How COVID-19 Pandemic Rebuilds Social Protection Schemes in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Policy Implications

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis imposed serious threats on the economy and worsened
people living conditions in many regions over the world. Many countries executed numerous
measures to overcome the adverse impact of this crisis. One of a strategic widely executed tool
to enhance the resilience of economy and community to the COVID-19 pandemic is social
protection programs. The implementation of such programs becomes vital in poor countries. In
poor regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa social protection could play an important role to
support the vulnerable groups to overcome the adverse impacts of this crisis. This study aims
to investigate how the COVID-19 Pandemic rebuilds Social Protection in Sub-Saharan
Countries which are mostly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to provide learned
lessons and policy implications. This study was conducted by searching through Google
Scholar, WoS and some international Institutions websites such as World Bank, International
Labor Organization and World Health Organization. The findings showed that most SubSaharan African countries executed both new social programs and updated earlier existing ones
to respond to adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some countries executed
contributory programs, which could not be relied upon during the COVID-19 pandemic as they
typically covered only formal sector. Consequently, some recommendations were drawn for the
region policy and decision makers for implementing more effective social protection in fighting
future pandemics.