To provide a platform for an engaging conversation between African Governments, civil society organizations, and people affected by COVID-19 on how to address critical social protection gaps exposed by the pandemic and progress towards inclusive and rights-based social protection, the African Union, the Africa Social Protection Platform, HelpAge International, WIEGO, Save the Children, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) – Zambia, and the ILO Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa are organizing a virtual dialogue made up of three connected webinars. The conversation will revolve around the VOICES of affected populations, the ACTIONS of Governments to expand social protection during COVID-19, and Africa’s VISIONS for social protection as part of an inclusive recovery.   

In this first webinar of the African Dialogue on COVID-19 and the Future of Social Protection series, we heard directly from children, workers in the informal economy, and older people from different African countries on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their lives, livelihoods, access to education and wellbeing. These voices were contextualized with evidence on the impacts of the pandemic on various population groups across the life-course and in different African countries. The webinar further provided space for direct engagement with the speakers through a question-and-answer session.

The sessions were live translated into English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese. The French interpretation was recorded and can be found here.

 

Speakers:

Dr Jane Marie Ongolo, Head of Division, Social Welfare Vulnerable Groups and Drug Control, African Union Commission

Annie Diouf, Head of the Informal Economy Department at the Confederation Nationale de Travailleurs du Senegal (CNTS), and Council Member of StreetNet International

Ignasio Mpaka, Human Rights Activist

Precious Ng’onga, Programme Manager, Rights Based Social Protection, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) – Zambia

Lefhoko Kesamang, Senior Social Welfare Officer, African Union Commission

Kijala Shako, Head of Campaigns, Advocacy, Communication and Media at Save the Children International

 

Chairperson: Simon Nhongo, Zimbabwe Social Protection Platform, Southern Africa Representative African Platform for Social Protection 

 

This was the first webinar of the African Dialogue on COVID-19 and the Future of Social Protection series, jointly organised by the African Union, the Africa Social Protection Platform, HelpAge International, WIEGO, Save the Children, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) – Zambia, and the ILO Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa.