Social Protection Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘Rethinking Regimes and Commitments’

Abstract

In recent years, social protection has attracted great attention, especially in low-income countries (LICs). Prior to the 1990s, social protection in many LICs was perceived as a luxury that only rich countries could afford. This article discusses the status of and approaches to social protection in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using examples from selected countries in the region. The article first outlines the key concepts employed in social protection and then presents data on various social development indicators for SSA to highlight the challenges that SSA face. Data presented draw attention to the irony around social protection in SSA, particularly that it is countries with high levels of poverty, vulnerability and deprivation, which have no basic social protection. While acknowledging the emerging diverse social protection initiatives in SSA as positive developments towards addressing poverty and vulnerability, the article argues that expanding social protection in the region still remains constrained by lack of political commitment and by policies that try to replicate social welfare regimes of developed countries.