Discover how international leaders are coming together to create a better future for society through the global program of social protection floors.
By ensuring minimum levels of social protection for those in need, this program aims to uplift individuals out of poverty, provide access to healthcare, and offer support during unemployment, old age, and disability.
Valérie Schmitt is the Deputy Director,Social Protection Department, ILO-Geneva. She is also leading ILO’s Flagship program on building social protection floors for all.
Social protection ensures access to healthcare, lifts people out of poverty, and provides support during unemployment, old age, and disability. It’s crucial for a fair and just society.
Discover ILO’s mission and global program for social protection. Learn about its impact on poverty reduction and economic stability.
Why you have to check out today’s podcast:
- Understand the importance of social protection and its role in providing access to healthcare, poverty reduction, and support for unemployment, old age, and disability.
- Explore how international leaders navigate complex diplomatic relationships, secure resources, and implement strategies to make a tangible impact.
- Gain an understanding of the impact of social protection on poverty reduction, economic growth, and creating fair and just societies.
“Social protection is the protection that society as a whole provides to its members to ensure access to healthcare and poverty reduction.” – Valérie Schmitt
Topics Covered:
⦁ 00:30 – ILO’s Mission and Social Protection: Learn about the International Labor Organization’s goal of promoting work rights and social protection. Understand how social protection helps people access healthcare, escape poverty, and cope with challenges.
⦁ 01:08 – Global Social Protection Program: Discover ILO’s plan to create social protection systems worldwide. See how they’re aiming to offer basic support where it’s lacking and reduce inequalities.
⦁ 02:06 – Challenges and Impact: Explore the challenges in choosing countries for support and securing funding. Understand how social protection benefits economies by reducing poverty and inequality.
⦁ 03:06 – Women in Leadership: Hear about the experiences of women in leadership roles within international organizations like the UN and ILO.
⦁ 03:53 – Future Plans and Challenges: Get insight into ILO’s program launch and the communication challenges they face. Understand the importance of achieving tangible results.
Connect with Valérie Schmitt :
- https://ideas4development.org/en/auteur/valerie-schmitt-2/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val%C3%A9rie-schmitt-9550235/
More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/
Problems of an international leader answered in this episode:
As an international leader involved in the implementation of social protection programs, some of the struggles and challenges highlighted in this episode include:
- Communicating the technical aspects of social protection in a simple manner: Social protection is a complex field, and it can be challenging to effectively communicate the goals and strategies of these programs to various stakeholders. Finding ways to simplify the messaging and make it easily understandable for different audiences is crucial.
- Mobilizing support from donors and partners: Implementing social protection programs requires significant financial resources. Mobilizing support from donors and partners can be a challenge, especially when trying to secure a substantial amount of funding, such as the goal of mobilizing $50 million to cover 21 countries. Building strong relationships and effectively presenting the impact and benefits of these programs is essential in securing financial support.
- Choosing the countries to focus on: With limited resources and time, international leaders involved in implementing social protection programs face the challenge of selecting which countries to prioritize. The goal is to choose countries where the intervention can make a real difference and have a significant impact on the lives of millions of people. This decision-making process requires careful consideration and analysis.
- Achieving tangible results within a specific timeframe: The objective of the global program on building social protection floors is to support the establishment of social protection systems within five years. International leaders involved in implementation face the challenge of delivering tangible results within this timeframe. This requires effective planning, coordination, and monitoring of the program’s progress to ensure that the intended outcomes are achieved.
These challenges highlight the multifaceted nature of the issues faced by international leaders, especially those involved in social protection initiatives, and the complexity of their efforts to address them.
Social Protection: The Pillar of ILO’s Mission and International Leadership
The ILO is a United Nations agency that promotes rights at work, social protection, decent employment opportunities, and dialogue on work-related issues. Social protection is one of the key pillars of the ILO’s mission, as it ensures that society as a whole provides its members with access to healthcare, protection from poverty, and support in times of unemployment, old age, or disability.
ILO’s Chief Explores the Essence of Social Protection and its Global Impact
Valérie Schmitt introduces the concept of social protection as the “protection that society as a whole provides to its members.” She emphasizes the importance of social protection in preventing people from declining into poverty and highlights its role in creating fair and just societies.
From Vision to Reality: ILO’s Program on Global Social Protection
The ILO is launching a new global program on building social protection floors for all. This program aims to guarantee minimum levels of social protection to those in need, particularly in countries where social protection systems are lacking.
Choosing Impact: How International Leaders Select Countries for Support
Valérie Schmitt explains that the program will focus on a restricted number of countries to achieve tangible results and make a real difference in the lives of millions of people.
Economic Growth and Equality: The Power of Social Protection in Action
Implementing this global program comes with its challenges. Valérie Schmitt acknowledges that communicating the technical aspects of social protection to the public is a hurdle. However, she believes that simplifying the message and explaining the program’s objectives clearly will help overcome this challenge. Another obstacle is mobilizing support from donors and partners. The ILO aims to raise $50 million to cover 21 countries, which requires significant effort and collaboration.
Valérie Schmitt emphasizes the benefits of social protection for governments and economies. Social protection contributes to poverty reduction, allowing people to consume more and stimulating economic growth. It also helps reduce inequalities between the rich and the poor, creating fair and just societies and fostering social peace.
Women in Leadership: A Conversation on Gender Equality and UN Environment
As a woman in a high position within the UN and the ILO, Valérie Schmitt acknowledges the opportunities and empowerment provided to women in these organizations. She considers herself fortunate to be in such an environment where women with talents are promoted and empowered.
Challenges and Triumphs: ILO’s Journey in Social Protection Implementation
The new global program on social protection floors is set to started in January 2016. Valérie Schmitt and her team are currently working on mobilizing donors and partners to ensure the program’s success. The objective is to support the establishment of social protection systems within five years, making a significant difference in the lives of millions of people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social protection is a vital aspect of the ILO’s mission and plays a crucial role in creating fair and just societies. The new global program on social protection floors aims to provide minimum levels of social protection to those in need, particularly in countries where social protection systems are lacking.
While challenges exist in implementing this program, the potential benefits for governments, economies, and individuals are immense. By reducing poverty, promoting economic growth, and fostering social peace, social protection can truly transform lives.
The ILO’s commitment to this cause is commendable, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact of their efforts in the years to come.
Stay tuned for future episodes of the Excellent International Leadership, where we will continue to explore topics related to leadership development. Thank you for joining us today.
*This article is based on the transcript of an interview conducted on Excellent International Leadership with Valérie Schmitt , Chief-Deputy at the International Labor Organization of Social Protection -Geneva.*
