Briefing launch: Why social protection should be an essential part of the EU's developement cooperation strategy?

Briefing launch: Why social protection should be an essential part of the EU's developement cooperation strategy?

There is increasing recognition among international agencies, donors, governments and civil society organisations that social protection can play a pivotal role in preventing and reducing poverty, and promoting social and economic development.

Nevertheless, only 20% of the world's population has adequate social security coverage, and more than half lack any coverage at all. Furthermore the EU does not have a coherent policy or strategy to promote social protection through its development cooperation. It is now time to address this policy incoherence, especially with the mid-review summit of the Millennium Development Goals coming up in September 2010.

At a round table in the European Parliament on the topic, the European Working Group on Social Protection and Decent Work and the Grow Up Free From Poverty Coalition launched a briefing looking at why social protection should be an essential part of the EU's development cooperation strategy.

Formed in 2007, the European Working Group on Social Protection and Decent Work in Development Cooperation is made up of civil society organisations who want to see social protection given the prominence it deserves in EU aid policy and as part of the Decent Work Agenda. Organisations include Help Age International, World Solidarity, Light for the World, Stop Aid Alliance and SOLIDAR.