FAO in Geneva Social Protection Dialogue Series: “Pathways for extending universal coverage

20/09/2022

The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva and the Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP), in collaboration with partner agencies including ILO and UNICEF, are organizing a series of dialogues on Social Protection with the objective to raise awareness on the role of social protection as a key instrument for poverty reduction and inclusive growth in rural areas, and in turn as a key instrument for achieving the objectives and targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Through the engagement of distinguished speakers, the Dialogue Series will present important work carried out by Members and showcase concrete examples of strengthening and extending social protection systems as a core ingredient of strategies seeking to promote more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems. Universal social protection is a human right and a key investment for a green transition and for sustainable and inclusive economic and social development.

The series was launched on 20 September 2022 with the participation of the President of the UN Human Rights Council (also Permanent representative of Argentina to the UN in Geneva) and Permanent Representatives from Belgium and Morocco as speakers, as well as government representatives from Lebanon and Zambia and UN representatives from ILO, UNICEF, and FAO.

FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero delivered the opening remarks focusing on the importance of social protection in the developmental agenda. His presentation highlighted the role that social protection can play in making food systems more inclusive. Mr Torero drew attention to the importance of expanding coverage of social protection systems in rural areas, where the poor are most concentrated, and enabling these systems to respond to the specificities of people living in these areas.

Programme:

H.E. Ambassador Federico Villegas, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations Office at Geneva and President of the United Nations Human Rights Council
H.E. Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN in Geneva
H.E. Ambassador Omar Zniber, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva
Mr Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO
Ms Natalia Winder Rossi, Director, Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF
Ms Rima El Hajjar, Head of Economic and Marketing Services, Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon
Mr Steve Chiwele, Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Ministry of Community Development & Social Welfare of Zambia
Ms Christina Behrendt, Head, Social Policy Unit, ILO
Mr Stephen Devereux, Research fellow, Institute of Development Studies
Moderator: Mr Dominique Burgeon, Director, FAO Liaison Office in Geneva

The recording of the first session of the FAO in Geneva Social Protection Dialogue Series can be seen here with the passcode: r#pwn4az