World Economic Forum (04.03.2019) An estimated 400 million people in the world lack access to basic health services, while millions are pushed into extreme poverty each year because of out-of-pocket healthcare costs. The burden of this lack of universal health coverage (UHC) is largely placed on Africa and Asia, where 97% of the population are impoverished by out-of-pocket health spending.

The tie-up of Kenya's mobile sensation M-Pesa with PayPal and Western Union, coupled with the joint venture between two of the largest cellular operators – MTN and Orange – for a mobile wallet that operates across networks have capped a year that has seen significant developments in Africa's already blooming mobile payments market.

Apanews.net (16.03.2019) Les politiques africaines sont appelées à encourager le développement durable inclusif et à promouvoir la protection sociale sur le continent, et partant renforcer ce droit humain fondamental par la conclusion d'accords de coopération et de partenariat intrafricains en la matière, ont recommandé les participants à la journée d'information et de formation sur « la protection sociale en Afrique », organisée, vendredi, à Rabat, par l'Union Africaine de la Mutualité (UAM), en partenariat avec la Mutuelle Générale du Personnel des Administrations Publiques (MGPAP- Maroc)

Tthenewslens (12.03.2019) he past few years have seen workers in Asia becoming increasingly restive and concerned over pensions. Demands for reform have erupted into street protests in China, French Polynesia, India, New Zealand, and everywhere in between. The Asia-Pacific has a relatively young population with a high ratio of workers to dependents – i.e., children and the elderly – and this has contributed substantially to the region’s sustained rapid economic growth in the past few decades.

economist.com (21.02.2019) Africa is stitching together social safety-nets even though it is still poor

Asian Development Bank (January 2019) This study considers how technology is likely to change labor markets in Africa; Developing Asia; Emerging Europe, Central Asia, and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean; and Latin American and the Caribbean in the coming years.

The Southern Times (23.01.2019) Cape Verde and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa will jointly host the Second Africa Health Forum under the theme “Achieving Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa: The Africa we want to see”.

ippmedia.com (30.10.2018) After a prolonged period of economic stagnation and decline, African economies have experiences rapid growth over the last two decades. 

resakss.org (2018) Social protection initiatives in Africa increasingly aim to institutionalize systems that guarantee assistance for the poor and protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks. Through direct and indirect income effects, social protection programs can also play an instrumental role in promoting agricultural development and, more broadly, economic growth. Two major trends will determine the future demand for social protection in African countries.

biometricupdate.com (05.10.2018) The World Bank has announced the launch of the Mission Billion annual innovation challenge to address the most critical issues in digital identification as it works toward achieving sustainable development goal 16.9 to establish legal identity for all.