Pension Policy International (29.01.2026) South Africa has officially moved away from the traditional default retirement age of 60, with new pension regulations taking effect from early January 2026, reshaping retirement planning for millions of workers. This shift addresses rising life expectancy, pension fund sustainability, and economic pressures, allowing retirement ages to be set by employment contracts and fund rules rather than a fixed benchmark.

Xinhua (22.01.2026) China has rolled out a nationwide subsidy program to support elderly people with disabilities who purchase care services, authorities announced Thursday, as part of efforts to ease family burdens and build a more senior-friendly society. The vouchers, worth up to 800 yuan (about 114 U.S. dollars) per person per month, can be used to cover a wide range of services such as meal assistance, bathing assistance, housekeeping assistance, mobility support, emergency aid, medical assistance, rehabilitation nursing, and daytime care.

World Economic Forum (19.01.2026) For Asian countries in an aged-society stage, this demographic shift brings profound implications for how people are supported through longer lifespans. Just as a CFO manages risk and plans strategically, individuals must take a more active role in building financial resilience. The true success of a 100-year society lies not only in extending lifespan but in extending dignity, contribution and meaning.

developmentpathways.co.uk (January 2026) In this paper, Richard Chirchir and Paul Njoroge Mwangi explore Kenya’s journey from cash to code, showing how digital payments have reshaped social protection programmes. The paper describes how Kenya transitioned from manual cash disbursements to fully digital, mobile money-based social payments.

elciudadano.com (08.01.2026) The initiative specifies the mandate for courts to report domestic violence convictions to the Superintendence of Pensions, which will relay this information to Pension Fund Administrators (AFP) and insurance companies. Minister Antonia Orellana highlighted the bill's scope during the session.

socialprotection.org (12.12.2025) This paper considers the methodological challenge of mapping systemic risks and harms emerging from the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence in social welfare systems. Recent tragedies in social welfare put focus on the role of algorithmic systems in the execution of social security policies, motivating new governance and regulatory measures. While many efforts have tried to address risks at the level of the technology, individual process or organization, algorithmic risks in social welfare are inherently sociotechnical.

ilo.org (24.12.2025) The campaign, launched by the Social Security Fund (SSF) in collaboration with ILO Nepal, brings together government institutions, employers’ and workers’ organizations, local governments, civil society, and the media to expand social security coverage to those most in need.

asianews.network (08.01.2026) In December, top lawmakers deliberated ways to offer better legal protection for the country’s workers in flexible employment, based on a report that pointed out that “issues such as unstable income and insufficient labour protection persist” despite strides made in recent years.

idos-research.de (2025) The historical influence of colonial powers and the continued, deep-rooted engagement of international development actors in shaping social protection systems is widely recognized across academic and policy arenas. Nevertheless, evidence of the role of coloniality in social protection remains limited. This Discussion Paper explores the enduring impact of colonialism on contemporary social protection systems by considering the role of coloniality in social protection in the Global South, and Africa in particular.

ilo.org (22.12.2025) The informal economy in Jordan plays a significant role in providing livelihoods, yet its scale and dynamics present important challenges for ensuring that workers and enterprises can benefit fully from the protections and opportunities of formality. This ILO study provides a structured mapping of the regulations, policies, actors, and interventions shaping formalisation in Jordan.