Message from the President

Dear members, partners, and friends of the International Social Security Association,

It was not long ago I was given the honour to be your ISSA President at the 39th ISSA Council Meeting, in Marrakech, Morocco. Since the elections, I am committed to make our Association stronger, in close collaboration with the ISSA General Secretariat and Secretary General Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Vice-President Isabelle Sancerni and Treasurer Jean-Marc Vandenbergh.

Never has the ISSA had such a broad membership base, a proof of the value we bring to our members and to society. Together we aim to grow even stronger and more inclusive to all.

Pursuing our mandate, our already established 13 technical commissions, 19 regional structures and the ISSA General Secretariat will work on these topics to deliver relevant knowledge and exchange opportunities to all members. In fact, I have made personal visits to several countries to convince relevant stakeholders and push national developments for social security.

Not only we will bring these topics to our members, but also into global platforms on social security, where we work closely with important partners at the international and regional level. The International Labour Organization (ILO) continues to be the closest ISSA partner and ally. Meeting the new Director‑General Gilbert F. Houngbo in person as ISSA President, I can attest to his commitments on the proposed Global Coalition for Social Justice, an important initiative that the ISSA fully supports.

During the year, we also continued our contribution at the G20, strengthened our cooperation with important organizations and platforms such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the African Union, the European Commission, and BRICS countries.

In fact, recently in July, I had the great opportunity to represent ISSA and present at the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Indore, India. With ISSA’s efforts, all 20 nations and guest countries agreed on key commitments related to sustainable financing for social protection and adequate protection for platform workers.

A great example of collaboration during the year was with the African Union, which jointly hosted a Summit with government representatives and international organizations at the Regional Social Security Forum for Africa in Côte d’Ivoire, in May 2023. Africa is the continent where the expansion of social security coverage is still most needed, and I have witnessed first-hand the efforts by the African Union in stepping up its political support in this area.

There are many more important organizations and platforms that we cooperate closely with on a day-to-day basis, and although I cannot name them all, I thank every one of them from the bottom of my heart.

I am also pleased that last year we have not only moved into a new ISSA triennium, but also into the post-pandemic world. While we quickly learnt how to work and exchange experiences digitally during COVID-19, we can now truly appreciate the value of being able to travel and meet face to face.

The triennium has just started, but the ISSA has a busy schedule of events. By the end of 2024, we will have organized: Regional Forums for the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe, the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work 2023, the 21st ISSA International Conference of Social Security Actuaries, Statisticians, and Investment Specialists, as well as the 16th ISSA International Conference on Information and Communication Technology in Social Security.

ISSA members are leading the way with their innovations, good practices, and actively using the ISSA Guidelines in their work. Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the hosts of the World and Regional Forums, our international conferences, technical seminars, and workshops. I also wish to convey my appreciation to the hosts of ISSA regional structures, members of technical commissions, prevention sections and working groups, and to our partner organizations that deliver training or other activities together with the ISSA.

We are not a single unit; we all come together and form a chain that enhances what we do best, which is advocating and implementing social protection for all. Every one of you contribute to making our ISSA such a truly unique community and I look forward to seeing you at one of our nearest engagements soon.

Thank you.