Accelerating Universal Social Protection for Achieving the SDGs and Ending Poverty

Background

Today, more than half of the world’s population has no access to social protection. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, exclusion is even larger as 87.9 per cent of the population has no income security when faced with old age, maternity, unemployment, and other risks. Poor governance, insufficient and unsustainable financing, and lack of coordination among stakeholders are key issues affecting efforts to extend social protection coverage.

The ILO-UNDESA Project “Accelerating Universal Social Protection for Achieving the SDGs and Ending Poverty through Strengthened Governance and Digital Transformation” aims to accelerate progress towards universal social protection through strengthening of policy design, administrative and financial governance, and digital transformation of social protection systems as well as to encourage learning between countries in the Global South.

The project supports the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, especially the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to plan, finance, coordinate, and monitor the National Social Protection Strategy. It also supports the Lao Social Security Organisation to strengthen the design and financing of the social security system and expand its coverage.

It ultimately supports Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s efforts towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Target 1.3.

Implementation

The project is implemented by the ILO Country Office for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in coordination with the ILO Social Protection Department in Geneva, ILO Country Office for Tajikistan, and the UNDESA Division for Inclusive Social Development. It promotes South-South cooperation and learning from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Social Insurance Agency of the People’s Republic of China.

Outputs

• Integrated support provided to the government, social partners and civil society to plan, finance, implement and monitor the National Social Protection Strategy.
• Innovative approaches to extend social security to uncovered workers are explored and piloted.
• Capacity building and technical assistance provided to the amendment of the Social Security Law.
• Capacity building and technical assistance provided for sustainable financing and investment of the National Social Security Fund.

For further information please contact:

Ms Loveleen De
Programme Manager
Email: del@ilo.org

Mr Thongleck Xiong
National Project Coordinator
Email: thongleck@ilo.org