security: Securing social stability and economic development , is published to coincide with the World Social Security Forum, which opens in Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 November.

The Forum is the largest global gathering of social security administrators and policy-makers, and will consider how social security systems can respond to economic upheaval and social transformation.

Commenting on the report, the ISSA Secretary General Hans-Horst Konkolewsky underlined that social security systems need to adapt to confront major challenges – including population ageing, changes in family structures, evolving labour markets and increasing economic globalization – and would need to innovate further to meet the social needs of populations.

“The societal and political position of social security has been reinforced as a result of the crisis,” Mr. Konkolewsky confirmed. But he recognized that crisis-induced increased expenditures, together with a loss of contribution revenues and growing fiscal restraint, were pushing some institutions to their limits.

“To sustain current systems and further extend social security to unprotected populations requires integrated and proactive policy responses and innovative measures to develop more accessible, sustainable and high-performing administrations and programmes,” he stated.

Among the report’s main findings:

• Social security organizations responded effectively to the challenges posed by the recent financial and economic crisis and public support for social security has increased.
• The countries that were most able to manage the impacts of the crisis were those that had comprehensive social security systems already in place, confirming the vital role of social security as a social buffer and economic stabilizer.
• Addressing the challenges posed by growing uncertainty and instability requires new and innovative approaches.
• Social security systems increasingly depend both on contributions and tax revenue to finance programmes. To ensure future financial sustainability, the integrated design and reform of social security programmes and tax systems is essential.
• Social security administrations are increasingly required to be involved in the policy-making process, placing greater emphasis on a holistic approach to the case management of beneficiaries’ needs, and working in partnership with other agencies and services in both the public and private sectors.

The Developments and Trends Global Report 2010: Dynamic Social Security: Securing social stability and economic development , is being launched simultaneously in Geneva and Cape Town on 29 November, and may be downloaded in English, French, German and Spanish from the ISSA Website: www.issa.int

Daily coverage of the World Social Security Forum available at: www.issa.int/wssf2010