Abstract
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formed to promote the political, economic and social wellbeing of the region. Some of the social objectives of the SADC are the promotion of social development and the alleviation of poverty, the enhancement of the quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and the provision of support to the socially disadvantaged. In order to achieve these objectives, SADC member states have concluded a Treaty and various social protection-related instruments which aim to ensure that everyone in the region is provided with basic minimum social protection. Although the formation of the SADC (and the conclusion of some of its social protection-related instruments) preceded both the minimum social protection floor concept and the Social Protection Floor Initiative, the Treaty and instruments can be seen as complying with the requirements of both the concept and the initiative within the region. This article analyses the extent to which the SADC social protection-related instruments fulfil a minimum social floor function at the SADC regional level. The positive and negative aspects of the SADC Treaty and social protection-related instruments in this regard are evaluated. In addition, the article reviews the impact of the SADC social protection-related instruments in the setting up of social protection programmes aimed at ensuring a minimum social protection floor in some of the SADC countries. The successes of such country initiatives and the challenges faced are discussed. This is then followed by some concluding observations.
Highlights
The concept of a social protection floor was proposed by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization in 2004, when it stated that "a certain minimum level of social protection needs to be an accepted and undisputed part of the socioeconomic floor of the global economy."1 The concept was developed by the International Labour Organisation as a means to extend the scope of coverage of social protection
The requirement that persons who have been unable to either enter or re-enter the labour market and have no means of subsistence should be able to receive sufficient resources and social assistance could be interpreted as encompassing the ′′rights of access to food, water, housing, health care and social security.′′32 Such an interpretation would imply that every Southern African Development Community (SADC) member state is required ′′to ensure the provision of the bare essentials each poor citizen needs to live a minimally decent life.′′33 This is, in accordance with the minimum social protection floor concept, a set of basic social rights, services and facilities to which the global (SADC) citizen should have access
For instance ′′[i]n Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, coverage of antiretrovirals for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV reached more than 80%.′′93 ′′[b]etween 2004 and 2009, AIDSrelated deaths among children in southern Africa declined by 26%, from 120 000 [88 000-150 000] to 90 000 [61 000-110 000].′′94 ′′[i]n Botswana, where treatment coverage exceeds 90%, the estimated annual number of Aids-related deaths fell from 18 000 [15 000-22 000] in 2002 to 9100 [2400-19 000] in 2009 – a decrease of about 50%′′95 and ′′[i]n rural Malawi, the provision of antiretroviral therapy has been linked to a 10% drop in adult mortality between 2004 and 2008.′′96 Another area which should be treated as essential health care is primary health care to pregnant women and their children
Summary
The concept of a social protection floor was proposed by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization in 2004, when it stated that "a certain minimum level of social protection needs to be an accepted and undisputed part of the socioeconomic floor of the global economy." The concept was developed by the International Labour Organisation (the ILO) as a means to extend the scope of coverage of social protection It denotes a set of basic social rights, services and facilities to which the global citizen should have access.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
