The objectives of the Collaboration are to generate research, provide training and develop expertise, and stimulate critical debate in the field of the Economics of Social Protection.
Issues of social protection are a vital concern in any society because they encompass protecting people against all manner of contingencies and risks; ensuring access to basic needs; and building social cohesion and solidarity. They are also of importance because they have substantial financial and economic implications for individuals, community groupings, business enterprises, and governments.
There are two predominant sub-categories of social protection - social assistance, which is non-contributory such as the social grants, and social insurance, which is financed by contributions, such as the unemployment insurance fund.
Minister Skweyiya added: "The long-term objective of the Collaboration is to produce policy analysis and implementation capacity that will contribute to the achievement of government's overall goal of fighting poverty through growing the economy and ensuring the inclusion of the historically marginalised. The Collaboration is in line with government's objectives of building State capacity and will enable public servants at all levels of government to respond effectively to the challenges of social transformation. In the long run work undertaken in the Collaboration will reduce dependence on social assistance."
Enhance the capacity of the departments to make evidence based inputs into strategic policy decision-making.
Augment existing competencies in social security policy, social welfare policy, and social policy analysis, with competencies in economics, welfare economics, and the financing of social security.
The Collaboration will be launched at 9:00 at the Law Auditorium, University of Pretoria, Hatfield.