10 new ISSA Awards for the NSIF of Cameroon

The International Social Security Association (ISSA) once again honoured the National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF), which attended the Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire event from 17 to 19 May 2023.

 Organised every three years, this Forum is the most important regional event in the field of social security. It offers leaders and senior managers of ISSA member institutions a privileged platform to analyse the main challenges of Social Security, draw inspiration from innovative solutions and define strategies for the future of Social Security in Africa. The Cameroon delegation is led by the Top Manager of the Social Insurance Institution.

At the opening ceremony, Cameroon was honoured with 10 new distinctions in the ISSA Good Practice Award for Africa. Indeed, 4 certificates of merit were awarded, notably for the implementation of a children's library at the Head Office building to free up parents during service hours; data exchange platforms with administrations addressing the same audience; Corporate social responsibility through the reduction of the carbon footprint and the organisation of seminars and workshops for better management of litigation and to consolidate the capacities of the Heads of courts, and the judicial administration on the specificities of the Social Security legislation.

 Also, 6 certificates were awarded to the Institution for making the addresses of the managers available to the audience and to the insured persons; the athletics club for the children of staff and Cameroonians; the double annual identification of people over 70 years old for proof of life; the financing of operating expenses by the proceeds of investments; the organisation of reading sessions and discussions on African stories for children and finally the public-private partnership for the extension of social coverage through the enrolment of voluntarily insured persons in rural areas.

To date, Cameroon, with a Social Security Institution, received 43 Good Practice Awards and is ranked second among African Social Security institutions after Morocco, whose social protection system is managed by 7 funds.

During the Forum, which ended on 19 May, participants addressed a range of critical regional issues: the extension of Social Security coverage, improvement of the protection needs of populations, and the role of institutions leaders in developing social security systems in the context of complex economic, demographic and labour market changes. Therefore, the Forum focused on how the management and service provisions are changing and how Social Security can contribute to resilience and sustainability.