Result achieved
Outcome summary
Suriname conducted a Social Protection Expenditure Review in consultation with tripartite partners and subsequently adopted the National Social Protection Strategy in 2024.
Outcome achieved
Suriname conducted a Social Protection Expenditure Review in consultation with tripartite partners aligned with ILO Convention No. 102, Recommendation No. 202, and SDG 1.3 and subsequently adopted the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) in 2024. As explicitly recommended in the NSPS, the Government, through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing, followed up on the NSPS and established the NSPS Monitoring Commission in March 2025. Furthermore, in order to integrate and harmonize (non-contributory) social security benefits related to unemployment of several groups (a programme under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing) and the active labour market policy (a programme under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs), a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two Ministries. It is set to impact the entire population of 623,236 persons.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
The ILO supported the development of a comprehensive review of the social protection system. This review included a social protection expenditure review conducted by the ILO (started in 2022 and finalized in 2023) and assessed existing schemes and provided guidance for future reforms aimed at creating a universal, adequate, sustainable, and responsive social protection system, including a social protection floor, aligned with ILO Convention No. 102, Recommendation No. 202, and SDG 1.3. The review's recommendations informed the creation of a National Social Protection Strategy with an accompanying Action Plan, developed through a consultative process involving workshops and bilateral meetings to ensure inclusivity, ownership, and strengthened national capacities. This support is part of the Decent Work Country Programme of Suriname (2023–26). This resulted in the adoption of National Social Protection Strategy in 2024 and is closely aligned to Suriname’s recent ratification of Convention 102.
During 2022 and 2024, four workshops and capacity sessions (in addition to several online meetings) were held, with the participation of more than 75 persons (most participated in at least two meetings), coming from more than 25 different institutions and organizations including Ministries, Commissions and Committees, Funds, Workers and Employers’ Organizations and Development partners and IFIs.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
GED - Gender equality and non-discrimination-1
Partnerships
UNICEF, International Development Bank and International Monetary Fund have contributed to the two documents, in particular to the NSPS.