More than 55 million people around the world now enjoy stronger and more inclusive social protection, thanks to a powerful wave of reforms driven by the International Labour Organisation’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All.
The second phase of the programme, spanning 2021 to 2025, has not only expanded access but significantly improved the quality and scope of social protection systems in dozens of countries.
This remarkable progress took centre stage during the programme’s annual Development Partners meeting held Thursday in Geneva. The hybrid gathering drew 55 high-level representatives from governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations, and more than 1,400 online participants, all united by a shared goal—to create more equitable and resilient societies through universal social protection.
In her opening remarks, Mia Seppo, ILO Assistant Director-General for Jobs and Social Protection, highlighted the scale of the transformation already underway. “For the first time, our World Social Protection Report shows that 52.4 percent of the global population is covered by at least one branch of social protection,” she said. “This proves our joint efforts are working.
However, with 3.8 billion people still left out, we must redouble our commitment. The Flagship Programme is one of the strongest vehicles to get us to the finish line.”
Since its launch in 2016, the Flagship Programme has become a cornerstone of global efforts to ensure that people everywhere can retire with dignity, access essential healthcare, and weather life’s crises with greater security.
Working across 50 priority countries and supporting policy advice on 16 key themes, the programme has proven that smart, inclusive, and sustainable systems can tackle pressing challenges from ageing populations and informality to climate change and health equity.
One standout example came from Côte d’Ivoire, where a sweeping awareness campaign supported by the ILO and the World Bank has brought over one million independent workers into the national social security fold. “This is a testament to what’s possible when strong public policies meet the commitment of development partners,” said Adama Kamara, Minister of Employment and Social Protection.
Over the past four years alone, the programme has fueled 149 institutional breakthroughs—nearly double its original goal. These include new laws, reformed schemes, and smarter operational models, all contributing to the wider safety net now supporting tens of millions more people around the world.
With just one year left in this phase, the programme is already closing in on its 60-million target. But eyes are now firmly on the future. Planning is well underway for Phase III, which will run from 2026 to 2030 and play a critical role in the final push toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG target 1.3, which calls for universal social protection.
Development partners are reaffirming their commitment. “Luxembourg will continue to stand with the ILO and others in expanding the impact of this essential programme,” pledged Marc Bichler, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva. “Social protection isn’t just a safety net—it’s the foundation of stable, inclusive, and resilient societies. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind.”
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