Arab seminar in Cairo: a call for common measurement tools and a permanent coordination mechanism

At a seminar held by the Arab Social Security Association in Cairo on 16 September 2026, participants proposed common Arab tools to assess how ready social insurance systems are for financial and demographic shocks, and a permanent coordination mechanism between institutions. The seminar was held under the patronage of Lebanon's labour minister.

The Arab Social Security Association held an Arab seminar in Cairo on Wednesday 16 September 2026 entitled “The Financial Sustainability of Social Security Systems in the Face of Challenges and Shocks”.

The seminar was held under the patronage and in the presence of Lebanon's minister of labour, Dr Mohammad Haidar. Also taking part were Dr Mohammad Karaki, head of the association's executive bureau, counsellor Islam Sanaa, representing the director general of the Arab Labour Organization, and Sami Abdel Hadi, deputy head of Egypt's National Social Insurance Authority.

Representatives of the social security and social insurance institutions of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania attended. The opening session was also attended by trade union, economic and social bodies from across the Arab world, together with experts in social security, governance and investment.

The opening address was given by Mohammad Khalifa, the association's public relations director, who spoke of the importance of holding the meeting as part of strengthening joint Arab work and exchanging experience between social security institutions in Arab countries.

Sami Abdel Hadi examined demographic trends in the Arab region and their effect on the financial sustainability of social insurance systems. He reviewed the Egyptian experience, the main challenges linked to financial sustainability, and ways of improving the performance of the system.

Abdel Hadi put forward two concrete proposals. The first was the drafting of common Arab tools — guidance manuals, measurement instruments and standards — to help social insurance systems assess their readiness for financial and demographic shocks. The second was the establishment of a permanent Arab coordination mechanism between social security and social insurance bodies.

Counsellor Islam Sanaa addressed the importance of Arab cooperation in social protection. He said that social security and social insurance systems must keep pace with the rapid changes in the world of work and the economy, and that their capacity to respond to renewed social needs must be strengthened.

Sanaa stressed that continued coordination between the Arab Labour Organization, the Arab Social Security Association and the social security institutions of Arab countries would contribute to the development of social protection systems.

Dr Mohammad Karaki said that social security is no longer confined to providing insurance benefits, but has become a core component of the social protection system and a pillar of social justice and of economic and social stability. He underlined the value of Arab meetings for exchanging experience and discussing shared challenges.