Page 6 - Annual Review 2020-21-Eng_Neat

INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL

Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General of the ISSA, reflects on the
extraordinary past year, where social security institutions have demonstrated

their power to transform, innovate and deliver at a rapid pace. The ISSA will build

on the experiences from this period when developing its plans for the future.

THE POWER TO TRANSFORM

IN THE FACE OF COVID-19

How has this last year been for What have been the most
ISSA as an organization and as important developments and
a community? innovations for the ISSA?

This has been a challenging year for all of Almost all our meetings and events used to
us, for the ISSA as an organization and for be in-person. This last year, they have all
all our member institutions. COVID-19 has been virtual. This complete turnaround was
impacted everyone, every day. It has affected achieved within a matter of weeks in early
organizations, staff and colleagues, and 2020, but at the time we did not expect the
ordinary citizens. While the demand for social situation to last so long. However, in 2020 we
security benefits has exploded, the institutions organized around 80 events, almost all of
have had to deal with lockdown, social them virtual. This year, we are on track to
distancing, and teleworking. This is also the deliver even more. Our weekly
case for us. Since March 2020, ISSA staff have webinars and analytical articles
primarily worked from home. Nevertheless, have been a great success, and
we are fortunate to have digital tools that attract the interest of many that
have made it possible to exchange, cooperate we did not reach before. The
and create important results. COVID-19 Monitor, tracking
social security responses to the
pandemic, has also been very
important. I am pleased to say
that we have been able to
deliver both in terms of quantity
Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano
and quality to our members. ISSA Secretary General

6 ISSA ANNUAL REVIEW 2020/21