means to collect and disseminate meaningful information on social security amongst
members. Putting this concept in place entails a methodology of a systematic approach
to assess the effectiveness or the impact of new or innovative practices and processes in
social security administrations, identify them and share them with others.
The creation of an awards programme is a key element in bringing good practices to the
forefront. To this end, the ISSA will be giving four good practice awards throughout
2008-2010. It will stimulate the identification of relevant good practices in social
security administration, increase the body of knowledge of good practices, give higher
profile to ISSA members and recognize social security administration innovators and
visionaries. Each award will be linked to one of the four Regional Social Security
Forums. The first award will therefore be handed out in November 2008 at the occasion
of the Regional Social Security Forum in Rwanda. The four regional award-winners
will be featured at the World Social Security Forum in Cape Town in November 2010.
All ISSA members from the African region are therefore called upon to enter good
practices for consideration. An institution can submit several entries. To do this, the
following criteria need to be met in order to qualify for the award.
A good practice should:
· Be current: the practice must still be in place.
· Have clear objectives: the targets, the expected outcomes, the context
surrounding the good practice and the issue to be addressed are easily
identifiable.
REMINDER
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· Demonstrate an innovative approach: a creative/forward-looking solution has
been developed to address a specific issue/challenge, with the ultimate goal of
reaching excellence. It could be a solution completely new or an existing
practice involving qualitative changes (e.g. use of a specific performance
management tool, substantial changes in organizational structure, introduction of
a new method of risk management, a new technology infrastructure).
· Be efficient: the resources/inputs applied to implementing the practice have been
used in an optimal way (e.g. finance and human resources, time, technical and
organizational inputs).
· Be effective: the practice has met the objectives set or is in process to achieve
the expected outcomes. The impact is measurable or verifiable. This means that
an evaluation has been undertaken or some kind of evidence is provided to
demonstrate the impact and effect. (This is not a condition sine qua non as it
may not apply to all type of practices).
· Provide learning experiences: useful lessons can be drawn from the good
practice (e.g. strengths and weaknesses of the practice, the constraints and
difficulties met and the solutions to overcome them).
· Have a potential of replication: the practice has a potential to serve as inspiration
or model for other social security administrations facing the similar
issue/challenge. The practice is transferable with adaptation to the context.
Guidelines have been developed for easy reference and can be consulted on the ISSA
website. The good practice entry should be submitted via the on-line entry form on the
ISSA website. The form specifies necessary attachments and references needed to
submit the good practice. There will be no charge to submit a good practice for award
consideration.
Furthermore, one important requisite is that topics addressed by the good practice are
closely related to the project topics linked to the main priority areas defined in the
Programme and Budget 2008-2010:
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ISSA 19s good practices are a problem  36 1dhow can they be overcome 1d