13 African governments agreed last week to put together national social protection plans to support older people and other vulnerable groups.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia and the African Union (AU) co-hosted an Intergovernmental Regional Conference in Livingstone, Zambia, for ministers and senior representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Development partners from Finland, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the UK attended the conference, along with UN agencies and NGOs.

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia gave the opening address to the conference, and the keynote speech was given by the Director of Social Affairs of the AU, on behalf of the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs. The conference was co-organised by HelpAge International and the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

Delegates agreed that social pensions and cash transfers to vulnerable children, older people and people living with disabilities should be implemented more widely throughout Africa.

Livingstone call for action – an historic agreement

Participants at the meeting adopted the Livingstone call for action on social protection in Africa. The call for action will be taken forward regionally through the AU, at national government level, and by development partners.

The key points of the agreement are:

African governments will put together costed national cash transfer plans within the next three years. These will be integrated within national development plans and budgets. Social protection programmes, including social pensions and cash transfers to vulnerable children, older persons and their dependants and people with disabilities, will be used more in response to poverty in African countries. Reliable long-term funding for social protection will use financial resources both from national budgets and development partners. Greater cooperation between African and other countries will facilitate the exchange of information, experiences and action on social protection and cash transfers.
In Africa, 47 million people aged 60 and over are chronically poor. HelpAge International sees this agreement as a turning point for the poorest and most vulnerable people of Africa.

“We are delighted that the Livingstone meeting recognises social security as a basic human right, and cash transfers as a highly effective yet under-used development resource in the region,” says Mark Gorman, Director of Policy and Development for HelpAge International.

An effective way to tackle poverty

Discrimination and limited policy and legislation on ageing, combined with the declining economic situation, the impact of HIV/AIDS and ongoing conflicts and emergencies, mean that many poor older will continue to live in poverty unless they are given access to basic rights and services.

HelpAge International advocates for social pensions as an effective way of tackling old age poverty in its Age and Security report. Using examples from existing pension schemes in Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa, the report puts forward the case for a regular non-contributory social pension and highlights the following benefits:

*Improved health, nutrition and social status.

*Strengthening of the “social contract” between state and citizen.

*Reduction in income inequality among the chronically poor, resulting in reduction of risk and economic growth. 

*Progress towards the achievement of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially MDG1 to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.Reduction of the impact of HIV/AIDS, particularly on older carers looking after people living with HIV/AIDS and children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. 

For further information, resources and photos on this article, please visit HelpAge International press release section