More people have access to better managed and more equitable social security benefits

Eswatini, a lower middle-income country with high rates of poverty and unemployment, lacks a comprehensive social protection system (including unemployment protection). The impact of COVID-19 on economic activity and employment has compounded this issue and heightened the need for unemployment protection. As part of the crisis response, the Government has announced plans to establish an unemployment benefit fund (UBF) to support workers in vulnerable situations in accessing decent and productive employment, as a means to combat poverty and promote formalization. The ILO, through this RBSA-funded intervention and in collaboration with other UN agencies and development partners, contributes to feasibility studies and the development of legal, institutional and implementation frameworks for the UBF. To ensure that the UBF is established as part of a comprehensive and inclusive social security system, the ILO provides technical support and advisory services to constituents in the implementation of the National Social Security Action Plan and Strategy, comprising the finalization of actuarial studies. The intervention also includes activities to develop the capacity of ILO constituents on social protection.

Project symbol

SWZ/20/01/RBS

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Pretoria

Start date

01/07/2020

End date

05/12/2022

Total allocation

430000

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

430000

Development Partners

Core voluntary funds (RBSA)

Country/Countries

Eswatini

Outcomes

Outcome 8: Comprehensive and sustainable social protection for all