9:30 - 12:30 Conference Hall
Plenary Session: Developments and trends in social security 2001-2003
Report of the Secretary General

The first plenary session of the General Assembly provides an opportunity to take cognisance of recent international developments and trends in social security. As such, the session is one of the highlights of this triennial event. In order to ensure an adequate coverage of developments, while allowing for a more in-depth treatment of selected topical issues and encouraging broad discussion, the session will be based on the report on Developments and trends in social security 2001-2003 specifically prepared for the General Assembly and made available to participants in advance of the session.

In keeping with tradition, the Secretary General will commence the session by providing participants with a brief overview of social security's evolution throughout the world. His presentation will be followed by an open discussion.

Specialists, policy makers and senior administrators of social security schemes will discuss the principal trends which have been identified and perspectives for the coming years.

A moderator will guide the discussion in order to ensure a broad exchange of views and experiences among the specialists and with participants from the floor.

Meetings of Technical Commissions during the General Assembly

Following the adoption by the ISSA Council in 2001 of the Programme of Activities for the triennium 2002-2004, twelve Technical Commissions were established to contribute to the implementation of the programme during that period.

Seven of these commissions cover a specific branch of social security or a particular type of social protection: unemployment insurance and employment maintenance; insurance against employment accidents and occupational diseases; old-age, invalidity and survivors' insurance; medical care and sickness insurance; mutual benefit societies; family allowances; and provident funds and allied schemes.

Five other commissions address more “horizontal” issues which are not restricted to a specific risk. These are the Technical Commissions on: statistical, actuarial and financial studies; administrative management, organization and methods; social security research; information technology; and finally prevention, particularly with regard to occupational risks.

At the General Assembly, all these Technical Commissions will meet to examine their own issues and, where appropriate, the principal developments in their respective fields over the past few years.

14:30 - 17:30   Conference Hall
Technical Commission on Information Technology
      Chairperson: Mr. Rafael Mateos Carrasco
      Director General
      Federation of Administrative Bodies of Spanish
      Social Security, Spain
      Vice-Chairpersons: Mr. Hussein B. Al Okby
      Director General of Information Systems
      General Organization for Social Insurance
      Saudi Arabia
      Mr. Pierre Raynaud
      Financial Director
      National Old-Age Insurance Fund for Employees
      France

Technical Commission on Administrative Management, Organization and Methods

      Chairperson: Mr. Andrew G. Sylva
      Managing Director
      Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation
      The Gambia
      Vice-Chairpersons: Mr. Jan-.ke Brorsson
      Managing Director
      Federation of Social Insurance Offices, Sweden
      Mr. Raffaello Marchi
      Managing Director
      Organization, Planning and Management Control
      National Social Insurance Institute, Italy
      Ms. Myra Selva Tebot Gasta.aga
      Director General, Social Insurance Bank
      Uruguay


Agenda: Information and communications technology project management
Implementing ICT projects involves managing risks. A Working Group was set up by the Information Technology Technical Commission to review and analyze ICT projects. Important lessons drawn from a Guidance Manual prepared by the Working Group on how to identify and
reduce project risks and avoid potential problems by taking appropriate steps at the right times will be presented
.
Performance management and benchmarking
Social security organizations seek to improve their operations through the application of management tools such as activity based costing, scorecards and benchmarking. A Working Group of the Technical Commission on Administrative Management, Organization and Methods
has analyzed the replies to a questionnaire as well as case studies on different tools and approaches used to manage performance.

Presentations will be made on the effectiveness and management implications of using these tools.