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social protection floor initiative (SPF-I)

poster courtesy of (OECD)

The SPF-Initiative is a basic level of social protection, meaning access to essential services and social transfers for the poor and vulnerable.

Within the scope of its mandate, promoting the social transfer component of the social floor, i.e. a basic set of essential social guarantees realized through transfers in cash that could ensure universal access to essential health services, income support and income or subsistence security.

A brochure on the social protection policy initiative has been prepared in English, French and Spanish:

social protection floor initiative
initiative pour un socle de protection sociale
iniciativa del piso de protección social

All can be found at the GESS website www.socialsecurityextension.org

GESS is a trilingual knowledge-sharing Internet platform which contributes to the extension of social security by strengthening the capacities of all actors involved. GESS offers a complete range of resources, services and assistance, in order to foster collaboration on key questions and on projects both for the implementation of social security strategies adapted to the national context and for the management of social protection schemes. The platform draws on the experience of the Social Security Department of the International Labour Office (ILO) and is a key instrument in the Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All.

To access previous reports, articles and resources, click on the drop-down list below.
Please note that some material linked to external sources may no longer be available.

Social Protection Floor Articles, Reports & Resources

Social Protection Floor Index: Monitoring National Social Protection Policy Implementation

The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors, a network of almost 90 NGOs and trade unions organisation worldwide, is happy to announce The Social Protection Floor Index (SPFI). The Index was developed by a group of master students from the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance under the supervision of Michael Cichon.

The Index (SPFI) is a composite indicator based on the SPFs Recommendation No.202, which serves as a conceptual framework. It measures the potential costs (in % of GDP) to close gaps in the national social protection floor (gaps in income security and health security).

Download: Social Protection Floor Index: Monitoring National Social Protection Policy Implementation (PDF)

Missing A Golden Opportunity?

Social protection floors as a UN social protection strategy and the post 2015 development agenda - Michael Cichon (2014-06) PDF

The Making or Breaking of a UN Social Protection Strategy

The Post 2015 Development Agenda - Michael Cichon (2014-03) PDF

Myanmar Report

A report on the first social protection floor mission of the Global Coalition to Myanmar.

Commission on the Status of Women

ICSW Statement to the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Key Papers

SPFI Activities of ICSW South Asia Regional Committee by A.S Shenoy - Regional President, ICSW South Asia Region

Agnès Plassart, Delegate from GIP SPSI (French international health and social protection agency) and Christian Rollet, President of ICSW write on Globalisation: Return of the social dimension.

Pension watch - HelpAge's new website on social pensions

Pension watch is a comprehensive new online resource for policy makers and development practitioners on non-contributory (social) pensions.

National initiatives - Germany

GTZ is a German federally owned organisation that works worldwide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. Its mandate is to support the German Government in achieving its development objectives. GTZ has a special section for social protection. Resource information is available in English, German and Spanish.

Key resources

Social Protection Floor News