Intergovernmental regional conference

A transformative agenda for the 21 st Century:  Examining the case for basic social protection in Africa  

March 20-23, 2006

Livingstone, Zambia

From the 20th to the 23rd March 2006, the government of Zambia in partnership with HelpAge International hosted an inter-governmental workshop, exploring the case for basic social protection in Africa . The workshop brought to Zambia Ministers and senior officials responsible for Social Welfare and Finance from governments in East and Southern Africa , as well as donors and NGOs.

The aim of the workshop was to support senior policy makers in low income countries to take forward in a practical fashion the potential of basic social protection instruments, including cash transfers in enhancing development support to the most vulnerable. It focused on the rationale for enhanced basic social protection in sub-Saharan Africa, the financing of basic social protection programmes within national poverty reduction and social protection strategies and the practical issues concerning the establishment of cash transfer schemes within an overall poverty reduction and social protection package. The participants also had a chance to visit the cash transfer scheme that the Government of Zambia is currently piloting in Kalomo.

For more information on the conference, please consult

• Background information for all information related to the rationale, programme and the participants of this conference as well as for information on the areas visited during the field trip.
• Presentations for all speeches and presentations held at the conference as well as the call for action.