The International Social Security Association (ISSA) has celebrated the opening of its Liaison Office for East Africa in Kampala, Uganda. A technical seminar on digitization and innovation to extend coverage was organized at the same time.
The ISSA Liaison Office for East Africa is now being hosted by Uganda's National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The opening ceremony took place in the capital Kampala on 30 August 2023 in the presence of the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Peter Kimbowa, and the Director General, Patrick Ayota, of the NSSF.
"The ISSA Liaison Offices play an essential role in bringing the Association's products and services closer to its members, facilitating cooperation between them and, more generally, promoting social security while taking account of regional and cultural specificities" said Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, ISSA Secretary General.
Technical Seminar and forthcoming activities
The first Technical Seminar organized for ISSA members in East Africa following the transfer of the Liaison Office focused on the role of digitalization and innovation in extending social security coverage. Participants had the opportunity to debate this theme based on presentations of cases from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The discussions and exchanges were moderated by the Managing Director of the South Sudan Pensions Fund.
The Steering Committee of the Liaison Office, meeting the day after the seminar, decided to schedule a workshop, a Technical Seminar and a webinar in 2024 as part of its activities. The themes, venues and dates of these events will be confirmed following a consultation with the regional membership.
For more information on developments and trends in social security in Africa, see the ISSA report released at the Regional Social Security Forum for Africa 2023.