SOUTH AFRICA SHARES SOCIAL PROTECTION EXPERTISE WITH TUNISIAN DELEGATION

By Anthony Makwiramiti

• The Department of Social Development has shared best practices internationally, hosting a high-level delegation from Tunisia in South Africa for executive training on adaptive social protection.
• The engagement, part of a technical exchange convened by the Economic Policy Research Institute, brought together senior policymakers and practitioners responsible for designing and financing social protection systems.
• The meeting aimed to draw lessons from South Africa’s governance, financing models and institutional coordination mechanisms in building responsive social security programmes.

South Africa’s social development sector strengthened international cooperation this week as the Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) hosted a high-level delegation from Tunisia during an executive training programme on adaptive social protection.

The engagement formed part of a technical exchange convened by the Economic Policy Research Institute, bringing together senior policymakers and practitioners responsible for designing and financing social protection systems in their country.

The visit aimed to draw lessons from South Africa’s governance, financing models and institutional coordination mechanisms in building responsive social security programmes.

Sharing South Africa’s social protection model

During the session, South Africa presented its comprehensive social protection architecture — a system grounded in the Constitution, which guarantees everyone access to social security and appropriate social assistance.

Officials outlined that the country’s framework integrates social assistance, social insurance and complementary savings schemes, forming a multi-pillar system designed to ensure a minimum standard of living and promote economic participation.

The department explained that social assistance grants remain the primary safety net for vulnerable groups, including older persons, children and persons with disabilities, while broader developmental programmes help build resilient communities.

Financing and coordination

The exchange highlighted how coordination between the Department of Social Development, National Treasury and SASSA ensures the sustainability of social grants. Government funds grants entirely through national tax revenue, with expenditure stabilised at about 3.1% of GDP in the medium term despite growing coverage.

Delegates also received insight into budgeting processes, beneficiary projections and the collaborative approach used to determine grant value adjustments based on inflation and economic conditions.

Adaptive and shock-responsive support

Presentations further focused on South Africa’s adaptive social protection measures, including disaster and crisis responses. The system demonstrated its capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government introduced grant top-ups and the Social Relief of Distress grant to support vulnerable households.

The department emphasised that social protection is increasingly linked to disaster risk management to reduce vulnerability and build long-term resilience in the face of climate-related shocks.

Strengthening global collaboration

In his remarks, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou underscored the importance of coordinated approaches in the design, financing and implementation of adaptive and shock-responsive systems at national level.

The programme also included presentations on the department’s mandate and the implementation of social assistance programmes, followed by discussions and a field visit for practical learning.

The social development sector reaffirmed its commitment to continued knowledge-sharing and international partnerships, noting that collaboration plays a critical role in strengthening evidence-based policymaking and advancing inclusive social protection globally.