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addressing inequalities in the region, with a focus on also possibilities for service improvements. While digital
gender inequalities, and the acceleration of innovation solutions can facilitate coverage extension, more still has
and digitalization in social security due to the pandemic. to be done to reach difficult-to-cover groups and to
improve gender equality.
Building on first-hand experiences and good practices of
ISSA members in the region, as well as contributions The Virtual Summit was organized in cooperation with
from the ILO, OECD, UN Research Institute for Social the Social Insurance Fund of Costa Rica (Caja Costarricense
Development (UNRISD) and UNU, resulted in rich de Seguro Social – CCSS), in anticipation of the Regional
presentations and discussions. Social Security Forum that it will host in December 2021,
and which was postponed due to COVID-19. The event
The rapid digital transformation pushed forward by the was recorded and is available for members on the ISSA
pandemic was broadly seen as a game changer, ensuring website.
not only business continuity and service delivery, but

GPA AFRICA COMPETITION
“I congratulate Employment and Social
The Good Practice Award for Africa competition was Development Canada on winning
held in 2020. It had record participation numbers the ISSA Good Practice Award for the
of 97 entries from 36 institutions in 27 countries. Americas in a competition with many
outstanding good practice entries of the
The award winner will be announced at the highest quality from across the region.”
Regional Social Security Forum for Africa, which
will take place in a virtual format the second half Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, ISSA Secretary General
of 2021.

ISSA ANNUAL REVIEW 2020/21 23