Strengthening the financial governance and management of pension schemes in Arab States

Structure and contents

The training activity is based on the expertise developed by the Social Security Department and the ITC-ILO. The training programme will focus on the following topics:

• Viability and sustainability of pension systems in Arab States
• Financial governance and management
• Reforms and policy orientation

• Principles of social protection and financing mechanisms
• Recent demographic, employment and economic trends
• Impact of the economic and financial crisis and market behavior on pension schemes
• Coverage, adequacy and sustainability of pension schemes
• Current state of the pension systems sustainability in Arab States

• Administrative efficiency: Management structure, record keeping, transparency, compliance and communication
• Accounting, budget, financial controls and audits
• Actuarial and statistical methods
• Investment objectives, policy and strategy
• Monitoring investment performance

• Political economy of pension systems
• Maintaining parameters consistent with pension system objectives in terms of targeted population, income replacement, solidarity and equity
• Parametric and systemic reforms: eligibility conditions, contribution rate, benefit structure, accrual rates, and indexation
• Multi-pillar approach: Relationship between public and private pension provision
• Outcomes of reforms: Pension reforms impacts on income distribution
• Review of pension reforms around the world