Various stakeholders have convened in Lusaka to discuss the social security minimum standards aimed at enhancing the comprehensive and effective implementation of various social protection programmes.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Ministry of Labour and Social Security sponsored tripartite capacity building seminar is focusing on the Social Security Minimum Standards Convention, 1952 No. 102.

Speaking when she officially opened the meeting in Lusaka, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Angela Kawandami, acknowledged that although not yet ratified, the convention no.102 potentially provides Zambia with a rare opportunity to attain the minimum social security standards that the Zambian government can afford for its citizens based on the local social and economic context.

Ms. Kawandami further observed that the capacity building seminar, therefore lays a good foundation for ratification of convention no.102 and a progressive development in an effort to improve social security services in Zambia.

“As many of you may be aware, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has been reviewing the 2014 national social protection policy. the revised policy will take a life cycle approach to ensure that all contingencies during the life of our citizens are carefully addressed in a comprehensive and sustainable manner “she said.

She said the capacity building seminar is also timely and will play a pivotal role not only in the finalization of the policy review but also in the implementation by guiding social protection practitioners in Zambia to advance social protection that is both comprehensive and adequate throughout the life cycle.

Ms. Kawandami expressed optimism that the outcome of the training will result in enhanced capacities of social protection stakeholders in Zambia capable of designing and implementing sound national social protection policies and rights-based social protection systems that are sustainable, comprehensive, and adequate for all.